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Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly discuss revelations about Elon Musk’s role in restricting Ukraine’s access to vital satellite technology, Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the consequences for Ukraine. With just two weeks until the midterms, they look at the increasingly bitter election battles, including a bizarre attack ad in Maine, the treatment of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and the possibility of Democratic victories in traditionally Republican states. Has Trump thrown away the political advantages that got him elected in 2024? Also, a particularly nasty campaign controversy in Ohio, Katie Zacharia's rapid departure as White House press secretary, the future of Susie Wiles, and why Trump could become even more dangerous if Republicans lose the midterms. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

John Deasy says the unions and Jim O'Callaghan are the winners of the public pay dispute. John details Patrick O'Donovan’s underrated achievements as minister. Phil Hogan's campaign to land a big United Nations job and why Fine Gael is supporting it. As an ardent student of American politics, John suggests that the opinion polls riding in favour of the Democrats are correct. Why Trump has treated Ukraine so badly and how the war with Russia is finally going to pan out. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and entrepreneur Áine Kerr join Matt to discuss the reasons for, and the impact of, the public sector pay disputes and how inevitably they will get solved, but when and at what price? After Ireland hosts a major conference on AI, Áine and Leo, who both participated, report on what took place and look to Ireland and the EU’s future with AI. In particular, they focus on environmental issues – dirty big data centres – and the impact on jobs. They debate the underfunding of third-level education but differ on who should provide the money to fund the gap. Drumcree/Garvaghy Road “settlement” and the long-term impacts assessed. As the ESRI reports that most immigrants move to affluent areas, Leo offers his assessment of that finding. Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt and Marion talk about the power of tech bros Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, as the Meta boss is the subject of a new Aaron Sorkin drama and the SpaceX boss is the subject of an Alex Gibney documentary. Matt and Marion differ on the merits of the Aaron Sorkin movie while Marion expresses her admiration for Sorkin's integrity. Musk's outrageous spending on behalf of Republican campaigners and James Talarico's chances against a Musk-supported Ken Paxton. The sacking of Kimberly Guilfoyle as US Ambassador to Greece and her erasure from previous membership of the Trump family. The new White House press spokeswoman and how long she will last. The unfair online monstering of Susan Dell. Pete Hegseth's execution for entertainment. Will the US step in to help Saudi Arabia against the Houthis? Trump's disappointment at missing out on the Nobel Peace Prize again. His disgraceful sucking up to Vladimir Putin and how it is costing lives in Ukraine. The sinister targeting of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, and why Jon Ossoff offers hope. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Ibec Chief Executive and Economist Danny McCoy joins Matt for a post-budget analysis. They ask how much more the economy can expand and add jobs, how inflation will impact, and why we should be worried about the price of government bonds. However, Danny believes Ireland is well placed to carry much more debt if necessary. They look at how much money should be invested in capital projects by the government, and Danny surprises Matt by arguing for a larger public service and a higher wage bill. He argues for investment by Ireland in European defence on the basis of self-interest. Will Jack Chambers have a PEST along the lines of Elon Musk's DOGE? And they finish with the argument for data centres.  Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Daniel McConnell and John Lee join Matt on yet another remarkable week for RTÉ, as Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan withholds €20 million of promised funding from the state broadcaster. What can Kevin Bakhurst do at RTÉ about it? Why the rest of the Cabinet can’t believe that O'Donovan has dropped them in this one and overshadowed the Budget. Daniel, John, and Matt also give their assessment of the Budget and the political benefits for Jack Chambers and Simon Harris. Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly discuss Donald Trump’s bizarre remarks about Iran, Los Angeles and San Diego, Pete Hegseth’s controversial leadership of the US military and whether Republicans are leaning into culture-war politics ahead of the midterms. They then take a state-by-state look at the races that could decide control of the Senate, including Texas, Ohio, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Kansas and Alaska. Could Texas really turn blue? How big could the Democratic gains be? And will the elections themselves be free and fair? Also, what would Democrats need to do with power if they win? Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Matt is joined by economist Dan O’Brien for a special preview of this week's Budget. They first look at Ireland’s resilient economy, rising corporation tax receipts, and whether the government should continue treating them as windfall revenues or use more of the money to invest in infrastructure. They discuss the international risks facing Ireland, including the possibility of a US ban on diesel exports, rising borrowing costs, and whether an AI bubble could trigger wider financial instability. Then they turn to Budget 2027: Are income taxpayers getting enough back after years of fiscal drag? Is the squeezed middle being overlooked? Should the Government intervene again on energy and fuel prices, and are carbon taxes becoming politically counterproductive? Also, the arguments over Help to Buy and stamp duty, inheritance tax, and Simon Harris’s proposed savings and investment accounts. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and entrepreneur Áine Kerr join Matt to reflect on a tumultuous week for Irish football, whether the Israel games should have been cancelled, what practical support we can give to Palestine, whether Ireland is antisemitic, and how all of this is viewed in the USA. They turn to the rights and wrongs of the Drumcree/Garvaghy Road parade and what the consequences are for moving towards a united Ireland. Also, where Ireland and Europe stand on the issues of AI investment and regulation, Ireland’s role in EU defence, and the politics of sports funding. Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marion McKeone joins Matt to ask how dangerous AI might prove for humanity, how much money might be wasted in developing the technology, why the data centres might not get built, and why Trump is looking to change the name of AI instead of dealing with the real issue of regulation. They discuss furries flying American aircraft and how this has become a political touchpoint. Can the Democrats blow the midterms? Why Ken Paxton is odious, and the attempted Senate ambush on Jack Smith (who was correct about January 6th). They also discuss the murderous activities of ICE and the appalling judicial treatment of minors in Texas. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s Greek grifting. Allegations of sexual assault at Cornell University become a national story. And if AI doesn’t undermine the US economy, bond yields at a 25-year high might. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Matt is joined by author and journalist Siobhán Fenton, who has written her story of five years as a media adviser to Mary Lou McDonald in Sinn Féin. She explains her involvement in the party before cataloging the series of errors and events that undermined Sinn Féin's path to power in 2024. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

John Deasy and Brenda Power join Matt to discuss whether prosperous Ireland is a country for young people. They compare emigration now with the nineties and debate whether young people really have reasons to complain. They broaden the discussion to the general levels of unhappiness expressed by the wider population and ask how prevalent this really is. They look at the budgetary implications of dealing with home heating oil prices, energy credits for electricity and gas, and excise on petrol and diesel. They discuss the Public Services Card as a national ID, and John has ideas for Ring doorbells as a national anti-crime resource. Does a rise in public transport fares make any sense? And there is disagreement over whether the Ireland-Israel football internationals should go ahead. Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump attempts to rename artificial intelligence as “super intelligence”, Marion and Matt discuss the display he made of himself at the United Nations on Tuesday. They talk about Iran, Venezuela, Greenland, the International Criminal Court, and the other issues he addressed in his rambling speech. They look at Trump’s proposed triumphal arch and ask if the media has really grown a spine in standing up to him. The anticipated arrival of Xi Jinping in Washington and how Trump loves sucking up to dictators. Also, the Paramount deal goes through, Stella Parton enters the zeitgeist, the one-time friendship of Hilary Clinton and JD Vance, and what might have happened if Hillary had listened to him. Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Professor Gary Murphy has written an excellent biography of Brian Cowen, and he joins Matt for a lengthy discussion about Cowen’s place in Irish history.  Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/

Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to discuss the fallout of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland and how he unexpectedly emerged as a United Irelander. They discuss his responsibility for the fuel prices and whether the protesters should blame him rather than our government. They discuss Sinn Féin’s tactics in achieving a United Ireland and why Micheál Martin thinks it’s all ráiméis. In light of Gary Murphy's new biography of Brian Cowen, the trio add their own recollections and assessments. The alleged assault of Michael Healy-Rae and the growing dangers to our politicians. The politics of the Ireland-Israel football game, and whether the government should have stopped it from going ahead (with a nod to Ed Sheeran). And do we just need to get on with the MetroLink no matter what the cost? Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Brought to you by The Greenman Group. PTP+ To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com Get in touch: [email protected] Follow Matt: https://twitter.com/cooper_m https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317 https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.