Political Fix

When the ‘special relationship’ isn’t so special

From ‘brilliant ally’ to ‘weak and stupid’ within the same paragraph, it’s hard to know how to handle the impulsive outbursts from America’s 47th President. And yet, this is the position in which the British prime minister found himself this week as he stood firm in the face of Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland. Some back channel diplomacy in Davos helped put US European relations back on an even keel but it’s clear the so-called ‘special relationship’ is under strain. So where does Keir Starmer turn now? Does he stick with the decades-old transatlantic alliance, does he push for more European integration, or does he look further afield to China?To discuss this and more, political editor George Parker is joined by Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and the FT’s foreign editor Alec Russell.Follow: George on X @GeorgeWParker or Bluesky: @georgewparker.bsky.social, Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen: @stephenkb @stephenkb.bsky.social & Alec Russel on X:https://x.com/alecurussell Want more?UK ‘will not yield’ on Greenland, Keir Starmer warns Donald TrumpTrump’s Davos rant should alarm Starmer‘Thank you Tony’: Blair’s ‘Board of Peace’ role prompts Trump praise and Westminster angerWestminster ‘riding it out’ is not a strategy for UK-US relationsFlatter or confront? How world leaders are dealing with TrumpAnd sign up here for Stephen's morning newsletter, Inside Politics, for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue-(mostly)-in-cheek analysis. Get 30 days freePolitical Fix was presented by George Parker and produced by Clare Williamson. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Breen Turner. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Clip from Channel 4What did you think of this episode? Let us know at: politicalfix@ft.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disloyalty and defection: the Tory-Reform psychodrama

Just five days after discussing strategy with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick was sacked for plotting a defection to Reform UK. Jenrick appeared at Nigel Farage's side only a few hours later, branding his former party as "rotten".Did Kemi Badenoch’s decisive action make her look strong, or did she jump the gun? How long had Jenrick, a former Tory leadership contender, been planning his exit to the right? And does this add yet more fuel to Farage’s claims that the Conservative Party’s days are numbered? Deputy opinion editor Miranda Green hosts a discussion about the ‘psychodrama’ that has rocked Westminster this week with the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and FT’s chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley.Want more?Follow Miranda, Jim, Stephen & RobertBetrayal, plots and a mole who derailed Jenrick’s defection to ReformRobert Jenrick joins Reform UK after being sacked from Tory shadow cabinetJenrick’s sacking is both threat and opportunity for BadenochLunch with the FT Robert Jenrick: ‘I’m unashamedly provincial in my attitudes’Latest U-turn raises renewed questions over Keir Starmer’s judgmentAnd sign up here for Stephen's morning newsletter, Inside Politics, for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue-(mostly)-in-cheek analysis.Get 30 days freePolitical Fix was presented by Miranda Green, and produced by Julia Webster. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Breen Turner. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.Clips from BBC, XWhat did you think of this episode? Let us know at: politicalfix@ft.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump trouble: Starmer's tricky start to 2026

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had wanted to kick off the new year with a strong domestic start, tackling the cost of living crisis head on, in the hopes of improving his dire poll ratings. Instead, he has found himself firefighting on the international front, trying to navigate Donald Trump’s foreign policy frenzy.How will Starmer manage his ‘special relationship’ with the US president in light of recent events? Where do Trump’s latest actions leave Nato, especially with regard to Ukraine? And what does all this global uncertainty mean for the Labour leader’s agenda at home?Host George Parker discusses the balancing act facing the government with the FT’s deputy opinion editor Miranda Green, chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and acting Whitehall correspondent David Sheppard.Follow George, Miranda, Robert & David Want more? Strategic supplication is Europe’s only Trump policyFrance and UK commit to deploying troops under proposed Ukraine peace dealUK armed forces warn of £28bn defence funding shortfallGreenland’s future must be decided by island and Denmark, Starmer warns Trump‘Not in my name’: Labour’s new towns battleAnd sign up here for Stephen Bush's morning newsletter, Inside Politics, for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue-(mostly)-in-cheek analysis. Get 30 days free.Political Fix was presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth and Julia Webster. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Simon Panayi. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio.What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.comClip from UK Parliament Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swamp Notes: Is the US economy really K-shaped?

Imagine a graph with one line going up over time. Below it, another line does just the opposite. It kind of looks like the letter K. On the FT's Swamp Notes podcast, Claire Jones and Rob Armstrong break down why people are saying that letter represents the state of the economy and what it means for the White House.Mentioned in this podcast:Does the K-shaped economy theory even make sense? Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here This is a repeat of an episode published on Swamp Notes, a sister podcast of Political Fix, on Nov. 28, 2025. Follow the Swamp Notes podcast to hear more.Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co- head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: Bloomberg, PBS, CNN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quizmas special: Political Fix’s 2025 nerd-out!

Can you name all the Labour frontbenchers who resigned or were sacked during the past year? Why was Peter Mandelson delayed from returning to the UK after being sacked as US ambassador? And who will be crowned Political Fix’s Wonk-in-Chief? Find out as host George Parker puts the entire podcast panel - Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Anna Gross - through their paces in this big, fat, fiendishly difficult end-of-year quiz. The panellists also highlight their most memorable moment of 2025 and unveil their wildest predictions for the year ahead. Plus, discover who scooped all the chocolate coins in the studio to win the annual Political Fix stockpicks portfolio prize.Political Fix has been nominated for a People’s Choice Award at the Political Podcast Awards. Vote for us here. Follow the panel on Bluesky - George @georgewparker.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social; Jim @pickardje.bsky.social; Robert @robertshrimsley.bsky.social and Stephen @stephenkb.bsky.social Political Fix is presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. Our video engineers are Bianca Wakeman and Andrew Georgiades.What did you think of this episode and Political Fix this year? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.