The New Statesman Podcast

The US dollar is about to flood Britain. American firms have pledged £150bn worth of investment in the UK, the government celebrates this as part of a wider plan to deepen economic ties with the US. But is there a bigger cost? As the pound flows back across the Atlantic, are we slowly but surely becoming American?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and Will Dunn.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have just finished their joint press conference from Chequers, drawing a close to the US president's state visit. Andrew Marr and Will Dunn will be joining Anoosh tomorrow on the podcast to discuss what these deals mean for Britain as dollars and pounds wash across the Atlantic Ocean - but today we're looking at something else frothy, the meltdown of Your Party.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Megan Kenyon and Ethan Croft.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Zohran Mamdani has upended New York City politics – and potentially revitalised the American left.Born in Uganda, raised in Manhattan - the socialist mayoral candidate has captivated voters with his viral social media videos and progressive policies. He became the democratic nominee this June, beating political veteran and former governor of New York - Andrew Cuomo - in a tightly fought primary. If he wins in November this would be the highest office an avowed socialist has ever held in US politics. Can he do it? Megan Gibson is joined by New Statesman columnist Ross Barkan who profiled Mamdani for this week's cover story.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Trump is arriving in the UK today for his much anticipated state visit.Rachel Cunliffe and Will Lloyd look at how it might play out in the aftermath of the emergency debate which took place in parliament this afternoon concerning the appointment of Peter Mandelson.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This weekend more than 110,000 people from across the country took part in a far-right protest in central London organised by the activist Tommy Robinson - in his words, to “Unite the Kingdom”. This is thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades. St George's flags flooded the streets, speakers including Katie Hopkins and Elon Musk were projected to the crowds, and an overwhelming anti-muslim narrative shrouded the event.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Will Lloyd and George Monaghan.Listen: A year undercover on the far rightRead: Murder, she wroteLISTEN AD-FREE:

Are the Greens ‘anarchists'? Has British politics become Americanised? And why was Theresa May prime minister?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions and explain LARPing to Andrew Marr.LISTEN AD-FREE:

In power for nearly a decade, Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland's longest-serving First Minister. She reshaped Scottish politics, leading the SNP through moments of crisis and opportunity, from the 2014 independence referendum to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since stepping down in 2023, Sturgeon has remained a powerful and sometimes polarising figure in public life. She reflects on this in her new memoir, Frankly.She joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss nationalism in Scotland, the shadow of Alex Salmond, and her public row with the author JK Rowling. In her words, “  where does she get the time to obsess about me?”LISTEN AD-FREE:

Earlier this week the prominent right-wing activist, and close Trump-ally, Charlie Kirk was shot during a public appearance in Utah. Graphic videos of the shooting immediately circulated online and his death was soon confirmed by Donald Trump.While many politicians across the spectrum have denounced the killing of Charlie Kirk - Trump has blamed what he calls “radical left political violence” and vowed to go after the organisations he deems responsible. A suspect was named and arrested earlier today.Katie Stallard is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Following the disarray caused by Angela Rayner's resignation and the sacking of Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer's latest reset is a mess.His newly reshuffled cabinet appears to be largely a response to the very real threat of Nigel Farage. It seems, to his critics, that the Prime Minister is drawn to Reform's magnetic force to the right.But what does this mean for the direction of our country and its governing party?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week in part of an ongoing battle for the release of the “Epstein files”, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents related to the pedophile financier. This comprised his will and personal address book - but generating the most controversy is an alleged "birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fiftieth birthday. The 238-page book contains messages and photos sent by many of Epstein's friends, including Donald Trump and the UK's ambassador in America - Peter Mandelson.Will Lloyd is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week the renters' rights bill returns to the House of Commons for its final debate. But in a country where tenants are spending around 40% of their income on rent, amidst an increasingly inflating housing market - does the bill go far enough?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's business editor Will Dunn, and director of the Renters' Reform Coalition Tom Darling.Read: Landlords are a brake on growthLISTEN AD-FREE:

As Keir Starmer spent the weekend trying to glue his cabinet back together, another was basking in the glow of the NEC spotlights and a governmental crisis.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The Greens have a new leader. Listeners want to know what's in store for the left now.Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon to answer listener questions on:the future of the Green Party under Zack PolanskiJeremy Corbyn and Your Party's position on trans rightswhether a pro-immigration left party could win working class votesif the Lib Dems have any "serious" policiesLISTEN AD-FREE:

From the battlefields of Algiers to the corridors of Westminster, Britain's uneasy relationship with Europe has been shaped by thinkers, politicians, financiers, and strategists. In his new book, Between the Waves, the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague traces a previously uncovered history spanning eight decades of how Britain came to say “no” to Europe.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Angela Rayner resigned from government, and stood down as deputy Labour leader, following her failure to pay enough tax on a property in Hove. With this Keir Starmer has reshuffled his top cabinet, where are they headed now?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr, Tom McTague and Megan Kenyon.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Andrew Marr joins the show to discuss Rayner, Immigration and Graham Linehan's arrest.***Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is under fire for underpaying Stamp Duty. The right are gleeful but Keir Starmer is standing by his deputy PM. Is he making the right move?Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe, Megan Kenyon and George Monaghan.They also discuss how Labour must respond to the anti-immigration protests, and the questions around free speech that have been raised by the arrest (and subsequent release) of Graham Linehan over anti-trans tweets.Host: Tom McTagueGuest: Andrew MarrGuest: Rachel CunliffeGuest: Megan KenyonGuest: George MonaghanCHAPTERS:00:00 Angela Rayner10:15 Immigration26:00 Graham Linehan and free speechLISTEN AD-FREE:

Who gets to belong in Britain?In the past year, the conversation around immigration in Britain - across the political spectrum - has become increasingly vicious. As Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, writes for this week's cover story - we are no longer in “an age of migration”. We have been propelled into something altogether new, “an age of deportation".Read: The age of deportationLISTEN AD-FREE:

How your snatched iPhone feeds a global criminal supply chain.Britain's exports have declined in many areas over the past few years, but there is one category in which trade is booming. The UK has become a leading exporter of stolen goods. From iPhones snatched by gangs on the streets of London to luxury cars stolen to order, criminal organisations are shipping vast amounts of items all around the world via Britain's ports. And the authorities cannot keep up.Tom Sasse is public policy editor at The Economist, and has been investigating Britain's stolen goods trade. He joins the New Statesman's business editor, Will Dunn, to explain how these criminal exports work, why the police are powerless to stop them, and the impact this crime is having - on individuals, on businesses and on the entire British economy.Listen next: The Manosphere: Red pills, incels and a misogyny epidemicHost: Will DunnGuest: Tom SasseLISTEN AD-FREE:

Who's in, who's out - and why?*Keir Starmer has reshuffled the treasury team and some key parliamentary staff, creating a new "Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister" role and restructuring the government's communication department.The changes indicate a renewed focus for the government, putting economic issues front-and-centre of operations ahead of the upcoming budget.The moves also suggest a change of direction in some areas, with leading proponents of the disastrous Winter Fuel Allowance repeal picking up their P45s.Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon join Anoosh Chakelian to discuss what can we learn from this reshuffle.LISTEN NEXT: What the Treasury reshuffle reveals about the budgetREAD: Will Keir Starmer's mini-reshuffle make a difference?Host: Anoosh ChakelianGuest: Megan KenyonGuest: Rachel Cunliffe*LISTEN AD-FREE:

The experimental novelist on finding God, being "a misfit" and her return to writing.--Nicola Barker is "has broken the mould so many times it's almost beyond repair". She's a post-punk literary anarchist who writes from the peripheries of the UK.Her experiments with narrative form have won her many plaudits, including the Goldsmith's Prize for literary fiction, which the New Statesman partners with.Barker joins Tanjil Rashid on the New Statesman culture podcast to discuss her latest novel, Tony Interrupter: a comedy about art, virality, chaos, and the surprising impact of freak events in Kent.LISTEN AD-FREE:

“⁠Do you think the English flag has been so easily co-opted by by the far right because there is no English government that is proudly flying the flag and building a better narrative around English national pride?” Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Harry Clarke-Ezzidio and George Eaton to answer listener quesitons.LISTEN AD-FREE:

It was foreseen for months, as Israel cut off all aid, but this month the UN declared that more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine.By the end of September, more than 640 000 people will face Catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Leading to preventable deaths on a devastating scale.For Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader, the horrors facing the people of Gaza for the past two years are deeply personal. His wife Nadia has relatives in Gaza - the family has described the experience as a “living nightmare”.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Last October, the government published the Employment Rights Bill, a slate of reforms set to change workers' rights in the UK - from banning “fire and rehire” tactics, to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, to giving workers employment protection from day one.The bill has passed through the Commons and is currently on its third reading in the House of Lords - the first changes are expected to be enacted in 2026.But what does this bill really mean for workers, businesses, and the economy? And could there be unintended consequences that even its biggest supporters are worried about?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, one of the UK's leading trade unions representing over 150,000 professionals across science, engineering, and technology.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Ahead of this autumn's budget there has been a reshuffle in Rachel Reeves' treasury team. What's at play? And what might it tell us about the trajectory of Britain's finances?Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by George Eaton.Read: Torsten Bell rises as Rachel Reeves reshuffles her team; Rachel Reeves will never get serious on taxDownload the appLISTEN AD-FREE:

Students across the UK have reported a dramatic rise in misogyny in their schools. The government has described this as being on an "epidemic scale". This is often connected to social media content targeted at young men and boys, but is there more to it?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by journalist James Bloodworth, author of Lost Boys: A Personal Journey Through the Manosphere, to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Due to Britain's falling birth rates and the government's desire for lower immigration levels, does the government have any plan to financially encourage and support couples to have children?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to answer listener questions.Download the appLISTEN AD-FREE:

The Mayor of Manchester is the most popular choice to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.Keir Starmer is now less popular than Donald Trump.Despite the Labour Party's historic election win just over one year ago, popularity ratings for leading Labour figures have plummeted.Economic woes, crunching u-turns, unrest over Gaza and asylum hotel protests have left leading Labour figures looking to their next leadership battle.George Eaton reports that Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting have both been monitoring their popularity among party members. But there is one tantalising option who polling reveals as the public's preferred choice: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Could he be Britain's next Prime Minister?George joins Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe on the New Statesman podcast.Download the appHost: Anoosh ChakelianGuests: George EatonRachel CunliffeProducer:Catharine HughesVideo Producer:Rob Le MareExecutive Producer:Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

Following last year's riots, in the wake of the Southport murders, Elon Musk predicted civil war in the UK was “inevitable”. So far, however, no civil war…Over the last century, people in British politics at times of turmoil have raised the prospect of civil war, repeatedly, in ways not unlike today. What did they fear, and why? And what might we learn from the fact that - each time - those fears remained unfounded?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by author and journalist Phil Tinline.Download the appHost: Anoosh ChakelianGuest: Phil TinlineProducer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareExecutive Producer: Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

Yesterday, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington, flanked by seven European leaders, in order to meet with Donald Trump and push forward talks to end the war in Ukraine.This came just three days after Trump's carefully choreographed meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.Could this be the beginning of the end for the drawn out conflict? And can Trump be trusted?Megan Gibson is joined by Katie Stallard.Download the appHost: Megan GibsonGuest: Katie StallardProducer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareExecutive producer: Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

In 1978, the broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, and photojournalist Don McCullin, published The Palestinians - a book that sought to tell the human story behind one of the world's most intractable conflicts.This year, in the wake of the ongoing and constantly escalating war, the book will be republished with a new foreword. In this episode Dimbleby joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss the current phase of the conflict and its effect on UK politics.Read: Palestine's cycle of despair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's one thing you need this summer. A good book.Will Lloyd is joined by culture editor Tanjil Rashid, and staff writer Finn McRedmond to discuss the New Statesman's ultimate beach reads for 2025 and beyond.Download the app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Starmer face a vote of no confidence? What does Reform UK mean by scrap Net Zero? Should the Democrats distance themselves from the Clintons?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Will Lloyd to answer listener questions.Download the appAsk a question Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK economy is slowing... but not as much as expected. So that's good - isn't it?--Thursday morning, data was released showing that UK gross domestic product (or GDP) has slowed to 0.3% growth in the second quarter of the year - not as much as predicted.Also, JD Vance has been holidaying in the UK, recently meeting with a who's who of right-wing populists - from Robert Jenrick, to Nigel Farage, to, somewhat bizarrely, enjoying a BBQ with ex-Apprentice contestant and social media star, Thomas Skinner.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by George Eaton and Will Dunn.Read: The Cotswolds plot against JD Vance - Finn McRedmond Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday, in Westminster, police arrested more than 500 people under the Terrorism Act. That's more in a single day than have ever been charged with terrorist-related activity in a whole year.Many of those arrested were pensioners. Their crime: holding cardboard signs which read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”One of those 532 people arrested on Saturday was Sir Jonathon Porritt, a long-time activist and campaigner on green and social justice issues, former environmental adviser to King Charles and patron to over 20 charities. He joins Anoosh Chakelian to explain why he took part in the protest, what led to his arrest, and why he fears the Home Secretary - and the Labour party - are becoming more authoritarian.--

US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday for a high stakes summit to discuss the war in Ukraine.Trump has been upping the ante with his rhetoric around Putin in recent months. On July 14, the US president set Putin a 50 day deadline to agree a ceasefire with Ukraine. On July 28th, he reduced it to 10-12 days. As that deadline was reached last Friday, Trump announced plans for this summit. So, why is this happening now, and what will be on the agenda?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Katie Stallard.Read: What Putin wants from talks with TrumpDownload the app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Youth membership for the Labour party has collapsed – from 100,000 to just 30,000 under Starmer's leadership. The relationship between Labour HQ and its members on university campuses has soured over the past year, reaching boiling point following the prime minister's decision to conditionally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Hattie Simpson.Read: Inside Labour students' revolt over Gaza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whit Stillman is something of a cult film director. He rose to prominence in 1990 with his debut film Metropolitan, which became the first in the so-called “Doomed. Bourgeois. In love” trilogy: Barcelona came out in 1994 and The Last Days of Disco in 1998. Set among America's so-called “Preppy” class, the films are comedies of manners in the tradition of Jane Austen, exploring the transitional phase of youth and a certain American identity.The films are now having something of a revival. Stillman joins the New Statesman's culture editor Tanjil Rashid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Keir Starmer sucking up to Donald Trump, and what do politicians get up to during parliamentary recess?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to answer listener questions.Download the app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New polling has found that Keir Starmer is now less popular amongst British voters than Donald Trump.Today, we're talking about Keir Starmer's first year in government and the rapid decline in his personal popularity. From a triumphant election victory to sliding approval ratings, where has it gone wrong for the Labour leader? Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's senior data journalist, Ben Walker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nine years after the Brexit referendum, the dream of 'Singapore-on-Thames' has quietly evaporated. Instead, we've got a Labour government embracing high taxes, stronger workers' rights, even state ownership. What's behind Labour's European turn and is Starmer quietly reversing Thatcher's legacy?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by George Eaton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dormant Democrat party must find a way to revive itself if it is to have any hope of challenging the Maga movement, Donald Trump, and his eventual successor. The party is split on whether Trump is simply an aberration to endure, or whether he represents the death of democracy, justifying a dirtier form of opposition politics.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's US correspondent Freddie Hayward.Download the app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parliament is in recess for the next four weeks, a time when Westminster usually goes quiet, but this year there's one man who's determined to keep working. Nigel Farage.Today the Reform UK delivered his third weekly conference as part of his campaign on “Lawless Britain”, broadening out (slightly) from the party's usual single-issue politics. Of course, much of the emphasis is still heavily on migration.But do these conferences tell us about the current contradictions in British politics and have Reform peaked too soon?Read: One year on, tensions still circle Britain's asylum-seeker hotels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain is in the grip of a housing crisis and politicians from all sides claim to have the solutions. But as prices rise, renters struggle and investors profit - are we seeing housing policy serve the public good?Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by Susan J. Smith, the new president of the British Academy and honorary professor of social and economic geography at the University of Cambridge.Read: Britain's new-build nightmare Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The team answer listener questions on the practicalities of the online safety act, a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, and the revival of the commonwealth.Submit a question for a future episode: You Ask Us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Asylum protests. NHS strikes. A faltering economy. Is the Labour government facing a summer of discontent?Last year, riots sparked by the brutal murder of three young girls at a dance class in Southport rocked the UK. Rioters targeted hotels housing asylum seekers, wrongly connecting the murders to Muslim immigration. Now, asylum protests persist.At the same time, the government faces strike action from NHS doctors, a struggling economy and political threats from both left and right.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Anoosh Chakelian and George Eaton.Read: One year on, tensions still circle Britain's asylum-seeker hotels; Labour's summer of discontent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK will recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel abides by a ceasefire, commits to a two-state solution and agrees not to annex the West Bank.Yesterday, Keir Starmer marked a clear shift on the UK's position on the Israel Gaza war. However, this has prompted backlash from all sides. So what is there to gain?Megan Gibson is joined by George Eaton and Megan Kenyon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once upon a time Donald Trump loved to talk about conspiracy theories. Now, well, not so much.Why can't Trump shake the Epstein story - and what could it mean for his presidency?--Last week, Katie Stallard and Freddie Hayward talked about how Donald Trump wanted his supporters to move on and stop talking about Jefrey Epstein, and how that seemed to be driving a wedge between him and the MAGA faithful.Since then, the US president has continued his attempts to distance himself from the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But it's not working.Freddie and Katie pick up the story and discuss what the Trump's Epstein connection could mean for his presidency.READ: The Epstein conspiracy has exposed Trump as a faux-populist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump visits Scotland, world leaders - including Keir Starmer - flock to pay tribute at the emperor's feet.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DHAQOeEg-Z-4trARDXHRA?sub_confirmation=1The US President is on a 4-day trip to his golf courses in Scotland. He has met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Wielding the "bully-boy" threat of trade tariffs, the President is enjoying unprecedented influence. But should European leaders learn from the more combative approaches taken by Canada and France?Megan Gibson joins Tom McTague on the New Statesman podcast.

Director, writer and producer Peter Kosminsky, who directed of the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, has worked in the television industry for 45 years. The BAFTA and Golden Globe winner is one of the most respected voices in the industry.Kosminsky spoke to the New Statesman's Hannah Barnes in a wide ranging discussion about the state of British television, and why he is calling upon the government to stand up for public service broadcasting against the might of the streaming giants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Listeners ask: With Keir Starmer and his government under fire over their approach to Gaza, and the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new party, why vote Labour? And with infrastructure and public services in such a terrible state, and the prospect of taxes and bills rising, what are we paying for?Tom McTague is joined by Megan Kenyon, George Eaton and Will Dunn to discuss.READCorbyn and Sultana declare war on Labour from the left - Megan Kenyon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week - Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has identified immigration, economic insecurity and time spent online as key causes of unrest and rioting in the UK following last year's Southport attacks. Also, Can Rachel Reeves avoid another fiscal crisis?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss.READCan Rachel Reeves avoid a new fiscal crisis - George Eaton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.