PoliticsJOE Podcast

It's Monday. Kemi Badenoch is hot off announcing her mnemonic BORDERS plan at Conservative conference in Manchester, and Laura was on the ground covering Saturday's Palestine Action protests in London. Oli and Seán join Laura to discuss both. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PoliticsJOE is joined by British Jewish writer, organiser, and co-founder of Na'amod Emily Hilton to reflect on yesterday's terrorist attack: how politicians responded and how we can move forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura breaks down what we know about the attack at the synagogue in Manchester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Oli and Ed react to Keir Starmer's Labour conference speech, and ask whether the Prime Minister's fortunes have turned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour Party conference is still in full swing in Liverpool, and Ava and Laura reacted to Keir Starmer's speech live from the conference hall floor. Amidst the discussion they spoke to MPs like Dawn Butler, Henry Tufnell, and Pat McFadden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Ava and Laura debrief their day interviewing MPs, covering protests, and paying an arm and a leg for drinks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Simon Opher joined us over the airwaves to speak about his experience being barred from entering Israel. Representing Stroud and also working as an NHS GP, Opher was invited alongside other doctors to observe healthcare facilities and meet both Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, he was stopped at the border, detained for hours, and eventually deported back to Jordan on grounds of “public security, safety, and order.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Seán is joined by musician Seán Finch to chat about Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's terrorism trial, Irish music and its connection to the anti-colonial tradition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot off Donald Trump's 55-minute speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday, Ed and Seán recap the most bizarre moments—including Trump's suggestion that Sadiq Khan's London wants 'to go to Sharia Law". They also debate the effectiveness of Ed Davey's attack lines against Farage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump announced this morning that his administration has linked Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, and is skeptical of certain vaccine practices. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy joined in with similarly controversial remarks. Seán and Ava try to make sense of it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tweets and statements were flying last week as Zarah Sultana accused fellow Your Party members of excluding her, rebelling against the group to set up a payment portal. Ed and Laura sit down to try and get to the bottom of it all. Also discussed is the UK's move alongside Canada and Australia to recognise a Palestinian state, and the Scottish far right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this in-depth interview, Laura sits down with Nick Lowles, CEO of Hope Not Hate, to discuss the growing threat of Britain's far right and what can be done to confront it. Lowles, a leading anti-fascist campaigner and author of the new book How To Defeat The Far Right, gives a clear-eyed assessment of where the movement stands today and why government responses have been so ineffective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Danny Kruger this week jumped ship from the Conservative party to Reform UK, Laura takes a dive into the future of the two parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dudes are rocking. Late night host Jimmy Kimmel's show was pulled indefinitely by ABC over comments he made about Charlie Kirk and the Trump administration, Oli and Ed discuss. They also get into the comments made by the incoming Oxford Union president about Kirk and their resultant fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey joins us at JOETowers to explain why he's boycotting Trump's state dinner with King Charles. He believes that Trump could put an end to Israel's occupation of Gaza, and wants to spark a debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'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.