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Red Lines Podcast

English, Political, 1 season, 194 episodes, 4 days, 3 hours, 39 minutes
About
The back-stop’s here? Bad puns with top political coverage from Northern Ireland. Red Lines brings you essential analysis and commentary by BBC NI’s politics team.
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Red Faces

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Suzanne Breen and Jayne McCormack to look back at what caused the big surprises in the general election.
7/10/202435 minutes, 15 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: Fermanagh South Tyrone, West Tyrone and Mid Ulster

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Enda McClafferty and David Young to assess another three Westminster constituencies.
7/2/202429 minutes, 59 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: Belfast North, South, East and West.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Brendan Hughes and Suzanne Breen to look at the race for Westminster in four more constituencies.
6/26/202443 minutes, 26 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: North, South and East Antrim.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker to look at the Westminster race in three more constituencies.
6/19/202437 minutes, 29 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: Lagan Valley, Upper Bann and Newry & Armagh

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Suzanne Breen and Gareth Gordon to assess the candidates running for Westminster in Lagan Valley, Upper Bann and Newry & Armagh.
6/12/202438 minutes, 6 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: Foyle & East Londonderry

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Enda McClafferty & Freya McClements the candidates running for Westminster in Foyle & East Londonderry.
6/5/202438 minutes, 3 seconds
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The Constituency Profiles: N Down, S Down and Strangford.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker to assess the candidates running for Westminster in North Down, South Down and Strangford.
5/29/202436 minutes, 35 seconds
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Stop the votes?

Will Rishi Sunak's Rwanda policy impact the local elections in the Republic?
5/15/202437 minutes, 27 seconds
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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".
5/9/202425 minutes, 29 seconds
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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.
4/17/202440 minutes, 27 seconds
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Pact to the future

Mark Carruthers asks Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen and David McCann for their General Election predictions.
3/27/202437 minutes, 5 seconds
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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.
2/21/202440 minutes, 38 seconds
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Back to School

Mark is joined by Gareth Gordon & a few MLAs as Stormont gets back up and running.
2/6/202439 minutes, 45 seconds
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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.
2/1/202429 minutes, 53 seconds
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Is anyone in charge?

Who is actually running Northern Ireland?
1/17/202433 minutes, 4 seconds
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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.
12/13/202348 minutes, 32 seconds
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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.
11/24/202324 minutes, 5 seconds
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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.
11/8/202331 minutes, 29 seconds
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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.
10/11/202330 minutes, 35 seconds
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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
9/14/202329 minutes, 52 seconds
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Red Lines: The Eamonn McCann Interview

Mark Carruthers talks to Eamonn McCann about his influences & inspirations.
8/23/202329 minutes, 46 seconds
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Red Lines: the Ciarán Hinds Interview

Mark Carruthers talks to actor Ciarán Hinds about his influences & inspirations.
8/16/202329 minutes, 57 seconds
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Red Lines: The Kate Hoey Interview

Mark Carruthers talks to Baroness Hoey about her influences & inspirations.
8/9/202329 minutes, 46 seconds
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Red Lines: The Joe Brolly Interview

Mark Carruthers talks to Joe Brolly about his influences & inspirations.
8/2/202338 minutes, 18 seconds
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Season Finale - What next?

Mark Carruthers asks Suzanne Breen, Brendan Hughes and Jayne McCormack to predict the political future in Belfast, London and Dublin.
7/11/202334 minutes, 42 seconds
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The Troubles: Disputed narratives.

Mark and guests chat about how museums tell the stories of The Troubles.
7/5/202336 minutes, 28 seconds
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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.
6/29/202327 minutes, 15 seconds
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Stuffed or stuck? What next for the SNP & Scottish independence?

Mark and guests assess the political landscape in Scotland.
6/21/202334 minutes, 44 seconds
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United Ireland: For richer or poorer?

Assessing the state of the economies in Northern Ireland & the Republic.
6/14/202336 minutes, 28 seconds
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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.
6/7/202330 minutes, 23 seconds
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Three Derry Corner

Mark Carruthers speaks to newly-returned Derry City and Strabane Councillors Ryan McCready, Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Shaun Harkin.
5/31/202335 minutes, 57 seconds
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Red Lines: Redrawing the electoral map?

What impact could the local election results have on the battle for Westminster seats?
5/23/202334 minutes, 25 seconds
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'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
5/17/202328 minutes, 4 seconds
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#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.
5/10/202334 minutes, 4 seconds
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#LE23 - Nationalists

Mark Carruthers profiles the issues within nationalism with Dr David McCann, Jayne McCormack & Brendan Hughes ahead of the local government election.
5/3/202335 minutes, 33 seconds
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#LE23 - Unionists

Mark Caruthers profiles the issues within unionism with Dr David McCann, Sam McBride and Gareth Gordon ahead of the local government election.
4/26/202334 minutes, 36 seconds
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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.
4/19/202334 minutes, 21 seconds
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The President is coming to town.

Mark and guests chat about US presidential visits to Northern Ireland
4/5/202335 minutes, 18 seconds
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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 .
3/29/202359 minutes, 2 seconds
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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.
3/22/202349 minutes, 55 seconds
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Playing the part

Mark Carruthers talks to writer Owen McCafferty, director Charlie Westenra and stars Dan Gordon and Andrea Irvine.
3/15/202338 minutes, 9 seconds
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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.
3/8/202338 minutes, 10 seconds
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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.
3/1/202332 minutes, 50 seconds
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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.
2/22/202352 minutes, 53 seconds
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D(UP)-Day

What are the big decisions facing the DUP & Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?
2/15/202332 minutes
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Reading the Right

Mark & guests discuss the recent anti-migrant protests in the Republic.
2/8/202331 minutes, 46 seconds
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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.
2/1/202334 minutes, 22 seconds
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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.
1/25/202350 minutes, 27 seconds
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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.
1/18/202331 minutes, 44 seconds
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Protocol, pounds and patients

Mark Carruthers asks Jayne McCormack, John Campbell and Marie-Louise Connolly to predict what lies ahead this year.
1/11/202328 minutes, 45 seconds
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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.
12/20/202242 minutes, 44 seconds
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Leo V 2.0

Leo Varadkar returns as Taoiseach this weekend. Where might Micheál Martin go?
12/14/202235 minutes, 9 seconds
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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.
12/7/202232 minutes, 1 second
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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.
11/30/202232 minutes, 6 seconds
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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.
11/23/202229 minutes, 15 seconds
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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.
11/16/202231 minutes, 35 seconds
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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.
11/9/202232 minutes, 23 seconds
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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.
11/2/202227 minutes, 51 seconds
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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.
10/26/202230 minutes, 7 seconds
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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.
10/20/202234 minutes, 23 seconds
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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.
10/12/202231 minutes, 8 seconds
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Tory story

Following the Conservative Party conference, Mark Carruthers speaks to Dominic Grieve, Kate Devlin, Kelly Beaver and Enda McClafferty.
10/5/202232 minutes, 3 seconds
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In Liz we Truss?

New challenges for a new party leader and a mini budget with a lot consequences
9/28/202226 minutes, 1 second
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New beginnings?

A new Prime Minister, a new Secretary of State and a new Monarch - but what's changed?
9/21/202240 minutes, 51 seconds
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Red Lines: The Claire Sugden Interview

Mark Carruthers chats to ex-minister Claire Sugden about her influences & inspirations
8/24/202230 minutes, 2 seconds
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Red Lines: The Bernadette McAliskey Interview

Mark Carruthers chats to Bernadette McAliskey about her influences & inspirations
8/17/202229 minutes, 55 seconds
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Red Lines: The Conor Burns Interview

Mark Carruthers chats to NIO Minister Conor Burns about his influences & inspirations
8/10/202230 minutes, 1 second
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Red Lines: The Michelle O'Neill interview

Mark Carruthers chats to Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill about her influences & inspirations.
8/3/202229 minutes, 53 seconds
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What about us?

Mark & guests discuss the PM's resignation and what it means for Northern Ireland?
7/7/202226 minutes, 45 seconds
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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.
7/4/202235 minutes, 48 seconds
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What a difference a year makes

Mark Carruthers and panel reflect on the year in politics from the Duncairn centre
6/29/202241 minutes, 50 seconds
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Constitutional conundrum

Six years on from the Brexit referendum - how secure is the Union?
6/22/202229 minutes, 2 seconds
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Peter Weir: My political autopsy

The former education minister chats to Mark about losing his Stormont seat & what's next.
6/14/202227 minutes, 48 seconds
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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.
6/8/202231 minutes, 34 seconds
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Kelly's Goodbye

Former SDLP deputy leader Dolores Kelly chats to Mark about losing her Upper Bann seat.
6/1/202228 minutes, 59 seconds
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Mervyn's story

3 weeks after losing his seat in North Antrim, Mervyn Storey speaks to Mark Carruthers
5/25/202229 minutes, 12 seconds
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Hybridity working?

Boris Johnson says NI has always been a place in its own right - Mark & guests discuss
5/18/202227 minutes, 46 seconds
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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.
5/11/202231 minutes, 56 seconds
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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.
5/4/202226 minutes, 33 seconds
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Breaking the boundaries: North, South, East and West Belfast

Mark Carruthers and guests assess the four Belfast constituencies ahead of the election.
4/27/202238 minutes, 48 seconds
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Breaking the boundaries: Foyle and East Londonderry

Mark Carruthers and guests assess two constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
4/13/202229 minutes, 25 seconds
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Breaking the boundaries:North Down, South Down and Strangford

Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
4/6/202229 minutes, 39 seconds
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Breaking the boundaries: North Antrim, East Antrim, and South Antrim

Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
3/30/202228 minutes, 30 seconds
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Breaking the boundaries: Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Mid Ulster, and West Tyrone

Mark Carruthers and guests assess three constituencies ahead of the Assembly election.
3/23/202230 minutes, 18 seconds
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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.
3/16/202228 minutes, 29 seconds
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And they're off...

Mark Carruthers fires the starting gun on our Assembly election coverage with Suzanne Breen, David McCann and Jayne McCormack.
3/9/202241 minutes, 59 seconds
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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?
3/2/202230 minutes, 24 seconds
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What state is political nationalism in?

Weeks away from the Assembly election, what state is political nationalism in?
2/22/202228 minutes, 28 seconds
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The troubles with Belfast

A feel-good memoir of a challenging time? What are the politics of Belfast - the film?
2/15/202225 minutes, 54 seconds
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It's the way you tell'em...

How does the government get its message across during a political crisis?
2/9/202228 minutes, 28 seconds
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The art of politics and the politics of art

Can art catalyse political change?
2/2/202226 minutes, 23 seconds
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What's another year?

What's changed since the last election? Rev Steve Stockman and Fr Martin Magill reflect
1/26/202227 minutes, 27 seconds
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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.
1/19/202229 minutes, 50 seconds
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2022 vision

Mark Carruthers asks Marie-Louise Connolly, John Campbell and Enda McClafferty to predict what's going to happen in the coming year.
1/12/202227 minutes, 57 seconds
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100 not out

Mark Carruthers discusses the big stories of the year with Gareth Gordon, Deirdre Heenan, Newton Emerson and Tim McGarry.
12/21/202151 minutes, 55 seconds
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Paperback Writers

Susan McKay, Henry McDonald & David Torrans pick their local literary highlights of 2021
12/15/202128 minutes, 2 seconds
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Reporting the Republic

Which southern stories cut through in the northern news cycle - and why?
12/8/202126 minutes, 48 seconds
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Hidden history

Mark Carruthers takes to the streets with historian Colm Ó Dóghair and Gemma Reid from the Belfast Entries Project.
12/1/202127 minutes, 56 seconds
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Poll Positions

Assessing how the latest polls might translate on election day. Mark chats to Suzanne Breen, David McCann, and Peter Donaghy.
11/23/202128 minutes, 38 seconds
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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.
11/17/202128 minutes, 10 seconds
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State of the Union

Andrea Catherwood and Allan Little chat constitutional change in Scotland and NI
11/10/202127 minutes, 24 seconds
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Riot Grrrls

Change makers, influencers and activists who have made their mark in NI
11/3/202126 minutes, 48 seconds
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Time to catch our breath

It's time to pause, review the past few weeks & look ahead to what's coming up.
10/27/202129 minutes, 7 seconds
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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.
10/20/202130 minutes, 45 seconds
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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
10/13/202130 minutes, 2 seconds
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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.
10/5/202128 minutes, 54 seconds
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Pact Hunch

Mark & guests discuss Northern Ireland's electoral pacts of the past and present.
9/29/202129 minutes, 28 seconds
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Northern Writes

Mark & guests review how the Dublin media report on stories from & about Northern Ireland
9/22/202129 minutes, 37 seconds
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Writ and Wrong

Mark Carruthers is joined by libel lawyer Paul Tweed, the Belfast Telegraph's Sam McBride and former journalist and now Ulster Unionist MLA, Mike Nesbitt, to discuss his Private Members' Bill on updating defamation law in Northern Ireland.
9/15/202136 minutes, 31 seconds
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Here we go again...

With a new term at Stormont and an election on the way - Mark Carruthers as is joined by Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly, Business & Economics Editor, John Campbell & Political Editor, Enda McClafferty to discuss the challenges ahead.
9/8/202131 minutes, 15 seconds
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The rise & fall of Edwin Poots

Mark is joined by BBC's Mark Simpson, Belfast Telegraph's Suzanne Breen & the News Letter's Sam McBride
6/23/202130 minutes, 17 seconds
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Sinn Féin's gambit?

Mark chats to Enda McClafferty, Suzanne Breen & Chris Donnelly about Sinn Féin's Stormont strategy.
6/16/202128 minutes, 43 seconds
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How to make capital on the Hill

Mark Carruthers asks Peter Sheridan from Co-Operation Ireland, Professor Deirdre Heenan and Washington commentator Shane Greer who best speaks for Northern Ireland in Washington.
6/9/202127 minutes, 45 seconds
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I'm a Politician... Get Me Out of Here!

What will Arlene Foster do next? Mark chats to the FT's Henry Mance, former MP Anna Soubry & BBC News NI's Gareth Gordon.
6/2/202131 minutes, 3 seconds
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Poll Position

Mark Carruthers is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Suzanne Breen, data analyst Peter Donaghy and Slugger O'Toole's David McCann to crunch the numbers on the latest poll.
5/26/202132 minutes, 56 seconds
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Unpicking the Poots Putsch

Mark Carruthers asks BBC Political Correspondent Gareth Gordon and Political Editors, Suzanne Breen and Sam McBride - "What's just happened in the DUP?"
5/19/202132 minutes, 54 seconds
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Ruffling feathers in Foyle

Mark is joined by commentator Chris Donnelly, ex-MLA Daithí McKay & the Irish Times' Mary Minihan to discuss Sinn Féin's problem in Foyle and look ahead to next year's election
5/12/202129 minutes, 12 seconds
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A reformation for Protestants?

Mark Carruthers discusses Unionism and Protestantism with writers Susan McKay and Claire Mitchell, a member of the Green Party.
5/5/202130 minutes, 52 seconds
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Over & Oust

Mark Devenport & Ken Reid join Mark to assess Arlene Foster's leadership of the DUP.
4/28/202128 minutes, 45 seconds
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Bengoa Calling

"There's as much chance of taking politics out of health as there were attempts this week to take England's top football teams out of the Premier League"
4/21/202133 minutes, 46 seconds
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Royals, republicans and rancour

Mark Carruthers reflects on a difficult week in politics with Brian Rowan, Fionnuala O Connor and Ben Lowry.
4/14/202130 minutes, 10 seconds
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Funeral fallout

Mark Carruthers takes the political temperature at Stormont with Stephen Walker, Jayne McCormack, Allison Morris and Tim Cairns.
3/31/202134 minutes, 45 seconds
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Uniting Ireland? Views from the Republic.

Assessing the debate around a united Ireland & a border poll - from the Republic.
3/24/202131 minutes, 57 seconds
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Céad Míle Zooms

Enda Kenny & Sir Christopher Meyer reminisce about US St Patrick's Day celebrations.
3/16/202133 minutes, 48 seconds
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The Impartial Reporter

Mark Carruthers speaks to the BBC's former Head of TV News, Roger Mosey about the difficulties journalists face in maintaining neutrality.
3/10/202125 minutes, 8 seconds
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Making a drama out of a crisis

What makes a good Troubles drama?
3/3/202132 minutes, 28 seconds
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Lifting lockdown

Mark Carruthers speaks to Jayne McCormack, Sam McBride and behavioural economist Prof Pete Lunn about different strategies to move out of lockdown.
2/24/202127 minutes, 33 seconds
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Red herrings & Swiss cheese

Time to catch our political breath...?
2/17/202132 minutes, 37 seconds
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'United Kingdom, disunited message'

Mark Carruthers is joined by former BBC presenter Gavin Esler, Scottish journalist Alex Massie and Irish writer Mary Kenny to ask how successfully the UK is holding together.
2/10/202129 minutes, 39 seconds
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EU-turn if you want to.

Mark & guests discuss the fallout from the EU's decision to trigger Article 16
2/3/202128 minutes, 38 seconds
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Brake for the border...

How has the relationship between Stormont & Dublin impacted on the battle with covid19?
1/27/202130 minutes, 27 seconds
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Make America relate again

Mark Carruthers speaks to Ambassador Richard Haass, Prof Clodagh Harrington, Shane Greer and Chris Buckler about how Donald Trump has changed the US Presidency.
1/20/202135 minutes, 23 seconds
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Zooming into Stormont

Mark Carruthers asks three of the newest faces at Stormont how they have coped with an almost virtual parliament.
1/13/202128 minutes, 45 seconds
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Union flak?

Has the DUP fired the starting gun on its 2022 election campaign?
1/6/202128 minutes, 47 seconds
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Covid-19 in 2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly, Jayne McCormack and Enda McClafferty to look back on what a global pandemic has changed in 2020.
12/16/202032 minutes, 17 seconds
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Talks, deals and a 'forty foot barge pole'

Mark Carruthers discusses deal-making in Brussels and Belfast with Gareth Gordon, columnist Mary Kelly and former Number 10 spin doctor Tom Kelly.
12/9/202028 minutes, 45 seconds
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Legacy troubles

Mark Carruthers is joined by former Victims' Commissioner Judith Thompson, Rev Dr Lesley Carroll from the Eames Bradley Group, and Alan McBride from the WAVE Trauma Centre.
12/2/202032 minutes, 29 seconds
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Centenary Sensitivities

Mark Carruthers is joined by Professor Pete Shirlow, columnist Andrée Murphy and Professor Duncan Morrow to discuss marking the centenary of Northern Ireland.
11/25/202027 minutes, 52 seconds
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Mandatory collision

Mark Carruthers is joined by Sam McBride, Suzanne Breen and John Manley to ask if the system of government at Stormont makes fighting a global pandemic impossible.
11/18/202026 minutes, 41 seconds
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The Biden Identity

Mark Carruthers is joined by Fintan O'Toole, Norman Houston and Brendan O'Neill to discuss the new man heading to the White House.
11/11/202034 minutes, 44 seconds
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Union flagging?

Mark C is joined by Lesley Riddoch, David Maddox & Patrick Maguire.
11/4/202028 minutes, 58 seconds
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Polls: Leaders, parties & the border

Mark Carruthers chats to Suzanne Breen, Chris Donnelly and Newton Emerson.
10/28/202030 minutes
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Devenport departs

Gareth Gordon, Enda McClafferty, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker join Mark Carruthers to interrogate and tease the outgoing BBC NI Political Editor, Mark Devenport.
10/21/202033 minutes, 47 seconds
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Briefing Encounters 2 - Judgement Day

Polly Toynbee, John Sergeant & Alex Massie assess 6 months of Boris Johnson's leadership
10/14/202025 minutes, 32 seconds
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America votes on Mass

Mark speaks to Shane Greer, Fintan O'Toole and Marion McKeone about the American election
10/7/202029 minutes, 12 seconds
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Will Irish see border?

Mark Carruthers asks John Campbell, Jess Sargeant, Newton Emerson and Naomi O'Leary if the Brexit talks are approaching crunch time.
9/30/202025 minutes, 11 seconds
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Presidential reflection

Mark Carruthers speaks to former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese about her time in office, her wish to see reform in the Catholic Church and sexism in politics.
9/25/202028 minutes, 1 second
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Sexism in 2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, Nichola Mallon and Sorcha Eastwood to discuss how women in politics still face sexual harassment.
9/23/202028 minutes, 6 seconds
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Britannia waives the rules?

Mark is joined by columnists Mary Kenny, Fintan O'Toole & BBC's John Campbell.
9/16/202028 minutes, 54 seconds
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The Lord Chief Justice Interview

Mark speaks to Sir Declan Morgan, NI's Lord Chief Justice
9/10/202024 minutes, 38 seconds
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Julian Smith : Politics, persuasion & pints.

Mark chats to the former NI Secretary Julian Smith
7/15/202034 minutes, 48 seconds
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The Micheál Martin interview

A chance to listen to the full extended version of Mark's interview with the Taoiseach
7/12/202028 minutes, 15 seconds
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Stormont in a tea cup?

Mark Carruthers is joined by Mary Kelly, Stephen Grimason and Mark Simpson to compare Stormont's latest crisis with some of the big stories of the past.
7/8/202026 minutes, 13 seconds
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Micheál matters?

The Good Friday Agreement is his "guiding star".
7/1/202027 minutes, 24 seconds
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Independence Days

Michael Portillo talks to Mark Carruthers and UCD historian, Prof Diarmaid Ferriter about his new RTE series 'Hawks and Doves', examining the Irish War Of Independence.
6/24/202026 minutes, 53 seconds
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'Cute Hoors' & Blueshirts.

The end of Civil War politics in the Republic of Ireland?
6/17/202028 minutes, 23 seconds
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O'Leary, Newton, John

Mark and guests discuss Brexit, Barnier & a return of Crazy Prices.
6/10/202025 minutes, 12 seconds
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Yes Ministers

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen, Sam McBride and Brendan Hughes, to rate the Stormont Ministers' performance during the coronavirus crisis.
6/3/202026 minutes, 57 seconds
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Could Covid kill the Union?

Mark is joined by Lesley Riddoch, Alex Massie & Martin Kettle.
5/27/202028 minutes, 18 seconds
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Top Trumps

Mark Carruthers chats to the new US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland With analysis from Mark Devenport.
5/20/202030 minutes, 17 seconds
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Getting your steps up

Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Gareth Gordon and John Campbell, BBC NI Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly, and former political advisers Tom Kelly and Guto Harri.
5/13/202035 minutes, 29 seconds
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How the dealin's done

Mark Carruthers is joined by former British Ambassador to the US and Germany, Sir Christopher Meyer, and the Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and Italy, Bobby McDonagh and the BBC's Europe Editor, Katya Adler.
5/6/202029 minutes, 14 seconds
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Briefing encounters

Mark Carruthers is joined by John Sergeant, Polly Toynbee and Guto Harri to talk communicating with the public during a pandemic.
4/29/202027 minutes, 35 seconds
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Crisis Critique

Mark & his guests discuss how politicians are reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.
4/22/202029 minutes, 6 seconds
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Frontline reporting from the back garden

Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Mark Devenport, John Campbell and Enda McClafferty, along with RTE's Legal Affairs turned Covid 19 correspondent, Orla O'Donnell.
4/8/202027 minutes, 50 seconds
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Lock-in vs Lockdown

Mark Carruthers is joined by RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan, writer Declan Lawn and BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport to look at how society and is dealing with lockdown.
4/1/202026 minutes, 38 seconds
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Asking the right questions?

Discussing the interactions between media & politicians during the coronavirus outbreak
3/25/202027 minutes, 16 seconds
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RHI: Every single jot and tittle

Mark is joined by Conor Macauley, Mary Kelly & Stephen Grimason to examine the RHI report
3/18/202023 minutes, 31 seconds
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Capitol Gains

Mark, Gareth, Enda & Mary chat St Patrick's Day trips to the USA.
3/11/202025 minutes, 8 seconds
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Equality Street

Irish News columnist Mary Kelly, Green Party Leader Clare Bailey and Wendy Blundell from the Institution of Civil Engineers look at women in public life with Mark Carruthers.
3/4/202027 minutes, 47 seconds
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Trading trouble

Mark Carruthers talks trade and customs with Economics and Business Editor John Campbell, Patrick Maguire from the New Statesman and international trade expert Dr Anna Jerzewska.
2/25/202024 minutes, 43 seconds
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On SPAD-batical

Mark, Gareth & Jayne are joined by Julian Smith's former special adviser.
2/18/202022 minutes, 54 seconds
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Dáilsplaining

Mark Carruthers is joined by columnist Mary Kelly, Irish News political correspondent John Manley and unionist commentator Sarah Creighton.
2/11/202023 minutes, 59 seconds
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Dearg Lines

Mark Carruthers is in Dublin to talk about the election with Mary Minihan from the Irish Times, Mary Regan from RTÉ and Virgin Media's Gavan Reilly.
2/4/202025 minutes, 45 seconds
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Brexitpast

Mark Carruthers is joined by John Campbell in Belfast and the BBC's Europe Editor Gavin Lee and Shona Murray of Euronews from Brussels.
1/28/202024 minutes, 13 seconds
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Calling a SPAD a SPAD

Mark Carruthers is joined by Mary Kelly, John Campbell and Mark Devenport to look at Special Advisers, revenue raising and an MLA pay rise.
1/21/202023 minutes, 46 seconds
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Stormont returns (with added SOSNI)

Mark Carruthers is joined at Stormont by freelance journalist Amanda Ferguson, Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell, and Political Correspondent Stephen Walker.
1/14/202024 minutes, 43 seconds
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A holding pattern in high heels

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Jayne McCormack and the Press Association's Ireland Editor, David Young.
1/9/202023 minutes, 5 seconds
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Clear and presenter danger

Mark Carruthers is joined by Tara Mills, William Crawley and Enda McClafferty to look back at a remarkable General Election.
12/17/201927 minutes, 44 seconds
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Paper candidates

Mark Carruthers is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Suzanne Breen, John Manley from the Irish News, Gareth Gordon - who left the News Letter 28 years ago - and Mark Devenport.
12/11/201927 minutes, 10 seconds
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Alliance & Westminster: Alliance election profile

Mark Devenport, Jayne McCormack and Mary Kelly join Mark Carruthers to look at the Alliance Party's election profiles.
12/3/201923 minutes, 6 seconds
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Dups and downs: DUP election profile

Mark Devenport, Stephen Walker and Mary Kelly join Mark Carruthers to look at the DUP's election prospects.
11/26/201922 minutes, 47 seconds
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Shinner thoughts: Sinn Féin election profile

Mark Devenport, Enda McClafferty and Suzanne Breen join Mark Carruthers to look at Sinn Féin's election prospects.
11/19/201922 minutes, 8 seconds
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Shrinking Down or Larger Party? SDLP election profile

Mark Devenport, Enda McClafferty and Freya McClements join Mark Carruthers to look at the SDLP's election prospects.
11/12/201922 minutes, 11 seconds
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Politics un-pact: UUP election profile

Mark Devenport, Gareth Gordon and Sarah Creighton join Mark Carruthers to look at the UUP's election prospects.
11/5/201922 minutes, 4 seconds
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Will Boris trade the Union?

Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Mark Devenport and Enda McClafferty and BBC Scotland Editor, Sarah Smith.
10/30/201925 minutes, 51 seconds
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Newton lays down the law

After a memorable - but brief - return to Stormont we discuss the day's events and other big moments on the hill.
10/21/201921 minutes, 53 seconds
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When the dealin's done?

A special Red Lines episode on the day the UK and EU agree a Brexit deal. But can it get through parliament without the DUP?
10/17/201922 minutes, 8 seconds
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The writers' room

Mark and three top journalists and authors on writing a bestseller, nailing the story and getting the scoop.
10/15/201923 minutes, 40 seconds
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Tweets, trolls and tots

The double-edged sword of social media
10/8/201925 minutes, 1 second
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No vox popery here...

Marmalade madness as Enda makes it to Belfast.
10/1/201927 minutes, 11 seconds
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Joris Bohnson vs the Supreme Court

The Champions League final for constitutional lawyers
9/24/201923 minutes, 6 seconds
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Finn McCool, the capybara & a tub of lard

A bridge over troubled political waters? Red Lines looks at the connections between Northern Ireland and Scotland and asks whether a bridge is the obvious next step.
9/17/201921 minutes, 58 seconds
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Apologies in advance...

Barnier, bigfooting and, as ever, the backstop.
9/10/201919 minutes, 34 seconds