Can Gareth Sheridan or Maria Steen get their presidential nomination over the line?

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chance, needing two more local councils to back him.

A report today looking at Sheridan’s business partner’s links with Russia may not be welcomed by his campaign as councillors around the country weight up their decision.

Social conservative Maria Steen is gathering nominations in the Oireachtas. Can she get over the line before next Wednesday’s deadline?

Hollowing out of democracy is secondary to the profits of big tech

Presidential election: How many nominations do Independent candidates have so far?

Phil Hogan’s consultancy firm earned €1m last year for Brussels work, filings show

Largest investor in Gareth Sheridan’s US business accused of ‘history of improper conduct’ in legal case

Meanwhile Mary Lou McDonald continues to be coy about Sinn Féin’s nominee, possibly enjoying the opportunity to toy with the media. But who will it be - Catherine Connolly, or one of their own?

Budget 2026 is drawing near. So far the focus of political debate has been on the withdrawal of one-off payments. It is an issue that cuts through, as Opposition parties well know.

Plus the panelists pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week, including columns on a rescinded award and Ireland’s rudeness problem and a look at sport’s ~~greatest~~ quirkiest cheating scandals.