Advertise on podcast: The Party Line

Debates about free speech tend to rage with very little discussion about the structures that decide who can be heard. Gavan Titley is a professor in media studies at Maynooth, and the author of a new book that takes freedom of speech seriously enough to examine critically its place in Western liberal discourse – and the real threats to civil liberties in our societies today. 'What is Free Speech For?' by Gavan Titley https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-free-speech-for The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Comment: Mao Zedong says you're woke' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-mao-zedong-says-youre-woke/ 'Europe furious after Finland and Norway break convention by speaking directly to Putin' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-norway-finland-zelensky-russia-ukraine-war-b3074581.html Recording by Emmet White Music by Fionn Dempsey Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world is on fire, but the right remains on the march and street protesters are often fighting rear-guard actions. Vijay Prashad, director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and a prolific global historian and analyst, joins us to try to understand our moment, how we got here and where we're going. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Israeli national airline illegally transported IDF munitions through Irish airspace in August' https://www.ontheditch.com/israeli-national-airline-illegally/ Vijay Prashad Substack: https://luciddialectics.substack.com/ The protesting playwright at Shannon Airport mentioned by Vijay in the first few minutes is of course the late, great Margaretta D'Arcy. Music by Fionn Dempsey Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't mourn, organise! It's part 2 of a Party Line special – The Ditch meets The Phoenix. Don't miss part 1, which is episode 33 in your Party Line feed. In this second panel, recorded earlier this month in the Whistleblower bookshop and café, Phoenix contributors Graeme Keyes, Ian Curran, Sean Mac Carthaigh and Party Line host Harry Browne recall what made the magazine so special, with its unique capacity to combine laughter and anger. With apologies to the live audience, whose excellent contributions had to be edited out for technical reasons. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Goldhawk calling Phoenix fans! It's a Party Line special – The Ditch meets The Phoenix. Recorded earlier this month in a packed People's Hall in the Whistleblower bookshop and café: the long-time editors of the recently liquidated Phoenix magazine joined The Ditch for a wide-ranging conversation. Editor Paddy Prendiville and deputy editor Paul Farrell tell Paulie Doyle what sustained the publication for 43 years, and what finally finished it. And there are a few comments about the Irish Times along the way. Part 2, with a panel of Phoenix contributors, will be out as our next normally scheduled episode from The Party Line. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the Left organises around the world in solidarity with Palestine, the Right has mobilised by embracing the genocide. Writer, Jacobin journalist and podcaster Dan Finn reveals how racist reactionaries have ridden a wave of hostility to pro-Palestinian protest – while media and centrists facilitate their lies. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Jennifer Carroll MacNeill defends meeting Israeli spy' https://www.ontheditch.com/jennifer-carroll-macneill-defends-meeting-israeli-spy/ 'Sinéad Ryan: Irish parents must rediscover how to say ‘no’, or an entire generation risks failing to launch' https://tinyurl.com/yazfambm Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legendary journalist Chris Hedges has reported from all over the planet – including, in recent days, the Garvaghy Road. And he reckons we're heading in a terrible direction. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch Requiem for Gaza, by Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/482474/requiem-for-gaza-by-hedges-joe-sacco-and-chris/9781787336780 'Comment: No going down that road' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-no-going-down-that-road/ 'How Russia uses migrants as a weapon against Europe' https://tinyurl.com/3whuhn5r Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ignore the haters – journalist Aaron Maté is a vital voice for peace and for Palestine, in the face of imperial projects to destroy them both. He joined Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch and Harry Browne in the People's Hall to talk about many things, including the USA, Ukraine, and his own relationship with an Irish whistleblower on a Syria story. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, https://www.ontheditch.com. You can also watch here https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch Pre-order Aaron Maté's 'Their Blood, Our Bullets' https://orbooks.com/catalog/their-blood-our-bullets/ Mick Wallace & Clare Daly report on the OPCW https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nh2bbo1wU--hShjknEZH_--KOq2ncZUg/view?usp=sharing Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Even more thanks than usual to Art O'Connor of the Whistleblower Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether they play or not, the Irish men's soccer team fixtures with Israel have further expanded the space for fighting genocide and apartheid with boycotts. Campaigner, basketball player and researcher Rebecca O'Keeffe tallies up the score for the movement, and makes a final plea for the players to act when the institutions have failed. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'League of Ireland partner has received more than $4 million in US Department of War contracts' https://www.ontheditch.com/league-of-ireland-partner/ 'FAI will remove all sponsor branding for upcoming Nations League matches' https://tinyurl.com/2xd5ncuv Music by Fionn Dempsey Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The media and political establishment acts like we're already at war – and seeing 'threats' everywhere is part of the fight. In a world where just talking can mark you as a hybrid warrior, Trinity College Dublin academic, writer and activist Rory Rowan joins us to discuss what it all means, and fails to mean. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes boasts about co-leading team that cut 200 tech jobs' https://www.ontheditch.com/social-democrats-td-eoin-hayes-boasts/ 'Reported drone sighting 'not in same league' as activity seen during Zelensky visit - expert' https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0909/1590825-drone-irish-sea/ 'REPORT on Hybrid warfare and the protection of the EU’s territorial integrity and critical security and defence infrastructure' https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-10-2026-0212_EN.html Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí extracted false confessions and protected their own. Politicians and developers rigged the planning system. And journalist Frank Connolly helped expose the corrupt players and the class interests they represented. We discuss why the stories in Connolly's new book, 'Exposed', are deeply relevant to today's Ireland. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Exposed: Scandals that Rocked the Irish State' by Frank Connolly https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/exposed/ 'Comment: A reflection on An Garda Síochána and whiny proceduralism' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-a-reflection-on-an-garda-siochana/ 'Garda suspended following anti-corruption probe' https://tinyurl.com/yxpay94p Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland was a crucible for colonial mass murder. The brilliant playwright and actor Donal O'Kelly has been reflecting on what his award-winning show 'Catalpa' left out of the history it depicts – including genocide, and the value of direct action to resist it. Plus: Kate Shanahan RIP, and The Ditch takes a victory lap three years after it was attacked over its Niall Collins reporting. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Eoghan McNeill of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'SIPO launches inquiry into Collins land deal' https://www.ontheditch.com/sipo-launches-inquiry-into-collins-land-deal/ 'Eoin O’Malley: Working in a university, I’ve seen how ideology has overtaken the pursuit of truth' https://tinyurl.com/43fp2xvr 'International academics call off Irish event in protest at Palestinian visa refusals' https://www.ontheditch.com/international-academics-call-off-irish-event/ 'It is wrong to boycott Israeli universities' https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2023/11/07/it-is-wrong-to-boycott-israeli-universities/ 'The Catalpalyst: The Reading List' https://www.afri.ie/category/the-catalpalyst-the-reading-list/ Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime journalism is a massive and growing phenomenon in Irish media – much bigger, if you look at international comparisons, than Irish crime. Maynooth author and researcher Cian Ó Concubhair has been talking to reporters about whether and how they view such reporting as having a role in democracy. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@wereontheditch 'Enterprise Ireland: cocktail networking for the arms industry in the French embassy' https://www.ontheditch.com/enterprise-ireland-cocktail-networking-with-the-arms-industry-in-the-french-embassy/ 'Paul Williams: New generation of wannabe Generals or Monks are out-of-control thugs who simply don’t value life' https://tinyurl.com/yuecftz4 Lisa-Marie Berry, 'Naming and faming not naming and shaming' https://villagemagazine.ie/naming-and-faming-not-naming-and-shaming/ Cian Ó Concubhair and Glory Anumudu, 'The Role of Crime and Security Journalism in Irish Democracy' https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/The%20Role%20of%20Crime%20and%20Security%20Journalism%20in%20Irish%20Democracy.pdf Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How relevant is the search for 'good Israelis' to the struggle for Palestinian liberation? As the world's attention turns to Israel's internal politics in advance of October elections, Gaza journalist Eman Mohammed brings powerful insights into what we can expect and what it ultimately means – and we also dig into the letter and spirit of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement. The Party Line is a podcast from The Ditch, hosted by Niamh Ní Bhriain and Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://youtu.be/Y4VcW4WGArE 'Weapons manufacturer linked to Gaza genocide lobbied Department of Finance on "unintended impact" of economic sanctions' https://www.ontheditch.com/weapons-manufacturer-linked-to-gaza-genocide/ 'How Biden Enabled Israel’s Aggression Toward Gaza—and Iran' https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/07/27/how-biden-emboldened-israels-aggression-toward-gaza-and-iran Eman Mohammed on Substack: https://substack.com/@emanit The Stokely Carmichael quote that Eman refers to: "Dr King's policy was that nonviolence would achieve the gains for black people in the United States. His major assumption was that if you are nonviolent, if you suffer, your opponent will see your suffering and will be moved to change his heart. That's very good. He only made one fallacious assumption: In order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience. The United States has none." Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FIFA and its boss Gianni Infantino are irredeemably corrupt – but is UEFA in any position to preach? Writer and researcher Andy Storey breaks down the football power play on The Party Line, a podcast from The Ditch – hosted by Harry Browne and Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://youtu.be/uYiuF6V69gQ 'Official Ireland wants a diaspora of visitors and investors' https://www.ontheditch.com/comment-official-ireland-wants-a-diaspora-of-visitors-and-investors/ 'Soccer has given Europe a rare geopolitical victory' https://www.afr.com/world/europe/soccer-has-given-europe-a-rare-geopolitical-victory-20260804-p60lcl 'Gianni Infantino’s demise isn’t enough – Fifa must fundamentally change' https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/gianni-infantino-fifa-exit-resign-sacked-replacement-b3025815.html Music by Fionn Dempsey Recording by Emmet White email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are borders sites of 'sovereignty' – or is it more relevant to understand them as, inevitably, sites of terrible, seemingly arbitrary violence and harm? From Ceuta to Donegal, we talk about the borders that divide us. Postdoc researcher Niamh Keady-Tabbal of Maynooth University joins The Party Line, hosted by Niamh Ní Bhriain and Harry Browne, with Paulie Doyle of The Ditch. You can also watch here: https://youtube.com/@wereontheditch?si=xFeNbqep9F3SqwXm 'TG4: RTÉ is a monopoly and government is breaching EU media freedom law https://www.ontheditch.com/tg4-rte-is-a-monopoly-and-government-is-breaching-eu-media-freedom-law/ 'Chaos of border crossing gives way to limbo for Moroccans on Ceuta’s streets' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/02/ceuta-border-crossing-spain-morocco Music by Fionn Demspey Recording by Emmet White Email theditchpartyline at gmail ontheditch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.