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Political commentator Alex Clark discusses Merkels's new coalition and what her concessions might mean, what is likely to happen in Italy after their inconclusive election and the EU's reaction to Theresa May's latest Brexit speech.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University explains why the left/right divide is becoming less and less important. Voters’ primary concern is no longer tax, spending and the size of the public sector. Instead votes are now split around ‘internationalism’ which means attitudes to immigration, trade and the like. Tim also looks at whether the UK needs to spend more money on ‘digital defence’ as well as the decline of the traditional British establishment.

Political commentator Alex Clark looks at the Cabinet Away Day at Chequers and wonders if anything solid will result from it. He ponders Theresa May's speech on education, looks at the allegations that Jeremy Corbyn might have been a Czech security service asset and looks at what it means that Martin Selmayr has been appointed the EU's top civil servant.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks whether the US economy is becoming dangerously unstable with spending increasing even as the economy booms. He also reflects upon a survey showing that the UK public appears not to care who runs hospitals as long as they are more efficient. Lastly, he considers Momentum dropping its pledge of non-violence and the MP the Czech secret police called Agent Cob.

Political commentator Alex Clark discusses the Brexit state of play with Simon Rose from both the UK and the EU points of view. He looks at GroKo, the grand coalition in German politics and asks if it will last. And he takes a peek at the EU, stuck between a clock and a hard place when it comes to the Timelords in the European Parliament.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses how the US and the West are losing out to Russia - and now China - in an Arctic Cold War; how China is developing a $2 billion research park into AI at high speed; and how Romania is reverting to Soviet-era-style justice, while the EU appears to be turning a blind eye.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the effects of the collapse of Carillion, at whether UK productivity is finally rising and, in London Blockchain Week, what blockchain technology might mean for our futures.

Adrian Bua is a researcher at the Centre for Urban Research on Austerity. The Centre develops research into austerity and related concepts and practices, such as crisis, resistance, resilience, renaissance and transformation. It brings together activists, students and academics working on these issues to develop new networks and projects. Wolfgang Streeck is Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies. He is a sociologist working on political economy who analyses the trajectory and future of capitalism, democracy and the state in his recent books "Buying Time" (2013) and "How Will Capitalism End" (2016). This podcast discusses the main arguments he develops in these works.

Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University discusses the IMF's forecast for the UK, why the UK is not backing Iran's freedom fighters, Russian spy ships and why Project Fear might have been mistaken.

Tim Evans of Middlesex University gives 10 predictions for 2018 discussing, amongst other things, cyber attacks and the insurance industry, solar geoengineering, the commercial space sector, North Korea and the 250th anniversary of the circus.