Amazon stumped up $75m for a Melania Trump documentary that opened to dismal reviews and even worse box-office returns. So, why invest in such a precarious project? Who is the previously exiled director at the helm? And, in a bid to answer the “is it any good?” question, we went along to a sparse opening-day screening to deliver our review.

Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Dave Hanratty

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We Irish have always talked about the weather. It’s our great shared obsession - the small talk, the punchline and the meme that does the rounds when the rain refuses to stop. However, as increasingly violent storms batter our shores and flood our towns, for many across the country, what was once a national pastime has become a source of real anxiety. So, what does climate change actually look like on the ground in Irish communities? And can we keep up with a crisis that’s moving faster than ever?

Host: Tessa Fleming Guest: Alan Caulfield, assistant news editor with the Irish Independent

This podcast was produced with funding from Coimisiún na Meán’s Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.

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Retail royalty Brown Thomas and Arnotts have stood as big-ticket landmarks for shoppers on both sides of the River Liffey for generations, encountering new owners, fires, floods and even the War of Independence along the way. This week, however, they faced the wrath of a consumer watchdog and a date in Dublin District Court. How did a Black Friday misstep land them in trouble? And why did it only cost €1,000?

Host: Kevin Doyle Guests: Adrian Weckler and James Hanby

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Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota has sparked deadly violence, mass protests and a fierce White House response. Is this law and order, or a dangerous slide towards authoritarian rule?

Host: Fionnán Sheahan

Guests: Scott Lucas and David Smith

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This week marks 15 years of Micheál Martin as leader of Fianna Fáil. Having taken up the reins in the wake of the economic crash, he and the party clung on following a challenging general election. The 15 years that followed have been characterised by highs, lows and incredible endurance. So, how did Micheál Martin become the great political survivor? What comes next? And how he will he fare when an increasingly combative Donald Trump welcomes him back to the Oval Office?

Host: Tabitha Monahan Guests: Fionnán Sheahan and John Downing

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