The National Podcast

We discuss the day's biggest stories and interview the people you want to hear from. Hear about the behind-the-scenes that doesn't always make it into print, and get to know our brilliant team of reporters.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

22 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes22

Newest first

Today · 33 min
MISOGYNY claims rock Scottish Labour leadership race
Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss today's biggest stories, including drama in the Scottish Labour leadership contest and Nicola Sturgeon's warning to the SNP. Support The National with a subscription from £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe
Today · 57 min
Glasgow's public transport is BROKEN - here's how we fix it
Editor Laura Webster sits down with Ellie Harrison of Get Glasgow Moving as our week-long series focused on creating a better public transport system for Scotland kicks off. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
Friday · 43 min
Are the far right impersonating police officers in Glasgow?
Editor Laura Webster and Multimedia Journalist Jamie Calder discuss reports that the far-right could be impersonating police officers in Glasgow, whether we need a Scottish Secretary in this day and age, BP's North Sea oil sell off and what's happening with AI data centres in Scotland. Subscribe to The National from just £20 for an entire YEAR at thenational.scot/subscribe
Thursday · 36 min
Is Andy Burnham more interested in TIKTOK than politics?
Steph Brawn and Xander Elliards are back with this week's edition of Media Watch. Today they discuss Andy Burnham's social media presence since arriving as prime minister and how it may actually be affecting his performance in the top job. Meanwhile, Good Morning Britain are back in the headlines for their handing of news surrounding Nigel Farage and we ask why isn't the Commonwealth games on BBC? Get a National subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
Wednesday · 42 min
MSP calls for BAN on anti-migrant groups terrorising Scotland
Editor Laura Webster and Political Editor Xander Elliards discuss calls to ban anti-migrant groups, Zack Polanski's Newsnight appearance and the latest in the Scottish Labour leadership race. Support The National with a subscription from just £20 for a whole year at thenational.scot/subscribe in our summer sale
Tuesday · 1 hr
Lara Bird on her accent, infuriating Unionists and winning independence
New SNP MP Lara Bird sits down with Editor Laura Webster to discuss her first few weeks in the job, why she's angered so many Unionists, Andy Burnham's first week as PM, how we win independence and much more. Join The National today from just £20 in the summer sale at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 27 · 46 min
What REALLY happened during far-right disorder in Glasgow
Laura Webster is joined by Steph Brawn to discuss what really happened during Saturday's far-right disorder in Glasgow. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe - it's our summer sale! Get a subscription from just £20 for a WHOLE year.
July 24 · 38 min
Andy Burnham says indyref2 is off limits in first Scottish visit
Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss Andy Burnham stating that another Scottish independence referendum is off limits, Iran saying UK bases are a legitimate target, and react to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe - it's our summer sale! Get a subscription from just £20 for a WHOLE year.
July 22 · 37 min
Anas Sarwar lands job under Burnham despite Scottish Labour failure
Laura Webster and James Walker are here to discuss the news that Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is to quit to take up a job under new prime minister Andy Burnham in the UK Government. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 22 · 48 min
Glasgow refugee challenges Thomas Kerr's LIES around immigration
Human rights campaigner and former refugee Mohammad Asif joins political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss Reform MSP Thomas Kerr's recent claims about refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow city centre. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 21 · 25 min
Media Watch: This proves that the BBC are desperate for your money
Welcome to episode 1 of Steph Brawn's Media Watch podcast. Steph Brawn presents a new podcast "Media Watch" where she goes behind the headlines and unpacks the most eye catching moments of the week on UK TV and it print. This week she is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discus the BBC's 'desperate' advert during the World Cup half time show and how it proves they need public funding MORE than ever. They go on to discuss Laura Kuenssberg's questioning as to whether new Prime Minister Andy Burnham would be a good contestant on the Traitors. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Sign up FREE to the Media Watch newsletter at thenational.scot/newsletters
July 21 · 29 min
We react to Andy Burnham's new Cabinet
Laura Webster is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to give their reaction to the cabinet of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Support The National with a subscription at thenational.scot/subscribe from just £1
July 20 · 32 min
Scotland is burning and the new UK Prime Minister might make it worse?
Digital editor Laura Pollock and political reporter Steph Brawn discuss the Arthur's Seat and Cairngorms wildfires amid reports Andy Burnham could back new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The pair also reflect on Burnham's first morning as Prime Minister and the news that Yes Scotland has mocked claims of a “missing £1.5 million” in its first post on Twitter/X in 12 years. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at: thenational.scot/subscribe
July 17 · 46 min
Nicola Sturgeon slams David Davis after Commons 'lying' claim
Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss today's biggest stories - Nicola Sturgeon's response to David Davis using parliamentary privilege to accuse her of lying about Peter Murrell, our new investigation into how many landlord MSPs there are, and Thomas Kerr's 'fearmongering' about Glasgow city centre. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 17 · 50 min
Is SNP bonds plan putting Scottish independence at RISK?
Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosby sat down with William Thomson from Scotland's Resilient Economy. He breaks down the Scottish Government’s new bond plans and years of FDI policy. They explain why foreign capital has become the “feather in the cap” of the SNP administration, how Scotland is sold as a top destination for investors, and why that headline success may mask deeper risks for workers, communities and long-term economic sovereignty. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 16 · 47 min
How the media LIED about the cost of living crisis ... and why Scotland isn't buying it
Editor Laura Webster sits down with Dr Catherine Happer and Dr Lluis de Nadal Alsina to discuss how the UK media have told the story of the cost of living crisis, and what that has meant for people in Scotland who are living it every day. They unpack years of research into press and broadcast coverage of the crisis: who gets to speak, which sources are treated as “expert”, and how journalists frame the causes and solutions. Bad News on the Cost of Living Crisis: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gumg/ GUMG website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/gumg/ GUMG Bluesky: @gu-mg.bsky.social
July 15 · 37 min
How Reform 'accidentally' tried to ban Scots and Gaelic
Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn present Wednesday's National Podcast LIVE. They discuss how Reform UK have backtracked after a 'mess up' to an amendment that was drafted which would have seen political material in Gaelic become illegal in Scotland. Reform claim that criminalising Gaelic or Scots in Scotland had not been the “intention” of the amendment and that "there was an administrative mess up.” They added: “The amendment was intended for England and Wales. So, if you're publishing election material in Hartlepool in Gaelic, then yeah [it would be criminalised].” Meanwhile Douglas Alexander has instructed Scots to support England in tonight's game. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at: thenational.scot/subscribe
July 13 · 38 min
Reform's hypocrisy on Glasgow anti-migrant disorder
Political Reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and James Walker discuss the big stories today, including the latest on anti-migrant disorder in Glasgow, the news about Ann Widdecombe's murder investigation, Yes Scotland funding and Labour's immigration bill. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 9 · 45 min
Can we use comedy to beat the far-right? With Jacob Hawley
Stand-up comedian Jacob Hawley of the Screen Rot podcast joins Political Editor Xander Elliards to discuss bringing politics into comedy in a crazy world, why Scotland fans should want England to lose at football, why the Fringe isn't championing Scottish talent, and more. Head to https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/jacob-hawley-tickets/artist/5391850 for tickets for his upcoming show. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe
July 8 · 34 min
Scotland set to BAN AI data centres
Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss the SNP's plans to put a temporary ban on data centres, the latest on Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election mess, and more Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe