The National Podcast

Political editor Xander Elliards and political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie reflect on John Swinney's sweeping changes to Scottish Government bodies, as health boards are to be reduced from 14 to just two while a single ferries agency could be established. Later, the pair discuss Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman's proposal that the party should back a second referendum IF the SNP commit to a 25-year ban to any further votes on the issue Remember, subscribe for our coverage for three months for just £1: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

What would public broadcasting look like in an independent Scotland - and would it simply become a smaller version of the BBC? In this episode of Media Watch, Steph Brawn is joined by media policy experts Dan Hind and Tom Mills to discuss their book, The BBC: From Corporation to Cooperative. They examine why the BBC is not directly accountable to the public, the influence of Westminster and government on its structure, and their proposal for a more democratic, member-run public media system. The conversation also explores a major question for the independence movement: if Scotland becomes independent, should it create its own public broadcaster—and how can it avoid reproducing the same centralised, elite-led model critics associate with the BBC? Remember, support The National for three months for just £1 here: www.thenational.scot/subscribe

Liam Shortall, the musician behind the Mercury Prize nominated jazz project corto.alto, joins Editor Laura Webster to discuss his new album, upcoming tour, jazz music's huge success in Scotland, the impact of AI on the scene, and how the country can better support emerging artists. Visit Liam's website for tour details and album pre-orders at corto.alto Join The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn discuss the billionaire Easdale brothers' bid for a major AI data centre, performers hitting out at the Fringe, and lots more. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan joins The National Podcast for a special episode with our political editor Xander Elliards. The pair chat energy, General Elections, and how the SNP will work with 'anyone' to secure a second independence referendum

The SNP are facing anger from members after a leaked draft conference agenda, reported exclusively by The National, showed that no motions on a Scottish independence strategy had been chosen selected for debate. Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn discuss what it means for the party

Political Editor Xander Elliards interviews SNP MP Brendan O'Hara. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss Andy Burnham totally avoiding Scotland on his 'UK listening tour', the energy price rise and Malcolm Offord's Scottish Parliament office demands Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Lucy Jackson and James Walker are here with this week's edition of Media Watch. The pair discuss the news that BBC Scotland is facing potentially being axed and ask why a FULL episode of Newsnight was devoted to the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan. Also they look at the latest comms form the government office who try and explain the Barnett Formula using fish and chips. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie sits down with Mark Wilson (CEO) and Greig Templeton (Planning Manager) of ILI Group, who are in charge of The Stoics: 3 AI data centres across the central belt - Cato in Auchtertool, Fife, Aurelius in Newhouse, North Lanarkshire and Rufus, near Hurlford in East Ayrshire. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Reporter Jamie Calder discuss the last eight months of The National's investigative work on AI data centres in Scotland, and answer your questions. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe See our AI data centre series (running this week) here www.thenational.scot/topics/scotlands-ai-data-centre-fightback/

Kat Jones, the director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, joins Jamie Calder to discuss the boom in AI data centre in the country. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Laura Webster is joined by Xander Elliards on The National Podcast LIVE. They discuss today's big stories - the arms industry ramping up Holyrood lobbying over Israel, Scottish Government bullying allegations and a new school bag for all P1s. Support The National with a subscription from £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Editor Xander Elliards host today's National Podcast. The BBC is going hard on the story of the Scottish Government's trip to the World Cup costing nearly £100,000 - should it be? Meanwhile, further questions emerge about the blocked Ming Yang development, and BBC Scotland faces an uncertain future. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Political reporter Steph Brawn is joined by Allan Faulds of Ballot Box Scotland as the pair discuss the long-running polling and election project, and the current state of play in Scottish politics. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Steph Brawn discuss today's big stories, from a major Douglas Alexander admission, to anger at an Israel-linked weapons firm sponsoring a Scottish airshow, one SNP MP's climate intervention and more. Support The National with a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe Get a Scottish passport cover here the-national-shop.myshopify.com/collections/national-passport-cover

Steph Brawn is joined by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss BBC Scotland's 'Welcome to Glasgow' Disclosure documentary that aired on Monday night and ask how they managed to get it so badly wrong. Later in the show, Steph is joined by author Mic Wright to discuss his new book Breaking: How the media works, when it doesn't and why it matters. Get a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

Editor Laura Webster and Political Reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie discuss today's biggest stories - from the Scottish Labour leadership candidate to calls for a public inquiry into the media treatment of Jason Arday. Get a subscription from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe

A young Scottish climate activist has said they are “terrified” that people seem to “forget” about the devastating impact of climate change. Dylan Hamilton, policy coordinator for the Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youth (Angry), told The National podcast that he wishes people in Scotland would take the changing climate “more personally”. Hamilton, who has advocated for climate justice on the global stage at COP28 in Dubai, said that the recent wildfires in Scotland and the UK should be a “signal for people” about the reality of climate change. In this episode, he is interview by Abbi Garton-Crosbie to discuss the challenges our country faces. Support The National for just £1 for three months: www.thenational.sco/subscribe

Abbi Garton-Crosbie is joined by Steph Brawn to analyse the Clacton by-election. Nigel Farage has been told 'this is no victory' as a major sleaze probe looms. Meanwhile, a row emerges over what police told Reform. Support The National from just £1 at thenational.scot/subscribe