The world is watching anxiously as the United States moves to introduce tariffs on key trading partners. But what exactly is a tariff? What are the pros and cons, and is there an end goal that Trump has in mind? And to what extent could it shock the world's economy? We're joined on this week's episode by Sharyn O'Halloran, the SALI professor of Pol…

Pope Francis has been in the headlines in recent days as he battles pneumonia. He has since rallied, but this latest illness has brought the issue of choosing a new Pope into sharp focus again. How does this work? How does the Vatican and its cardinals go about voting on and anointing a new pope? We're joined by The Journal reporter Diarmuid Pepper…

It’s not even a month since Trump took office, and already his actions are starting to reshape — or at least unsettle — the global order. First came the news that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had spoken on the phone, signalling a massive departure from the US government’s policy of Russian isolation. Then, US Vice President JD Vance went as far …

Is a simple injection really that effective a treatment for obesity? Ozempic has already taken the medical world by storm, and now another is about to become available on the Irish market. But how do these drugs work, who are they for, and are they even that new at all? Professor Francis Finucane, a consultant endocrinologist at Galway University H…

Storm Éowyn exposed how vulnerable modern Irish society is to widespread disruption. What lessons can be learned to help us deal with not only storms, but other systemic shocks? David Korowicz, a systemic risk consultant, joins us to examine ways in which Ireland can become more resilient at an individual, community, and national level. What can be…

Vaping has rapidly grown to become a part of modern life, with shops selling vapes popping up almost on every street corner. But what is actually being sold, and who are the companies behind the massive industry? The Journal Investigates team — Maria Delaney, Patricia Devlin, and Conor O'Carroll — went undercover to expose the sale of illicit vapes…

Donald Trump is back in the White House. Some are rejoicing, others can't bear to look. This week, Larry Donnelly — law lecturer at the University of Galway and a political columnist with The Journal — gives us a quick overview of the main talking points from the past few days. What are Trump's priorities, and what does it tell us about the coming …

Take a look around an Irish charity shop, and it won't be long before you find clothes from Shein. They might be completely unworn, still with their label on them. The e-commerce giant is having a huge impact on the world of clothing, causing an influx of cheap, almost disposable clothing at an unprecedented scale, driven by ease of purchase and, s…

Elon Musk has been an almost ever-present figure beside Donald Trump. Initially a supportive donor, he was elevated to a much higher standing soon after Trump’s victory — and it became clear that Musk has an agenda and aims to disrupt. He has big plans to upend the US civil service, but has now been garnering huge attention on this side of the Atla…

Another year coming to an end means another year of explanations to look back on. This week on The Explainer, presenter Laura Byrne takes a look back at what we've covered over the past 12 months, where our reporters and guests have demonstrated their eye for detail and ability to break down complex stories in a clear and easy-to-understand way. Th…

2024: the year was a soap opera on steroids. Warring nations, election dramas, AI flipping between savior and villain, and entertainment that was bereft of originality. There was no escaping chaos and disappointment this year - and yet, somehow, humanity trudged on. The Explainers revisits a year that everyone...would rather forget.…

Larry Donnelly, Boston lawyer and law lecturer at the University of Galway, joins us to look at the world of US politics in 2024, and examines what 2025 might hold. Now that the dust has settled, what went wrong for the Democrats in the election? What might Biden's legacy be? And will Trump be more effective during this second term in the White Hou…

Counselling psychologist and lecturer in TU Dublin Leslie Shoemaker joins us to examine how we can make this busy time of the year less of a handful. What are the best ways of taking some of the pressure off yourself? How do you navigate around those tricky family tensions? And how can parents manage the expectations of children? Hosted on Acast. S…

Homes built near the sea have always been at risk as coastlines moves closer and closer — and in our warming climate, rising sea levels will become an increasing reality. The Journal Investigates has examined the scale of this in Ireland, revealing that the number of homes at risk of falling into the sea due to coastal erosion has increased 173% in…

Dr Cara Augustenborg, assistant professor in Environmental Policy at UCD, joins us to look at the fallout from the Green Party's collapse in the 2024 general election. Roderic O'Gorman survived as the party's sole TD in the Dáil. How did this happen to a party when the climate is at the forefront of so many people's minds? Which party is best place…

With the 2024 general election just around the corner, we're revisiting a valuable episode from earlier this year: Virgin Media's political correspondent Gavan Reilly sits down with us to explain what exactly proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV) is all about. Do you need to give a preference to every candidate listed…

It's now more than 1,000 days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and there are signs that the conflict is taking on a new dimension. The use of Western-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine on targets within Russia led to renewed sabre-rattling from Vladimir Putin, sparking questions over whether Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons. But …

After weeks of what felt like endless speculation, the Taoiseach Simon Harris finally put us out of our misery last week (with a bit of a jump on him by Micheál Martin) and announced that the election will take place on Friday 29 November. Since then, the posters went up in jig time and every party has been out campaigning with gusto. There’s not a…

Is it time to dispense with the 5-day workweek? This episode dives into the idea of a 4-day workweek and what it could mean for our lives. We explore real-world trials from around the globe that indicate shorter weeks can boost productivity, improve well-being, and create happier workplaces. We also examine what the skeptics have to say and what su…

You likely saw the images from Dublin city centre last week: hundreds of people lining O’Connell Street on Halloween night, all eagerly awaiting a promised parade. It soon became apparent that something was amiss… there was no parade and these people had been duped by online misinformation. The Journal’s FactCheck Editor Stephen McDermott joins us …

We’re joined by our own political columnist, Larry Donnelly who is a law lecturer at the University of Galway, to check in on the final days of the race for the White House. Trump and Harris have duked it out across the US in recent weeks in an attempt to woo voters, but the polls continue to indicate that this race is closer than ever. So what is …

We're joined by Dr Shelley Deane, researcher at DCU’s School of Law and Government, to examine the deepening crisis in southern Lebanon following Israel's invasion. The UN has maintained a presence in the region since the late 1970s and members of the Irish Defence Forces continue to play a significant role in that mission. They are now under almos…

If asked to name some things we know about Nepal, most of us would probably say Mount Everest. The next might actually be landslides. The country is plagued by them. They can often be deadly, killing people, destroying homes and villages and disappearing entire road networks. Because of their prevalence in Nepal, there has to be constant vigilance …

One of the most successful BBC TV shows, Strictly Come Dancing, is back on air for its 20th year after it was rocked by a summer of in-house scandals. An investigation into harmful work practices was launched by the BBC when two of Strictly's two professional dancers, Italians Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, were accused of bullying and ina…

The Budget has been dubbed a giveaway — but will it really make that much of a difference to your pocket? Barra Roantree from TCD's Department of Economics joins us to examine whether the tax decreases and once-off payments will help those who need it the most and how there is a chance it could add fuel to an overheating economy. Who stands to gain…

Puff Daddy, P Diddy, Diddy, Love or Sean Combs — many of us would have grown up with the numerous names of that rapper over the last 30 years or so. The 54-year-old music producer, businessman and global celebrity is in federal custody in the United States, awaiting trial for a number of serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. …

The 42's Gavin Cooney joins us to examine where it all went wrong for Casement Park. The redevelopment of one of Northern Ireland's largest stadiums was on the table until the UK government pulled the plug on promised funding. Will Northern Ireland still have a role when the UK and Ireland host the Euros in 2028? And is there still hope for those w…

The village of Dundrum in Co Tipperary has been the site of protests and division in recent months over the housing of international protection applicants. To look at exactly is happening on the ground — and, after similar incidents elsewhere, what the government can learn from the approach it has taken — we're by our reporter Eoghan Dalton, who ha…

To look at what emergencies can tell us about how connected, or not, our healthcare systems are, we're joined on this week's episode of The Explainer by Jean Paul Jemmy, a health expert specialising in nutrition with European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. He has been a humanitarian worker for the last three decades with direct e…

The numbers alone stopped the country in its tracks this week: 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse of children in schools run by religious orders. 844 alleged abusers. 308 schools. 42 religious orders. A new report revealed stories of abuse across many schools. But how are we back here again? And has enough changed to stop it from happening again? We…

In this episode, we look at the growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance due to rampant antibiotic abuse. The United Nations calls it a crisis, and the WHO places AMR in the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. Welcome to the rise of the superbugs.द्वारा The Explainers

Tech journalist and author Chris Stokel-Walker joins us to examine what's going on with messaging app Telegram and its owner Pavel Durov. Telegram is touted as a secure, privacy-focused app, and while that is appealing to many and useful in countries where free speech is curtailed, it has also led to the platform being used as a base for a range of…

This week, The Journal has published a series of in-depth interviews with a number of victims of convicted paedophile, Michael Shine. Editor Sinéad O'Carroll joins to explain why they are waiving their anonymity to call for a public inquiry.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has b…

Arts writer and Sunday Times columnist Aoife Barry joins us to explore the world of Kneecap. The bilingual hip hop trio are surging in popularity, changing attitudes towards the Irish language while drawing both praise and consternation (depending on which Northern Irish tradition you talk to) along the way. Now, with the release of their semi-fict…

As Ireland takes home what seems to be an ever-growing pile of medals, the Olympics has also been navigating a headline-grabbing controversy in the world of women's boxing. Two boxers were deemed ineligible to box at the World Boxing Championships last year are competing at the Games in Paris. On this week's episode, we're joined by sportswriter wi…

Senator Tom Clonan, a retired army officer who served as a peacekeeper in Lebanon, joins Lauren Boland on this week's episode to share his insights into the group's history, and what recent escalations mean for the situation on the ground.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has bee…

The world of US politics has evolved dramatically over the past few weeks, with the latest curveball being the decision by Joe Biden to step down as Democratic candidate in the November's election and endorse his vice president, Kamala Harris. How will Trump and the Republican party respond? Larry Donnelly, a law lecturer at the University of Galwa…

Scott Lucas, professor of International Politics at the Clinton Institute, UCD and editor-in-chief of EA WorldView, joins us to examine the history of attacks on US presidents - both sitting and former - to gauge what the fallout from the attempted assassination of Donald Trump could be.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open…

This week on The Explainer we hear from The Journal's US columnist Larry Donnelly on his thoughts after the press conference and ask our very own Assistant News Editor Rónán Duffy if Joe Biden can really continue in the election race?This episode was brought to you by senior producer Nicky Ryan, assistant producer Muiris O'Cearbhaill, executive pro…

A look at the growth of cybercrime, how this impacts various aspects of life, and why you should keep your wits about yourself when someone wants to do you a favor.द्वारा The Explainers

Dominic McGrath, UK correspondent with the Business Post, joins us for an essential overview of the latest in the United Kingdom's seismic election result. Just how much of a hit did the Tories take? And what will the political landscape look like under Keir Starmer?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable j…

Brendan Slattery, a solicitor with McCann Fitzgerald specialising in expert in planning and environmental law joins us to look at 'go-away money' in the Irish planning system. What is it all about? How is it being used? And what might new laws do to stop it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University John O'Brennan joins us to look at what the next five years hold for Ireland's new or returning MEPs. What will the priorities be for the European Parliament? And where will Irish politicians fit in?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in I…

The seats are filled, the dust is settling, and the count centre staff enjoying some well-earned rest. To take stock of where we're at now, Laura Byrne is joined on this week's episode by our Political Editor Christina Finn, and Brendan Flynn, a Head of Political Science at the University of Galway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i…

Virgin Media's political correspondent Gavan Reilly sits down with us to explain what exactly proportional representation with a single transferable vote is all about. Do you need to give a preference to every candidate listed on a ballot paper? How and when do preferences beyond your first come into play?The Explainer is brought to you by The Jour…

On 7 June, you'll have the chance to vote in the European elections - but what exactly will the end result be? For the latest in a special series of episodes, The Journal's Muiris O'Cearbhaill and European Movement Ireland CEO Noelle O'Connell join us to look at how the election process works, what exactly an MEP does, and how you should decide on …

DCU's Paola Rivetti, an expert in Middle East politics, joins us to look at the fallout from the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash last week. What role did he play in Iranian society? What does the succession process look like - and is there any scope for a more moderate leader?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing…

Presenter Maria Delaney is joined by News Correspondent Órla Ryan who has been leading our year-long ‘Falling Through the Cracks’ investigation into young people with psychosis, which was supported by the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland in partnership with Headline, a Shine programme. They're also joined by Consul…

Over recent years, Europe has seen a rising trend of severe weather - some of which can be linked to climate change. This means an increasing need for authorities to respond to life-threatening situations. That's where the European Union’s Department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), providing support to countries wher…

In this episode of The Explainers, we check out some exciting developments in the world of AI - the good, the great, and...the creepy?द्वारा The Explainers