Just imagine what your best Christmas ever would sound like.

Thank you for calling National Lottery. I can see you calling about a winner today, is that correct?

Yeah, I think I have. I'd just take to double check before I do a cartwheel.

Yeah, I can confirm that you have won the top prize 1.2 million oh my

what happy Christmas why do now you have the best Christmas ever this Christmas it could be you. The National Lottery. Rules and procedures apply. Players must be

18 or over. Hello and welcome to the Red Box Politics Podcast and The Times I'm Mac Chorley.

In this episode I've banned another B word not Brexit this time but the budget

for the reaction to Philip Hammond's attempt to save the economy and his own job

will have a podcast special on the budget later this week. In today's show I'm delighted to be joined by Times columnist David Erronovich,

Times Religious Affairs Correspondent Kyi Burgess and Red Box columnist Jane Merrick to discuss the crisis in Germany, religion's place in politics and politics place in the celebrity

jungle. Before you begin, a special mention for muffie donuts who posted a review on iTunes

saying I like Mac Jolly's take on the politics, but I do not like that he doesn't like cats

to quote the new Times ad campaign will agree to disagree on that.

As ever do get in touch and let us know what you think as a podcast email red box at the times

dot code at UK or tweet us at times red box we kick off this week with David

of Ronovich.

Crisis in Berlin I should wish for that kind of crisis. Old Merkel still polls at well

about 50% in her personal rating. The economy thrives, we've carried reports of job shortages in parts of Germany.

It's not losing agencies to Paris and Amsterdam.

It doesn't have a PM capture to the right and an opposition party captured by the left.

Crisis, I wish. This is a nice upbeat take on what's happening in Berlin

David, but people who haven't totally followed every twist and turn. I don't speak the people

...