Newstalk Daily

Trump's Tantrum & The 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' 09.06.2026 19min

Donald Trump has walked out of another major TV interview.  This time, it was with NBC’s Kristen Welker, after he was challenged on his claims about the 2020 election and a proposed fund for people prosecuted under Joe Biden.  The row has opened up questions about January 6th and about Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.Ciara is joined by Law Lecturer at the University of Galway and US politics commentator, Larry Donnelly.

Should The Taxpayer Continue To Support Greyhound Racing? 08.06.2026 23min

Nearly 6,000 former racing greyhounds born in Ireland over just two years are now dead.  These animals were only between 4 and 5 years old are presumed to be destroyed after their “careers” ended.  This is also an industry that the Irish Government gives over 19 million euro annually, despite declining attendances.  So should the tax payer continue to support greyhound racing in this country?Ciara is joined by Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman & former Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill, a lifelong greyhound racing fan and advocate.

Racism & Policing in the UK: The Henry Nowak Murder 05.06.2026 24min

A murder case in Southampton has now become a major row about policing, racism, and the far right.  Henry Nowak was stabbed last December but while he lay dying, police handcuffed him and forcefully arrested him.  Now there’s been violent protests across Southampton, championed by Tommy Robinson and the fallout in the UK could prove disastrous. Ciara is joined by London Correspondent with The Irish Times, Mark Paul.

Will Ireland V Israel Actually Go Ahead? 04.06.2026 27min

Ireland is due to play Israel in October, with those calls for a boycott being raised since the game was announced back in February.  The Government says it is a decision for the FAI.  Opposition parties say that’s nothing but a cop-out. So, who should really be making the call and paying the price if the boycott goes ahead? Ciara is joined by OTB's Cameron Hill and Group Political Correspondent at Bauer Media, Sean Defoe.

Is a Bigger EU a Better EU? 03.06.2026 25min

The European Union is once again talking seriously about getting bigger.   Countries like Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and even Iceland are all on the path toward membership.  But expansion brings complications — from decision-making to political trust — and now, even ideas like limiting veto powers for new members are being floated.Ciara is joined by John O’Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration in Maynooth University and Journalist based in Iceland, Karen McHugh.

Do We Need A Secular Alternative To Communion and Confirmation? 02.06.2026 17min

For generations in Ireland, communion and confirmation have marked an important moment in a child's life. For some families, they remain deeply religious occasions, and for others, they're just as much about tradition and family and celebrating a milestone. But as Ireland changes, more people are beginning to ask whether these ceremonies and the way they're organized through schools still reflect the country we are today. Should these milestones remain part of school life? Are families simply following tradition, and what options exist for those who want to celebrate growing up differently?Ciara is joined by Dr Maedbh King who works on policy and strategy at Trinity College Dublin and is an advocate for a pluralist education system in Ireland.

Strange Bedfellows: What’s Behind UFC Freedom 250? 01.06.2026 19min

Donald Trump’s 80th birthday is being marked in a way few US presidents ever have... A full UFC event planned on the White House grounds.From an octagon on the Ellipse to weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial, “UFC Freedom 250” is shaping up to be one of the most unusual political-sport crossovers in modern history.So how did this alliance begin? And is this about a celebration or something more calculated?Ciara Doherty is joined by Petesy Carroll of Uncrowned and Yahoo Sports to unpack the growing connection between the UFC and Donald Trump and who's really helping who here.

What Happened With Saudi's Spending Spree? 29.05.2026 22min

Saudi Arabia has spent the last decade trying to reinvent itself — pouring hundreds of billions into futuristic cities, global sports, and infrastructure mega projects.  At the centre of it all is Mohammed bin Salman — MBS — the young, ambitious leader who promised to transform the Kingdom through something called Vision 2030.  But now, some of those biggest, boldest ideas are being scaled back.  So what happened to the Saudi spending spree? Ciara is joined by Economist and host of Newstalk's Taking Stock, Susan Hayes-Culleton and Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Lecturer in Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster University.

What Do Sinn Féin Stand For Now? 28.05.2026 24min

Sinn Féin has spent the last number of years positioning itself as the natural leader of Ireland’s left.  But now, that position is being questioned after bruising by-election results and growing tensions with parties like the Social Democrats and Labour,   There are now real questions about where Sinn Féin is going and whether it still owns that space at all.  So, does Sinn Féin need to change tact?Ciara is joined by Aoife Moore, journalist, and author of The Long Game: Inside Sinn Féin and also by Siobhán Fenton, former Sinn Féin Press adviser

The Pope Vs AI 27.05.2026 19min

Pope Leo The Fourteenth has called for artificial intelligence to be designed to achieve the common good and welfare of mankind.His Holiness has finally weighed in on the AI debate, but there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye. He’s comparing it to nuclear power… warning it could be used for domination, exclusion — even harm — if left unchecked. So, who is the Pope really calling out? Ciara is joined by Founder of Get Started with AI and host of Futureproof on Newstalk, Jonathan Mc Crea  and Theologian Gina Menzies.

The Long History of Multiculturalism In Ireland 26.05.2026 24min

Ireland today feels like it’s in the middle of a conversation about immigration & identity.  We often think ourselves part of the great diaspora making communities amongst ourselves in other nations.  And we think immigration to our island is something relatively new.  But in reality, Ireland’s history with migration is a lot more than the famine and economic crises, it’s previously been a place that welcomed (and sometimes rejected) communities from all across the globe .Shane Beatty is joined by Kieran Connell, History lecturer in Queen’s University Belfast.

What Did NAMA Achieve Anyway? 25.05.2026 19min

Seventeen years after the financial crash, one of the most powerful institutions created in its aftermath is coming to an end. NAMA — set up to take toxic property loans off the banks and stabilise the economy — says it returned billions to the State and helped rebuild parts of Dublin. But critics argue assets were sold too cheaply, developers were shut out, and international funds walked away with huge profits. So, was NAMA a necessary fix at a moment of crisis, or did it reshape Ireland’s property market in ways we’re still dealing with today? Ciara is joined by Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post. 

Is Watching Porn Cheating? 22.05.2026 21min

Gen Z is having less sex than the generations before them... They’re approaching dating in a completely different way. And increasingly, they’re learning about intimacy not from real-life relationships — but from what they see online.  Arguments, disagreements and fundamental beliefs are being discussed online daily. The latest debate is about whether watching porn in a relationship is acceptable or not.  So, are these arguments arbitrary, or is an issue like porn just more prevalent for younger generations than it was before? Ciara is joined by Journalist Tessa Ndjonkou and Family Psychotherapist specialising in porn addiction, David Kavanagh 

Sexual Violence In Reality TV 21.05.2026 23min

Married At First Sight on Channel 4 has been pulled from streaming after allegations of rape and non-consensual sexual activity during filming.  Police are now urging anyone who may have been affected to come forward, as investigations continue.  Some of the claims are understood to have been raised while filming was ongoing and yet the programme still aired.  So, at this stage, in the twenty-first century – why does reality TV still have so many skeletons in the closet?Ciara is joined by TV Critic and Broadcaster Scott Bryan and Professor of Film and Feminist Media Studies and Research Lead/Director for the Cambridge School of Creative Industries, Tanya Horeck

Door-to-Door Scams: Bogus Traders in Ireland 20.05.2026 24min

Gardaí are warning of a rise in door-to-door scams across Ireland, with bogus traders targeting homes offering cheap repairs and taking payment for unfinished work.At the same time, online fraud is escalating, with over 200 scam websites identified last year impersonating trusted services like An Post and Revenue Commissioners.So, how do we spot these bogus traders and what can we do to protect our more vulnerable loved ones when scamming seems to be everywhere?Josh Crosbie reports on the growing problem, with Pat Lordan, former Detective Chief Superintendent at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau Financial Intelligence Unit, discussing how these scams operate — and how to avoid them.

The By-Elections: Polls, Parties and the Polymarket Betting Controversy 19.05.2026 25min

Voters in Dublin Central and Galway West head to the polls this week. By-elections have a long history of delivering tough verdicts on governments — and the signs suggest these contest could follow that trend.In Dublin Central, Sinn Féin is leading and the Social Democrats are gaining ground, while Fianna Fáil faces a challenging fight. Add in high-profile independent candidates like Gerry “The Monk” Hutch, and the race becomes even more unpredictable.But this campaign has also been overshadowed by a more unusual controversy — an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on the Polymarket platform, with over $1 million wagered and the majority of trades flagged as potentially irregular.Ciara Doherty is joined by Newstalk’s Sean Defoe and political scientist Theresa Reidy to break down the latest polling, the key battlegrounds, and the controversy that has added a new layer of intrigue to this race.

Is VAR Ruining Football? 18.05.2026 27min

More controversy in football — and VAR is once again at the heart of it.  A last-minute Premier League goal ruled out after a lengthy video review, a decision that could prove decisive in a title race. Days later in Scotland, another major VAR intervention — a penalty call that swung the balance of the Scottish title. As debates rage over consistency, transparency, and the authority of match officials, one question has become impossible to ignore: are referees still deciding football matches — or has VAR taken over that role entirely? Ciara Doherty is joined by football writer Jonathan Wilson and Off The Ball’s David Wilson to unpack the biggest recent VAR flashpoints, the impact on title races in England and Scotland, and whether the technology has fundamentally changed how football is decided. 

Murdaugh Murders: The Empire Fights Back 15.05.2026 23min

The Murdaugh family once ruled South Carolina’s Lowcountry like a legal dynasty — generations of power, political influence, money, and fear. Then came the murders. Alex Murdaugh, the high-profile lawyer convicted of killing his wife Maggie and son Paul at the family’s sprawling hunting estate, is now heading for a possible retrial after his murder convictions were sensationally overturned. How did one of America’s most powerful Southern families collapse into allegations of fraud, addiction, corruption, and brutal double murder? And could the jury in the original trial have been improperly influenced? Ciara Doherty is joined by Mandy Matney — the journalist whose reporting turned the Murdaugh saga into a global true crime obsession. 🎧 Listen to True Sunlight here: https://truesunlight.com/ 

Are Trump and Xi REALLY Besties? 14.05.2026 25min

Donald Trump is in Beijing for a summit dripping in spectacle, symbolism and global stakes. As China rolls out the military salutes and billboard diplomacy, is Xi Jinping flattering Trump — or strategically manipulating him? From Taiwan and trade wars to Iran and a shifting world order, we ask whether this meeting marks the beginning of a deeper global realignment. Ciara Doherty is joined by UCD’s Professor Scott Lucas and Dennis Staunton of the Irish Times. 

Why Aren't We Allowed To Drink In Public In Ireland? 13.05.2026 21min

Maybe it’s something we only notice when the sun comes out, but it's always a hot button issue when we do see it.  Why can’t you have a drink in a park or on the street in Ireland? And it feeds into a bigger question, not just about alcohol, but about space, and who gets to use it.Ciara is joined by Una Mullally, columnist with the Irish Times and Sunday Independent columnist, town planner and urban theorist, Conor Skehan