Free Daily Podcast Summary
In The News: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Irish Times
In The News is a daily podcast from The Irish Times that takes a close look at the stories that matter, in Ireland and around the world. Presented by Bernice Harrison and Sorcha Pollak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today21 min
Why has Simon Harris promised penalties for the long-term unemployed?
Táiniste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has denied “punching down” on the long-term unemployed in his speech at Fine Gael’s annual party conference in Cork at the weekend.The accusation came from Sinn Féin but was mirrored by other opposition parties in the wake of his comments that " the dole is a safety net, not a way of life."The mention was brief relative to the thirty minute ardfheis speech, but its pointedness was notable in the context of the address overall.In it, Harris raised several other traditional Fine Gael talking points; emphasising that it’s the party of law and order, income tax cuts, enterprise and in favour of tighter migration controls.The sharpening of tone compared to his 2024 ardfheis speech has not gone unnoticed, but what has prompted it?It may be an internal party report that was circulated to Fine Gael members in advance of the conference. The Commission for Renewal found many people “do not have a clear idea” of what Fine Gael is about, what it has achieved and what it stands for.Then followed a debate about whether to allow a motion at the ardfheis proposing the party reassert its centre-right position as a member of Christian Democrat family of European political parties.The motion was not allowed to go ahead over concerns it would overshadow the internal report, but Harris’ speech clearly reflected the themes.Was Simon Harris punching down on a vulnerable group when he made his dole comments? Is Fine Gael facing an identity crisis? And is it capable of delivering policies that would reflect its centre-right principles?To discuss this political editor Pat Leahy, who attended the ardfheis in UCC’s Mardyke Arena, joins the In the News podcast.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Yesterday24 min
Fake listings and scams: why Booking.com has questions to answer
EU regulators have begun an investigation into Booking.com, alleging that the travel website has not done enough to protect consumers from scams, phishing and fake listings.The news came as no surprise to consumer correspondent Conor Pope whose Pricewatch email received a growing number of complaints from Irish Times readers.They contact him when they have been unable to resolve a complaint. Typically the issues revolve around booking problems, phantom listings or refunds. And it’s the website responsiveness to consumer complaints that is at the heart of the European Commission investigation.The site has millions of accommodation listings, from hotels to rooms to villa rentals, and customers from all over the world. The vast majority of customers have positive experiences with the site.Pope gives examples from his mailbox, explains the various scams associated with the site, and how the EU-wide investigation will explore if Booking.com has breached the EU’s Digital Services Act.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 4 days ago17 min
Who is behind bomb threats to airlines and Irish media?
Bomb threats against Irish media organisations earlier today were just the latest in a series of disruptive acts targeting European citizens in the past fortnight. Could these acts be connected and who could be behind them? Bernice Harrison talks to UCD's Edward Burke.Dr Edward Burke is a military and security expert at UCD, where he is assistant professor in the history of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 4 days ago26 min
Who is Aengus Ó Snodaigh and why is he in the headlines?
Since the Garda raid on the Liberty Recycling charity on October 20th, Aengus Ó Snodaigh’s name has been in the news.Luxury goods to the value €300,000 were seized by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau at locations associated with the successful social enterprise as part of an extensive investigation into alleged money laundering.The Sinn Féin TD is a decades-long board member of the charity and is its current chair. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on his behalf and the Dublin TD is not under criminal investigation.On Monday, Ó Snodaigh wrote to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to request to make a statement on the matter in the Dáil. That was refused and instead he released a statement.What did it say? What is the reference to a forged signature in that statement? What is his role in the charity and how is his board performance, which stretches back 20 years, viewed by the Charities Regulator?Irish Times political correspondent Harry McGee outlines Ó Snodaigh’s career and his relationship with Liberty Recycling.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 5 days ago18 min
Who is the Irish jihadist jailed for knife attack on gardaí in Dublin
In July 2025 Abdullah Khan, a self-described jihadist, carried out two attacks in Dublin, both were captured on camera.A follower of Isis, the radical Islamic terrorist group, Khan attacked two gardaí on patrol on Capel Street because, it is believed, they are a symbol of the State.Taken into custody he also confessed to an arson attack some days earlier on Conor McGregor’s Black Forge pub in Crumlin.He plead guilty to both and this week for sentencing. He was jailed for 6½ years.What do we know about Abdullah Khan? How was the Irish-born young man radicalised? Isis militants often operate within wider networks or cells, so do gardaí believe Khan acted alone? What was the reaction to the sentence?Courts reporter Eoin Reynolds was there for Khan’s sentencing and he outlines the case.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 6 days ago17 min
US midterms: What do big Democrat wins mean for the US and the rest of the world?
Democrats have swept key US midterm races, flipping long-held Republican seats and securing a majority in the House and Senate. The results are a wipeout for president Donald Trump’s Republican party and a rejection of his policies.As formally red states fell to the Democrats, it’s been called a blue wave or a “bluenami” but what will it mean for how the US is governed in the next two years? How will US foreign policy be impacted? And what might it mean for the next presidential election?Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at UCD’s Clinton Institute, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 6 days ago25 min
Hackers targeted supermarket fridges, what else can they do?
On Monday, hackers launched a cyberattack on SuperValu stores, remotely changing the temperature settings in fridges and freezer units in 13 branches.The immediate result was the mass dumping of tens of thousands of euro worth of food as the retailer sought to protect the public from potentially spoiled goods.The broader impact – and one that will prove longer lasting – is the knowledge that no one is immune. With what seems like relatively little effort, hackers can hit us where we are most vulnerable: our food supplies.The hack appears limited to a specific model of fridge but it is part of a growing, terrifying pattern. Reports of similar incidents at supermarkets throughout Europe emerged on Monday, with overheating fridges in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia ruining millions of euro worth of food.A hack on some French supermarkets took place last month and in the US in August the Pentagon believe hackers shut down fridges in six US military bases.So who are the hackers? And why target supermarket shelves? And in a world of appliance connectivity how worried should people be that the next hack could be even closer to home?Irish Times business and technology reporter Ciara O’Brien and business reporter Ian Curran explain.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago16 min
US midterms: Hugh Linehan's guide to watching the results
Voting is underway in the US midterm elections, the results of which will decide which party controls Congress, and whether Donald Trump can advance his agenda for the remaining two years of his presidency. Democrats are expected to flip the House of Representatives but the Senate race is much tighter. Host of the Inside Politics podcast Hugh Linehan explains the outcome is likely to hinge on eight seats: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas. Some of these haven’t elected a statewide Democratic senator in decades. In the case of Kansas, it hasn’t returned one since 1932. But with voting booths closing at around 11pm Irish time, the results probably won’t be known until Wednesday morning. Linehan outlines what the polls have been saying, what the biggest dramas of the campaigns have been and when we might expect the first tallies. You can listen to the conversation on the player above or search for In the News wherever you get your podcasts.Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get In The News summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Newscast
Daily news and political analysis from BBC journalists, covering Westminster and global developments.
The Headlines
A daily news podcast offering global headlines and analysis from New York Times reporters.
Global News Podcast
A twice-daily news podcast delivering global headlines and analysis on politics, economics, climate, business, technology, and health.
Mo News
Daily news coverage with analysis, interviews, and listener Q&A on global headlines from Mosheh Oinounou and Jill Wagner.
The State of Us
Tara Mills and Declan Harvey provide in-depth coverage of news stories for BBC NI.
The Daily
A daily news podcast covering major global stories with in-depth reporting from The New York Times.
The Intelligence from The Economist
Global news and analysis from The Economist, covering politics, business, and culture with weekday stories and a deep dive on weekends.
What in the World
A daily podcast exploring major and minor global events to help listeners understand current affairs and feel more informed.
Have I Got News For Your Ears
CNN Podcasts
The Interview
In-depth interviews with influential figures across culture, politics, business, and sports exploring their motivations and impact.
FT News Briefing
Daily global business news highlights from the Financial Times newsroom, released every weekday morning.
Here & Now Anytime
Daily news coverage with in-depth stories and special series from NPR and WBUR, hosted by Robin Young and Scott Tong.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from In The News in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's In The News daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of In The News as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the In The News podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official In The News product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by The Irish Times.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does In The News release new episodes?
In The News publishes daily. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does In The News cover?
In The News covers topics including News, Politics. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting In The News summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.