PoliticsJOE Podcast

'King in the North' Andy Burnham is supposedly weighing up a return to Westminster, with eyes on Starmer's spot at the top of a divided Labour Party. Ed and Laura discuss if the man and timing are right, as well as Paul Ovenden's resignation over explicit comments made about Dianne Abbott, and Danny Kruger's defection to Reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dudes pause their rocking to meet the national moment. Oli and Ed are in the studio to break down Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally, Business Sec Peter Kyle's lack of concern for it, and the dubious position of Starmer's government following the sacking of Epstein's pal Peter Mandelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We spoke to RMT General Secretaries present and past at the TUC conference in Brighton this week, as the union continued a rolling strike across the London Underground network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava explains the latest in the sordid tale of Peter Mandelson and updates us on the Labour Deputy Leader race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were joined in studio today by newly ordained leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski to react to the latest scandals pummelling Keir Starmer, as Peter Mandelson's relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein gains speed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie's putting his foot down. London Underground staff have started a five day walkout, organising for better working hours and an end to extreme shift rotations. Ava and Seán break it down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the fall of Ange, Ava has the latest on Labour's deputy leadership race. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli spoke to Yuval Noah Harari on all the pressing issues of our time, and the issues that will come to define humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Angela Rayner handed in her badge and gun on Friday, Ava breaks down what the next few months of Labour party politics could look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pub enthusiast and impresario Jimmy Mac joins Oli and Ed to talk pubs, Britain's drinking culture, and the night-time economy. From such discussions the great question arises: Would you rather go to the pub or watch Babestation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, PMQs is back. With controversy swirling around Labour's immigration policy and the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Ava is joined by former advisor to Jeremy Corbyn James Schneider and immigration campaigner Zoe Gardner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Commons yesterday Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that Labour would be closing family asylum routes until reforms take place. Seán and Laura are here to talk about it, and how anti-immigration rhetoric connects the right across the Irish sea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday. Recess is over. Ed returns. He joins Seán to recap the Old Firm, dive into immigration protests across the globe, and cover news from Coventry as their council signs a long-term deal with US AI firm Palantir to aid their children's services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sacha Deshmukh is the Chief Executive of Amnesty UK. He came by the studio to speak to us about Amnesty's decision to issue an Urgent Action against the UK government for their crackdown on free speech, seen most recently at pro-Palestine Action demonstrations in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friend of the podcast Adam Friedland interviewed prominent pro-Israel democrat Ritchie Torres, and Oli and Seán are here to explain why it's an example of everything wrong with the political class and their media strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed returns to the podcast as a citizen, joining Oli and Ava to discuss Reform's new migration plan. Announced yesterday by Nigel and Zia, the plan would see returns deals made with all willing countries (including Taliban-controlled Afghanistan). Also Taylor Swift got engaged. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

English and British flags are popping up all over the country. Seán, an Irishman, and Laura, a Scot, discuss who's flying these flags, why, and what they have to do with the far right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tess Ingram is UNICEF's spokesperson in Gaza. She spoke to us following the IPC report declaring famine in Gaza City. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Labour candidate for Clacton, activist, and podcaster Jovan Owusu-Nepaul joins Ava and Laura at JOETowers to break down the fallout over the injunction barring Epping's Bell Hotel from housing asylum seekers, as well as who you should really be angry with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's planning laws all the way down. Ed, Oli, and Ava break down the interim injunction that will stop Epping's Bell Hotel from accommodating asylum seekers, alongside some analysis of the new inflation figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dudes rock no more. Seán and Laura wrestle back control of the studio to talk Sally Rooney and the Ukraine summit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dudes that rock are back. After kicking down the studio door, Ed and Oli chew the fat over the showdown at the whitehouse, what constitutes a genocide, and a wartime deli in Edinburgh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos joins us in the studio to deliver a searing critique of Israel's actions in Gaza, Keir Starmer's leadership, and the UK's political establishment. Drawing on his own childhood experiences of persecution, Stephen reflects on the dangers of racism, militarism, and the misuse of Holocaust memory to justify oppression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed and Oli snuck in to get a boys only pod out into the ether today and it was a tasty one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are joined by former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf to discuss the unfolding atrocities in Gaza, and how his family have been directly affected by the situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura was on the ground at the asylum hotel protest in Canary Wharf yesterday, and returns to tell Seán all about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed, Ava, and Oli discuss the latest in Gaza, as well as the Palestine Action arrests this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Entrepreneur Bonnie Blue came by JOETowers this week to chat about her new doc on Channel 4, 1000 Men and Me. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and author Joey D'Urso joins Oli to unpack the big questions facing modern football. From the Lionesses' recent victory and the growing popularity of women's football, to the dark side of the game: sportswashing, soft power, and the influence of autocratic regimes like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined on today's episode by Conor Clark of Gay Star News and renowned drag queen Davina de Campo to discuss the clash between Belfast Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and a Drag Queen Storytime event at a local library.Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered,with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to theportion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan's rates apply. Visit tide.co/joe for more.” Rate correct as of 8th May 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How's the head? After last night's live show, Seán and Laura wade bravely into the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle discourse. They break down the ad's backlash, as well as the wider state of American politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jacob Hawley of the Screen Rot Podcast joins us at JOETowers to unpack last week's interview with Bonnie Blue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Monday. This morning Ed, Ava, and Oli reunite to debrief Bonnie Blue, talk digital IDs, and further unpack the Online Safety Act. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf came by the PoliticsJOE studio this week to chat to us about Labour's roll out of the Online Safety Bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the yellow and green corner, Ava and Oli. In the blue corner, Tom Tugendhat MP and James Cowling of Next Gen Tories. The two slides clash and debate housing, immigration, and the state of the major parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour Tech Secretary Peter Kyle had some choice words for Nigel Farage, saying he is on the side of 'people like Jimmy Savile'. Ed and Ava break down his comments and all the ensuing fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Seán and Laura reunite to chew the cud on Donald Trump's summer holiday in Scotland, where he sat down with Ursula Von Der Leyen and Keir Starmer to finalise trade talks, parry questions on Jeffrey Epstein, and change his tune on Israel's conduct in Palestine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday morning. Oli and Ava chat about the Online Safety Act, child protection, and all types of graphic materials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Head of Investigative research at Handelsblatt Sönke Iwersen came by JOE Towers this week on the release of his and Michael Verfürden's book The Tesla Files.In this chat we break down the findings of a massive data leak from Tesla that fell into Sönke's lap, the inner workings of Elon Musk's empire, and what all these things tell us about the life and mind of the world's richest man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richie Jones of Ipsos joins Ed and Oli to chat about exclusive new polling that sheds light on the male loneliness epidemic. Are the headlines right? Where are the third spaces? What makes a friendship meaningful? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli and Ed break down Kemi Badenoch's latest chess move (a minor cabinet reshuffle) and ask why Donald Trump won't just release the Epstein files already. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK Director of More in Common Luke Tryl joins Laura to dive into voting at 16 and how it might impact future elections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli was on Newsnight. Ed was on holiday. The pair reunite to talk Diane Abbott, the Labour rebels, and far-right activity in Epping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli and Ava are joined by South-East Londoner, journalist, and teacher-in-training Jack Beaumont to hear about his experience working in a SEND school ahead of Labour's projected education reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Thursday. Ava is joined by JOE's national reporter Tom Usher to talk steroids, body image, and men's mental health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of parliamentary recess, Keir Starmer has just purged his party. Ava and Laura report and react to the news as it unfolds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed, Oli, and Ava sit down to react to the final PMQs before parliament enters recess. Kemi and Keir's last dance, if you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined by MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne to talk about the Hillsborough Law, which was blocked in parliament last week. He also speaks to his experience being a progressive Labour MP in an era of welfare cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday morning. Oli and Ava talk Wimbledon, Donald Tusk's dinner, and Ed Miliband reminding the Commons that climate change exists. All this and Mapgate, an exclusive scoop from the West Midlands broken by Oli's dad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Elder is global spokesperson for UNICEF. He came by the studio to speak to us about what he has seen on the ground in Gaza since Israel's violent campaign against the Palestinians began nearly two years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.