Sascha O'Sullivan's Avatar

Sascha O'Sullivan

@saschaosullivan.bsky.social

Host, Westminster Insider, POLITICO Europe sosullivan@politico.co.uk

1,319 Followers  |  328 Following  |  74 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  2.0412

Latest posts by saschaosullivan.bsky.social on Bluesky

Preview
Westminster's half-term score card Podcast Episode · Westminster Insider · 27/06/2025 · 44m

If after all of that you still want more politics podcasting, check out the latest “half-term score card” episode of Westminster Insider, in which @saschaosullivan.bsky.social lets me give out grades to the Tories and Reform like I’m a Victorian school mistress

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

30.06.2025 19:44 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
Keir Starmer: Sorry, Mr Blair, but 1441 does not authorise force Keir Starmer: The attorney general has a tricky task in defending the legal basis for war.

One of my favourite recent pastimes is looking through Keir Starmer's old Guardian op-eds. Here's a great one, from 2003. (h/t @tom-clark.bsky.social)

www.theguardian.com/politics/200...

19.06.2025 12:05 — 👍 90    🔁 36    💬 4    📌 5
Preview
What’s the point of political satire? Presented by Equinor.

NEW ep: what’s the point of political satire?

W/ co-creator of Yes Minister Jonathan Lynn
@mrjohncrace.bsky.social & Madeline Grant
Cartoonist Matt
Fake MP @rosieisaholt.bsky.social
Former MP Michael Fabricant
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
@andrewhunterm.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

13.06.2025 11:23 — 👍 12    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 1

That’s v odd - I just had a listen through and no problems but let me flag with cleverer IT wizzes than me to see if we can get sorted out for you! Try Apple Podcasts and fingers crossed that works

13.06.2025 15:17 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I listened on Spotify this morning and had no probs but listening on this link to check

13.06.2025 14:46 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

Ooh how strange. Would you mind sending me the time code for when it stopped?

13.06.2025 14:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Huge fun doing this podcast and talking about being an IMPORTANT POLITICAL SATIRIST (twirls my moustache Jonathan Swift style)

13.06.2025 11:36 — 👍 32    🔁 5    💬 2    📌 0
Preview
What’s the point of political satire? Presented by Equinor.

NEW ep: what’s the point of political satire?

W/ co-creator of Yes Minister Jonathan Lynn
@mrjohncrace.bsky.social & Madeline Grant
Cartoonist Matt
Fake MP @rosieisaholt.bsky.social
Former MP Michael Fabricant
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
@andrewhunterm.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

13.06.2025 11:23 — 👍 12    🔁 2    💬 2    📌 1
Video thumbnail

I'm convinced there is an under-appreciated overlap between those who believe in the paranormal and populist conspiracists/Brexiters.

11.06.2025 20:46 — 👍 301    🔁 54    💬 63    📌 25

My child got mad at her book and threw it on the ground. Four years old and already an emotional reader.

10.06.2025 23:40 — 👍 1653    🔁 47    💬 8    📌 7
Preview
Winter fuel climbdown exposes big problem plaguing UK politics Neither Labour nor the opposition seem ready to adapt welfare system to our changing demographics

Just hard to really believe that any of the departmental cuts announced today will end up happening, frankly. Another set of salami-slicing and self-delusion on the road to taxes going up again:

11.06.2025 08:13 — 👍 103    🔁 27    💬 10    📌 1

Made a beef wellington tonight.

The meat was delicious, but I didn't enjoy chewing through the thick rubber boot to get to it.

14.05.2025 21:04 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Westminster Insider POLITICO’s weekly political series lifts the curtain on how Westminster really works, offering in-depth insight into the political issues which typically only get broad-brush treatment in the wider me...

Reform UK is sending its Elon Musk-style DOGE team into its new councils to assess “wasteful spending.” Meanwhile, in Westminster, a whole host of copycat DOGEs have started popping up too.

🎧 This week on Westminster Insider, Patrick Baker investigates these Muskian plans: ow.ly/qel150W5iJo

06.06.2025 07:18 — 👍 11    🔁 8    💬 7    📌 1

Zia Yusuf says he only called Sarah Pochin MP for Runcorn dumb because “he was exhausted”

And if he was an MP he would be in favour of banning face coverings “writ large” on #BBCR4today

09.06.2025 07:24 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Inside Westminster’s Musk-inspired DOGE wars Presented by Equinor.

Zia Yusuf says he will now be ‘running UK DOGE’ for Reform instead of being their chair… which he resigned only 48 hrs ago.

Want to find out about SW1s new obsession with Elon Musks waste cutting measure? Have a listen to Pat Baker’s latest ep of Westminster Insider
www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 16:23 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Thames Water
Staying water wise during warm, dry spells
Hello Hetan,

Thames Water Staying water wise during warm, dry spells Hello Hetan,

To help make sure we all have enough water over the hotter months, we're asking customers to please be mindful of their water use.
If you can, avoid wasting water and fix leaky loos or dripping taps as soon as you can. This will help us keep reservoirs topped up and make sure there's enough water to go around during dry spells.

To help make sure we all have enough water over the hotter months, we're asking customers to please be mindful of their water use. If you can, avoid wasting water and fix leaky loos or dripping taps as soon as you can. This will help us keep reservoirs topped up and make sure there's enough water to go around during dry spells.

Thanks Thames Water for telling me to fix any leaks. Same back at you

06.06.2025 17:07 — 👍 28    🔁 4    💬 2    📌 0

Have we considered the possibility that men are too emotional for politics.

07.06.2025 16:14 — 👍 43    🔁 3    💬 7    📌 0
Post image

omg

07.06.2025 16:09 — 👍 32    🔁 10    💬 9    📌 4
Preview
Westminster Insider – Newsletters – POLITICO POLITICO’s weekly political series lifts the curtain on how Westminster really works, offering in-depth insight into the political issues which typically only get broad-brush treatment in the wider…

& loads more!

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 11:36 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Can Labour still own the North? With Nigel Farage’s Reform UK muscling in to key parts of the country, Westminster Insider Host Sascha O’Sullivan speaks to politicians through the North of England, where Labour has an…

I looked at Labour’s challenges in the North and how a string of Northern politicians were trying to get a grip on their constituents disillusionment with Westminster

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 11:35 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
How to run your Cabinet: Lessons for Starmer With tensions simmering in Keir Starmer’s top team over Labour’s approach to the economy, this week host Patrick Baker looks at what the PM might be able to learn about managing your ministers…

Patrick went inside Cabinet and found out how different PMs, including Starmer, manage tensions between cabinet ministers

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 11:34 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
A boozy lunch with Jo Coburn Host Sascha O’Sullivan goes for lunch with Jo Coburn as she leaves her position as presenter of Politics Live, the BBC’s lunchtime political programme. Over a carafe of Picpoul de Pinet…

And I went to lunch with the legendary @jocoburn.bsky.social as she said farewell to Politics Live

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 11:33 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
Inside Westminster’s Musk-inspired DOGE wars Presented by Equinor.

We’ve had a cracker few Westminster Insider episodes lately which I haven’t shared on here.

Most recently my co-host Patrick Baker on how the right of Westminster became obsessed with “woke waste”

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

07.06.2025 11:32 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Preview
Can Labour still own the North? Westminster Insider · Episode

Great to speak to @saschaosullivan.bsky.social for @politico.com on who ‘owns’ the North. Agree with @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social & Mayor Ben Houchen on need to shake up government investment rules so the North gets its fair share (& catch up). Time to make it happen…

open.spotify.com/episode/2VDt...

16.05.2025 09:45 — 👍 6    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

The king has spoken

10.04.2025 08:35 — 👍 380    🔁 56    💬 25    📌 13
Preview
War and Peace in Europe With Ukraine and Russia in the throes of attempting to negotiate a ceasefire, Westminster Insider Host Sascha O’Sullivan talks to some of the leading figures on the frontline of the war in Russia. …

Westminster Insider is on a break but have a listen to my latest ep: War & Peace in Europe

Lithuania Defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė
Finnish Minister
@adleande.bsky.social
Ex-NATO director Fabrice Pothier
@arminkahelic.bsky.social
@svitlanamorenets.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/podcast/west...

31.03.2025 09:22 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Teaser for this week's episode on 'War and Peace in Europe' in today's Playbook PM @ecasalicchio.bsky.social

For full interview with Lithuania Defense minister
Dovilė Šakalienė keep an ear (or two) out on Friday morning

25.03.2025 17:29 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Post image

🦀 IN LONDON PLAYBOOK PM TONIGHT: All the below plus ...

🚗 Fears in govt MPs have not clocked the threat of fresh Trump tariffs

🪖 Stark Russia warning from @saschaosullivan.bsky.social i/v with Lithuanian defense minister

🥐 R Hermer and H Falconer put the world to rights over pastries

25.03.2025 17:26 — 👍 2    🔁 2    💬 1    📌 1
Video thumbnail

March weather is simply not to be trusted

22.03.2025 15:12 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0
Preview
Southern Europe must spend more on defense, Lithuania warns Time to get serious, says Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.

It's time for the entire continent to cough up more cash for defense, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said, in an apparent message to spendthrift Southern European countries.

17.03.2025 09:25 — 👍 203    🔁 35    💬 16    📌 2

@saschaosullivan is following 20 prominent accounts