The National Podcast

Editor Laura Webster and Reporter Lucy Jackson react to the Orange Order's "significant" summit flopping, the 12-year anniversary of the indyref, and Donald Trump being sued in Scotland Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter James Walker interviews Ricky Bell on his future plans for Glasgow as he becomes leader of the city council. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss the Unionist reaction to the devolved leaders' historic declaration, Restore's threats to devolution, and Thomas Kerr's latest vile rant. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Steph Brawn is joined by Lucy Jackson to examine the mainstream media's coverage of the history meeting between the leaders of the SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru and how it differed to that of social media influencer's take on the event. Join The National from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Sign up to the Media Watch newsletter at thenational.scot/newsletters

Editor Laura Webster and Digital Editor Laura Pollock discuss the historic self-determination declaration being signed in Cardiff by John Swinney, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald. Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens are pushing for a vote on an AI data centre moratorium. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Donate to the Common Weal crowdfunder at https://www.commonweal.scot/crowdfunder

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter James Walker discuss the day's big stories, as Andy Burnham backtracks on his previous suggestion about the route to Scottish independence. They also discuss a major new story about AI data centres in Scotland, and a strange discovery about Reform's head of comms at the Scottish Parliament. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn react to Andy Burnham's major independence intervention, and Ed Miliband's sanctions on Israel. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

In this episode of The National's Media Watch, political reporter Steph Brawn and reporter Lucy Jackson break down Channel 4’s explosive undercover documentary on Reform UK — and ask why other outlets, especially the BBC, haven’t matched that level of scrutiny. They discuss the alleged donations scandal, the resignation of two key Farage aides, and whether the tide is finally turning in how the media covers Nigel Farage and his party. They also look at press regulation, IPSO’s record (no fines issued), and why many people now want tougher rules after high-profile cases like the Jason Arday coverage. PLUS: Katty Kay’s Gaza “genocide” remark and the BBC’s response, and the controversy over an all-English Great British Bake Off line-up. Subscribe to The National from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Get the Media Watch newsletter for free at thenational.scot/newsletters

Xander Elliards and James Walker discuss the latest topics making the news on the The National Podcast. Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and James Walker discuss the latest events concerning AI data centres in Scotland and Channel 4's incredible undercover report exposing Reform UK Reform’s head of policy James Orr and long-serving Farage aide Dan Jukes have stepped down and the party has launched an investigation following allegations they breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company Remember, support our work for three months for just £1 here: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

Political editor Xander Elliards and political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie reflect on John Swinney's sweeping changes to Scottish Government bodies, as health boards are to be reduced from 14 to just two while a single ferries agency could be established. Later, the pair discuss Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman's proposal that the party should back a second referendum IF the SNP commit to a 25-year ban to any further votes on the issue Remember, subscribe for our coverage for three months for just £1: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

What would public broadcasting look like in an independent Scotland - and would it simply become a smaller version of the BBC? In this episode of Media Watch, Steph Brawn is joined by media policy experts Dan Hind and Tom Mills to discuss their book, The BBC: From Corporation to Cooperative. They examine why the BBC is not directly accountable to the public, the influence of Westminster and government on its structure, and their proposal for a more democratic, member-run public media system. The conversation also explores a major question for the independence movement: if Scotland becomes independent, should it create its own public broadcaster—and how can it avoid reproducing the same centralised, elite-led model critics associate with the BBC? Remember, support The National for three months for just £1 here: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

Liam Shortall, the musician behind the Mercury Prize nominated jazz project corto.alto, joins Editor Laura Webster to discuss his new album, upcoming tour, jazz music's huge success in Scotland, the impact of AI on the scene, and how the country can better support emerging artists. Visit Liam's website for tour details and album pre-orders at corto.alto Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn discuss the billionaire Easdale brothers' bid for a major AI data centre, performers hitting out at the Fringe, and lots more. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan joins The National Podcast for a special episode with our political editor Xander Elliards. The pair chat energy, General Elections, and how the SNP will work with 'anyone' to secure a second independence referendum

The SNP are facing anger from members after a leaked draft conference agenda, reported exclusively by The National, showed that no motions on a Scottish independence strategy had been chosen selected for debate. Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn discuss what it means for the party

Political Editor Xander Elliards interviews SNP MP Brendan O'Hara. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss Andy Burnham totally avoiding Scotland on his 'UK listening tour', the energy price rise and Malcolm Offord's Scottish Parliament office demands Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Lucy Jackson and James Walker are here with this week's edition of Media Watch. The pair discuss the news that BBC Scotland is facing potentially being axed and ask why a FULL episode of Newsnight was devoted to the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan. Also they look at the latest comms form the government office who try and explain the Barnett Formula using fish and chips. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie sits down with Mark Wilson (CEO) and Greig Templeton (Planning Manager) of ILI Group, who are in charge of The Stoics: 3 AI data centres across the central belt - Cato in Auchtertool, Fife, Aurelius in Newhouse, North Lanarkshire and Rufus, near Hurlford in East Ayrshire. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe