The Political Dispatch
Welcome to The Political Dispatch! On this podcast, Sidd Kurapati, Lily Mott, and Tom Spare explore the world of politics and policy through conversation. In today’s fast-paced news cycle, it’s easy to get lost in the details. Our goal is to step back and look at the broader trends shaping our society. Whether you are a policy wonk, a political junkie, or just someone who wants to stay informed, this podcast is your go-to source for thoughtful and engaging discussions on the issues that matter most.
Episodes
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Sidd, and Lily come together to reflect on the moments that defined 2025.
The team looks back on a year marked by upheaval and uncertainty and discuss:
- The ongoing civil war in Sudan and its humanitarian toll
- The UK Supreme Court’s ruling on sex and its political implications
- The death of actor and activist Robert Redford
- Growing concerns over corruption and declining public trus...
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd turn to two regions whose histories of division continue to shape global politics today: Ireland and the Indian subcontinent.
From the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan to the Northern Ireland peace process that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement, the team explores how borders, identity, and political negotiation can fuel conflict or lay the groundwork for recon...
In today’s episode, Tom flies solo as he assesses the impact of Zohran Mamdani’s electoral victory for New York Mayor, as well as highlighting Democratic wins in New Jersey, Virginia and California.
Tom starts the show with a retrospective, to a year ago, on election night November 5th 2024, where Donald Trump is on the cusp of victory…
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd examine the past, present, and potential future of the Israel-Palestine conflict. From the origins of partition to the ongoing humanitarian and political crises in Gaza, the team explores the roots of division, the challenges of peace, and what the latest ceasefire and negotiations could mean for the future of the region.
In the second part of this mini-series, the team...
In today's episode, Tom covers the French Prime Minister's resignation after losing a vote of confidence in Parliament, the far-right rally in London, and also previews an interview Lily has conducted with her Dad about a school shooting in their home town of Evergreen, Colorado.
To help discuss the political trouble in France, Tom is joined by Dr Charles Devellennes, a senior lecturer at the University of Kent.
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Sidd, Tom, and Lily take a look at the sudden appearance of St George flags popping up across England, Reform UK’s recent party conference in Birmingham, the recent resignation of Angela Rayner (followed by a cabinet reshuffle), and the sacking of the UK’s Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson.
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom and Lily take a deep dive into one of the most significant democratic reforms in recent UK history: lowering the voting age to 16 years-old. From the role of education and political literacy to questions about maturity, motivation, and turnout, Tom and Lily examine the opportunities and concerns posed regarding the potential expansion of the franchise in the UK.
Please leave a rating, ...
In this episode, Tom, Lily, and Sidd discuss the evolving and often contentious relationship between Donald Trump and the media. The Political Dispatch team explores recent shifts in the U.S. media landscape, from the cancellation of a top-rated late-night show to the defunding of public radio and changes to the White House press corps.
This episode was recorded on 29th July 2025
You can also check out previous episodes related to ...
In this episode, Tom, Lily, and Sidd examine a year of unprecedented conflict across Asia.
Join the hosts for a sweeping international news bulletin, from the nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan to the escalating war in Gaza, the renewed civil conflict in Myanmar, and a dangerous confrontation between Israel and Iran. With tensions rising in the South China Sea and new border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, this epis...
In this episode, Tom, Lily, and Sidd reflect on the UK’s higher education system at a pivotal moment, as over 800,000 students, including the three of them, graduate from universities across the country.
Join the hosts for a deep dive into the financial crisis facing UK universities, as well as a personal reflection on their experiences studying at the School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC) at Cardiff University.
Please le...
In this special anniversary episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd reflect on one year of podcasting, one year of international politics, and one year of conversations that tried to make sense of it all.
From elections and education to Gaza, AI, Star Wars, and everything in between, the team revisits the moments, guests, and episodes that have shaped the show since it launched.
We’re so grateful for everyone who’s l...
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd sit down with Chad Mott, a history and government teacher from Evergreen, Colorado, to talk about the state of public education in the US and what it’s like to teach the next generation of voters in 2025.
From students' attitudes on America’s role in the world, to the impacts of the Trump administration on the education system, the conversation explores how high school ...
Over 2,000 miles from the UK, Gaza is starving, cut off by an Israeli blockade. In this episode of the Political Dispatch, Tom speaks to Zoe Daniels from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), to discuss the situation on the ground in Gaza.
Everyone at the Political Dispatch echoes what the IRC and so many other organisations are calling for: an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of aid into Gaza.
The content of this episode ...
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd mark 10 years since Ireland became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. They explore how a conservative, Catholic nation transformed so rapidly, examining the role of activists, the decline of Church influence, and the landmark 2015 referendum. Join the team as they reflect on the global impact of Ireland’s vote, as well as the progress and c...
In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom interviews Fr Damian Howard, the Senior Catholic Chaplain at Oxford University, to talk about the life and legacy of Pope Francis.
Tom and Fr Howard discuss the impact of the Jesuit order on Pope Francis’s early life, his early career in Argentina and the papacy. As well as talking about what distinguished the 266th pontiff from his predecessors, Tom and Fr Howard discuss the role the ...
To celebrate May 4th, Sidd, Lily and Tom travel to a galaxy far, far away to explore the politics of Star Wars. The franchise’s creator, George Lucas, didn’t just draw on the mythology of Joseph Campbell or the cinematic style of Akira Kurosawa. He also held up a mirror to the politics, economics, and society of 1970s America.
The Political Dispatch team discuss the influence of the Vietnam War and Watergate on Lucas’s early writin...
Join Sidd, Lily, and Tom for a deep dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in global elections.
From deepfakes to ballot scanning, The Political Dispatch team breaks down how AI is shaping elections. With examples from South Korea, India, the United States, and beyond, they explore AI's impact on accessibility, efficiency, and disinformation—and what it all means for the future of democracy.
Please leave a rating, s...
Join Sidd, Lily, and Tom for political news from around the world. In this episode, The Political Dispatch team focuses on Serbia, Turkey, and Canada.
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
To get connected with Sidd, Tom, or Lily, please find them on Instagram: @sparetom, @lilymott3, and @siddkurapati.
For more information about the show, please find Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetw...
Join Sidd, Lily, and Tom for Part 2 of a special two-part series exploring what life is like in the United States now that Donald Trump has returned to office.
This episode features Amelia Southern Uribe and Bryson Austin, who are two new members of Be the Change. Media Network and the hosts of the upcoming podcast The Ozark Agenda.
If you have not listened to Part 1 of this series, please listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or ...
Join Sidd, Lily, and Tom for Part 1 of a special two-part series exploring what life is like in the United States now that Donald Trump has returned to office.
This episode features Amelia Southern Uribe and Bryson Austin, who are two new members of Be the Change. Media Network and the hosts of the upcoming podcast The Ozark Agenda.
This episode delves into the political climate, policy changes, and social impact of Trump’s second ...
Popular Podcasts
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.