The Explainer

The price of oil has surged again. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to shipping. Major Middle Eastern production hubs have declared force majeure. Is Ireland looking at a repeat of the economic shocks of the 1970s, or is there still a chance for the damage to be more short-term? We’re joined by Dr Emma Howard, an economist at TU Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump promised no more forever wars, but that didn't stop him wading into an intense bombing campaign against Iran - a conflict most Americans oppose and, crucially, one Congress wasn't consulted on. It has brought the War Powers Act back into the spotlight: what checks and balances exist, if any, to restrain a president? Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and political columnist with The Journal, talks us through the legal and political mess, from the constitutional questions in Washington to the growing splits inside MAGA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the EU Presidency looming and a massive funding shortfall in the Department of Defence, a new plan proposes something unprecedented: asking British and French navies to help patrol Irish waters. News Correspondent Niall O’Connor joins us to examine how this new strategy will work, what it means for Irish neutrality, and the crucial question of how we are going to pay for it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a debate that is taking place at kitchen tables across the country: are smartphones and social media apps doing more harm than good for our children? Ireland is following in the footsteps of Australia and plans to restrict social media access for anyone under the age of 16, with a pilot for age verification technology set to roll out in the coming months. We’re joined by Philip Arneill, head of communications and research with CyberSafeKids, to examine how a ban could work - and if it's the right move. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Internal HSE figures obtained by The Journal Investigates reveal that hundreds of people have died by suspected suicide within weeks of being in contact with healthcare services. Families who have lost loved ones say the system is overwhelmed, and that patients are often discharged without adequate follow-up or are left waiting in chaotic environments that are ill-equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies. We speak to Patrica Devlin from The Journal Investigates. Help is available: You can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a heartbreakingly familiar cycle: devastated homeowners, ruined businesses, and politicians promising defences are on the way. For towns like Midleton and Enniscorthy, those promises have turned into years of waiting. With Storm Chandra bringing fresh devastation, why does it take so long to get flood relief schemes built? And could nature-based solutions offer an alternative? We're joined by Dr Fiachra O'Loughlin, assistant professor at UCD's School of Civil Engineering. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sound is instantly recognisable and, for many communities. can become a source of constant dread: the high-pitched whine of a scrambler bike tearing through a park or housing estate. Many are now asking: can gardaí do more to stop them? And why has the issue been left to bubble under the surface for so long? Widen the lens, and you'll also bring e-scooters into focus and why, despite legislation introduced in May 2024, confusion still reigns over what is legal, what is banned, and why injuries are on the rise. We’re joined by Conor Faughnan, Independent Motoring Expert at Carzone and formerly the spokesperson for AA Roadwatch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The warnings are getting louder, and we're hearing more and more often that Europe is in the grips of a hybrid war. But is the rhetoric matching the reality and the actions being taken by EU countries in the face of this? News Correspondent Niall O'Connor joins us to share insights from his recent sit-down interview Sean Clancy, an Irish general who is heading up the bloc's defence strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all seen the headlines about "celebrity family feuds" before, but Brooklyn Beckham’s unprecedented six-page Instagram statement attacking his parents, David and Victoria, feels different. Kate Demolder, arts and culture journalist and co-host of the Culture Pigs podcast, examines this calculated demolition of one of the world's most carefully curated family brands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It began with anger over soaring prices, but it has spiralled into what may be the most serious challenge to the Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution. Crucially, this uprising began not with students or dissidents, but with the bazaari, Tehran's merchants and shopkeepers, long considered pillars of the Islamic Republic. We're joined by DCU's Paola Rivetti to ask: is the Islamic Republic finally on the brink? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The events of Saturday night in Caracas saw Donald Trump rip up the international rulebook again, if there even was any of it left to begin with. With a new national security strategy dubbed the "Don-roe Doctrine", the US is aggressively reasserting dominance over the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Threats have already been levelled at Colombia and Mexico, while tensions over Greenland have reignited a diplomatic firestorm with Denmark. Is this just rhetoric, or renewed American imperialism? We're joined by Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and a political columnist with The Journal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we look back at some of our best episodes from the past year. What did we learn about how drugs like Ozempic actually work? Why are companies so determined to get people back to the office, even if the evidence shows remote work is as productive? And what happened when unknown drones were spotted over the Irish Sea? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve all been there: the forced smile as you unwrap a jumper you wouldn’t be caught dead in, or the gimmicky gadget someone already gave you last year. Instead of regifting or throwing it in the bin, could you maybe get a refund? We're joined by Jennifer Darmody, media communications manager at the CCPC to explain exactly where you stand when the gift isn't quite right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've likely noticed the price of your favourite treats creeping up, but now there's a new element: look at the label, and some of the most iconic choccie bars have recently undergone recipe changes so significant they can no longer legally be called 'chocolate'. From soaring cocoa prices driven by climate change to the rise of 'skimpflation,' the confectionery industry is facing a massive shake-up, and one you might notice when you're working through your Stephen's Day chocolate stockpile. We're joined by Gráinne Mullins, founder and CEO of Grá Chocolates, to examine how the global cocoa crisis is hitting the industry what it means for the future of luxury artisan brands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enoch Burke is, yet again, back in Mountjoy Prison, but this time, the legal stakes for him and his family have risen dramatically. After weeks of chaotic scenes in the Four Courts, a High Court judge has not only ordered the teacher’s return to prison but has also directed the Attorney General to consider criminal contempt charges against him, his mother, and two of his siblings. The Journal's FactCheck editor Stephen McDermott joins us to unravel the latest developments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid his first official visit to Ireland this week. As his plane was flying towards Dublin Airport late on Monday night, four unidentified military-style drones breached a no-fly zone and flew towards his flight path. But where did the drones come from? How close did they get to Zelenskyy’s plane? And what does it say about Ireland’s capacity to deal with this kind of security incident? We're joined by the The Journal’s News Correspondent Niall O’Connor who broke this story earlier today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taxi drivers have held several demonstrations in Dublin city centre over recent weeks that have caused gridlock traffic in the capital. The target of their annoyance is a new fixed rate option that was recently introduced on the Uber app. How does the fixed fare option compare with the taxi app's previous offerings or with paying by the traditional meter? And how has Uber responded to complaints about the new feature? We're joined this week by The Journal reporter Andrew Walsh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After two weeks of fraught negotiations in Belem, Brazil, COP30 reached a fragile agreement that triples adaptation finance but fails to chart a course for the phasing out of fossil fuels. With the United States absent and the EU finding itself increasingly isolated, the summit served as a reality check for what the future of climate cooperation might look like. We're joined this week by Diarmuid Torney, associate professor in the School of Law and Government at DCU and Director of the university's Institute for Climate and Society, to examine what was agreed, what was lost, and where the world goes from here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows a pattern of repeated disappearances from Ireland’s State-run residential centres, with some young people going missing dozens of times every year. What does it mean for a child in Tusla’s care to have gone missing? Why are these figures so high? And what does it say about Ireland’s care system? We’re joined by Patricia Devlin, investigative journalist at The Journal Investigates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's just the latest seismic shock to rock the BBC: the resignation of Director-General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness. The trigger was a Panorama documentary about Donald Trump, which a leaked memo revealed had 'spliced' together two parts of his 6 January speech, making it sound like a direct call to violence. Why did this controversy explode now? And what does it say about impartiality and political pressure at the corporation - and maybe even its future? We're joined by Dominic McGrath, UK correspondent with the Business Post. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.