Explore every episode of the podcast Behind the Ballot

David and Katie discuss the exit poll with Mícheál Lehane and Joe Mag Raollaigh. Sinn Féin and Fine Gael appear neck and neck while Fianna Fáil are following closely behind, the team also ponder the unusual situation with the Limerick city ballot paper where Q comes before O!

Katie, Fran and David are joined by Liz Carolan of The Briefing to discuss which parties are the big spenders on social media. The trio also analyse the latest poll to drop and examine Simon Harris' reminder that there are two candidates running in Louth.

David, Katie and Fran dissect the Prime Time Leaders Debate and are joined on the podcast couch by Miriam O'Callaghan and Sarah McInerney who give them the inside scoop on what the atmosphere was like in studio.

Fine Gael might want to forget about the last few days as the reaction from that exchange in Kanturk has put them under pressure. To compound things more, two polls were released indicating support for them had dropped. David, Fran, and Katie also take a look at a climate policy rating that has given Labour the bragging rights over the Greens.

Katie, Fran and David are joined by a chilly Paul Cunningham to look back on the week that saw more squabbles breaking out, Sinn Féin put the spotlight on RTÉ and Paschal Donohue become a food influencer.

Accusations of bruised egos from Peadar Tóibín after Micheál Martin ruled out doing business with him. Sinn Féin’s policy on Ukraine has also been getting attention, but does foreign policy affect voting? And which parties are winning on social media? ThinkHouse's Donagh Humphreys is on hand to give Fran, David, and Katie the surprising stats.

Wednesday took a feisty turn as Fine Gael launched a US-style attack ad on Sinn Féin, while Fianna Fáil are the latest party to find themselves in a spot of trouble with the teachers. David, Katie, and Fran were also joined by RTÉ Entertainment’s Alan Corr who talked them through the highs and lows of posters.

After a night of backstage chats, David is joined by Paul Cunningham to analyse a lively 24 hours. One person they've been wondering about is Fine Gael's John McGahon who is MIA on the campaign trail. Evelyn O'Rourke, Tommy Meskill, and Samantha Libreri also check in with their leader updates.

In a special bonus episode recorded from backstage after the UpFront debate, David and Fran were joined by Alison O’Connor to figure out who'll be happy and who might be disappointed by their performance. And of course they were also joined by Katie who said she was surprised by a few things during the debate.

David and Katie take a look at Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee and Fianna Fail’s Jim O'Callaghan's shade-throwing after he suggested she took his ideas. And as Katie prepares to host Upfront's ten-way debate, the pod invited in Head of Training at the Communications Clinic Lorcan Nyhan to get an insight into how politicians themselves gear up for them.

While David and Katie hold firm in the studio, Fran reports back from Limerick where the buses are proving a big issue. They also look to Dublin where Gerard Hutch became an official candidate, while TG4 has released its poll for Galway West – and it’s thrown up some interesting results. 

Fran, David, and Katie discuss fake fights, proposed new Ministeries and RTÉ Entertainment's Alan Corr looks at how celebrities and politicians have mingled in the past and whether it has any influence.

Katie, David, and Fran analyse an eventful few days as FG Leader Simon Harris and SF Leader Mary Lou McDonald busted their best moves in Monaghan, made big promises to the farmers, while the Greens launched their manifesto in Dublin. 

Fran, Katie, and David dissected the tsunami of campaign messages that launched in sync as the Dáil was finally dissolved and the General Election was called. They’ll also look at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gaels’ quick transition from coalition partners to bitter rivals, and the Sinn Féin truck’s battle for space on Merrion Square.

Go behind the scenes of General Election 2024 with RTÉ's David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty as they guide you through the campaign and what's really going on. Stay up to date as the battle begins for your vote.