189 - From unionism to unity
DUP founding member Wallace Thompson tells Mark Caruthers about his changing political views and how other unionists have told him they agree a united Ireland is "inevitable".
Thu, 09 May 2024
188 - The Stormont Insider - Money for nothing
Mark Carruthers is joined by Deirdre Hargey, Jonathan Buckley, Eóin Tennyson, John Stewart, Matthew O'Toole and Gerry Carroll to discuss the perilous state of Stormont finances.
Wed, 17 Apr 2024
187 - Pact to the future
Mark Carruthers asks Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen and David McCann for their General Election predictions.
Wed, 27 Mar 2024
186 - Casement snark
Mark Carruthers is joined by Jayne McCormack, David McCann and MLAs Sorcha Eastwood, Mike Nesbitt and Colin McGrath to discuss Casement Park, Assembly tensions and Dublin money.
Wed, 21 Feb 2024
185 - Back to School
Mark is joined by Gareth Gordon & a few MLAs as Stormont gets back up and running.
Tue, 06 Feb 2024
184 - Red Lines: The Michelle O'Neill interview
First broadcast in August 2022: Mark Carruthers talks to Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill about her life in politics.
Thu, 01 Feb 2024
183 - Is anyone in charge?
Who is actually running Northern Ireland?
Wed, 17 Jan 2024
182 - The Long and the Short of 2023
Mark Carruthers reviews the year with the stars of 'The Long And The Short Of It', Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume, and Prof Deirdre Heenan, Newton Emerson and Gareth Gordon.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023
181 - Red, White and New
What would unionism look like if it realigned into two new parties? A traditional one and the other more socially liberal. Darran Marshall asks the experts.
Fri, 24 Nov 2023
180 - Sinn Féin: Will their day come in 2024?
Ahead of the party's ard fheis, the panel discuss what's next for Sinn Féin? Mark is joined by Elaine Loughlin, Brian Feeney & Newton Emerson.
Wed, 08 Nov 2023
179 - Has Sir Jeffrey played a blinder?
Mark Carruthers asks Enda McClafferty, Suzanne Breen and Chris Donnelly if the DUP Leader has actually played a difficult political game very skilfully.
Wed, 11 Oct 2023
178 - Blue Lights
Former PSNI Chief Constable Sir George Hamilton speaks exclusively to Mark Carruthers about the crisis in policing. With analysis from Allison Morris & Dr Jonny Byrne
Thu, 14 Sep 2023
177 - Red Lines: The Eamonn McCann Interview
Mark Carruthers talks to Eamonn McCann about his influences & inspirations.
Wed, 23 Aug 2023
176 - Red Lines: the Ciarán Hinds Interview
Mark Carruthers talks to actor Ciarán Hinds about his influences & inspirations.
Wed, 16 Aug 2023
175 - Red Lines: The Kate Hoey Interview
Mark Carruthers talks to Baroness Hoey about her influences & inspirations.
Wed, 09 Aug 2023
174 - Red Lines: The Joe Brolly Interview
Mark Carruthers talks to Joe Brolly about his influences & inspirations.
Wed, 02 Aug 2023
173 - Season Finale - What next?
Mark Carruthers asks Suzanne Breen, Brendan Hughes and Jayne McCormack to predict the political future in Belfast, London and Dublin.
Tue, 11 Jul 2023
172 - The Troubles: Disputed narratives.
Mark and guests chat about how museums tell the stories of The Troubles.
Wed, 05 Jul 2023
171 - Self Defence
Does Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality remain fit for purpose in an ever-changing global landscape? Mark Carruthers is joined by John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, Dr Karen Devine a lecturer in International Relations at Dublin City University, and Daniel McConnell, the Editor of the Business Post.
Thu, 29 Jun 2023
170 - Stuffed or stuck? What next for the SNP & Scottish independence?
Mark and guests assess the political landscape in Scotland.
Wed, 21 Jun 2023
169 - United Ireland: For richer or poorer?
Assessing the state of the economies in Northern Ireland & the Republic.
Wed, 14 Jun 2023
168 - Trading the Union
Mark Carruthers speaks to academic and author Aaron Edwards and former BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport about how unionists face up to the debate on constitutional change.
Wed, 07 Jun 2023
167 - Three Derry Corner
Mark Carruthers speaks to newly-returned Derry City and Strabane Councillors Ryan McCready, Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Shaun Harkin.
Wed, 31 May 2023
166 - Red Lines: Redrawing the electoral map?
What impact could the local election results have on the battle for Westminster seats?
Tue, 23 May 2023
165 - 'Vote till you boke'
Mark Carruthers is joined by Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool, freelance writer and broadcaster, Amanda Ferguson and BBC NI Political correspondent,Gareth Gordon
Wed, 17 May 2023
164 - #LE23 Other
After looking at the challenges facing both nationalism and unionism in the run up to the local council election, Mark is joined by David McCann, Deputy Editor of Slugger O'Toole, Suzanne Breen, the Belfast Telegraph's Political Editor and BBC NI's Political Editor, Enda McClafferty to discuss the issues confronting the 'other' parties as they prepare to contest 462 seats across 11 council areas.
Wed, 10 May 2023
163 - #LE23 - Nationalists
Mark Carruthers profiles the issues within nationalism with Dr David McCann, Jayne McCormack & Brendan Hughes ahead of the local government election.
Wed, 03 May 2023
162 - #LE23 - Unionists
Mark Caruthers profiles the issues within unionism with Dr David McCann, Sam McBride and Gareth Gordon ahead of the local government election.
Wed, 26 Apr 2023
161 - Getting the band back together
World leaders past and present were at Queen's University this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mark Carruthers is joined by former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern,Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, Professor Monica McWilliams,and Ireland Professor of Poetry, Paul, Muldoon, to discuss how the currently stalled process might get back on track.
Wed, 19 Apr 2023
160 - The President is coming to town.
Mark and guests chat about US presidential visits to Northern Ireland
Wed, 05 Apr 2023
159 - GFA#3 The Dealmakers
There was a lot of heavy-lifting done by a lot of people to make the Good Friday Agreement happen, but some key individuals shouldered more of the burden than others. Mark Carruthers is joined by David Kerr, the former Director of Communications with the UUP, his opposite number in the SDLP, Conall McDevitt, Kate Fearon who was the Women's Coalitions's Chief of Staff and Mark Simpson, who covered the negotiations for BBC NI .
Wed, 29 Mar 2023
158 - From our own Correspondents
Recorded in front of a live audience as guests of the Imagine! Belfast Festival, Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, Political Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, Mark Devenport, former Political Editor of BBC NI and Gareth Gordon, Political Correspondent with BBC NI, to discuss the challenges of political journalism over the last 25 years.
Wed, 22 Mar 2023
157 - Playing the part
Mark Carruthers talks to writer Owen McCafferty, director Charlie Westenra and stars Dan Gordon and Andrea Irvine.
Wed, 15 Mar 2023
156 - Taking on the trolls
Mark Carruthers is joined by the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, Marianna Spring, BBC NI's Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly and Professor Deirdre Heenan to talk about their experiences dealing with online abuse and discuss what more platforms can do to try and stop it.
Wed, 08 Mar 2023
155 - Unravelling the Windsor knot
Mark Carruthers assesses the Windsor Framework and whether the DUP will accept it with Gareth Gordon, John Campbell and Suzanne Breen.
Wed, 01 Mar 2023
154 - GFA#2 Women of the hour
Mark Carruthers is joined by Bronagh Hinds, one of the founding members of the Women's Coalition, Dawn Purvis, a former MLA and leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, Kathleen Stephens, the former US Consul General in Belfast and Liz O’Donnell, a former Progressive Democrat TD and Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs plus of course Mark Simpson who was the BBC Political Correspondent covering the negotiations.
Wed, 22 Feb 2023
153 - D(UP)-Day
What are the big decisions facing the DUP & Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?
Wed, 15 Feb 2023
152 - Reading the Right
Mark & guests discuss the recent anti-migrant protests in the Republic.
Wed, 08 Feb 2023
151 - Coiled springs?
Mark Carruthers speaks to MLAs Patricia O'Lynn, Diane Forsythe and Mike Nesbitt about what they've been doing while Stormont hasn't been sitting.
Wed, 01 Feb 2023
150 - GFA25: Ep 1 - The Fourth Estate
Mark Carruthers looks back on the Good Friday Agreement with journalists Mark Simpson, David Davin-Power, Martin Fletcher and former NIO official Mary Madden.
Wed, 25 Jan 2023
149 - Caution;Tunnel Ahead
Mark Carruthers is joined by BBC NI's Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell, RTE's Europe Editor, Tony Connelly, Jess Sargeant from the Institute for Government, to discuss not the details of a potential deal but the process of getting all sides across the line.
Wed, 18 Jan 2023
148 - Protocol, pounds and patients
Mark Carruthers asks Jayne McCormack, John Campbell and Marie-Louise Connolly to predict what lies ahead this year.
Wed, 11 Jan 2023
147 - Review of the Year
Mark Carruthers asks Tim McGarry, Enda McClafferty, Deirdre Heenan and Newton Emerson to cast their minds back to the highlights of 2022.
Tue, 20 Dec 2022
146 - Leo V 2.0
Leo Varadkar returns as Taoiseach this weekend. Where might Micheál Martin go?
Wed, 14 Dec 2022
145 - Let's Stick Together
Mark Carruthers asks Sheila Davidson from Together UK, former MLA John McCallister and Prof Jon Tonge what the future holds for civic unionism.
Wed, 07 Dec 2022
144 - Malcolm in the Middle
Mark Carruthers asks Sir Malcolm McKibbin, Jayne McCormack and Newton Emerson how far civil servants can go without a government in Northern Ireland.
Wed, 30 Nov 2022
143 - The Seven Year Itch
Mark Carruthers speaks to political editor Enda McClafferty, columnist Fionnuala O Connor and former special adviser Brendan Mulgrew about the state of the SDLP.
Wed, 23 Nov 2022
142 - The Brady Bunch
Mark Carruthers speaks to Sir David Sterling, Jess Sargeant & Sam McBride about the running of NI’s nine government departments in the absence of Stormont ministers.
Wed, 16 Nov 2022
141 - University challenges
Mark Carruthers speaks to Simon Hamilton, Grace Boyle, Chris McCracken & Sophia Campbell about Belfast city centre's future - in the atrium of the UU's new building in York St.
Wed, 09 Nov 2022
140 - Premature election
Mark Carruthers asks Political Editor Enda McClafferty, RTE's Northern Editor Vincent Kearney and Belfast Telegraph Political Editor Suzanne Breen if we're having an election.
Wed, 02 Nov 2022
139 - North Poll at Christmas?
Mark Caruthers is joined by Jayne McCormack, Sam McBride and Ailbhe Rea to ask if we're hurtling towards a December Assembly election.
Wed, 26 Oct 2022
138 - Brought to book
Mark Carruthers speaks to authors Malachi O'Doherty, Claire Mitchell and Ben Collins about their recent books and views on the constitutional question.
Thu, 20 Oct 2022
137 - Mission Impossible?
Mark Carruthers is joined by Prof Katy Hayward from QUB, Ray O' Hanlon, Editor of the Irish Echo and Gareth Gordon to find out about Derek Chollet and what he's been doing here.
Wed, 12 Oct 2022
136 - Tory story
Following the Conservative Party conference, Mark Carruthers speaks to Dominic Grieve, Kate Devlin, Kelly Beaver and Enda McClafferty.
Wed, 05 Oct 2022
135 - In Liz we Truss?
New challenges for a new party leader and a mini budget with a lot consequences
Wed, 28 Sep 2022
134 - New beginnings?
A new Prime Minister, a new Secretary of State and a new Monarch - but what's changed?
Wed, 21 Sep 2022
133 - Red Lines: The Claire Sugden Interview
Mark Carruthers chats to ex-minister Claire Sugden about her influences & inspirations
Wed, 24 Aug 2022
132 - Red Lines: The Bernadette McAliskey Interview
Mark Carruthers chats to Bernadette McAliskey about her influences & inspirations
Wed, 17 Aug 2022
131 - Red Lines: The Conor Burns Interview
Mark Carruthers chats to NIO Minister Conor Burns about his influences & inspirations
Wed, 10 Aug 2022
130 - Red Lines: The Michelle O'Neill interview
Mark Carruthers chats to Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill about her influences & inspirations.
Wed, 03 Aug 2022
129 - What about us?
Mark & guests discuss the PM's resignation and what it means for Northern Ireland?
Thu, 07 Jul 2022
128 - The bonus episode: Leo Varadkar
Mark Carruthers speaks to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar about the Northern Ireland Protocol, north-south relations and the battle for the Dáil.
Mon, 04 Jul 2022
127 - What a difference a year makes
Mark Carruthers and panel reflect on the year in politics from the Duncairn centre
Wed, 29 Jun 2022
126 - Constitutional conundrum
Six years on from the Brexit referendum - how secure is the Union?
Wed, 22 Jun 2022
125 - Peter Weir: My political autopsy
The former education minister chats to Mark about losing his Stormont seat & what's next.
Tue, 14 Jun 2022
124 - Is it bye bye Boris?
Mark Carruthers is joined by Nick Watt, Kate Devlin, Alex Massie and Gareth Gordon to reflect on another memorable week at Westminster.
Wed, 08 Jun 2022
123 - Kelly's Goodbye
Former SDLP deputy leader Dolores Kelly chats to Mark about losing her Upper Bann seat.
Wed, 01 Jun 2022
122 - Mervyn's story
3 weeks after losing his seat in North Antrim, Mervyn Storey speaks to Mark Carruthers
Wed, 25 May 2022
121 - Hybridity working?
Boris Johnson says NI has always been a place in its own right - Mark & guests discuss
Wed, 18 May 2022
120 - Election reflection
Mark Carruthers reflects on the Assembly election with David McCann, Seanín Graham and Ben Lowry. And Jayne McCormack pops in with an update on the post-election positioning.
Wed, 11 May 2022
119 - The last lap
Mark Carruthers is joined by Enda McClafferty, Jayne McCormack and Mark Simpson to look at the final stages of the Assembly election campaign.
Wed, 04 May 2022
118 - Breaking the boundaries: North, South, East and West Belfast
Mark Carruthers and guests assess the four Belfast constituencies ahead of the election.
Wed, 27 Apr 2022
117 - Breaking the boundaries: Foyle and East Londonderry
Mark Carruthers and guests assess two constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
Wed, 13 Apr 2022
116 - Breaking the boundaries:North Down, South Down and Strangford
Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
Wed, 06 Apr 2022
115 - Breaking the boundaries: North Antrim, East Antrim, and South Antrim
Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
Wed, 30 Mar 2022
114 - Breaking the boundaries: Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Mid Ulster, and West Tyrone
Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
Wed, 23 Mar 2022
113 - Breaking the boundaries: Lagan Valley, Upper Bann and Newry & Armagh
In the first of our election specials Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, David McCann and Dr Clare Rice to profile three Assembly constituencies.
Wed, 16 Mar 2022
112 - And they're off...
Mark Carruthers fires the starting gun on our Assembly election coverage with Suzanne Breen, David McCann and Jayne McCormack.
Wed, 09 Mar 2022
111 - A devolution revolution?
Mark Carruthers asks Dr Clare Rice, former MLA John McCallister and Dr Sean Haughey if the Stormont institutions are fit for purpose?
Wed, 02 Mar 2022
110 - What state is political nationalism in?
Weeks away from the Assembly election, what state is political nationalism in?
Tue, 22 Feb 2022
109 - The troubles with Belfast
A feel-good memoir of a challenging time? What are the politics of Belfast - the film?
Tue, 15 Feb 2022
108 - It's the way you tell'em...
How does the government get its message across during a political crisis?
Wed, 09 Feb 2022
107 - The art of politics and the politics of art
Can art catalyse political change?
Wed, 02 Feb 2022
106 - What's another year?
What's changed since the last election? Rev Steve Stockman and Fr Martin Magill reflect
Wed, 26 Jan 2022
105 - Sinn reign?
Mark Carruthers is in Dublin to talk to Daniel McConnell, Michael Brennan and Lucinda Creighton about how the rise of Sinn Féin in the Republic continues.
Wed, 19 Jan 2022
104 - 2022 vision
Mark Carruthers asks Marie-Louise Connolly, John Campbell and Enda McClafferty to predict what's going to happen in the coming year.
Wed, 12 Jan 2022
103 - 100 not out
Mark Carruthers discusses the big stories of the year with Gareth Gordon, Deirdre Heenan, Newton Emerson and Tim McGarry.
Tue, 21 Dec 2021
102 - Paperback Writers
Susan McKay, Henry McDonald & David Torrans pick their local literary highlights of 2021
Wed, 15 Dec 2021
101 - Reporting the Republic
Which southern stories cut through in the northern news cycle - and why?
Wed, 08 Dec 2021
100 - Hidden history
Mark Carruthers takes to the streets with historian Colm Ó Dóghair and Gemma Reid from the Belfast Entries Project.
Wed, 01 Dec 2021
99 - Poll Positions
Assessing how the latest polls might translate on election day. Mark chats to Suzanne Breen, David McCann, and Peter Donaghy.
Tue, 23 Nov 2021
98 - Anglo-Irish disagreements
Mark Carruthers discusses the current state of relations between the UK and the Republic with historian Diarmaid Ferriter and former Conservative Minister, Michael Portillo.
Wed, 17 Nov 2021
97 - State of the Union
Andrea Catherwood and Allan Little chat constitutional change in Scotland and NI
Wed, 10 Nov 2021
96 - Riot Grrrls
Change makers, influencers and activists who have made their mark in NI
Wed, 03 Nov 2021
95 - Time to catch our breath
It's time to pause, review the past few weeks & look ahead to what's coming up.
Wed, 27 Oct 2021
94 - Political fact and fiction
Mark Carruthers is joined by Glenn Patterson and Brian McGilloway who've written books and articles galore about the people and the politics of Ireland north and south.
Wed, 20 Oct 2021
93 - It's Complicated!
Mark Carruthers is joined by the BBC's former Ireland Correspondents, Mark Simpson & James Helm, plus the New Statesman's Political Correspondent, Ailbhe Rea, to discuss the challenges of reporting the politics of this place
Wed, 13 Oct 2021
92 - Conference calling
Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Julia Langdon and former NIO Minister, Sir Richard Needham to ask whether Northern Ireland still matters to the Conserative Party.
Tue, 05 Oct 2021
91 - Pact Hunch
Mark & guests discuss Northern Ireland's electoral pacts of the past and present.
Wed, 29 Sep 2021
90 - Northern Writes
Mark & guests review how the Dublin media report on stories from & about Northern Ireland
Wed, 22 Sep 2021