However, neither of the hosts actually has a deep understanding of American politics, but they insist on talking about it anyway. I got annoyed with them taking polls and factoids at face value, without interrogating whether the things they were seeing were actually true. The depth of dishonesty in the world today can’t be pierced by just taking what people say (even about their own motivations) at face value.

Always thoughtful and informative. Both hosts comment on their subjects intelligently and without any ideological slant or cant.

Helen is incredible. She doesn't speak about things she hasn't thoroughly researched. She's reasonable and unprejudiced on all subjects and looks at all sides of a situation. Tom is exactly why journalists are not respected, and why "fake news" is a thing. He's shallow in his opinions, prejudiced in every view that isn't far left and criminally amateurish in his research and thinking. All his understanding appearing to have come from reading whatever some ideologue has written on wikipedia or what some "friend" in Westminster tells him. Helen has to correct him on nearly every subject, repeatedly. It's like listening to a highly intelligent, disciplined mind, have a conversation with a bigoted parrot. Polly want a new co-host? I have to give it four stars, even though Helen deserves all five.

I have followed Tom and Helen almost since they began the podcast and rely heavily on the information I get from them. I am an earth science consultant, and post regularly about energy, economics and geopolitics, and have more than 40,000 followers on X. I look forward to a long future for These Time from Unherd! Art Berman

I’ve been trying to stick with this show for the sake of Helen Thompson’s excellent political analysis, but Tom is just too much of a hack for me to stomach. I listen to podcasts to learn new things and gain additional perspectives. The problem is that Tom is all opinion all the time, it’s vapid hot take after vapid hot take. Every discussion regarding America is about his favorite pet theory “American Imperialism” without ever even beginning to acknowledge other perspectives. And I cannot stand the way he drips all over himself when he talks about Donald Trump’s “tactical brilliance.” Helen, by contrast, sticks the facts and develops her arguments (whether I agree with them or not) based on those facts. For Tom, there is no basis in facts. Only pet theories of everything and the regurgitation of them as though they were true. I’m unsubscribing, which is a shame cause I’ll miss the 2/5ths of the episode where Tom lets Helen speak.

Big, long-time fan of Helen. But anytime this pod veers into US topics it immediately becomes clear they don’t know how to navigate American politics at all, even basic operational facts. It can be quite inane. Interesting things are happening in the U.K. with the new government - stick with what you know!

Like most Americans, I subconsciously presume British accents are a hallmark of intelligence, until that spell is broken by not just indefensibly ignorant but downright stupid assertions such as the Biden Administration was “forced” to adopt radical leftist policies such as an effectively open border as a response to the J6 riot. Neither evidence nor argumentation was put forward to support that flight of fancy, it was simply asserted as fact.

British blinkers. Boring. Small mindset. Stuffy. Questionable morals. Hosted by a man who likely thinks an exciting day out is driving down a B road in a mid priced jaguar 5mph over the speed limit. Get out into the world mate to talk to some human or get better with data. This podcast is out of touch and shouldn’t be trusted.

…she’s gotta stop pronouncing Netanyahu “Netanhayu”

By far my favourite podcast. Tuesdays now have a new resonance - they are these times days! I listen to each episode many more times than once: the dots they connect, the analytical and non-tendentious approach to exploring weaknesses in the countries they analyse, the wonderful interaction between Helen and Tom. The masterpiece so far was the four part series on Western Europe. I’m looking forward to the same clarity on where they see China’s and US vulnerabilities lying. Also looking forward to a view on global and country debt, and its consequences; how exhausted really is liberal democracy. But the real pleasure is just waiting for Tuesday and thinking about what the two have chosen to discuss and pull apart. Thank you!

Two interesting and smart hosts! Have been listening to and reading books by Helen Thompson for years, including every episode of Talking Politics she was ever on!

The hosts are pros, seem to genuinely engage in dialogue with each other and their guests, and possess appealing gifts for articulation.

Discussions are a bit shallow and do not present multiple perspectives as I expect a historian or two to be able to do.

A smart, historical take on current events. I am excited each time I see a new episode in my feed. Tracing an historical context is such an effective concept for better understanding the time we live in.

For great and civil discussions.

Hard to understand the purpose of the recent episodes on the Middle East. You failed to give agency to Palestinians or Arabs and there was little global context outside of a passing mention of China and Russia. I recognize the complexity of the issues and constraints of your episodes, but given current events, you either need a clearer statement of intent or a more balanced approach. It’s unhelpful and irresponsible to feed into the hysteria of current coverage.

So interesting that if you listen closely you can feel your brain begin to stir.