Podcast appearances and mentions of Boris Johnson

Welcome to the age of oligarchy, where money buys you influence, where the rich and powerful like to mingle and party and where self-enrichment, corruption and tax evasion are commonplace. Where democracy is threatened by the ultra-wealthy. In this first episode of a new four-part series, we dissect the modern oligarchy with Pieter Omtzigt and Paul Caruana Galizia.When you think of oligarchs, you probably imagine ultra-wealthy Russians with Vladimir Putin's number in their phone. But oligarchy has spread to the Western world as well. Tech tycoons are closely intertwined with power, the United States is even led by an oligarch. In this new series we explore the shadowy network of billionaires, politicians, celebrities, and intellectuals – we introduce you: the new oligarchs.In this first episode, we speak with journalist Paul Caruana Galizia (Financial Times, podcast Londongrad). He wrote a book about the aftermath of the murder of his mother, Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who investigated corruption on her home island. Paul Caruana Galizia closely examined the rise of Evgeny Lebedev, the son of a spy who secured a seat in the House of Lords with the help of former prime minister Boris Johnson. Recently, he has been researching Donald Trump's donors and how they have benefited from his second term.Paul Caruana Galizia is an investigative reporter at the Financial Times. He became a journalist in 2018 after his mother Daphne's assassination and has since won ten journalism awards. He has also received the Magnitsky and Anderson-Lucas-Norman awards for campaigning for justice for his mother.Pieter Omtzigt is a former politician and member of the Dutch parliament. On behalf of the Council of Europe, Omtzigt investigated the functioning of the rule of law in Malta following the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.Programme editor: Ianthe MosselmanSupported by: VfondsZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following the bombshell resignation of John Healey as Defence Secretary, Ben speaks to Sir Michael Fallon, a former Conservative Defence Secretary, and Luke Charters, a Labour MP who has campaigned on defence finance issues.After the horrific knife attack in Belfast on Monday, and the street violence that followed, Ben brings together the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Foster, and the Labour Chair of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Tonia Antoniazzi.Could next week's by-election in Makerfield precipitate a change of Prime Minister? And, if so, how tricky is it to change a leader in the middle of a parliament? Ben hears from Professor Philip Cowley of Queen Mary University of London and Cleo Watson, a former senior aide to Boris Johnson.And, as the World Cup gets underway, Ben talks football and politics with two superfans, former Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, and comedian and political interviewer, Matt Forde.

Should we be spending up to $368 billion on nuclear powered submarines over the next 30 years? Peter Garrett, the former Labor Minister and Midnight Oil star doesn't think so. He's set up a crowdfunded inquiry into the AUKUS submarine deal. It follows the government revealing the original agreement has changed a bit with the US to switch out one new sub for a second hand one. Today, Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, on the growing concerns about the deal and what we really need to defend Australia.Featured: Sam Roggeveen, director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has staked his political future on winning the Makerfield by-election - and, potentially, a tilt at becoming Prime Minister.But who is Burnham, and how did he get here?In this special episode of Northern Spin, co-hosts Chris Maguire and Frank McKenna profile the man dubbed the King of the North.They discuss:• How Boys from the Blackstuff changed the direction of his life• His lifelong love affair with music, Everton FC and politics• Why Hillsborough became a personal crusade• Walking away from Westminster after losing two Labour leadership contests• Becoming Greater Manchester Mayor and building the King of the North brand• Standing up to Boris Johnson's government during Covid• His successes and failures as Mayor• Why it's sh*t or bust for Burnham and Labour in MakerfieldNorthern Spin is a joint production from BusinessCloud and Downtown in Business. It is produced by Dan Brown of Renowned.Chapters:00:55 – The Man Behind the Mayor: Who Is Andy Burnham?02:42 – How He Became a Great Communicator (He Wasn't Always)04:23 – Born in Liverpool: Burnham's Origin Story06:07 – The Hillsborough Moment 07:42 – Why Liverpool Was So Angry - and What Burnham Did About It10:37 – Turning His Back on Westminster: Why He Chose Manchester12:20 – First Day as Mayor12:47 – Giving Away 15% of His Salary14:56 – Winning Over a Room of Skeptical Business Leaders18:11 – Stuck on the M6 but Still Shows Up21:33 – Great Communicator or Instinctive Politician? The Key Difference25:47 – Getting it right28:19 – Soft Power & What It Means on a National Stage31:10 – Andy's character32:57 – Why He Hates the Word "Celebrity"33:30 – The Quote on His Office Wall That Explains Everything He Does34:31 – Why He's Going Back to Westminster - and Why Now

In the one-hundred-and-ninety-fourth episode, we look at the Appeal to Definition, starting with Trump relying on specific definitions of MAGA and 86.In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Boris Johnson and Theresa May relying on specific definitions .In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Taskmaster, Autechre, and Bill Clinton's deposition.Jim and Mark go head-to-head in Fake News, the game in which Mark has to guess which of three Trump quotes was made up by Jim.Then we talk about the incredible prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case.And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.The full show notes for this episode can be found at https://fallacioustrump.com/ft194 You can contact the guys at pod@fallacioustrump.com, on BlueSky @FallaciousTrump, Discord at fallacioustrump.com/discord or facebook at facebook.com/groups/fallacioustrumpAnd you can buy our T-shirts here: https://fallacioustrump.com/teeSubscribe to Fallacious Trump to make sure you never miss a logical fallacy. Rather than just mindless anti-Trump rhetoric, we apply skepticism and critical thinking to our Donald Trump analysis by exploring his liberal use of logical fallacies and cognitive biases, along with a bit of humor and news about US politics. (But there is also some of that much needed anti-Trump rhetoric.)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

‘Brexit means Brexit’ was de leuze van premier Theresa May. Het klonk vol overtuiging en zelfs een beetje parmantig, maar ook zij ging roemloos ten onder. En nog heel wat andere Britse politici verdwenen in de mist. Als slachtoffers van het welbewuste uittreden van het Verenigd Koninkrijk uit de Europese Unie. Op 23 juni is het tien jaar gelden dat het Brexit-referendum plaatsvond. 52 procent van de deelnemende Britten koos voor scheiding. Jaap Jansen en PG Kroeger duiken in de vaak onbekende en soms vergeten historie van die dramatische stap en de nasleep ervan tot nu toe. Een verhaal dat nog niet af is, want steeds meer Britten vinden dat er een grote fout gemaakt is. De turbulente nasleep zit vol paradoxen. Zo gebeurde in de EU precies het omgekeerde van wat de Brexit-voorstanders luidkeels verkondigden. *** Deze aflevering is mede mogelijk gemaakt met donaties van luisteraars die we hiervoor hartelijk danken. Word ook vriend van de show! Heb je belangstelling om in onze podcast te adverteren of ons te sponsoren? Zend ons een mailtje en wij zoeken contact. *** In de kern was de door David Cameron uitgeschreven volksstemming een slim geachte oplossing voor een strikt binnenlands probleem. Omdat zijn eigen Tory Party al decennia ideologisch gespleten was over de rol van de Britten in Europa - en de Labour Party niet minder - beloofde hij een 'heronderhandeling' over die rol, te bekronen met een referendum. Die heronderhandeling stelde niet veel voor en bleek grotendeels overbodig. Camerons boodschap werd daardoor: eigenlijk hebben we het in de EU best naar ons zin en de kleine, nuttige aanpassingen van bestaande afspraken, die krijgen we. Het contrast met de ideologische, apocalyptische anti-EU-betogen kon niet groter. Het werd een campagne tussen onspectaculaire, technische agendapunten en bijna panische ondergangsvisioenen, waarin Brexit als allerlaatste kans voor de identiteit en welvaart van de Britse eilanden werd afgeschilderd. Die duistere paniek mobiliseerde angstige kiezers, op de achtergrond geholpen door Trumps adviseur Steve Bannon en het Kremlin. En het werkte. De conservatieve regering zich had nauwelijks voorbereid op de impact van het referendum. Vijf premiers op rij - na Cameron en May ook Boris Johnson, Liz Truss en Rishi Sunak - worstelden met 'Brexit means Brexit'. Wat betekende dat nou echt? Definitieve uittreding - in welke vorm dan ook - werd keer op keer uitgesteld. De EU-landen, aangevoerd door onderhandelaar Michel Barnier, lieten zich geen moment uit elkaar spelen en kwamen steeds weer met heldere technische oplossingen, waar de Britse ministers van terugschrokken. Toen Brexit eind 2020 echt een feit was, zat de schrik er goed in. De concrete gevolgen raakten ongeveer elke aspect van dagelijks leven. Dromen als van een welvarend 'Global Britain', als een 'Singapore aan de Noordzee', enorme besparingen op Brusselse bureaucratiekosten en dichte grenzen bleken luchtspiegelingen. De Britten leverden vooral veel welvaart in; banen en connecties met buren die klanten waren geweest. Zo ruïneerde Brexit het vertrouwen in politiek en politici verder. Brexit-initiator Nigel Farage stookte de verdeeldheid verder op. Labour van Keir Starmer profileerde zich als competent alternatief. Maar ook hij bleek de onderliggende effecten van een exit zonder plan of duidelijk politiek doel te niet goed te kunnen aanpakken, laat staan oplossen. Politieke versplintering en destabilisatie blijft domineren. En de Europese Unie zelf? De Europeanen waren niet blij, maar niettemin vrij snel opgelucht. Zonder de Britten kon de Unie zich op allerlei terreinen stevig herinrichten. Geen enkele lidstaat zou ooit nog vrijwillig zo'n suïcidale stap zetten. Viktor Orbán frustreerde graag, maar de EU verlaten? Dat nooit. Doordat de Britten wel weer meewilden doen met populaire EU-programma's als Erasmus en Horizon en zich met defensie-inspanningen ook meer op de EU ging richten kwam er zelfs flink wat geld in het laatje. Waar men de Britten als partners kon gebruiken, waren ze welkom. Waar niet, kon men ze buiten de deur houden. Omdat Londen geweigerd had bij de Brexit met de Unie een heldere structurele relatie in te richten, zat juist 'Brussel' achter de knoppen. Michel Barnier had de Britten er al voor gewaarschuwd: "Jammer is het, we wensen jullie alle goeds op je eigen nieuwe pad. Maar ook voor ons geldt nu 'life goes on'." *** Verder kijken Brexit: A Very British Coup? The Brexit Scandal *** Verder luisteren 585 - 'Nostalgie is geen strategie': Canada breekt met Amerika en kiest voor de EU 567 - De geschiedenis beukt op Europa's deur. Caroline de Gruyter over zondagskinderen in een ruige wereld 427 - Europa wordt een grootmacht en daar moeten we het over hebben 416 - Nostalgie naar de E.E.G. 378 - Dertig jaar na 'Maastricht' is Europa toe aan een nieuwe sprong voorwaarts 333 - Een 'bromance' tussen Rishi Sunak en Emmanuel Macron. De haat-liefdeverhouding van Britten en Fransen 328 – Nieuwe rauwe wereld. Brexit, what Brexit? 299 - Dramatische verschuivingen in de wereldpolitiek. Europa heeft eindelijk een telefoonnummer 283 - Zinkende schepen verlaten de rat: het pijnlijke afscheid van Boris Johnson 71 - Caroline de Gruyter: 'Brexit maakt Europa sterker' 52 - Hoe Rutte David Cameron teleurstelde 535 - 100 jaar Margaret Thatcher, de Iron Lady 30 - Thatcher, Delors en Europa 479 - Winston Churchill. Staatsman. Redenaar. Excentriekeling 32 - Churchill en Europa: biografen Andrew Roberts en Felix Klos *** Tijdlijn 00:00:00 – Deel 1 00:43:55 – Deel 2 01:03:55 – Deel 3 01:49:20 – EindeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Was George Osborne about to abandon David Cameron in the 2005 Tory leadership race? That's the first question on this week's EMQs, where George recounts the mistakes made by the David Davis campaign that allowed Cameron to ascend. Ed Balls shares similar mistakes of David Miliband's 2010 campaign, and the pair offer their own advice to all backbench MPs assessing the current Labour leadership contest.Then they turn to the man who may win said contest: Andy Burnham. They ponder if Makerfield is the closest thing the UK has seen to a presidential election, with the voters knowing they may well elect our next PM.From one political giant to another they then debate why the £5M donation to Nigel Farage hasn't blown up, and how he could end up on the path of Boris Johnson should this go poorly for him.Finally, George unveils an underdiscussed power of the chancellor that could see the government expel any of their political rivals. They also get into religion and culture…We love hearing from you, so please don't forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

„Anklageschrift“ gegen deutsche und europäische Bellizisten im UkrainekriegEin Standpunkt von Uwe Froschauer.Bevor ich mit dem Artikel beginne, möchte ich meine tiefe Verachtung gegenüber allen Kriegstreibern dieser Welt ausdrücken. Nicht, wer den ersten Schritt zu einem Krieg unternimmt, ist zwangsläufig der wahre Aggressor, sondern der, der zu diesem Schritt zwingt. Dennoch ist auch dieser erste Schritt nicht zu verzeihen.Am Ende wird dieser Krieg nicht mit einem Triumph enden, sondern mit Verhandlungen. Er wird enden, wie Kriege fast immer enden: nicht durch moralische Posen, nicht durch Fernsehparolen, nicht durch Orden für Scharfmacher und „Leidverlängerer“ wie Anton Hofreiter, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann oder Annalena Baerbock, sondern durch eine politische Lösung am Verhandlungstisch. Die Tragödie besteht darin, dass ein solcher Tisch bereits Ende März/Anfang April 2022 – lediglich fünf Wochen nach Ausbruch des Krieges – in Istanbul bereitstand.Fünf Wochen nach Beginn der russischen Invasion lagen Entwürfe vor, die zumindest die Chance auf ein Ende des Sterbens boten: Neutralität der Ukraine, Sicherheitsgarantien, ein politischer Rahmen. Doch diese Chance wurde nicht genutzt. Sie wurde politisch erstickt — von jenen dunklen Kräften im Westen, die nicht Frieden wollten, sondern den Abnutzungskrieg.Boris Johnson erschien in Kiew als Bote dieser Linie: Mit Putin solle nicht verhandelt, sondern er solle unter Druck gesetzt werden. Hinter dem britischen Bellizisten stand die damalige US-Regierung unter Joe Biden, flankiert von europäischen Politikern, die seither jede weitere Eskalation als Solidarität mit der Ukraine verkauften. Annalena Baerbock sprach davon, „einen Krieg gegen Russland“ zu führen. Ursula von der Leyen versprach den Sieg der Ukraine. Keir Starmer erklärte die ukrainische Front faktisch zur eigenen europäischen Frontlinie.Als Ende März 2022 in Istanbul über ein mögliches Kriegsende verhandelt wurde, hatte die UN-Menschenrechtsbehörde OHCHR bereits 3.257 zivile Opfer in der Ukraine dokumentiert – darunter 1.276 getötete und 1.981 verletzte Zivilisten. Verlässliche Gesamtzahlen zu getöteten und verletzten Soldaten auf beiden Seiten gab es damals noch nicht. Schätzungen gingen jedoch bereits in die Zehntausende.Heute, vier Jahre später, reichen Schätzungen der militärischen Verluste – getötet, verwundet oder vermisst – auf 1,7 bis fast 2 Millionen russische und ukrainische Soldaten zusammen. Allein CSIS schätzt rund 1,2 Millionen russische und 500.000 bis 600.000 ukrainische Verluste. Wie viele dieser Opfer wären vermeidbar gewesen? Diese Frage richtet sich weniger an Moskau, sondern insbesondere an jene politischen Akteure, die auf weitere Eskalation, Waffenlieferungen und einen langen Abnutzungskrieg setzten. Schande über euch Kriegstreiber! Das Leid jeder einzelnen Mutter, die ein Kind in diesem sinnbefreiten Krieg verloren hat, möge euch euren Schlaf rauben! Aber dazu bräuchte man ja so etwas wie ein Gewissen. Ich denke, die Protagonisten dieses Krieges schlafen recht gut.Das Ergebnis dieser Kriegsverlängerungs-Politik liegt in Leichenhallen, Schützengräben und zerstörten Städten. Hunderttausende Soldaten sind tot, verwundet oder vermisst. Zehntausende Zivilisten wurden getötet oder verletzt. Und dennoch werden jene, die den Krieg durch immer neue Waffenlieferungen verlängern, als Freunde der Ukraine gefeiert.Das ist die Perversion unserer Zeit: Wer Frieden verhindert, nennt sich Freund. Wer Verhandlungen diffamiert, nennt sich Verteidiger der Freiheit und Demokratie. Wer andere Menschen in einem aussichtslosen Abnutzungskrieg sterben lässt, erhält Orden.Diese Anklage richtet sich gegen die politischen Kriegstreiber Europas und der USA, gegen jene, die Russland allein zum Täter erklären, aber ihre eigene Mitverantwortung am verlängerten Sterben verschweigen. Russland hat diesen Krieg begonnen. ...https://apolut.net/wer-verlangert-den-ukrainekrieg-von-uwe-froschauer/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Staff writer at The New Yorker, Patrick Radden Keefe tells the story of Zac Brettler, who inexplicably changed from a charming and hilarious boy into a money- and status-obsessed young man, who mixed with gangsters and shady businessmen.Patrick's new book begins with the description of a scene that was picked up by a surveillance camera in London in the early hours of a November morning in 2019.The footage showed a grainy image of a shadowy figure, anxiously moving about the balcony of a luxury apartment. That young man's name was Zac Brettler. He was 19 years old, and hours later his body was discovered on the banks of the River Thames. Patrick Radden Keefe's investigation explores Zac's secret life posing as the son of a Russian oligarch, and delves into the true identities of the wealthy gangsters who were there in his final hours.Further informationLondon Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City, and a Family's Search for Truth is published by Pan Macmillan Australia.This episode covers grief, fantasy life, con artists, London underworld, Boris Johnson, family tragedy, luxury, Holocaust survivors, rabbi, Mill Hill school, young men, making money, raising boys, Roman Abramovich, oligarch, plutocrat, MI6 and true crime.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Annette Dittert war von 1999 bis Ende 2025 Auslandskorrespondentin der ARD, hat zuletzt lange aus London berichtet. Jetzt lebt sie immer noch auf ihrem Hausboot auf der Themse und tourt aktuell mit ihrem neuen Buch “Dear Britain” durch Deutschland. Zehn Jahre nach dem Brexit – sie selbst hatte bei ihrer Fernsehschalte damals Tränen in den Augen – blickt sie mit Wolfgang zurück und auf die aktuelle Lage der Insel: auf die Krise der politischen Mitte, die ihren Anfang mit Boris Johnson nahm, auf eine Labour-Partei, die sich gerade selbst zerlegt, und auf ein Königshaus, für das ein ehemaliger Prinz Andrew zur echten Gefahr werden könnte. Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte: https://linktr.ee/ApokalypseundFilterkaffee Du möchtest Werbung in diesem Podcast schalten? Dann erfahre hier mehr über die Werbemöglichkeiten bei Seven.One Audio: https://www.seven.one/portfolio/sevenone-audio

As Andy Burnham is confirmed as the Labour candidate for the Makerfield by-election, George Parker asks whether this signals the start of a long goodbye for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. He brings together Labour MP, Miatta Fahnbulleh, who resigned as an Energy minister earlier this month, and Jonathan Ashworth, formerly a member of Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet.The question of whether Britain should one day rejoin the EU has reared up once again in this shadow Labour leadership contest. To discuss that George speaks to the EU's former ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida.Following the Government's confirmation that HS2 could eventually cost over £100bn and may not open until 2039, George turns to Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, who chairs the Transport Select Committee, and Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.And, is Kemi Badenoch doing a good job as Conservative leader? George speaks to Lee Cain, former Number Ten Director of Communications to Boris Johnson, and Times columnist, Seb Payne.

The Labour leadership contest may be rumbling on in the background, but today Coffee House turns to the Conservatives – and whether Kemi Badenoch can really revive a party still reeling from electoral collapse.Her allies argue that Badenoch is beginning to cut through: from her conference speech to her response to Rachel Reeves's Budget, and her decision to sack Robert Jenrick. Her personal ratings have improved, even as the Tory brand remains deeply damaged. But is that enough? Can Badenoch turn the Conservatives into a serious vehicle for change? Is the Tory brand beyond repair? And could the party eventually find itself forced into some kind of deal with Reform?Tim Shipman is joined by Noa Hoffman and Boris Johnson's former director of communications Lee Cain to discuss Kemi's dilemma – and whether the Conservative party is dead, or merely resting.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Labour leadership contest may be rumbling on in the background, but today Coffee House turns to the Conservatives – and whether Kemi Badenoch can really revive a party still reeling from electoral collapse.Her allies argue that Badenoch is beginning to cut through: from her conference speech to her response to Rachel Reeves's Budget, and her decision to sack Robert Jenrick. Her personal ratings have improved, even as the Tory brand remains deeply damaged. But is that enough? Can Badenoch turn the Conservatives into a serious vehicle for change? Is the Tory brand beyond repair? And could the party eventually find itself forced into some kind of deal with Reform?Tim Shipman is joined by Noa Hoffman and Boris Johnson's former director of communications Lee Cain to discuss Kemi's dilemma – and whether the Conservative party is dead, or merely resting.Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week's Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by The Spectator's John Power, feminist campaigner Julie Bindel and former adviser to Boris Johnson – and co-host of the In The Room podcast, Cleo Watson.They explore the idea that the Strait of Hormuz, not Makerfield, will determine the fate of the current Labour government. Starmer may be facing a challenge to his authority from mayoral shapeshifter Andy Burnham, but neither the PM or the wannabe MP will be rewarded if grocery and energy prices continue to soar. How much can be done to insulate Britain from future pain? And do they trust Labour to do so?Also this week: is Wes Streeting a better option than Burnham? Julie reveals her own run-ins with the now-backbench MP but concedes that Wes may be 'the least bad option'.Plus: what can we learn from female political trailblazers of the past? Are there any merits to lists of the greatest books? And, following the release of series two of Rivals, Cleo reveals she was once asked to put together a list of the best orgasm scenes from Jilly Cooper's novels...Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week's Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by The Spectator's John Power, feminist campaigner Julie Bindel and former adviser to Boris Johnson – and co-host of the In The Room podcast, Cleo Watson.They explore the idea that the Strait of Hormuz, not Makerfield, will determine the fate of the current Labour government. Starmer may be facing a challenge to his authority from mayoral shapeshifter Andy Burnham, but neither the PM or the wannabe MP will be rewarded if grocery and energy prices continue to soar. How much can be done to insulate Britain from future pain? And do they trust Labour to do so?Also this week: is Wes Streeting a better option than Burnham? Julie reveals her own run-ins with the now-backbench MP but concedes that Wes may be 'the least bad option'.Plus: what can we learn from female political trailblazers of the past? Are there any merits to lists of the greatest books? And, following the release of series two of Rivals, Cleo reveals she was once asked to put together a list of the best orgasm scenes from Jilly Cooper's novels...Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Reform UK London Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, the Union and College Union's General Secretary Dr Jo Grady, former Boris Johnson adviser Guto Harri, plus the political journalist Michael Crick.

With Andy Burnham inching closer to a return to Westminster, Sam White, Keir Starmer's former chief-of-staff, joins the podcast team to explore what happens next - and what the prime minister can do while this drama plays out around him. If Burnham makes it to Number 10, then he will follow a path once trodden by Boris Johnson  in being a mayor turned prime minister. So what skills does the mayoralty provide - and how might they be transferable to Downing Street? Plus: What is in Rachel Reeves's economic support package and will it meet the scale of the Iran crisis?  Catherine Haddon presents.With Hannah Keenan and Tom Pope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should we be worried about the number of young Brits leaving the country to and work and study elsewhere?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Reform UK London Mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, the Union and College Union's General Secretary Dr Jo Grady, former Boris Johnson adviser Guto Harri, plus the political journalist Michael Crick.

The Office for National Statistics has released the migration figures for the last quarter — and whilst the government is celebrating, Julia Hartley-Brewer isn't buying it. She's joined by Reform UK Councillor and Deputy Leader of Durham County Council Darren Grimes, who forcefully argues that nobody voted for the rampant levels of migration over the past decades. From David Cameron's broken promise of reducing it to tens of thousands, to Boris Johnson's staggering 944,000 net arrivals, the British public have been consistently lied to — and are now footing the bill in housing, healthcare, schools, and council translation contracts running into the tens of thousands.Former Head of UK Border Force Tony Smith then joins to drill down into the raw data. Net migration is down to 171,000 — but 88,000 new asylum claims, a 3% boat removal rate, and nearly a fifth of the UK population now foreign-born tells a very different story.Also: Julia discusses the viral clip of Rachel Reeves getting heckled at a Leeds petrol station… and her questioning the British-ness of her heckler. Plus, the Reform candidate for the Makerfield by-election faces media scrutiny over deleted tweets.Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM.Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the first PMQs since Labour's local election hammering, but despite the leadership challengers circling Keir Starmer is surprisingly upbeat.Hugo Rifkind unpacks the exchanges in the House of Commons with Patrick Maguire and Cleo Watson, former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In business presentations, having a point of view is not the problem. The problem is failing to decide where the line is before you open your mouth. Executives, entrepreneurs, salespeople, and company leaders need opinions that build credibility, not opinions that accidentally blow up trust. Should business presenters share their point of view? Yes, business presenters should share a clear point of view when it helps the audience think more deeply about a relevant issue. A presentation without a viewpoint quickly becomes wallpaper. The traditional rule is to avoid religion and politics because those topics split audiences fast. That still makes sense in Japan, Australia, the US, Europe, and most Asia-Pacific business contexts. The trickier territory is business opinion: government regulation, industry predictions, marketing strategy, quality control, sales methodology, product claims, customer service, or leadership practices. These topics are often contentious, but they are also where expertise lives. A bland presenter disappears. A thoughtful presenter becomes memorable. Do now: Define the business topics where your opinion genuinely helps clients, prospects, and industry peers make better decisions. Is controversy a smart way to build business profile? Controversy can create visibility, but visibility without trust is a dangerous bargain. Being talked about is useful only when it strengthens your positioning. Most small to medium-sized companies are invisible to potential clients because they lack the advertising muscle of major corporations such as Toyota, Sony, Microsoft, Apple, or Unilever. Presentations, media quotes, podcasts, LinkedIn posts, YouTube videos, webinars, and content marketing can help SMEs punch above their weight. Some entrepreneurs deliberately challenge accepted wisdom to get noticed. That can work, because media outlets love conflict and contrast. The danger is that clients may see the controversy, but miss the competence. Profile is not the same as preference. Do now: Use strong opinions to clarify your expertise, not to perform outrage for clicks, media attention, or short-term noise. How can thought leadership help smaller companies compete? Thought leadership helps smaller companies become top of mind and tip of tongue when buyers need their solutions. It gives the market a reason to remember you before the sales meeting begins. In 2026, business visibility comes from many channels: podcasts, keynote speeches, newsletters, books, articles, executive interviews, short-form video, and AI-search-friendly content. A leader who publishes consistently on leadership, sales, communication, presenting, customer experience, or industry change can build authority without buying massive media spend. This is especially valuable in B2B markets, where trust, expertise, and timing matter more than flashy advertising. The content must still be disciplined. Five opinion pieces a week can build a brand, but only if the views stay relevant and useful. Do now: Choose a content lane and stay in it. Consistency builds authority; random commentary dilutes it. Where should leaders draw the line on controversial views? Leaders should draw the line where the topic stops supporting their expertise, audience value, or company positioning. A sharp viewpoint is useful; a reckless viewpoint is just noise with a microphone. A presenter can discuss Boris Johnson or Donald Trump as public speakers without endorsing or attacking their politics. That is a smart distinction. The subject is presentation technique, not ideology. The same principle applies to CEOs, trainers, consultants, country managers, and sales leaders. Talk about what your expertise allows you to illuminate. Stay careful with religion, party politics, and issues where the audience split is predictable and emotional. In Japan, where reputation, hierarchy, and business relationships carry heavy weight, this judgment matters even more. Do now: Separate professional analysis from personal ideology. Make the audience smarter without forcing them to take sides. Should executives comment on government policy or public issues? Executives should comment on public issues only when the topic clearly fits their business role, expertise, and risk tolerance. Sometimes silence is not cowardice; it is intelligent positioning. Government regulation, border policy, labour law, tax reform, sustainability rules, data privacy, and pandemic-era restrictions can all affect companies. Yet operational impact alone does not mean the leader must take a public position. A training company may be directly affected by restrictions on face-to-face workshops, but that does not automatically make government policy commentary a brand-building move. Foreign executives in Japan must also consider visas, regulators, clients, and long-term reputation. The upside of speaking must outweigh the downside of poking the beast. Do now: Before commenting publicly, ask: Is this our lane, do we have authority, and are we ready for the consequences? How can leaders communicate strong views without alienating the audience? Leaders can communicate strong views safely by making the viewpoint useful, relevant, and clearly connected to their professional domain. The audience should feel challenged, not attacked. A strong point of view helps listeners test their own thinking. It gives them a framework, a contrast, or a practical decision lens. For example, a Dale Carnegie-style business built around communication, human relations, leadership, and being good with people has a natural reason to avoid needless controversy. That restraint is not weakness; it is authentic brand alignment. Startups may choose a sharper challenger tone. Multinationals may need more careful stakeholder language. Professional services firms may require evidence-heavy commentary. The right level of opinion depends on the company, sector, market, and audience. Do now: Build a viewpoint map: safe zones, careful zones, no-go zones, and the reason each boundary exists. Conclusion: What is the best way to communicate your point of view in business? A clear point of view is a business asset when it builds trust, sharpens your positioning, and gives the audience something useful to think about. It helps small and medium-sized companies become visible without relying on massive advertising budgets. It also helps executives, salespeople, consultants, and entrepreneurs sound like leaders rather than brochure readers. The key is intention. Decide how controversial you want to be, why that level of controversy supports your brand, and what the positive and negative consequences may be. Draw the line before the presentation, podcast, article, interview, or social media post. Once the words are out in the ether, they belong to the audience. FAQs Should business leaders avoid all controversial opinions? No, business leaders do not need to avoid every controversial opinion, but they should avoid opinions that sit outside their expertise or damage trust. A relevant viewpoint can build authority; a random hot take can weaken positioning. Why is having a point of view important in presentations? A point of view makes a presentation memorable, useful, and easier to connect with a business problem. Without one, the audience may hear information but feel no reason to remember the speaker. How can small companies use thought leadership? Small companies can use thought leadership to become visible when they lack large advertising budgets. Speaking, podcasting, publishing, and media commentary can put them top of mind before buyers are ready to act. When should a company stay silent on public issues? A company should stay silent when the issue is outside its expertise, misaligned with its brand, or likely to create more damage than value. Silence can be a deliberate reputation strategy. How do I decide whether my viewpoint is too risky? A viewpoint is too risky when the downside to client trust, stakeholder relationships, or brand credibility outweighs the benefit of attention. Test every strong opinion against audience value, business relevance, and likely consequences. Author bio Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" in 2018 and 2021 and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2012. As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō（ザ営業）, Purezen no Tatsujin（プレゼンの達人）, Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō（トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう）, and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā（現代版「人を動かす」リーダー）. Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews, which are widely followed by executives seeking success strategies in Japan.

Keir Starmer's never ending cycle of political chaos, Reform's suspended local councillors and Anoosh's heckle of Boris Johnson.Will Dunn and Anoosh Chakelian round up the stories of the week.Read: https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2026/05/will-progressives-ever-forgive-labour https://www.newstatesman.com/business/economics/2026/05/the-bond-markets-will-not-save-keir-starmerLISTEN AD-FREE:

With Keir Starmer fighting for his political life after the most perilous week of his premiership, the prime minister and his inner circle have been engaged in a desperate rearguard effort to shore up his position. This week on Westminster Insider, host Patrick Baker lifts the lid on what life is really like inside Number 10 when a Prime Minister and their shrinking band of loyal advisers enter what Westminster knows as “bunker mode.” Boris Johnson's former aide Ross Kempsell sets out his “rules for the bunker” — such as ensuring you have a highly political Chief Whip and tightly controlling access to the prime minister. Former civil servant Robert Midgley, who worked under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, recalls political advisers suddenly vanishing behind closed doors during moments of crisis, leaving officials wandering the corridors of Downing Street awaiting news of a prime ministerial resignation. Beatrice Timpson, former deputy press secretary to Liz Truss, explains how communications teams often go to ground during political meltdowns in an effort to impose message discipline when the PM's back is against the wall. Conservative peer George Bridges, who worked in Downing Street under John Major, describes the melancholy atmosphere surrounding a prime minister who knows, deep down, that their time is up. And psychotherapist and political commentator Lucy Beresford argues that bunker mode is not merely a crisis-management strategy, but a revealing feature of the prime ministerial psyche — helping explain why so many leaders cling on long after hope of survival has faded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we talk about Keir Starmer, Labour, and the Reform UK party.We also discuss Tories, the Lib Dems, and two-party systems.Recommended Book: Peak by K. Anders Ericsson and Robert PoolTranscriptFor more than 100 years, the British political system has been dominated by two parties: Labour and the Conservative Party, often called the Tories.In practice, that means these two parties, which are center-left and center-right in their leanings, respectively, have tended to shape the direction of British politics and the Overton Window of thinkable proposals—things that might actually happen because they get the requisite support from politicians and the public.These two parties have usually had to work with other, smaller parties in order to get anything done, because the UK has a parliamentary system that often leaves the party with the most representatives lacking enough support to run a functioning government, solo. As a consequence, the Liberal Democrats, which is a fairly centrist party, the Green Party, which focuses on environmentalism and more left-wing concerns, Plaid Cymru (plied KUM-ree), which is the Welsh nationalist party, and the Scottish National Party, which is exactly what it sounds like, have long influenced Labour and the Tories, aligning their votes with whomever gives them a seat at the table. This has given some influence to smaller groups that might otherwise lack representation, though that influence has typically been moderate to meager, at best—the folks in Labour and the Conservative party have run things in the UK, and that's been the case for generations.Things started to shake up a bit in the 20-teens, however, when anti-immigration and EU-skepticism in Britain led to the creation of the far-right Brexit Party, which was co-founded by politician Nigel Farage, who was the leader of the UK Independence Party in the early 2000s and 20-teens, and who was previously a Tory, and Catherine Blaiklock, a politician and hotelier who stepped down from her position as party leader the year after the Brexit Party was founded after anti-Islamic and racist comments she'd previously made online were rediscovered.The Brexit Party existed, almost exclusively, to push for a no-agreement exit from the European Union by the UK, which was considered to be a fairly fringe ideology back then, but which gained a lot of steam as other populists began to add their support to the general concept.Both the government and the existing political structure of the UK was then caught flat-footed, by all indications very surprised by the eventual success of that push, and the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, after a whole lot of skepticism that it would ever happen, even after a vote in favor of Brexit took place. This represented a serious come to Jesus moment for British politicians, but also British society, and there's been quite a lot of self-reflection and naval gazing in the years since, as the Brexit pullout from the EU has caused quite a lot of economic and diplomatic damage, while also shining a spotlight on numerous simmering issues that were previously overlooked or unaddressed, including the bubbling resentment and at times outright xenophobia felt by a significant portion of the British electorate, and persistent economic issues faced by folks at the middle and lower rungs of society.What I'd like to talk about today is the recent 2026 UK Local Elections, and what they seem to tell us about how things are going in British politics, and what they portend for the current Labour-run administration.—On May 7, 2026, the UK held local elections for 5,066 councillors, 136 local authorities, and six directly elected mayors. Some of these elections were postponed in 2025 to allow for government restructuring, but most of these positions were last up for election in 2022.This election was generally seen as an unofficial referendum on the governing Labour Party, and in particular the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who has been in office for just under two years, and who stepped into the role of PM after the role was held by the Conservative Tories for 14 years; five different Prime Ministers taking the reins during that period, including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.All that changing in leadership is indicative of the chaos the UK government was experiencing at the time, the May 2010 general election leading to a period of significant austerity—the government cutting tons of social programs in order to reduce spending—which then fed into more support for Brexit when some members of the party positioned the economic issues people were facing as the consequence of EU-related immigration, and shortly thereafter, the world succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.There was a lot of truly significant political change from about 2010 onward, then, and a lot for the general population to be upset about. The Conservatives held onto power despite it all for those 14 years, but the shift back to Labour was the result of Starmer and his party saying, listen, we hear you, a lot has to change, and we can instigate that change. Trust us.This new election suggests that the majority of voters in the UK feel that the Labour Party hasn't lived up to that trust.In Wales, Plaid Cymru has taken the most seats, 43, but failed to achieve the 49 seat majority they would require to govern, solo.In Scotland, the SNP took the most seats, but also fell short of a majority, netting 58 seats, not the 65 required for a majority.Both of those results are not terribly shocking, though in Wales Labour lost a lot of power, down 35 seats and holding onto just 9. The Conservatives also lost in Wales, holding onto seven seats and losing 22.In Scotland, too, Labor lost some of their influence, losing 4 seats and retaining 17, while the Conservatives lost a whopping 19 seats, holding onto just 12.In England, the change in seat allocation was stunning, though.Labour lost 1406 seats, leaving them with 997, while the Conservatives lost 557 seats, holding onto just 773.Even considering those losses, the biggest story in England is the surge in support for previously small parties, in particular a far-right party called Reform UK, previously called the Brexit Party, and run by the aforementioned proponent of the British exit from the EU, Nigel Farage.Reform UK went from 2 seats to 1,444; a shocking outcome, and one that makes them the biggest winner in this election, by far. They also gained 17 seats, up from zero, in Scotland, putting them at an equal level there with Labour, and they went from zero to 34 in Wales, putting them in a competitive second place after Plaid Cymru, which again, claimed 43 seats.Other, non-Labour, non-Conservative parties also gained seats in this election, though not at the level of Reform UK.The Green Party gained two seats in Wales and six in Scotland, bringing them up to 15 there. They also gained 374 sets in England, bringing them up to 515 total seats, which leaves them in fifth place, but just 258 seats shy of the Conservatives.The Lib Dems, which are the local Centrist party, gained 151 seats, putting them in third. And there was a small surge in independent politicians winning elections, as well, that group now controlling 199 seats, up from 27 before this vote.In the wake of this absolute shellacking of Keir Starmer's Labour party—which again, lost 1406 seats in England, and their opposition, and in many ways their polar opposite, the far-right Reform UK party, gained even more than Labour lost, up 1442 seats—in the wake of that, Starmer has been asked to resign, and as of the day I'm recording this, at least, he's saying that he will not resign, and since there's no formal challenge to his leadership, he can stay in power if he chooses.There is a growing movement amongst Labour lawmakers to ask him to set a timetable for stepping down, however, and there's a pretty good chance that will happen, as the British political system allows parties to change their Prime Minister mid-term without requiring a new election, so they could swap him out for someone else, making him the face of this immense electoral failure, then they could try to change course before the next election, which will happen by mid-August of 2029, during which the vote will be for the 650 seats in the House of Commons, which is currently dominated by Starmer's Labour party.The big takeaway here, from political analysts at least, is that what used to be a reliably two-party system, for over a century that's been the case, is now a five-way race within a cultural context in which voters seem to be a lot less loyal to politicians and parties, and in which a whole lot of previously reliable infrastructure, social systems, and cultural expectations have been recently disrupted.People in the UK seem to be generally unhappy about all sorts of things, and that kind of broad unhappiness often results in more populism, which means general anti-establishment stances and us-versus-them ideologies, including racial, religious, and nationalistic versions of such ideologies, and typically a lot more support for charismatic leadership over leaders who are generally qualified and will probably be good at their jobs because they're experienced and knowledgeable.In other words, you're more likely to get loudmouths and celebrities running for office, successfully, in populist electoral contexts, and you're also more likely to see parties leaning into superficial race, class, and elite-vs-everyman issues, as opposed to running on well-defined approaches to dealing with more complex issues.In the meantime, until that 2029 election, it's likely Farage's Reform UK will bang the drum against the governing Labour party to gather more power in the lead up to 2029, and that other non-Labour, non-Conservative parties will attempt to do the same, newly energized by these results.And depending on how that non-voting-year rallying goes, this could represent a foot in the door for these smaller parties. And we could consequently see more former Labour and Conservative politicians and voters leaving for Reform, for the Lib Dems, for the Greens, and for independents. All of which will make UK politics a lot more chaotic, but also probably more diverse, with power less centralized and the government's makeup a bit less predictable.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_Kingdom_local_electionshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/world/europe/uk-elections-local-takeaways.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/08/world/uk-local-elections-resultshttps://apnews.com/article/uk-elections-starmer-labour-what-to-know-eb11ff39b1b74bbaf9f4ef6abfd60f64https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/uk/uk-local-election-reform-farage-starmer-intlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-08/how-bad-for-labour-britain-s-local-elections-in-six-chartshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1428pev1n0t#election-englanhttps://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-reform-uk-win-next-general-election/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_United_Kingdom_general_electionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Blaiklockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UKhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Faragehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Rory Bremner is a national treasure. He's Britain's best-known impressionist, satirist and comedian – bringing to life everyone from the likes of Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Boris Johnson and Tony Blair to Billy Connolly, Ian Mckellen and John Cleese. But, did you know that he is also a translator of operas, a columnist, writer, presenter, ballroom dancer and actor? And also that he actively supports a great number of good causes; one being the UK ADHD Partnership of which he is patron? In this podcast, Rory reflects on his life and career. If you would like to find out how the mind of a genius comedian works, learn about the challenges yet extraordinary upsides of having ADHD, or just need cheering up, this podcast is for you! Related links  Enquire here - Rory Bremner  Bandwidth Conversations is proudly sponsored by Klira.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

The Bloody Vegans Podcast is coming back soon and while we get everything ready for what's coming next, we're reaching into the archive to bring you some of the conversations that started it all. Watch this space.First up from the back catalogue: this gem from December 2019. Jim sits down with Dora Hargitai activist, orator, and a driving force within Animal Rebellion for a conversation that feels just as urgent today as it did when it was first recorded.Dora's journey into veganism began not with a grand awakening, but with a small booklet picked up in an Aldi in Scotland. From there, a quiet curiosity became a conviction, and eventually a calling. Having worked in the oil and gas industry before pivoting to an MBA focused on sustainability, Dora's path took her through the heart of the Extinction Rebellion uprisings of April and October 2019 and ultimately to helping build Animal Rebellion into a movement that links animal agriculture directly to the climate emergency.In this episode, Jim and Dora explore what it really means to challenge the foundations of the systems we live within from the demands of Animal Rebellion and their presence at Smithfield Market, to the thorny questions of how we value nature, monetise veganism, and talk to one another across deep divides. Dora brings her characteristic warmth, clarity and unflinching honesty to all of it.Whether you've been vegan for years or you're just beginning to ask the questions, this one's worth your time.Topics include: the birth of Animal Rebellion, nonviolent civil disobedience, the Smithfield Market action, systemic change vs. individual action, vegan monetisation, activism in its many forms, and reasons to stay hopeful.A Note From 2026A lot has happened in the years since Jim and Dora recorded this conversation. The December 2019 UK general election Dora references, which she and many others hoped might be a turning point for climate policy, returned Boris Johnson with a substantial majority, and environmental ambition in government largely stalled in the years that followed. The "11 years" climate deadline Dora cites reflects the scientific framing of the time; the window hasn't got any wider since, and the urgency she describes has only deepened. On the corporate side, BlackRock, whose CEO Dora cautiously praised for his 2018 letter calling for more sustainable business values, has since significantly retreated from its ESG commitments, largely under political pressure from the American right, a retreat that perhaps illustrates Dora's own point about the limits of working within the existing system. And on the Amazon, the picture has been mixed: the election of Lula in Brazil in 2022 brought renewed protections and a measurable slowdown in deforestation, offering at least one of the rays of hope Dora was looking for. The questions she raises here, about systemic change, collective action, and what we owe each other and the planet, remain as open, and as pressing, as ever.

We've got political comedy superstar Nish Kumar joining us for lunch this week! Nish is a political satirist, podcaster, comedian & TV host and he is fresh in from the USA where he has been on testing out his brand new tour, ‘Angry Humour From A Really Nice Guy'. Over lunch, we covered everything from creating the podcast 'Pod Save The UK', the delicious Keralan food his grandma made him when he was younger, where he will be eating around the UK on his tour, hosting a travel show with friend of the podcast Joel Dommett, where to find the best Indian food in London, and we find out what happened when Nish chased Boris Johnson down the street swearing at him…! Thank you for popping over Nish, you are a really nice guy. Don't miss his upcoming tour ‘Angry Humour From A Really Nice Guy' which starts in September.Listen & watch Table Manners here - https://tablemanners.komi.io/Follow Table Manners on:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tablemannerspodcast/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tablemannerspodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/tablemannerspodcastYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TableMannersPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the one-hundred-and-ninety-second episode, we look at the Didactic Fallacy, starting with Trump talking about assassinations and tariffs.In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at Jacob Rees-Mogg reminiscing about the Empire, Boris Johnson waxing lyrical on Thatcher, and Kemi Badenoch missing the point of Bloody Sunday.In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Brooklyn Nine Nine, Babylon 5, historian Margaret MacMillan, and journalist Eva Ladipo.Jim and Mark go head to head in Fake News, the game in which Mark has to guess which of three Trump quotes was made up by Jim.Then we talk about the latest insane filing in Trump's ballroom lawsuit.And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.The full show notes for this episode can be found at https://fallacioustrump.com/ft192 You can contact the guys at pod@fallacioustrump.com, on BlueSky @FallaciousTrump, Discord at fallacioustrump.com/discord or facebook at facebook.com/groups/fallacioustrumpAnd you can buy our T-shirts here: https://fallacioustrump.com/teeSubscribe to Fallacious Trump to make sure you never miss a logical fallacy. Rather than just mindless anti-Trump rhetoric, we apply skepticism and critical thinking to our Donald Trump analysis by exploring his liberal use of logical fallacies and cognitive biases, along with a bit of humor and news about US politics. (But there is also some of that much needed anti-Trump rhetoric.)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A dramatic week in UK politics has seen the successful state visit to the US by King Charles and another hit on Keir Starmer in the ongoing Mandelson scandal. Ed Balls and George Osborne break down all the moving parts of these events. Is the special relationship saved? Did Kemi Badenoch move too early against Starmer? And what does this all mean going into a seismic set of local elections?On said elections, the pair break down the vulnerable positions for both main parties. They argue Kemi Badenoch needs an ethical reset from the tumultuous Boris Johnson era if she hopes to fend off Reform and make serious gains for the Conservatives. On the Labour side, they believe Keir Starmer has not got a diagnosis for why Labour are unpopular, and this risks his position should any cabinet member decide to stick the knife in after the elections.Finally, they return to assisted dying to analyse why the bill stalled out in the Lords and debate just how it can come back. Is it a slow process to such a big reform? Or is it best to strike when the iron is hot, or risk losing this debate for a generation? The pair disagree on what exactly is the best route forward…We love hearing from you, so please don't forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question or send a question to our social media handles:

In this episode of the Powerful Communication Podcast, Colin Kelly from Comsteria dives deep into the fascinating world of costly signaling theory and the controversial small penis rule. This communication theory suggests that when a public figure admits a devastatingly uncomfortable truth, the public automatically assumes they are being honest about everything else. From Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to Scottish political figures like Lord Malcolm Offord and Ross Greer, Kelly explores how modern leaders are ditching the traditional PR gloss in favor of radical honesty. By unapologetically flaunting wealth or admitting their manifestos are unfunded, these figures captivate voters who are tired of fake politicians, earning them the ultimate pass: 'I don't like them, but at least they're honest.'  But is this refreshing candour genuine, or is it a deliberate, calculated manipulation tactic? Tune in to discover how this powerful communication strategy is reshaping our political discourse and why it might soon infiltrate the business world.

From a working class girl in Ayrshire, fuelled by teenage rage at Margaret Thatcher, to becoming the first female First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has one of the most extraordinary political journeys of our time. And now, for the first time, she's telling it on her own terms. In this chat with Josh recorded live at the Aye Write Book Festival in Glasgow, Nicola opens up about the crippling imposter syndrome that followed her all the way to the top, and how she learned to turn that inner voice from a handicap into a superpower. She talks candidly about navigating a world built for men, the double standards, the authority gap, and why Boris Johnson deliberately messes up his hair before going on camera. She reflects on the heartbreak of the Scottish independence referendum and what that taught her about failure, her deeply personal decision to speak publicly about her miscarriage, and the unfounded rumours about her private life that spread from social media all the way to her parents' front door. She also shares what it was really like to have audiences with the late Queen, meet Hillary Clinton on a 10 out of 10 hangover, and go clubbing at university with a certain Gerard Butler. And after a lifetime of speaking for a government, a party, and a country, she talks about what it finally feels like to speak only for herself. P.S If you are looking for even more Great Chat, Josh Smith's audiobook ‘Great Chat: Talk To Anyone, Make New Connections, Improve Your Relationships'  is available on Spotify, free for premium subscribers. Listen here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1HH55EZsUSYtajczP6yjjJ?si=0b3ec62de57148f9⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is the 36th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts. In this episode we discuss class actions, AI, a number of privilege cases including one of the most important decisions in that area in the past few years, and an interesting decision on service of proceedings. This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercial litigation team, who is joined by Julian Copeman, a disputes partner, and Tracey Lattimer, a knowledge lawyer in our disputes team. Below you can find links to our blog posts on the developments and cases covered in this podcast. • Law Commission to consider introduction of opt-out consumer class actions regime https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/law-commission-to-consider-introduction-of-opt-out-consumer-class-actions-regime • Cross-examining AI – Episode 1: Civil Justice Council AI consultation and latest developments in AI and privilege https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/cross-examining-ai-episode-1-civil-justice-council-ai-consultation-and-latest-developments-in-ai-and-privilege • US courts find privilege applies to use of public AI tools by self-represented litigants https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/us-courts-find-privilege-applies-to-use-of-public-ai-tools-by-self-represented-litigants • Upper Tribunal finds privilege applied to whether Boris Johnson sought legal advice on the lawfulness of the Covid-19 lockdown https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/upper-tribunal-finds-privilege-applied-to-whether-boris-johnson-sought-legal-advice-on-the-lawfulness-of-the-covid-19-lockdown • High Court finds company could not assert privilege against former director over legal advice she had seen at the time https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/high-court-finds-company-could-not-assert-privilege-against-former-director-over-legal-advice-she-had-seen-at-the-time • High Court finds legal advice privilege is not limited to lawyer/client communications but extends to "intra-client" communications https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-04/high-court-finds-legal-advice-privilege-is-not-limited-to-lawyer-client-communications-but-extends-to-intra-client-communications • Court of Appeal finds English courts lack jurisdiction over sanctioned individual who is not permitted to enter the UK https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-03/court-of-appeal-finds-english-courts-lack-jurisdiction-over-sanctioned-individual-who-is-not-permitted-to-enter-the-uk See podcast episode transcript here: https://marketing.hsfkramer.com/20/36058/landing-pages/commercial-litigation-podcast-ep36-transcript.pdf

This is a classic from the back catalogue. You are about to be thoroughly entertained by one of the best raconteurs in the history of the show. Andrew Marr is one of the most gifted broadcasters that Britain has ever produced and he shares hilarious stories from his wonderful career. This is a show packed with powerful moments, including the mistakes Andrew thinks the media made in their coverage of Iraq, and his experiences of interviewing leading politicians like Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. Andrew Marr isn't just a gifted journalist, he's fantastic company. Enjoy! THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE 11 May: Lewis Goodall 1 June: Andy Burnham https://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Somewhere in the documents surrounding Peter Mandelson's ambassadorial appointment, the Spectator's political editor Tim Shipman reveals, is a text Keir Starmer sent the night before the announcement. ‘You'll be brilliant in challenging circumstances,' he told the Prince of Darkness. ‘And after many years of our discussions, we get to work together side by side. I really look forward to that.' The message was leaked after a week in which the Prime Minister's relationship with senior civil servants has collapsed. Tim says Starmer's ‘apparent incomprehension of the very process he advocates has led officials to conclude he is no better than the predecessor he most deplores – Boris Johnson'. Has Starmer become the very thing he sought to destroy?Tim Shipman joins Oscar Edmondson and James Heale to discuss.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, the panel unpacks Tim Shipman's explosive cover story, including a leaked message suggesting just how closely Starmer backed Mandelson's appointment from the start – and why the Prime Minister is now struggling to shift responsibility as the fallout grows.Host Lara Prendergast is joined by William Moore, historian Peter Frankopan and Prue Leith to assess whether this is a moment of real political danger for Starmer – or simply another Westminster storm. As comparisons with Boris Johnson mount, they ask whether Labour's internal critics will act, what alternatives (if any) exist, and why the deeper problem may be a striking lack of talent across British politics.Also on the episode: could Reform capitalise on voter frustration – and are Britain's insurgent parties ready for power? What should we expect from Donald Trump's looming state visit – and why the monarchy may matter more than Downing Street in managing him? Plus, is the American Dream fading, or simply evolving under economic strain?And finally: from overlooked women at Nuremberg to the cultural stigma around ageing, the panel explores how history is written – and who gets written out of it.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, the panel unpacks Tim Shipman's explosive cover story, including a leaked message suggesting just how closely Starmer backed Mandelson's appointment from the start – and why the Prime Minister is now struggling to shift responsibility as the fallout grows.Host Lara Prendergast is joined by William Moore, historian Peter Frankopan and Prue Leith to assess whether this is a moment of real political danger for Starmer – or simply another Westminster storm. As comparisons with Boris Johnson mount, they ask whether Labour's internal critics will act, what alternatives (if any) exist, and why the deeper problem may be a striking lack of talent across British politics.Also on the episode: could Reform capitalise on voter frustration – and are Britain's insurgent parties ready for power? What should we expect from Donald Trump's looming state visit – and why the monarchy may matter more than Downing Street in managing him? Plus, is the American Dream fading, or simply evolving under economic strain?And finally: from overlooked women at Nuremberg to the cultural stigma around ageing, the panel explores how history is written – and who gets written out of it.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#434 - Big Nick - Richard is back at the Leicester Comedy Festival for the second week in a row, concerned about the historical figures that they venerate here. His guest is Michael Sheen stand-in, Nish Kumar. They discuss the physical and mental health scares they've had since last they met and the secret that Richard was harbouring back then, plus whether therapy helps of hinders comedy, cowardly potholers, horny followers of the alien Jesus, getting to sit in Richard Osman's chair, how little control we have over our lives and an hilariously angry and potentially lethal encounter with Boris Johnson.Thanks to the Leicester Comedy Festival for having us.Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world could pay a high price for the US launching war on Iran. Global shipping's in turmoil as Donald Trump's naval blockade increases uncertainty, although he's hinting peace talks could resume. The International Monetary Fund's warning a prolonged conflict could tilt the global economy towards recession. Former Chief Economic Advisor to Boris Johnson, Gerard Lyons told Mike Hosking that from an economic perspective, there are no easy wins for the UK. He says it's likely that growth will be low, inflation will rise, and unfortunately unemployment, which currently sits around 5.4%, could head even higher. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 17th of April, it's coup Friday! Chris Bishop was on to talk WOFs but after rumours of a National Party leadership challenge, the Minister had some tough questions to answer. Boris Johnson's former economic advisor Gerard Lyons discusses the IMF report and whether the world is heading into a global recession. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the potential coup, circuses, and Fabergé eggs as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Seb Payne and Libby Purves. Is the tide shifting away from the hard right in Europe? Would Nigel Farage really put Boris Johnson on trial over immigration? And why are the US President and the Pope fighting? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another special ‘What If' edition of EMQs George Osborne and Ed Balls consider the would be worlds and outcomes, if just one historical event went another way. In a more theoretical ‘What If' they consider what would happen if MPs couldn't abstain and had to vote aye or nay on every bill. Ed believes this could lead to a breakdown in our system, while George thinks it could reprimand a mistake made by the recent Tory governments. An anonymous question from someone in government poses a radical change to our recent history: What if Trump became a unifying anti-gun and violence figure after the attempted assassination in 2024? This would have had massive implications for our current world, but would it be believable? George is sceptical, while Ed wonders if Trump would have gone on to a greater landslide victory or if the MAGA movement would have turned on him.Finally, a pair of EU related ‘What Ifs'. Had the Brexit results been flipped, who leads the country into 2020 and the pandemic? George? David Cameron? Or is it still Boris Johnson? Also, what if the Maastricht or Lisbon treaties had been put to the country as referendums? Would Brexit still have happened? Would we still be in the EU? Would it have saved or ended the premierships of John Major and Tony Blair?We love hearing from you, so please don't forget to send all your EMQs to questions@politicalcurrency and make sure to include a voice note of your question.Thanks for listening. To get episodes early and ad- free join Political Currency Gold or our Kitchen Cabinet. If you want even more perks including our exclusive newsletter, join our Kitchen Cabinet today:

Theodore Cazals (@trueslazac) explains why French president Emmanuel Macron is unpopular, and why the French political system has entered a period of stability anyway.  William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV3), Paul Krishnamurty (@paulmotty), and Pip Moss (@PipsFunFacts) analyze how British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could hold on to power.   Timestamps 0:10: Chougule introduces France segment 1:26: Chougule introduces UK segment 2:28: Intro ends 4:29: France interview begins 4:36: Cazals background 5:32: Cazals connection to prediction markets 6:50: Why Cazals lost money in prediction markets 11:44: Macron's approval ratings 12:53: French political system 13:37: Macron's political brand 17:13: Yellow Vest Movement 22:24: France Polymarkets 22:30: Macron out of office? 23:24: Impeachment 23:59: French legislative elections 25:52: Lecornu 26:14: Prime Ministers 26:58: Elisabeth Borne 30:48: Budget cuts 32:06: Pension reform 32:45: Reappointment of Lecornu 33:54: Lecornu out? 36:50: France segment ends 37:05: UK segment begins 37:18: Personnel changes? 38:53: Rachel Reeves out? 39:51: Cabinet reshuffle? 40:11: Starmer resigns? 41:37: Blair-Brown rivalry 43:28: Starmer relationship with MPs 44:11: Boris Johnson's ouster 45:43: Foreign policy 45:54: Starmer-Trump relationship 46:25: Greenland 49:05: Odds on Starmer leaving in 2026 Bet on French and British politics at Polymarket.com, the world's largest prediction market. Get notified whenever a new meetup is scheduled and learn more about the Forecasting Meetup Network here: https://bit.ly/forecastingmeetupnetwork ​Join our Discord to connect with others in the community between monthly meetups: https://discord.com/invite/hFn3yukSwv

Can the Conservatives win back voters' support through a new kind of 'conservative radicalism'? Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor, joins James Heale to explain why he believes a focus on aspiration and wealth creation, paired with political courage to combat 'short-termism and stakeholderism', would enhance the Party's appeal and energise its supporter base. Jack argues that Conservative politicians need to be more honest about the country's problems, including with immigration and integration – where the expectation of a minimum level of British values should be set. He doesn't shy away from discussing the Tories' challenging record too, reflecting on political unity, the need for party reform and the flaws of 2019 election winner Boris Johnson. Plus: as the former PPS to Robert Jenrick, what does he make of the challenge posed by Reform?Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is placing new limits on crypto and overseas donations — but is this about national security or is Starmer just worried about Farage's fundraising power? Plus: Boris Johnson dubs himself the “Napoleon of Notting Hill”, and Trump's 15-point peace plan falls flat. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Seth Thévoz to round up the biggest stories from the past week. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by: Jacob Jarvis with Seth Thévoz. Producer: Liam Tait and Kathleen Johnston. Production Assistant: Jake Preston. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is placing new limits on crypto and overseas donations — but is this about national security or is Starmer just worried about Farage's fundraising power? Plus: Boris Johnson dubs himself the “Napoleon of Notting Hill”, and Trump's 15-point peace plan falls flat. Jacob Jarvis is joined by Seth Thévoz to round up the biggest stories from the past week.  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by: Jacob Jarvis with Seth Thévoz. Producer: Liam Tait and Kathleen Johnston. Production Assistant: Jake Preston. Audio production: Tom Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Questions are being asked about Morgan McSweeney's missing phone, which he reported stolen to police last year. What might seem like a minor case of petty theft actually has serious implications for the investigation into Peter Mandelson's appointment. It also raises questions about Keir Starmer's general approach to government. James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and Cleo Watson, former special adviser to Boris Johnson, about the case – and also about how it can hurt public trust in government. Do you believe in cock up – or conspiracy?Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a solo episode of Resilience Unravelled, Dr Russell Thackeray reflects on whether UK democracy is resilient amid events in America and stresses that democratic resilience means absorbing shocks, adapting, upholding rule of law, and maintaining trust. They outline UK strengths: deep-rooted institutions, rule of law, civil society, a relatively free press (including BBC impartiality rules), civic participation, and the Supreme Court's 2019 ruling against Boris Johnson's prorogation as evidence of checks on executive power. Key vulnerabilities include Brexit-driven hyperpolarisation, online misinformation, outdated electoral laws, an unwritten constitution reliant on norms, centralisation of executive power, economic stagnation and regional inequality, voter ID concerns, loose campaign finance, data vulnerability, and collapsing public trust after scandals. They argue renewal requires modernising Parliament and legal frameworks, cross-party reform, civic education, and courageous leadership to rebuild trust and accountability.00:00 Intro and Context00:25 Is UK Democracy Resilient01:41 Defining Democratic Resilience02:13 Institutional Strengths04:10 Polarisation After Brexit05:05 Misinformation and Digital Threats06:08 Unwritten Constitution Exposed06:40 Executive Power Creep07:26 Inequality And Alienation08:23 Electoral Integrity Risks09:16 Reform Needs Political Will10:22 Trust and Scandals and the myth of Populism11:35 Modernise And Renew Democracy12:51 Solutions from Leadership to Education14:14 Final Call To ActionYou can contact us at info@qedod.comResources can be found online or link to our website https://resilienceunravelled.com#resilience, #burnout, #intuition

In today's episode, Elizabeth Day describes the protagonist in her new novel One of Us as the “quintessential outsider.” Martin Gilmour came from a difficult background, but won a scholarship to an elite boarding school in England. There, he befriends an aristocratic boy named Ben who will later ask Martin to keep an important secret. One of Us follows the implosion of their friendship – and Martin's discretion – as Ben strives for political power. In today's episode, Day and NPR's Scott Simon discuss the novel's central rivalry and Day's interest in the Boris Johnson era of British politics.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

SEASON 4 EPISODE 62: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (2:30) SPECIAL COMMENT: In case you somehow missed it, Kash Patel's enablers at the FBI (Fan Boys International) were busily denying he went to Italy for the Olympics just to see the hockey game and jock-sniff the victorious U.S. team when all sorts of video leaked out of the dressing room showing him doing exactly that - dancing, drinking, cringing. And then Patel himself couldn't resist Supposedly we sent 100 agents to help with security and he just had to be there. Guesstimated cost just for his latest stage of his perpetual vacation on our dime? $400,000. It would be bad - a future administration will probably address it as misappropriation of funds. But what makes it worse is there's a piece by Patel from 2022 complaining about previous FBI directors wasting money on vacation, and a clip about his FBI predecessor Christopher Wray's vacation travel. Simply impeaching him is insufficient. He needs to go to prison. NOT THAT TRUMP WOULD DO THAT; THIS IS THE BEHAVIOR TRUMP TEACHES: Trump is a thief and he owes you and me at least 293 billion dollars - and we want it back. The worst thief in American history - and 270 billion of that is in tariffs. Because on tariffs, the Supreme Court has given him his COMEUPPANCE. Well – it’s given him A comeuppance. Because his new argument for the new REPLACEMENT Monday tariffs was his old argument AGAINST overturning the old Friday tariffs. But the key thing the Court actually did was give his cult a mortal shock. It is the first official body to give the Trump-Town Guyana Death Cult the message: that he is making this crap up, as he goes ALONG. -- Plus: an actual good idea from Boris Johnson: to send peacekeepers to Ukraine – NOW. And I’M the guy who thinks the Hockey Gold Medal is a BAD THING. And no, the John Barron who called into C-SPAN wasn’t Trump – he was too coherent. B-Block (40:00) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Mark Zuckerberg manages to lose a lawsuit before the trial starts, Kid Rock proves he's not charging $5000 for front row tickets by confessing he IS charging $5000 for front row tickets, and Stephen Miller's wife has another one of those Freudian slips that may be desperate pleas for help from inside a bad situation. C-Block (50:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: Baseball has already started so time for my annual explanation: why I don't work for baseball's TV network even though they offered me my own show and I accepted it. It has to do with a big league club threatening them if they didn't renege.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kemi Badenoch is the Conservative MP for North West Essex and the Leader of the Opposition. Since winning her seat in 2017, she has held cabinet positions as Minister of State for Equalities under Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for International Trade under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. She became leader of the Conservative Party in 2024 after Rishi Sunak's resignation and is the first black person to lead a political party in Britain. Her Nigerian parents came to Britain for medical treatment and Kemi was born in a private hospital in Wimbledon in January 1980. Her parents returned with their newborn daughter, and she was brought up in Nigeria in an affluent suburb of Lagos. After a series of military coups and economic downturns, her family, along with many other middle-class families in Nigeria saw their wealth decline and Kemi was sent to London to study for her A levels.Instead of following her parents into medicine, she chose to pursue Computer Systems Engineering and went to Sussex University. A well-paid career in IT followed and she joined the Conservative Party aged twenty-five where she also met her husband, Hamish. Her first attempt at becoming an MP was in 2010 in Dame Tessa Jowell's former constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood constituency in London. She finished third behind the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates.In 2017, she was selected for the Saffron Walden seat and became an MP.She lives in London with her husband and three children and divides her time between Westminster and her constituency of North West Essex.DISC ONE: The Story of Tonight - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Okieriete Onaodowan, Daveed Diggs, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton DISC TWO: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson DISC THREE: Wonderful World - Sam Cooke DISC FOUR: Be Still - Aled Jones and English Session Orchestra DISC FIVE: Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - Baz Luhrmann DISC SIX: Love is All Around - Wet Wet Wet DISC SEVEN: Carry You Home – Alex Warren DISC EIGHT: Dear Theodosia - Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda BOOK CHOICE: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray LUXURY ITEM: The Marvel Movie Collection with a solar-powered DVD player CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many politicians away to the island over the years including Sir Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Vince Cable, Theresa May, Ed Miliband, Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher.