Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
For his first appearance in 2026, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks as what he feels will be the big themes for the United Kingdom this year: geopolitics; living standards; state efficiency; devolution; leadership, the EU; trade & tech; and Net Zero. When it comes to ID cards, with the government heavily influenced by Tony Blair, the protests against the scheme made the public – who had been moderately in favour – realise the drawbacks and cost, so that it became a political liability. Tim cantered through the various Labour U-turns on income tax thresholds, workers' rights, the WASPI women, grooming gangs, winter fuel payments, pub business rates, farming inheritance tax and welfare reforms. Labour appears to have no strategy. The U-turns smack of weakness and, in the public mind, echo the 14 years of Conservative rule.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Neil Shah of Edison Group says that Greggs' shares are off almost 40% over the past couple of years. Like other fast food companies, weight loss jabs are having an effect on their business. But the recent Q4 update confirmed that the company will meet their profit expectations and the management team has a great track record of executing growth. Although they could simply farm their estate, further growth is worth pursuing and the price fall gives investors an entry opportunity. BP was the second best-performing oil major last year and now has a clear strategy of returning to its roots which appears to be bearing fruit. The numbers are encouraging and it should make new ground this year.
Guests: Neil Shah
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin returns to Las Vegas's Consumer Electronics Show, marvelling at AI lawnmowers, air conditioners, saunas, showers and even an AI robot triceratops for the lawn, though it's rather a small one. We are promised a single-seat eVTOL for around £30,000 very soon from China, whose BYD EV car company has now overtaken Tesla for sales volume. Amazon has entered the TV business with a set resembling a framed artwork. Matthew McConaughey has trademarked himself to prevent AI cloning him. Apple is to use Google Gemini to power Siri and Nike have taken a decade to develop shoes that apparently stimulate the wearer's feet.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
We're looking forward to a significant step forward towards inter-generational rebalancing as a result of Share Alliance's two-day conference in May: the first day focused on academic research and the second on policy options. Please let us know if you're interested by visiting this 'Save the Date' page: https://www.sharealliance.org.uk/ig-rebalancing-conference-registration/. This will hopefully be a refreshing contrast to the mix of nostalgia and charisma which seems to be driving so much of politics at present, and which was the subject of an interesting discussion between Amol Rajan and Louisa Munch in his BBC 'Radical' podcast last week. Background music: Generations Away' by Unicorn Heads'
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
The stock market was all over the map this week but the biggest news was the U.S. government potential spending $1.5 trillion on defence. Of course, there are strings attached which investors don’t like, but this could be an opportunity long-term. We also touched on Alphabet potentially becoming the most valuable company in the world and what moonshots we’re interested in. Travis Hoium, Jason Moser, and Lou Whiteman discuss the pulse of the market, $1.5 trillion for defence, Alphabet passes Apple and Crowdstrike’s acquisition, Companies discussed: Crowdstrike (CRWD), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Joby Aviation (JOBY), Archer Aviation (ACHR), AST Spacemobile (ASTS), Rocket Lab (RKLB). Host — Travis Hoium; Guests — Jason Moser, Lou Whiteman.
Guests: Jason Moser,Lou Whiteman
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Original Broadcast: Motley Fool Show
Emily Flippen is joined by Motley Fool analyst Asit Sharma and Head of AI Donato Riccio to break down our 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report and what it means for investors heading into the new year. In particular, we discuss what real investors are doing: 9 in 10 AI investors plan to hold or add to AI stocks; what changes are coming in 2026 — faster, cheaper models, and accelerating adoption; and how to invest without over-indexing your portfolio to a volatile sector. Companies discussed: ALAB, MU, NVDA, AMD, PSTG, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL. Access the The Motley Fool 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report here: fool.com/research/ai-investor-outlook. Host — Emily Flippen; Guests — Donato Riccio, Asit Sharma.
Guests: Donato Riccio,Asit Sharma
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Original Broadcast: This is Money
What are the financial foundations you need so that you can then start living a richer life? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss what they think are the essential building blocks for control of your finances. They share what they''ve done right... and what they have done and still regularly do wrong? The new year has seen the row over pubs and business rates blow up, with the Prime Minister and Chancellor rumoured to be about to have to do another U-turn. What went wrong, why didn't they listen straight after the Budget and are publicans right to feel aggrieved? Banks' shares have been on a tear, but is there still time to invest as Lloyds breaks through the symbolic 100p mark for the first time since its financial crisis plummet? And what would it take for you to turn your home into a zero-bills house — and would it be worth the outlay?
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Defiant natures often arise from being treated badly in the past, and can therefore draw people back into re-living those difficult, and sometimes abusive, experiences. However it is possible to build a more constructive, harmonious future, gaining empowerment to accomplish difficult things in the face of that adversity. If you feel that life has treated you unfairly, listen to this episode to help you to look ahead to a compelling visionn for the future.
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Original Broadcast: The Financial Outlook for Personal Investors
Musing on President Trump's interest in Venezuela, Russ Mould of A J Bell believes that second-guessing geopolitics is brutally difficult, although he can see why defence stocks are back in vogue. While Venezuela's oil has been much discussed, the United States doesn't really need more oil, thanks to shale. However, China does, which might make the country seem more interesting to Trump. However, there are plenty of other commodities there too. In the markets, gold, silver and now copper are at new highs. The latter has plenty of practical applications, including being needed for EVs. But it takes 10 years to bring a mine onstream. It's interesting that the commodity indices have remained so depressed despite these gains, but the indices are weighed down heavily by oil and gas. If markets are right to expect decent economic growth, then it's not a bad environment for commodities and cyclicals.
Guests: Russ Mould
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian says that President Trump's abduction of Nicolás Maduro sets a new and dangerous precedent in international relations. It's a spectacular gesture but a "gesture" is all that it is and it could further destabilise an already unstable country. Trump's stated aims for Greenland risk undermining NATO and relations between the US and Europe. Mike believes he is acting to create a legacy, exerting power in the most direct way he can. However, even the US could overextend itself and then find that it does, after all, need other countries. In the meantime, Trump's actions will simply embolden the world's autocrats. 2026 could be a very volatile year. In the UK, Keir Starmer looks to be in a stronger position than he was before Christmas. There does not seem to be a credible challenge to his leadership. To some extent, his unpopularity is now almost a boon, as it is out of the way.
Guests: Mike Indian
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