What If 2026 Is the Year America Leaves Us Behind?
The David McWilliams Podcast
David McWilliams
4.5 • 692 Ratings
🗓️ 1 January 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s 2026, and Ireland is skating on a thin economic edge. With the US retreating from Europe, American industry is stalling here, no new labs, no new factories. Our entire model of tax-light, job-rich multinational growth might be reaching its sell-by date. The housing crisis rages, younger people emigrate, and a risk-averse political class hides behind admin. We break down the "known knowns" for Ireland’s year ahead, from capacity crunches to a society shaped by contentment, not ambition. And what if Troy Parrott brings us to the World Cup, could football give us the only real growth story this year?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Just before we start, if you're looking for a Christmas present that actually lasts, |
| 0:04.6 | are a New Year's gift to yourself, this just might be it. |
| 0:08.6 | Over on our Patreon, we're launching a brand new monetary economics course from January |
| 0:15.3 | the 5th. |
| 0:16.2 | It's my MBA course, the same when I teach the students at Trinity, broken down and made accessible. |
| 0:22.0 | It's master's level education at national school prices. You'll get weekly lessons, quizzes, |
| 0:28.4 | and yes, there's going to be a little certificate at the end. So if you want to start the year |
| 0:33.1 | sharper, curious, learning something that actually matters, Join me on Patreon from January the 5th. |
| 0:39.4 | That's patreon.com forward slash David McWilliams. |
| 0:47.9 | Happy new year to you. |
| 0:49.2 | I can't believe it is 2026, but here we go. |
| 0:53.0 | Today's podcasts will be on what the new year holds for the |
| 0:56.7 | Irish economy, Irish society and the Irish political system. That's all coming up in a couple of |
| 1:02.5 | minutes. To understand the economy, you have to understand human nature. |
| 1:15.0 | This podcast is powered by ACAST. |
| 1:19.1 | Happy New Year? |
| 1:20.1 | Happy New Year? |
| 1:22.6 | Happy New Year to you, John, X. Or is it a Happy New Year? |
| 1:24.0 | Well, I think we should look optimistically towards the new year and happy |
| 1:28.3 | New Year to you. Dear listener, I hope Christmas went well. How was your crimboge on? It was great. |
| 1:33.0 | It was fantastic. We had all the girls back home under the one roof and... |
| 1:38.5 | Shout and roaring. Shouting and roaring. But in a good way, dancing, the whole lot. Like, it was great. |
... |
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