Review of 2025: another fine mess?

Politics Weekly UK

The Guardian

News, Politics

4.0 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey look back at the biggest political moments of 2025, and discuss what 2026 might bring. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:10.1	The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name.
0:12.9	I've got St George's Bunting.
0:14.7	I've got Union Jacks, flags and tablecloths.
0:18.0	Did you racially abused fellow pupils when you were at school?
0:20.6	No, this is 49 years ago, by the way.
0:23.0	49 years ago.
0:25.9	What a year it's been.
0:27.8	Donald Trump, a summer of flags,
0:30.1	a different news story every week about Nigel Farage
0:32.5	and a government apparently in a constant state of crisis.
0:36.2	I'm John Harris, and you're listening to Politics
0:38.0	Weekly's review of 2025 for The Guardian.
0:44.3	Hello, Pippet and Kieran are here with me to discuss all things 2025. Hello to you both.
0:49.7	Hello. Merry Christmas. Happy Christmas. Has it been a happy year? That's the first
0:53.7	question I wanted to ask you. We all take stock at this time of year. We look back, think about what we've been through, where we've ended up. How do you feel? I'm knackered, I've got to be honest. I'm quite knackard. Not least if I'm completely honest because it's Christmas party season and it seemed to be out every night. You're quite hardcore on that score? Well, you know, I like to make the most of free booze on offer.
1:13.6	True Scott, if ever there was one.
1:15.6	So, anyway.
1:16.6	You said that, Pippa, not me.
1:18.6	I said that.
1:19.6	I am allowed to say that.
1:20.6	Yeah, it has been full on again.
	...

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