About this season
The big names behind the big stories. Laura Kuenssberg talks to those making the news, inside and outside politics.
Episodes (23)
1. Interview with the Prime Minister
Aired 4 January 2026 • 59 min
Laura speaks to prime minister Keir Starmer in the first of a series of New Year interviews with party leaders. Also on the show, former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps, the Lib Dem's Layla Moran and former Conservative cabinet minister, now Reform supporter, Nadine Dorries.
2. Lord Mandelson and Kemi Badenoch
Aired 11 January 2026 • 60 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader; Lord Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US; and Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary.
3. Lisa Nandy, Richard Tice and Mike Johnson
Aired 18 January 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by Lisa Nandy MP, culture secretary, Richard Tice MP, deputy leader of Reform UK, and Mike Johnson, speaker of the United States House of Representatives. On the panel are Jeremy Hunt MP, Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, and Kay Burley.
4. Andy Burnham, Police Reform and Social Media
Aired 25 January 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg's guests include home secretary Shabana Mahmood, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and former mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street.
5. The Epstein files, China and Zack Polanski
Aired 1 February 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg speaks to housing and communities secretary Steve Reed, Green Party leader Zack Polanksi and actor Hugh Bonneville. On the panel are Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, historian and former government adviser John Bew and broadcaster Angela Rippon.
6. Can Keir Starmer Survive the Mandelson Crisis?
Aired 8 February 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg speaks to work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart and Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.
7. Navalny, Nato and Gender Identity
Aired 15 February 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel and Baroness Hilary Cass. On the panel are singer and activist Billy Bragg, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Emily Thornberry and former Conservative cabinet minister, now Reform supporter Jake Berry.
8. Special educational needs, student debt and Ukraine
Aired 22 February 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by Bridget Phillipson, Laura Trott, Boris Johnson and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.
9. Iran's Supreme Leader Killed: What Next?
Aired 1 March 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to defence secretary John Healey, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
10. Iran, Israel and the Foreign Secretary
Aired 8 March 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, Iranian ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi, UN humanitarian lead Tom Fletcher, Reform MP Robert Jenrick, and leader of the SNP and Scotland's first minister John Swinney. On the panel are former Conservative defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, Your Party's Zarah Sultana, and broadcaster Christiane Amanpour.
11. Iran War: the costs to all of us
Aired 15 March 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg's guests are energy secretary Ed Miliband, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey and musician and actor Self Esteem. On the panel are: broadcaster Piers Morgan, journalist Tina Brown and Sharon White of Frontier Economics.
12. Could Iran Strike the UK?
Aired 22 March 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg's guests are Steve Reed, housing and communities secretary, Sir James Cleverly, shadow housing and communities secretary, Chris O'Shea, CEO Centrica, and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
13. A Month of War
Aired 29 March 2026 • 79 min
Laura Kuenssberg's guests are education secretary Bridget Phillipson, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf and Jay Edelson, the lawyer for the family of Jonathan Gavalas who took his own life after developing a relationship with an AI chatbot. On the panel are Michael Gove, editor of the Spectator; Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru Westminster leader; and actor Eddie Marsan.
14. The Failure of Peace Talks, and Tucker Carlson on Trump
Aired 12 April 2026 • 72 min
Victoria Derbyshire presents, with guests including health secretary Wes Streeting MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge MP. On the panel are former head of MI6 Sir Alex Younger, classicist professor Mary Beard and broadcaster Kay Burley.
15. Mandelson row, AI and the Scottish elections
Aired 19 April 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to Liz Kendall MP, Alex Burghart MP and Robert Jenrick MP. Also, a special report from Scotland, where Laura interviews all six of the main party leaders.
16. Shooting at Trump Dinner, and King's US Visit
Aired 26 April 2026 • 59 min
With guests Darren Jones MP, chief secretary to the prime minister, and Chris Philp MP, shadow home secretary. Featuring a special report from Wales, including interviews with the main Welsh party leaders. And on the panel are former US ambassador Lord Darroch, broadcaster Susanna Reid and actor Brian Cox.
17. Antisemitism, marches and elections
Aired 3 May 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by Transport secretary Heidi Alexander MP, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch MP and leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanski. And on the Panel are Lib Dem MP Lisa Smart, Scotland's cabinet secretary for social justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP and Baroness Smith of Plaid Cymru.
18. Election 26: the challenge to Starmer
Aired 10 May 2026 • 58 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to Bridget Phillipson MP, education secretary; Catherine West MP, Labour; James Cleverly MP, shadow housing, communities and local government secretary; Richard Tice MP, deputy leader of Reform UK; and Rhun ap Iowerth MS, Plaid Cymru leader. On the panel are Jeremy Vince, Nadine Dorries and Sharon Graham
19. Can Starmer Survive?
Aired 17 May 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to culture secretary Lisa Nandy MP, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch MP, former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP, and Luke Tryl, More in Common. On the panel are Josh Simons MP, broadcaster Jo Coburn and author Will Self.
20. Teenage rape sentencing: a victim speaks out
Aired 24 May 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to one of the teenage rape victims whose attackers were spared jail. She also speaks to chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones MP, former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn and Reform UK treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick MP. On the panel are children's commissioner Rachel de Souza, journalist Vicky Spratt, and James Reed, chairman and CEO of Reed Group.
21. Exclusive interview with Nicola Sturgeon
Aired 31 May 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg talks to Nichola sturgeon, Former First Minister of Scotland, In her first interview since her husband pleaded guilty to embezzlement.
22. Policing and the Henry Nowak murder
Aired 7 June 2026 • 59 min
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by David Lammy MP, deputy prime minister; Claire Coutinho MP, shadow equalities minister; and Zia Yusuf, Reform home affairs spokesperson. On the panel, it's Josh Babarinde MP, LibDem; Kay Burley, broadcaster; and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative.
23. Episode 23
Aired 14 June 2026