Former Leader of the Labour Party, MP for Islington North
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Care about independent and ethical news? Support Media Storm on Patreon! Since 1945, no party has won more than 50% of the vote in a general election. In 2019, the Conservative Party won a big majority despite getting less than 44% of the popular vote. In 2024, Keir Starmer won Labour a victory, yet he got fewer votes than Jeremy Corbyn in the election before him (an election Labour lost – with half a million more votes). At the last general election, nearly three quarters of all votes cast had no bearing on the result. How does this happen? The answer lies in our electoral system, called First Past The Post. A winning candidate does not need to get the majority of the votes cast in their constituency, only more than any other candidate. This is not the only way to do democracy. The UK is in a minority – just under one third of countries use First Past The Post. Many others use Proportional Representation – where a party's share of seats mirrors its actual share of votes. This week we are joined by Mark Kieran, CEO of Open Britain, and Shaun Roberts from Unlock Democracy to ask: if 60% of people now back Proportional Representation, why has it not been implemented yet? What are the true alternatives to FPTP? Will the Representation of the People Bill heading through Parliament next week change anything? Will Andy Burnham stick to a promise of electoral reform, or will he U-turn like Keir Starmer did? And will any government ever change a system that works for them? Sign up to Open Britain's newsletter. Support Unlock Democracy. This episode is hosted and produced by Mathilda Mallinson (@mathildamall) and Helena Wadia (@helenawadia) The music is by @soundofsamfire Follow us @mediastormpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ralph speaks to economist Dean Baker about the hypocrisies behind the supposed Social Security shortfall and Republicans' "waste, fraud, and abuse" panic. Then, Ralph talks to journalist and ocean activist David Helvarg about his new book: Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.Dean Baker is a Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, where he authors “Beat the Press,” his regular commentary on economic reporting. He has written several books, including Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People, The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive, False Profits: Recovering from the Bubble Economy, and The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer.People will hear big numbers. They'll hear “$300 billion” and they'll go “Oh my God, that's a lot of money. That's money out of my pocket. It's causing the government deficit,” whatever. That's because they haven't given it any context…If we could, in any conceivable world, afford to pay $500 billion to increase the military budget, surely we can afford to pay $300 billion to ensure that everyone gets their Social Security benefits. It's just a case of: put it in context. I'm not going to say it's a small number. It isn't. But it's smaller— $300 billion is smaller than $500 billion, and that's really not a disputable point.Dean BakerWhere [DOGE] had the biggest consequences is with foreign aid. [Musk] just got a big kick out of that— USAID, he just shut it down. He boasted about that. He goes, “Last weekend I fed USAID into the wood chipper.” That's almost verbatim what he said. Now, what this meant was that you have people— and you could find waste in that program just like any other program, but this is a program that provided millions of people with medicine, with nutrition, with healthcare. And suddenly they couldn't get it…And Elon Musk was boasting that he killed that program. That's great. But millions of people, I mean, thankfully, I don't think it's millions yet, but if that program doesn't get restarted or funded somewhere else, you're going to see millions of people lose their lives.Dean BakerSo we're saying we have people on Medicaid that are committing fraud? No one gets a check from Medicaid. What would that even mean? Like, you signed up for Medicaid and you weren't eligible, so that would mean that they might be making a payment to a doctor or hospital that they don't actually have to make because you didn't qualify? I'm sure that happens sometimes but it's not like someone's living high on the hog because they were able to get Medicaid to pay for their doctor's visit when it actually shouldn't have.Dean BakerDavid Helvarg is a journalist and ocean activist. He is the founder and executive director of Blue Frontier, an ocean policy and media group, and producer of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast. He has produced more than 40 documentaries for media outlets, including PBS and the Discovery Channel. And he has written several books, including Blue Frontier, The War Against the Greens, and Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp.I've been pushing with my colleagues in journalism the idea of the “blue beat.” The only resource in the ocean not fully exploited at this point is good investigative reporting and narrative storytelling. Because people don't connect with it, a lot of people think the environment ends at the shoreline. And that's really where 95% of the living space on the planet begins.David HelvargPeople at least know that corals are in trouble and they have some sense of what a coral reef is. People don't know that the planet has this other forest crisis—that kelp forests cover an area larger than the Amazon basin, and they're also being impacted by these marine heat waves that are growing every year. And as you add more heat to the system, it gets more energetic, which is why we have more and more extreme storms. I covered Katrina in 2005. I thought that would be a turning point (we had 1,800 people killed and a million environmental refugees). But the propaganda by the oil and gas industry is such that we keep having these disasters from a warming ocean planet, we see the melting of the Arctic ice, and instead of an alarm bell, it became a dinner bell for all the shipping industries and people who want to exploit the oil and gas in the increasingly open Arctic waters. So we're in this crisis point. I'm more frustrated than despairing because we know what the solutions are. It's creating the political will to enact them.David HelvargWhen I started Blue Frontier 20 years ago, the main threats were overfishing and pollution—oil, chemical, plastic, nutrient pollution. Today, that's being overwhelmed by these marine heat waves.David HelvargNews 6/26/26* Our top story this week comes to us from New York City, where democratic socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning hat trick, with all three candidates for Congress endorsed by the Mayor winning their primaries on Tuesday. The most surprising victory is that of Darializa Avila Chevalier, who ousted the powerful incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat, head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in New York's 13th congressional district. This primary had turned ugly, with Espaillat's campaign seeking to weaponize anti-Haitian racism in the Dominican community against Avila Chevalier, per the Haitian Times, despite the fact that she is not in fact Haitian. Impressive in another way is the victory of UAW organizer and New York State Assemblywoman Claire Valdez in New York's 7th district. Much has been made of this race being a proxy battle between Mamdani and his onetime supporter, retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who backed her protégé, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to succeed her in this seat. Reynoso enjoyed the support of a broad range of New York elected officials – including Velazquez along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and a broad range of unions and civil society groups, most notably the Working Families Party – but was absolutely trounced by Valdez, who won by over 20 points with the support of Mamdani and NYC-DSA. Meanwhile, in the 10th district, Brad Lander won by an even greater margin, outrunning incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman by over 30 points while running on a pro-Palestine platform in the most Jewish congressional district in America. These victories send a clear signal to the sclerotic, ossified leadership of the Democratic Party. The only question now is will they listen.* Beyond the congressional races, DSA won a remarkable number of races at the state level. According to Democratic Left, DSA will send as many as seven new legislators to Albany this cycle, for a total of “four state senators and 11 or 12 members of the state assembly.” As the magazine notes, this means that the “2027-2028 socialist bloc in Albany will be the second largest in a state legislature in U.S. history…behind 20 members in Wisconsin in 1919 and ahead of 14 members in Wisconsin in 1911.” Within New York City, DSA endorsed candidates won seven out of eight races for seats in the state legislature, per NYC-DSA. All told, it was a thunderous victory for the left in New York and raises the clout of Zohran and his compatriots to dizzying heights.* Meanwhile, in Washington DC, NOTUS reports the local DSA has exploded in membership, adding nearly 1,000 new members since this time last year. This growing bloc flexed its political muscle in the recent Democratic primaries, electing DSA members Janeese Lewis George for Mayor and Aparna Raj for the Ward 1 seat on the DC Council, as well as Oye Owolewa for an at-large seat. Axios notes that they are already eying, “two more openings — to fill Lewis George's Ward 4 seat and the at-large seat of Congress-bound Robert White.” If these votes go in DSA's favor, Lewis George could assume the mayoralty with a progressive majority of seven out of 13 members on the Council. Since her victory last Tuesday, Lewis George has emphasized her plan to lower utility costs through “expanding government solar,” and “balcony solar” for apartment tenants, optimizing efficiency at local government agencies and maximizing federal housing grants.* In Maryland, the results for DSA and progressives more generally were not quite so decisive but the left notched key victories nonetheless. DSA endorsed candidate McKayla Wilkes won her primary for the Charles County Commission and incumbent State Delegate Gabriel Acevero won reelection to his seat. Senators Dalya Attar and Nancy King, both centrist incumbents, lost to progressive challengers, per Maryland Matters. Will Jawando in Montgomery County won the County Executive position with broad support from the Maryland political establishment and progressives, while Maryland Senate Majority Leader Bill Ferguson fended off his first real challenge in years only after a last minute pledge to reverse his position on Maryland congressional redistricting. However, in the 5th congressional district, Steny Hoyer protégé and “AIPAC-backed” Adrian Boafo won the primary to succeed his mentor in Congress. According to the Jerusalem Post, “AIPAC poured $5.7 million into his campaign through its super PAC.” Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn came in a distant third place, despite scoring the endorsement of Nancy Pelosi. In short, the left has more work to do in order to build a political machine in Maryland as they have in New York and DC.* The next major contest between the factions of the party will occur next week in Colorado, where Melat Kiros, a DSA-backed progressive challenger born in 1997, is taking on Congresswoman Diana DeGette, who first took office that same year, per Zeteo. According to a poll conducted on behalf of the Kiros-aligned Justice Democrats, she leads DeGette by five points and she has now won the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator and former Governor John Hickenlooper is also facing a progressive primary challenge from State Senator Julie Gonzales and, according to the polls, he holds but a single digit lead, the Coloradan reports. We will be watching both of these races closely.* Meanwhile in Congress, the Senate has passed a new resolution on Iran, this time directing Trump to “remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress, other than to defend America, an ally or partner from ‘imminent attack,'” according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal notes that while the resolution is nonbinding, it was previously passed by the House, marking “the first time both chambers of Congress have passed the same measure to curb” presidential power to wage war on the Islamic Republic. The resolution passed 50-48, with the support of Republican Senators Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul. Senators Mitch McConnell and Dave McCormick were absent, and Senator John Fetterman again broke ranks with the Democrats to vote no.* Turning from the Senate floor to the shop floor, the United Auto Workers (UAW) concluded their 39th Constitutional Convention last week, with a momentous vote to divest the union's investments from Israel bonds. UAW's divestment decision is the latest victory in the campaign to disentangle the finances of American organized labor from the state of Israel, following the United Electrical Workers (UE) in 2015 and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in 2023. UAW members also heard from Abdul El-Sayed, the candidate the union has endorsed in the Michigan Senate race. This contentious campaign will not be over until August, but El-Sayed, occupying the progressive lane, has moved into the lead and appears to be consolidating his lead, winning the endorsement of Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen just this week, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Van Hollen himself has recently begun hinting that he may seek higher office, recently telling NOTUS that he is “kicking the tires” on a 2028 presidential bid.* Turning to foreign affairs, this week saw the fall of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer, a centrist who was elected Labour Party leader in 2020 following the ouster of leftist Jeremy Corbyn, has held the post of Prime Minister since 2024 when Labour won an historic landslide. Since then however, his personal approval rating and that of the party has cratered, creating space for the rise of the far-right Reform UK party. The BBC reports Starmer will remain in his post until a new leader is chosen from within the party, with the presumptive successor being MP Andy Burnham who recently beat back a challenge in his own seat by a Reform candidate by a large margin. Starmer is now set to be the shortest serving Labour PM in British history, while Burnham is set to become the UK's seventh Prime Minister in the last ten years, both indications of the precariousness of the post-Brexit British political order.* Our final two stories come to us from Latin America. First, in Bolivia, the country's union confederation has maintained a general strike against the right-wing government of Rodrigo Paz for nearly two months over his administration's initiatives to privatize government services and rescind the land reform program instituted over the last several decades of rule by the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). On June 19th, journalist Ollie Vargas reported that the government had blinked and signed an agreement to withdraw these plans in exchange for the unions ending the general strike. However, Vargas notes that “most affiliated unions state that they want to maintain strike until [the Paz government] resigns.”* Finally, in Colombia, the right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella emerged victorious from Sunday's runoff presidential election, defeating leftist Ivan Cepeda, the handpicked successor of sitting President Gustavo Petro, by less than one percentage point. In the immediate wake of the election, President Petro “alleged that Israel interfered” in the election, citing “irregularities in the country's vote counting process and calling for a full audit and recount,” per Drop Site News. However, by Wednesday, Cepeda himself formally conceded, framing his decision to do so as “an act of democratic responsibility, to contribute to harmony, peace and dialogue among Colombians,” Al Jazeera reports. As one of his first acts, Abelardo de la Espriella has committed to reestablishing diplomatic relations with Israel, which had been severed under President Petro.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Zum Einstieg sprechen wir über die fragile Annäherung zwischen den USA und dem Iran – und warum aus unserer Sicht wenig dafürspricht, dass Trump hier tatsächlich gewonnen hat. Nach monatelangem Krieg haben beide Seiten eine Absichtserklärung unterzeichnet, die Kampfhandlungen beenden und binnen 60 Tagen zu einem endgültigen Abkommen führen soll. US-Vizepräsident JD Vance verkündet bereits einen "bedeutenden Meilenstein" bei den Atominspektionen – nur um Stunden später vom Iran öffentlich widersprochen zu werden. Wir schauen uns die zentralen Punkte des Deals an: die Straße von Hormus, die nur für 60 Tage gebührenfrei bleibt, den 300-Milliarden-Dollar-Wiederaufbauplan, für den die USA selbst nichts zahlen wollen, und das ungeklärte ballistische Raketenprogramm. Selbst der iranische Chefunterhändler hat das Abkommen öffentlich als amerikanisches Niederlagengeständnis bezeichnet – aus Trumps eigener "maximaler Druck"-Rhetorik wurde, wie es ein Kommentar treffend nennt, eine "maximale Blamage". Was bleibt von Trumps Drohpolitik gegen den Iran wirklich übrig? Anschließend geht es um den Parteitag der Linken in Potsdam. Mit Luigi Pantisano wurde ein neuer Vorsitzender gewählt – allerdings nur mit hauchdünner Mehrheit und nach einem Bild-Interview, das parteiintern für erheblichen Unmut sorgte. Wir ordnen ein, was das knappe Ergebnis über die Stimmung in der Partei verrät, und blicken auf die lange erwartete Nahost-Debatte: Die Partei entscheidet sich erstmals, das Vorgehen Israels in Gaza offiziell als Völkermord zu bezeichnen, bekräftigt aber gleichzeitig das Existenzrecht Israels und verurteilt auch die Verbrechen der Hamas. Wie wird dieser schwierige Balanceakt innerhalb der wachsenden, deutlich propalästinensisch geprägten jungen Parteibasis aufgenommen? Den größten Teil der Folge widmen wir dem politischen Erdbeben in Großbritannien: Nach nicht einmal zwei Jahren im Amt tritt Premierminister Keir Starmer zurück. Wir erzählen, wie es so weit kommen konnte – von der "loveless landslide" 2024 über die Mandelson-Affäre bis zum entscheidenden Wahlsieg seines Herausforderers Andy Burnham in einer Nachwahl. Wir blicken zurück auf die Wurzeln der heutigen Labour-Krise im Machtkampf zwischen Jeremy Corbyn und dem Parteiestablishment, ordnen ein, woran Starmer wirklich gescheitert ist, und fragen, wer der "King of the North" eigentlich ist, der nun aller Voraussicht nach neuer britischer Premierminister wird. Steht Burnham für einen echten Kurswechsel – oder erbt er einfach dieselben unlösbaren Widersprüche wie sein Vorgänger? Hier kannst du die Episode kommentieren.
Is Andy Burnham capable of leading Britain in a more positive direction? We asked Jeremy Corbyn. Plus: The real reason why Europe is losing to Asia. With Michael Walker & Banseka Kayembe.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ended all speculation about his future on Monday by announcing his resignation, less than two years after guiding the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election.英国首相基尔·斯塔默于周一宣布辞职,彻底终结了外界对其政治前途的所有猜测。距离他带领工党在2024年大选中取得压倒性胜利,尚且不足两年。His resignation means the United Kingdom will have its seventh prime minister in just over a decade. Amid the imminent change, the British pound slid as much as 0.4 percent to touch $1.3181 early on Monday, approaching its 2026 low of $1.3159 set in March, before paring losses. The yield of the UK 10-year gilt bonds, a benchmark for what the UK Treasury pays to borrow money, edged up from 4.84 percent to 4.85 percent, while the yield on 30-year gilts rose from 5.54 percent to 5.55 percent.此次辞职意味着,英国在短短十多年间将迎来第七位首相。在这一即将到来的政局变动背景下,英镑汇率周一早盘下跌0.4%,跌至1英镑兑1.3181美元,逼近今年3月创下的2026年低点1.3159美元,随后跌幅有所收窄。作为英国财政部借贷成本基准的英国10年期国债收益率从4.84%微升至4.85%,30年期国债收益率则从5.54%升至5.55%。Doubts over Starmer's leadership had been growing for some time, particularly after the recent damaging local election results, for which Starmer took personal responsibility.外界对斯塔默执政能力的质疑早已持续发酵,尤其是在近期地方选举遭遇惨败后,斯塔默主动为此承担了个人责任,执政危机进一步加剧。In an address outside his Downing Street office, Starmer said that he had "heard the answer of my Parliamentary party" as to whether he was "best placed" to lead it into the next general election. "I accept that answer with good grace," he added, saying that he would continue until his successor was chosen.斯塔默在唐宁街首相府外发表讲话表示,关于自己是否是带领工党迎战下一届大选的最佳人选,他已收到议会党内的明确态度。他补充道:“我坦然接受这一结果”,并表示自己将留任至新任首相人选产生。Starmer became Labour Party leader in April 2020, replacing Jeremy Corbyn, who had led the party to a heavy defeat in the 2019 general election. He faced three Conservative prime ministers before Labour won 411 of the 650 seats in the 2024 general election. However, although this gave Labour a clear Parliamentary majority, it secured just 34 percent of the popular vote, the smallest share received by any majority government since World War II.斯塔默于2020年4月接任工党领袖,取代了在2019年大选中带领工党惨败的杰里米·科尔宾。在2024年工党赢得大选、拿下议会650个席位中的411席之前,他曾历经三届保守党首相执政时期。不过,尽管工党借此取得了绝对的议会多数席位,但其得票率仅为34%,是二战以来所有多数党政府中的最低得票占比。With the main right-wing party, the Conservatives, having lost support to Reform UK, another British right-wing party, Starmer's critics accused him of focusing too much on trying to win votes from Reform, particularly over immigration, rather than appealing to more traditional Labour or progressive voters.英国主要右翼政党保守党的选票流失至另一右翼政党英国改革党,斯塔默的批评者指责他过度聚焦从改革党争取选票(尤其在移民政策方面),而忽视拉拢传统工党选民与进步派选民。He was criticized for his handling of the appointment of former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson, who resigned over his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The UK's local elections in May further weakened his position.他因任命前英国驻美大使彼得·曼德尔森一事饱受批评,曼德尔森因与性犯罪者杰弗里·爱泼斯坦存在关联而辞职。今年五月的英国地方选举进一步动摇了他的执政地位。One person cited as a potential leadership contender, Wes Streeting, quit as health secretary earlier, saying,"Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift … It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election".被视作工党领袖潜在竞争者的韦斯·斯特里廷此前已辞去卫生大臣职务,他表示:“我们需要愿景,却一片空白;我们需要方向,却步履迷茫……如今已然明确,你无法带领工党迎战下一届大选。”On the day Starmer resigned, the man widely tipped to replace him, Andy Burnham, returned to Parliament after nine years away as mayor of Greater Manchester.斯塔默辞职当日,最被外界看好的继任者安迪·伯纳姆,结束九年大曼彻斯特市长任期,重返英国议会。Burnham tried to return to Parliament in January by running as a Labour Party candidate in a by-election, only to be blocked by party bosses, whose preferred candidate lost.今年一月,伯纳姆曾以工党候选人身份参加补选谋求重返议会,却遭到党内高层阻挠,而党内高层力挺的候选人最终落败。As Starmer's position weakened, a sitting Labour member resigned his seat, allowing Burnham to run in another by-election last week, which he won comfortably.随着斯塔默的执政地位持续衰弱,一名在任工党议员辞去席位,让伯纳姆得以在上周的新一轮补选中参选,并以绝对优势胜出。Nominations for any leadership election of the Labour Party will begin on July 9 and stay open for a week, allowing a new leader to be chosen before the UK Parliament returns from summer recess in September.工党领袖选举提名将于7月9日启动,为期一周,确保新任领袖能够在英国议会九月结束夏季休会、恢复议事前选举产生。London-based political analyst Keith Bennett told China Daily that Burnham's win made Starmer's exit inevitable.伦敦政治分析师基思·贝内特在接受《中国日报》采访时表示,伯纳姆的胜选让斯塔默的下台成为必然。"The gradual erosion of his authority in the Parliamentary Labour Party and then the Cabinet was turning into a flood that would have swept him from office in any case," Bennett said.贝内特称:“他在工党议会党团以及内阁中的权威不断流失,已然积重难返,无论如何最终都会被迫卸任。”He added that Burnham's win showed that he was a more popular option with party members and the wider electorate. Should he become leader, he could offer a genuine change of approach, although quite what that would be remains unclear, Bennett said.他补充道,伯纳姆的胜选证明,他在党内成员和广大选民中人气更高。即便伯纳姆出任党魁能够带来真正的施政变革,但具体变革方向目前尚不明确。"Much will depend on the make-up of a new Cabinet, but above all, the serious nature of the challenges facing the country remains unchanged.“未来局势很大程度上取决于新内阁的人员构成,但最重要的是,英国面临的严峻挑战并未发生改变。"A change at the top gives Labour a chance to prevail at the next general election, but only a chance — much will depend on how events unfold, many of which will be outside the government's control," he said.他表示:“高层更迭让工党获得了在下届大选取胜的机会,但仅仅只是机会而已,最终结果取决于局势发展,而诸多局势变化并非政府能够掌控。”After Starmer's resignation made him the shortest-serving Labour prime minister in history, London Mayor Sadiq Khan was keen to look ahead. "The local election results showed people are impatient for the change that was promised," Khan said.斯塔默辞职后,成为英国历史上任期最短的工党首相。伦敦市长萨迪克·汗展望未来表示:“地方选举结果表明,民众早已迫切期待此前承诺的变革落地。”speculation /ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/猜测,揣测,舆论热议landslide /ˈlændslaɪd/压倒性胜利,大胜imminent /ˈɪmɪnənt/即将发生的,迫在眉睫的paring /ˈpeərɪŋ/缩减,削减erosion /ɪˈrəʊʒn/逐渐削弱,流失prevail /prɪˈveɪl/获胜,胜出,占据优势
pWotD Episode 3338: Andy Burnham Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 934,733 views on Monday, 22 June 2026 our article of the day is Andy Burnham.Andrew Murray Burnham (born 7 January 1970) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Makerfield since June 2026. A Labour Co-op member, he is currently a candidate for the 2026 Labour Party leadership election to succeed Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. He previously served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026 and the MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017. During his parliamentary career before becoming mayor, he held several cabinet positions, lastly as Secretary of State for Health from 2009 to 2010 under Gordon Brown. Burnham identifies as a socialist and is associated with the soft left faction of the Labour Party. Born in Aintree, Liverpool, and raised in Culcheth, Burnham was educated at St Aelred's Catholic High School in Newton-le-Willows and studied English at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 15 and his early career included working as a researcher for Tessa Jowell, a parliamentary officer for the NHS Confederation and an administrator with the Football Task Force. From 1998 to 2001, he was a special adviser to Culture Secretary Chris Smith. At the 2001 general election, he was elected as MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester. Under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, he held several government roles, including parliamentary private secretary; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department; Minister of State for Health; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and Culture Secretary, a role in which he launched the second Hillsborough inquiry. In 2009, he was promoted to Health Secretary, a role in which he responded to the swine flu pandemic and launched an independent inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal.Following the 2010 general election, Burnham was a candidate in the 2010 Labour leadership election won by Ed Miliband, coming fourth out of five candidates. From 2010 to 2015, he served as Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Health Secretary under Miliband. Following the 2015 general election, Burnham contested the resulting Labour leadership election, and finished second behind Jeremy Corbyn. From 2015 to 2016, Burnham served as Shadow Home Secretary under Corbyn. After being selected as Labour's candidate for the new Greater Manchester Mayoralty, he stood down as an MP at the 2017 general election, won the 2017 mayoral election, and was re-elected in the 2021 and 2024 elections.Burnham has been cited as the most likely successor to Starmer. While Starmer's honeymoon period was brief, Burnham maintained high approval in Greater Manchester for the entire 9 years of his mayoralty, and, by August 2025, polls identified Burnham as the most popular senior Labour figure. During the crisis surrounding Starmer's leadership, which culminated in widespread loss of support for Labour in the May 2026 local elections, and Scottish and Wales parliamentary elections, Burnham became widely seen as a possible successor. Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester, stood down to allow Burnham to stand for parliament again, a necessary step to seek the party leadership. Burnham won the resulting by-election on 18 June with 54.8% of the vote. Four days later Starmer announced he would resign. The same day, Burnham announced his candidacy in the Labour Party leadership election to succeed Starmer, with Wes Streeting, seen as his most likely competitor, announcing he would not compete but would support Burnham.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 03:45 UTC on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Andy Burnham on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Niamh.
Mardi 23 juin marquera les 10 ans du Brexit, alors que le pays traverse une période de profond désenchantement politique. Entre répression des libertés publiques, défiance envers les institutions, montée de l'extrême droite, le Royaume-Uni serait-il devenu une société libérale en péril ? C'est la question que pose Aurélien Antoine, professeur des universités et spécialiste du droit des institutions britanniques, dans son nouveau livre Le Royaume-Uni, une société libérale en péril (éditions Odile Jacob), paru le 27 mai. RFI : Dans votre livre, vous parlez d'une société libérale « en péril ». Qu'est-ce qui vous semble aujourd'hui le plus menacé au Royaume-Uni : l'État de droit, les contre-pouvoirs, les libertés publiques ? Aurélien Antoine : Je commencerais plutôt par les libertés fondamentales. Certaines d'entre elles sont aujourd'hui particulièrement menacées au Royaume-Uni. Elles le sont d'abord par des mouvements d'extrême droite assez puissants, mais aussi par les partis de gouvernement. Les conservateurs ont porté des atteintes importantes aux libertés collectives, notamment à la liberté de manifestation, mais les travaillistes aussi, dans certains domaines. L'exemple le plus frappant, c'est la profonde défiance à l'égard de l'Europe des droits humains, c'est-à-dire la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme. Elle semble aujourd'hui faire presque l'unanimité contre elle, quelle que soit l'appartenance politique. Pourquoi cette défiance à l'égard de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme ? Elle a des racines anciennes. Le Parti conservateur, avant même de s'en prendre à l'Union européenne, était déjà assez hostile au système européen de protection des droits humains. Le Brexit a un peu occulté cet aspect. Une fois le Brexit réalisé, les conservateurs, encore au pouvoir, se sont de nouveau attaqués très fortement à la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme, accusée d'avoir une jurisprudence trop favorable aux migrants illégaux ou aux délinquants. C'est une caricature : l'analyse des décisions de la Cour ne va pas dans ce sens. Mais avec la progression de l'extrême droite, dont le parti Reform UK autour de Nigel Farage, ces thématiques sont devenues centrales dans le débat public. Les travaillistes se lancent eux aussi dans une forme de « course à l'échalote » sur cette question, en remettant en cause l'influence prêtée à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme. Le 23 juin marquera les 10 ans du vote du Brexit. Quel bilan dressez-vous de ce séisme politique et sociétal ? Le bilan est incontestablement mauvais. Il est mauvais d'un point de vue économique : les chiffres des différents organismes et institutions britanniques le montrent. D'un point de vue sociétal, le Brexit n'a fait qu'approfondir des fractures profondes, sociales et territoriales : entre le sud et le nord de l'Angleterre, mais aussi avec l'Écosse, le pays de Galles et l'Irlande du Nord. Ces fractures existaient avant, mais elles se sont accélérées avec le Brexit. Celui-ci marque aussi une vraie rupture politique, avec une radicalisation des camps. On l'a vu du côté du Parti conservateur, qui n'en sort pas vainqueur aujourd'hui : il est morcelé et poursuit l'agenda de Reform UK, au point que certains parlent d'une substitution de Reform UK au Parti conservateur. Le Parti travailliste n'est pas forcément en meilleure posture. Il connaît aussi de fortes contestations internes et a très mal négocié la période du Brexit. Il faut se souvenir de l'époque de Jeremy Corbyn (ancien chef des travaillistes, NDLR), qui ne suscitait pas l'adhésion de l'ensemble du parti. Aujourd'hui, les partis classiques sont fragmentés, tandis que d'autres formations prétendent changer la vie politique en apportant des solutions simples, souvent simplistes, à des problèmes anciens, mais accélérés par le Brexit. Le Brexit a-t-il révélé des fragilités anciennes du système britannique, ou en a-t-il créé de nouvelles ? Il a confirmé des fragilités anciennes, notamment les inégalités. Il a accéléré la pauvreté dans certaines zones géographiques et chez certaines catégories sociales. Mais le Brexit n'est pas le seul responsable. Il y a eu la pandémie de Covid-19, la guerre en Ukraine, les conflits au Moyen-Orient, et les effets délétères de la politique internationale des États-Unis de Donald Trump. Le Brexit est un élément parmi d'autres, sans doute le premier, qui opère ce changement majeur et accélère les divisions. Ce qui est nouveau, c'est une forme de radicalisation de la vie politique britannique. Lors des élections générales de 2024, cinq députés d'extrême droite sont entrés à Westminster. Cela peut paraître peu, mais c'est inédit. Reform UK est aussi entré au Parlement d'Édimbourg après les élections locales, ce qui est inédit, et il devient une force incontournable au sein du Parlement gallois. Vous insistez sur le fait que ce n'est pas le régime politique qui est contesté par la population, mais plutôt l'élite gouvernante. Qu'est-ce qui a le plus abîmé la confiance des Britanniques envers leurs dirigeants ? Ce manque de confiance est assez ancien. Pour une échéance proche, il faut revenir aux années 2000. Le Premier ministre Tony Blair, au moment de sa démission (en juin 2007, NDLR), a beaucoup pâti d'affaires qui le concernaient, mais aussi des mensonges liés à la guerre en Irak. Ce fut une grande rupture. Ensuite, les crises se sont succédées. Dans des économies et des politiques mondialisées, les États subissent de plein fouet les crises mondiales. La crise des subprimes en 2008, dont on ne parle plus assez, a été déterminante dans l'aggravation de la situation économique, sociale et politique britannique. Elle a conduit à un tournant de rigueur très fort avec l'arrivée de David Cameron au pouvoir. Les conséquences de cette politique ont été telles que les inégalités se sont considérablement accélérées. Pour tenter de sauver la mise, David Cameron a promis un référendum sur le Brexit afin d'attirer les voix du parti de Nigel Farage, qui s'appelait alors Ukip. Il y est parvenu, mais au prix d'une sortie de l'Union européenne à laquelle il était lui-même hostile. Ce que l'on constate, c'est que les institutions, pour l'instant, tiennent. C'est donc d'abord un problème de classe politique. Mais le Brexit est à la fois une rupture et une forme de solde des insuffisances passées. Vous soulignez aussi le rôle de la Chambre des lords et de la monarchie, deux institutions souvent perçues comme archaïques. En quoi ont-elles contribué à préserver l'équilibre démocratique ? Cela peut paraître paradoxal. Pour la monarchie, je donnerais un exemple très récent : le discours de Charles III au Congrès américain fin avril. C'est une vraie leçon institutionnelle et démocratique. La garantie de la survie de la monarchie au Royaume-Uni, c'est de préserver la démocratie. Cela peut sembler paradoxal, mais c'est la réalité. En période de crise, la distance et les discours apaisants viennent souvent davantage du monarque que de la classe politique. Cela a été particulièrement vrai pendant la pandémie de Covid-19, avec le discours d'Elizabeth II. Quant à la Chambre des Lords, il faut comprendre qu'elle est aujourd'hui une assemblée d'experts. La démocratie peut dériver vers la démagogie, et il faut des gardiens contre cette démagogie. Les Lords qui travaillent réellement – les « working peers » – sont souvent au-dessus des partis. Ils produisent des analyses d'une grande qualité sur le système constitutionnel et sur les menaces que peut représenter telle ou telle volonté politique démagogique. Cette institution dispose d'une forme de distance vis-à-vis de la démagogie électoraliste. Vous terminez votre livre sur une note plus optimiste, en évoquant la possibilité d'un Royaume-Uni de l'après « révolution conservatrice ». Quelles conditions faudrait-il réunir pour permettre un renouveau politique, démocratique ou sociétal ? Il faut d'abord être convaincu que la démocratie fonctionne dans le respect des règles. Sinon, c'est la jungle. La démocratie, c'est le pluralisme, la liberté d'expression et le principe d'égalité. Le pluralisme suppose une concurrence des idées, mais ce n'est pas la loi du plus fort. Pour éviter cela, il faut des règles. La liberté d'expression, c'est la même chose : toutes les positions peuvent être exprimées, mais elles ne doivent pas conduire à la haine de l'autre ou à la volonté de l'annihiler. Quant à l'égalité, elle suppose que toutes les citoyennes et tous les citoyens soient en capacité de se forger une opinion, quelle que soit leur origine sociale ou leurs difficultés. L'État social est donc absolument indispensable à la réalisation d'une démocratie satisfaisante. La démocratie, ce n'est pas seulement le vote et la loi de la majorité. Une démocratie évoluée va bien au-delà : elle nécessite le respect des règles, l'État de droit, mais aussi un État social fort, pour garantir aux citoyens le temps et les capacités nécessaires pour se consacrer à l'intérêt collectif. On en est loin, et pas seulement au Royaume-Uni. Mon ouvrage utilise le prisme britannique, qui est l'objet de mes recherches, pour permettre au lecteur ou à la lectrice d'une société occidentale d'y voir aussi une image de sa propre société. La crise britannique est-elle comparable à celle que traversent d'autres démocraties européennes, ou y a-t-il une spécificité britannique liée à son histoire et à son système parlementaire ? Le régime britannique bénéficie d'un certain nombre de protections liées à son histoire, que d'autres démocraties n'ont pas forcément, ou ont de façon plus récente, donc moins « chevillée au corps » des citoyennes et des citoyens. Cela ne veut pas dire que le Royaume-Uni est à l'abri de forces qui voudraient instaurer un régime autoritaire. Mais on peut identifier un certain nombre de facteurs de résistance liés à sa grande tradition parlementaire et démocratique. Pour le reste, il y a évidemment beaucoup de points communs avec d'autres démocraties. Nous vivons encore dans des systèmes mondialisés. Le Royaume-Uni est à l'origine d'un système politique, le parlementarisme, qui est majoritaire en Europe. Les États-Unis se sont construits en opposition à la mère patrie britannique, mais avec un lien très fort avec elle. Le Royaume-Uni reste l'une des premières grandes démocraties européennes. Quand le Royaume-Uni va mal, cela signifie que les autres démocraties ne vont pas bien non plus. Je pense naturellement aux États-Unis, à la France, mais aussi à l'Allemagne. Ces États entretiennent des liens historiques très étroits avec le Royaume-Uni. Ils restent de très grandes démocraties où est censé régner l'État de droit, et il est donc très important d'étudier leur évolution aujourd'hui.
Mardi 23 juin marquera les 10 ans du Brexit, alors que le pays traverse une période de profond désenchantement politique. Entre répression des libertés publiques, défiance envers les institutions, montée de l'extrême droite, le Royaume-Uni serait-il devenu une société libérale en péril ? C'est la question que pose Aurélien Antoine, professeur des universités et spécialiste du droit des institutions britanniques, dans son nouveau livre Le Royaume-Uni, une société libérale en péril (éditions Odile Jacob), paru le 27 mai. RFI : Dans votre livre, vous parlez d'une société libérale « en péril ». Qu'est-ce qui vous semble aujourd'hui le plus menacé au Royaume-Uni : l'État de droit, les contre-pouvoirs, les libertés publiques ? Aurélien Antoine : Je commencerais plutôt par les libertés fondamentales. Certaines d'entre elles sont aujourd'hui particulièrement menacées au Royaume-Uni. Elles le sont d'abord par des mouvements d'extrême droite assez puissants, mais aussi par les partis de gouvernement. Les conservateurs ont porté des atteintes importantes aux libertés collectives, notamment à la liberté de manifestation, mais les travaillistes aussi, dans certains domaines. L'exemple le plus frappant, c'est la profonde défiance à l'égard de l'Europe des droits humains, c'est-à-dire la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme. Elle semble aujourd'hui faire presque l'unanimité contre elle, quelle que soit l'appartenance politique. Pourquoi cette défiance à l'égard de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme ? Elle a des racines anciennes. Le Parti conservateur, avant même de s'en prendre à l'Union européenne, était déjà assez hostile au système européen de protection des droits humains. Le Brexit a un peu occulté cet aspect. Une fois le Brexit réalisé, les conservateurs, encore au pouvoir, se sont de nouveau attaqués très fortement à la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme, accusée d'avoir une jurisprudence trop favorable aux migrants illégaux ou aux délinquants. C'est une caricature : l'analyse des décisions de la Cour ne va pas dans ce sens. Mais avec la progression de l'extrême droite, dont le parti Reform UK autour de Nigel Farage, ces thématiques sont devenues centrales dans le débat public. Les travaillistes se lancent eux aussi dans une forme de « course à l'échalote » sur cette question, en remettant en cause l'influence prêtée à la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme. Le 23 juin marquera les 10 ans du vote du Brexit. Quel bilan dressez-vous de ce séisme politique et sociétal ? Le bilan est incontestablement mauvais. Il est mauvais d'un point de vue économique : les chiffres des différents organismes et institutions britanniques le montrent. D'un point de vue sociétal, le Brexit n'a fait qu'approfondir des fractures profondes, sociales et territoriales : entre le sud et le nord de l'Angleterre, mais aussi avec l'Écosse, le pays de Galles et l'Irlande du Nord. Ces fractures existaient avant, mais elles se sont accélérées avec le Brexit. Celui-ci marque aussi une vraie rupture politique, avec une radicalisation des camps. On l'a vu du côté du Parti conservateur, qui n'en sort pas vainqueur aujourd'hui : il est morcelé et poursuit l'agenda de Reform UK, au point que certains parlent d'une substitution de Reform UK au Parti conservateur. Le Parti travailliste n'est pas forcément en meilleure posture. Il connaît aussi de fortes contestations internes et a très mal négocié la période du Brexit. Il faut se souvenir de l'époque de Jeremy Corbyn (ancien chef des travaillistes, NDLR), qui ne suscitait pas l'adhésion de l'ensemble du parti. Aujourd'hui, les partis classiques sont fragmentés, tandis que d'autres formations prétendent changer la vie politique en apportant des solutions simples, souvent simplistes, à des problèmes anciens, mais accélérés par le Brexit. Le Brexit a-t-il révélé des fragilités anciennes du système britannique, ou en a-t-il créé de nouvelles ? Il a confirmé des fragilités anciennes, notamment les inégalités. Il a accéléré la pauvreté dans certaines zones géographiques et chez certaines catégories sociales. Mais le Brexit n'est pas le seul responsable. Il y a eu la pandémie de Covid-19, la guerre en Ukraine, les conflits au Moyen-Orient, et les effets délétères de la politique internationale des États-Unis de Donald Trump. Le Brexit est un élément parmi d'autres, sans doute le premier, qui opère ce changement majeur et accélère les divisions. Ce qui est nouveau, c'est une forme de radicalisation de la vie politique britannique. Lors des élections générales de 2024, cinq députés d'extrême droite sont entrés à Westminster. Cela peut paraître peu, mais c'est inédit. Reform UK est aussi entré au Parlement d'Édimbourg après les élections locales, ce qui est inédit, et il devient une force incontournable au sein du Parlement gallois. Vous insistez sur le fait que ce n'est pas le régime politique qui est contesté par la population, mais plutôt l'élite gouvernante. Qu'est-ce qui a le plus abîmé la confiance des Britanniques envers leurs dirigeants ? Ce manque de confiance est assez ancien. Pour une échéance proche, il faut revenir aux années 2000. Le Premier ministre Tony Blair, au moment de sa démission (en juin 2007, NDLR), a beaucoup pâti d'affaires qui le concernaient, mais aussi des mensonges liés à la guerre en Irak. Ce fut une grande rupture. Ensuite, les crises se sont succédées. Dans des économies et des politiques mondialisées, les États subissent de plein fouet les crises mondiales. La crise des subprimes en 2008, dont on ne parle plus assez, a été déterminante dans l'aggravation de la situation économique, sociale et politique britannique. Elle a conduit à un tournant de rigueur très fort avec l'arrivée de David Cameron au pouvoir. Les conséquences de cette politique ont été telles que les inégalités se sont considérablement accélérées. Pour tenter de sauver la mise, David Cameron a promis un référendum sur le Brexit afin d'attirer les voix du parti de Nigel Farage, qui s'appelait alors Ukip. Il y est parvenu, mais au prix d'une sortie de l'Union européenne à laquelle il était lui-même hostile. Ce que l'on constate, c'est que les institutions, pour l'instant, tiennent. C'est donc d'abord un problème de classe politique. Mais le Brexit est à la fois une rupture et une forme de solde des insuffisances passées. Vous soulignez aussi le rôle de la Chambre des lords et de la monarchie, deux institutions souvent perçues comme archaïques. En quoi ont-elles contribué à préserver l'équilibre démocratique ? Cela peut paraître paradoxal. Pour la monarchie, je donnerais un exemple très récent : le discours de Charles III au Congrès américain fin avril. C'est une vraie leçon institutionnelle et démocratique. La garantie de la survie de la monarchie au Royaume-Uni, c'est de préserver la démocratie. Cela peut sembler paradoxal, mais c'est la réalité. En période de crise, la distance et les discours apaisants viennent souvent davantage du monarque que de la classe politique. Cela a été particulièrement vrai pendant la pandémie de Covid-19, avec le discours d'Elizabeth II. Quant à la Chambre des Lords, il faut comprendre qu'elle est aujourd'hui une assemblée d'experts. La démocratie peut dériver vers la démagogie, et il faut des gardiens contre cette démagogie. Les Lords qui travaillent réellement – les « working peers » – sont souvent au-dessus des partis. Ils produisent des analyses d'une grande qualité sur le système constitutionnel et sur les menaces que peut représenter telle ou telle volonté politique démagogique. Cette institution dispose d'une forme de distance vis-à-vis de la démagogie électoraliste. Vous terminez votre livre sur une note plus optimiste, en évoquant la possibilité d'un Royaume-Uni de l'après « révolution conservatrice ». Quelles conditions faudrait-il réunir pour permettre un renouveau politique, démocratique ou sociétal ? Il faut d'abord être convaincu que la démocratie fonctionne dans le respect des règles. Sinon, c'est la jungle. La démocratie, c'est le pluralisme, la liberté d'expression et le principe d'égalité. Le pluralisme suppose une concurrence des idées, mais ce n'est pas la loi du plus fort. Pour éviter cela, il faut des règles. La liberté d'expression, c'est la même chose : toutes les positions peuvent être exprimées, mais elles ne doivent pas conduire à la haine de l'autre ou à la volonté de l'annihiler. Quant à l'égalité, elle suppose que toutes les citoyennes et tous les citoyens soient en capacité de se forger une opinion, quelle que soit leur origine sociale ou leurs difficultés. L'État social est donc absolument indispensable à la réalisation d'une démocratie satisfaisante. La démocratie, ce n'est pas seulement le vote et la loi de la majorité. Une démocratie évoluée va bien au-delà : elle nécessite le respect des règles, l'État de droit, mais aussi un État social fort, pour garantir aux citoyens le temps et les capacités nécessaires pour se consacrer à l'intérêt collectif. On en est loin, et pas seulement au Royaume-Uni. Mon ouvrage utilise le prisme britannique, qui est l'objet de mes recherches, pour permettre au lecteur ou à la lectrice d'une société occidentale d'y voir aussi une image de sa propre société. La crise britannique est-elle comparable à celle que traversent d'autres démocraties européennes, ou y a-t-il une spécificité britannique liée à son histoire et à son système parlementaire ? Le régime britannique bénéficie d'un certain nombre de protections liées à son histoire, que d'autres démocraties n'ont pas forcément, ou ont de façon plus récente, donc moins « chevillée au corps » des citoyennes et des citoyens. Cela ne veut pas dire que le Royaume-Uni est à l'abri de forces qui voudraient instaurer un régime autoritaire. Mais on peut identifier un certain nombre de facteurs de résistance liés à sa grande tradition parlementaire et démocratique. Pour le reste, il y a évidemment beaucoup de points communs avec d'autres démocraties. Nous vivons encore dans des systèmes mondialisés. Le Royaume-Uni est à l'origine d'un système politique, le parlementarisme, qui est majoritaire en Europe. Les États-Unis se sont construits en opposition à la mère patrie britannique, mais avec un lien très fort avec elle. Le Royaume-Uni reste l'une des premières grandes démocraties européennes. Quand le Royaume-Uni va mal, cela signifie que les autres démocraties ne vont pas bien non plus. Je pense naturellement aux États-Unis, à la France, mais aussi à l'Allemagne. Ces États entretiennent des liens historiques très étroits avec le Royaume-Uni. Ils restent de très grandes démocraties où est censé régner l'État de droit, et il est donc très important d'étudier leur évolution aujourd'hui.
Jeremy Corbyn is no stranger to media and political pile-ons. Neither is Hasan Piker.Hasan was due to grace the PolJOE dungeon with his presence, for a chat with the former leader of the Labour Party, but the UK government had other ideas.Himself and his uncle, Cenk Uygur, had their e-visas revoked by the Home Office, who believed their arrival would not be "conducive to the public good." We decided to find out whether that was true or not by carrying on with the interview regardless.Hasan and Corbyn joined Seán for a wide-ranging chat on where their philosophies blend, and where they differ. How the global drive for equality and emancipation continues to be undermined by the very states sworn to protect them, and where the left can learn to become a true force in mainstream and grassroots political movements alike. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/joesundaySubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Schneider co-founded Momentum, the grassroots left-wing organisation that helped Jeremy Corbyn become leader of the Labour Party, and he's our guest this episode. James currently heads up Communications for Progressive International, a group that unites and mobilises trade unions, leftist parties, peasant movements and groups like Code Pink, the Democratic Socialists of America and South Africa's shack dwellers movement. He holds a degree in Theology, too, and he talked to Jonty Langley for Shibboleth magazine Issue 7 and Beer Christianity. It's an excellent episode if you're interested in the US anti-ICE movement, the history of US aggression around the world, and what part religion is playing in it all. James is a brilliant thinker, the author of Our Bloc: How We Win, and has even played Chess at an international level -- so you're gonna want to hear what he has to say. If you want to read an edited version of the interview, as well as more pieces about what's happening in and because of the US, check out Issue 7 of Shibboleth magazine.
Since Labour returned to power in the 2024 UK General Election, announcing their landslide victory with a speech at the Tate Modern, little has been made of their cultural policy. In this free episode, Juliet talks to Dr David Hesmondhalgh – Professor of Media, Music and Culture at the University of Leeds, and the author of Culture, Economy and Politics: The Case of New Labour (2015) and five editions of The Cultural Industries – about Labour's approach to art and culture, looking at their policies and the ideology behind them. Looking primarily at England as cultural policy is devolved in the rest of the UK, Juliet and David discussed the move away from Jeremy Corbyn's arts policies; Labour's Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries and the 2024 manifesto; the centrality of local government and education to cultural policy; Margaret Hodge's review of Arts Council England; the timidity of Labour's approach and the limits of their idea of ‘creative industries'; how this has differed (or not) from the Conservative and New Labour governments before them; and the need to shift the emphasis from financial returns to the intrinsic social and cultural importance of the arts. Subscribe to us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/suite212 for £3.50 per month to get a full list of references from this episode, as well as bonus episodes, Juliet's archived articles, and more.
This time ten years ago, the United Kingdom was in the thick of campaigning for the Brexit referendum. One of the key figures in the fight for Remain was then leader of the Opposition and UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy, who is now an independent MP for Islington North in London and Parliamentary Leader of Your Party spoke to Anton this morning on the show.
This time ten years ago, the United Kingdom was in the thick of campaigning for the Brexit referendum. One of the key figures in the fight for Remain was then leader of the Opposition and UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy, who is now an independent MP for Islington North in London and Parliamentary Leader of Your Party spoke to Anton this morning on the show.
Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Longtime listeners would be well aware of the annual left-a-palooza that is the Robert Tressell Festival. This year, it's going bigger by moving to the RDS. Joining me to talk all about the events and why this political and cultural space matters are two of the organisers, Trade Unionist, Claire O'Connor and Filmmaker Graham Seely. Tickets and details:https://tressellfestival.ie/ Liam Cunningham Ep 1600 Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-159915188 Sinn Féin's Left Unity Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-160123801 Support the Hind Rajab Centre:https://www.ionadhindrajab.org/
In the one-hundred-and-ninety-third episode, we look at the Definist Fallacy, starting with Trump redefining profit, temperament, and his opponents.In Mark's British Politics Corner, we look at definitions of socialism from Jeremy Corbyn, Mick Lynch, Kier Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Jonathan Reynolds, and James Cleverly.In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Friends, Babylon 5, and Andy Ngo on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.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 insane "settlement agreement" between Trump and the DoJ.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/ft193 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
Suite (212) returns after five years – and true to form, it's with an episode analysing the current political and cultural climate in the UK and beyond, and why we brought the show back into it. There's a twist, however, as frequent guest Owen Hatherley asks regular host Juliet Jacques the questions, about why Suite (212) ended in December 2021, what's changed since, and what the programme might do differently this time around. Along the way, we talked about the differences between Jeremy Corbyn and Zack Polanski as leaders of political projects and their respective tastes shape them; how the left reacted to the defeats of 2019-24 and the cultural effects of their withdrawal; the decline of the US as a cultural hegemon, and the rise of Chinese and Korean culture in the west; the international far-right attacks on the arts and the parts of society that uphold them; the concept of ‘counter-counterculture'; the impact of developments from the genocide in Gaza to the coming of AI on the arts; the crushing disappointment of Starmer's Labour and their lack of interest in culture; how ‘stanning' sells artists short; and some ideas for future episodes, ending with an appeal for our listeners to get involved in shaping its new direction. To subscribe to Suite (212) for as little as £3.50 per month, please visit https://www.patreon.com/c/suite212.
Chris Wright is joined by:Communications Director for Progressive International, former advisor to Jeremy Corbyn, and author of ‘Our Bloc: How We Win' James SchneiderLabour Member of the London Assembly for Merton and Wandsworth since 2016, Leonie CooperHighly acclaimed writer, journalist, and broadcaster Christina Patterson Jean-Monnet Professor of European Integration at the National University of Ireland Maynooth, John O'Brennan Chris asks the panel whether the current political saga whereby Starmer's leadership is being challenged is a result of external conditions such as a right-wing media, or his own doing. In addition they discuss the lack of a program of wealth distribution, Starmer & Labour's political ‘own goals' since taking office, and the importance of communication. As the conversation develops focus turns to Andy Burnham and the significance of him going for the Labour leadership.Chapters00:00 The Political Landscape in the UK04:54 Challenges of Modern Governance09:27 Inequality and Economic Instability14:20 The Role of Communication in Politics19:07 Labour Party's Positioning and Strategy23:54 Global Issues and Domestic Politics28:16 Future Directions for the Labour Party34:29 Local Initiatives and Regional Politics37:49 The Brexit Dilemma39:59 Emotional Politics and Public Sentiment47:27 Inequality and Political Choices53:29 The Makerfield By-Election: A Crucial Battle01:04:21 Future of Labour Leadership'I Hit The Nail Right On The Head' by Billy Bremner. © Fridens liljor/Micke Finell.Rock around the clock productions AB.www.rockaroundtheclock.co This episode was produced by Sound SapienSoundsapien.com
Germany pioneered Europe's crackdown on Palestine solidarity, and Britain is catching up fast — proscribing solidarity groups as terrorist organisations, criminalising slogans, and threatening to ban the marches altogether. What the official story leaves out: the anti-genocide Jewish voices being written out of "the Jewish community." They have been silenced, expelled from parties, and accused of antisemitism for opposing a genocide. The same establishment that pushed Corbyn out now decides who's allowed to speak as a Jew. In this livestream, Yanis Varoufakis is joined by James Schneider — co-founder of Momentum and Jeremy Corbyn's former Communications Director, currently serving as Communications Director for Progressive International — to take on what's happening in Britain, Labour's collapse, what's coming across Europe, and what resistance looks like now. FOLLOW THE SPEAKERS: Yanis Varoufakis (site): https://yanisvaroufakis.eu James Schneider: https://x.com/schneiderhome Mehran Khalili (newsletter on effective activism): https://mehrankhalili.com/subscribe SUPPORT US Join: https://diem25.org/join Donate: https://diem25.org/donate Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/DiEM25official
The resignations have begun, putting Keir Starmer's premiership teetering on the brink.Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones joined safeguarding minister Jess Phillips this afternoon in standing down from government, as would-be challengers Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham work on their succession plans.As Westminster waits on tenterhooks, Camilla and Tim are joined by suspended Labour MP Karl Turner who calls the situation “barmy” and offers the damning assessment that “ on the doorstep, Keir Starmer is more toxic than Jeremy Corbyn ever was.”We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducer: Georgia Coan and Lilian FawcettSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: Will WaltersStudio Director: Meghan SearleEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlightsGovernment resignations begin with PM on the brinkSuspended Labour MP calls the situation "barmy" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As voters prepare to go to the polls in a set of local elections that could redraw the political map, we examine the ‘outsiders' on today's episode – starting with the Greens. After Zack Polanski's grilling on the Today programme, are the Greens facing the same scrutiny that once engulfed Labour under Jeremy Corbyn?Also on the podcast: Tim writes a letter to Britain's aspiring prime ministers. What does Keir Starmer still lack? Does Andy Burnham have a plan beyond Manchesterism? And why do so many politicians seem to hate politics?Noa Hoffman discusses with Tim Shipman and James Heale.If you enjoy Coffee House Shots, you can join Tim Shipman and James Heale live as the election results roll in. Will Starmer survive the night? Are Reform and the Greens about to redraw the political map? And what happens next? Along with a panel of familiar faces and special guests, get the only analysis you'll need as the political fallout begins. Watch live on Friday at 3 p.m. here, and tap the bell now to be notified in advance.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.
James Meadway is an economist and Green Party candidate for Tower Hamlets council in tomorrow's local elections.He joined us in studio to talk about the campaign, his journey from being a member of Jeremy Corbyn's inner circle in his years of leadership of Labour to running for the Greens, and the need for the government to work in the interests of the people rather than to kow tow to big business.The candidates running in Bromley North are:Hirra Khan Adeogun - Green PartyJohn Bullard - Reform UKHamim Chowdhury - Labour PartySimon Nicholas Herbert - Liberal DemocratsSamia Hersi - Conservative and Unionist PartyMohammed Ilyas - AspireDavid Andre Lurie - Liberal DemocratsAbdul Mannan - AspireJames George Edward Meadway - Green PartyAbdul Mumin - Tower Hamlets IndependentsSheikh Mohammed Nashar - Tower Hamlets IndependentsShaheda Rowshonara Rahman - Labour PartyAlex Reeves - Conservative and Unionist PartyLauren Riley - Trade Unionist and Socialist CoalitionSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Crowds of young people chant his name but the Green leader is "nervous", says Ailbhe Rea.--A year ago, Zack Polanksi was relatively unknown. Now, he's leading an "eco-populist" movement that has revitalised the Green Party and looks likely to propel a left-wing surge in the May local elections.Ailbhe Rea profiled the Green leader for the New Statesman, meeting him shortly after he'd been addressing young activists. She found a "sweet, slightly nervous" man who admits he still has much to learn about running a political party. Here Ailbhe speaks to Anoosh Chakelian about Zack Polanski's political position, his unusual background, and the lessons he might learn from Jeremy Corbyn.LISTEN NEXT: Attacks on Jews are an indictment of Keir Starmer's BritainREAD: Zack Polanski is still learningLISTEN AD-FREE:
The two-party system has defined British politics for centuries, but the status quo is under attack from Nigel Farage's Reform UK and an insurgent Green party – both looking to clean up in the local elections on 7 May. This week Aaron Bastani speaks to economist James Meadway about the disruptive new progressive party on the block. Meadway was an economic advisor to John McDonnell during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour, and is now chief economist of Verdant, a new think tank set up to craft the Green party's strategy for 2029. But who are the Greens? What is their vision for Britain? How can they build a broad coalition of voters, big enough to win elections? And what mistakes can Zack Polanski learn from the Corbyn era? Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support
Ralph welcomes six authors to discuss their books: “Beyond Nuclear” founder Linda Gunter; trial lawyer Sean Simpson; law professor Elizabeth Burch; naturalist David Schmidt; industrial hygienist Marc Axelrod; and educator and advocate Jonathan Kozol.Linda Gunter is the founder of the US-based non-profit Beyond Nuclear and serves as its international specialist. Previously, she was a journalist at USA Network, Reuters, and The Times. She launched, and writes for Beyond Nuclear's online magazine, Beyond Nuclear International. And she is the author of No To Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War.We need to reduce the most carbon, the fastest, for the least cost—and that's renewables every time. But it's also an issue of: as we divert funds towards nuclear power (new reactors, which are not here now, they're just aspirational ideas on paper, none of the designs have certifications or licenses yet) as we divert time and our money towards waiting for something that will perhaps take a decade or two (or never) to materialize, and as we squeeze out renewables in the process, what do we do? We continue to burn fossil fuels. So actually, choosing nuclear as an answer to climate makes the climate crisis worse.Linda GunterSean Simpson is an attorney specializing in civil jury trials, representing individuals who have been harmed by someone else's carelessness or intentional wrongdoing. He is the author of Punitive Damages: The Lawyer's Tool for Shaping Society.[Punitive damages are] typically not covered by insurance. But oddly enough, there's a trend coming now where these corporations—because they're in control, we've let them have the reins, and now they're getting insurance companies to sell them coverage to cover their punitive damages, which is totally a 180. If somebody else is going to pay your punishment for you, it's not going to sting your rump if somebody gets spanked on somebody else's behind.Sean SimpsonElizabeth Burch is a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, and co-author of Perceptions of Justice in Multidistrict Litigation: Voices from the Crowd. She is the author of The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory.Imagine that you are sitting in your kitchen and you get a phone call one night. And you answer, and the person on the other end of the line knows an inordinate amount of information about you—they know your name, they know your birth date, they know the name of your doctor, the name of your hospital, the date and type of medical implant that you had put in you. And then they tell you that you have a ticking time bomb in you. And if you don't have this removed immediately (that in this case was pelvic mesh, which is designed to deal with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse) that you are going to die. But not to worry, they are setting up appointments down in South Florida to have the mesh removed. What they don't say is all of the important things.Elizabeth BurchDavid Schmidt is lifelong San Francisco Bay Area resident, naturalist, and environmental historian. He worked as a writer in the public affairs office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco from 1991 to 2021, led dozens of hikes for the Greenbelt Alliance in the region's extensive public parklands, and volunteered on habitat restoration projects for the Golden Gate National Parks and the California Native Plant Society. He is the author of San Francisco Bay Area: An Environmental History.I think [the environmental movement in the Bay Area] is the most successful regional environmental movement in US history. Its victories have had a tremendous impact on protecting the natural landscape, the agricultural landscape. And this is a landscape that is famous for its scenic beauty. It's among the world's most biodiverse landscapes with more than a thousand species of plants and wildlife. And persistence pays off. That is the theme that comes across time and again with environmental victories is: persistence pays off.David SchmidtMarc Axelrod is an award-winning front line industrial hygienist and workplace safety professional. He has developed and implemented programs to protect people from industry's most hazardous technologies. He has worked for employers including Boeing, Kaiser Permanente, UCLA and the City of Beverly Hills. He is the author of The Flame Bucket: Adventures in Workplace Safety.You can lie down in the flame bucket and stop a [rocket] launch, but you can only do it once. So I decided that we had a very risky program [at the city of Beverly Hills]. It was for testing our commercial drivers for alcohol and drugs. And somehow they got a big percentage of them, almost a third of them, got left out of the program. And I can see, being backstage, what happens in city government where people leave and people come and how these kinds of things can occur. But when they do happen, what you've got to do is stop everything, blame the people that left, and then fix it right away. But this program—even though people knew that there was a big gap in it, they just didn't want to fix it. But I knew as City Safety Officer, I was responsible. So after months of delay, I said, “Listen, these drivers can't drive anymore. They can't do their safety functions without a clearance test from our drug and alcohol program.” And so that got their attention, and we quickly fixed the program, and I got a lot of thank yous. And then a few days later, I was fired.Marc AxelrodJonathan Kozol is a leading advocate for child-centered learning, equality, and racial justice in our nation's schools, and he travels and lectures about educational inequality and racial injustice. Mr. Kozol is the author of nearly a dozen books about young children and their public schools, including Death at an Early Age, An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America, and We Shall Not Bow Down: Children of Color Under Siege: An Invocation to Resistance.My book is not simply a polite description of these problems. It's probably the most militant book I've ever written. It's an open call for militant resistance. And, you know, I get condemned for that, but I'm not afraid to say that I'm an unregenerate activist, and I'm too old to change my stripes.Jonathan KozolNews 5/1/26* Perhaps the biggest news of the week is the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais to gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which preserved majority-minority congressional districts. In practice, this ruling gives conservative Southern states license to draw these districts out of existence. Jonathan Cervas, a political scientist at Carnegie-Mellon University who has served as a special master in multiple Voting Rights Act cases, is quoted in AP saying “The Voting Rights Act as a means to protect minority voters from vote dilution is essentially dead.” In the Washington Post, NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the decision “a devastating blow to what remains of the Voting Rights Act, and a license for corrupt politicians who want to rig the system by silencing entire communities,” and “a major setback for our nation and…the hard-won victories we've fought, bled, and died for.” In practice, this ruling is sure to set off a new round of redrawing congressional districts, likely resulting in a net gain of 12 seats – half of the Southern Section 2 districts – for the GOP. In Louisiana itself, CNN reports Governor Jeff Landry has halted House primaries, where “Early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday and overseas ballots had already gone out.” Moreover, “Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields, whose district is at the center of the Supreme Court's redistricting decision, said…Landry had told him he anticipated issuing an executive order to suspend the House election and call a new one.”* Speaking of Southern congressional districts, in Florida's 20th district, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has “defiantly” filed to run again in the special election for her former district, per NOTUS. Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat in Congress last week just minutes before the House Ethics Committee was scheduled to “recommend punishment on an array of charges.” She had previously been found guilty of “25 ethics violations, including allegedly stealing $5 million dollars in federal disaster-aid funds used to bolster her 2021 campaign,” following an extensive investigation running for two years and including “issuing 58 subpoenas, interviewing 28 witnesses and reviewing over 33,000 documents.” Elijah Manley, the young progressive running for the seat, is quoted saying “Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned in disgrace moments before her colleagues were set to expel her from Congress…The last thing our community needs is a second round of chaos and instability. She should focus on her legal troubles.”* In more positive news from Congress, Rep. Greg Casar announced this week that the Congressional Progressive Caucus he chairs is issuing a new Affordability Agenda, bringing together a slew of bills sponsored by progressives – on topics ranging from housing to groceries to prescription drugs and more – into a unified package. In an introduction, the Caucus emphasizes that “Americans are facing a cost-of-living crisis and…At the same time, Democrats are searching for a vision that wins back the trust of working families and provides a mandate to deliver the big changes our country needs in 2026.” The question now is whether the Democratic Party will take up this banner and run with it or once again spurn their progressive base.* Meanwhile, the Trump administration is occupied with their continuing efforts to persecute comedians for anodyne jokes. The latest on this front is the Federal Communications Commission ordering the Walt Disney Company's ABC to seek early broadcast license renewals for the eight TV stations it owns, following a joke about Melania Trump on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show, NPR reports. The joke, a “mock speech for an alternative White House Correspondents' Dinner,” which went “Our first lady Melania is here. So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow,” aired three days before the actual White House Correspondents' Dinner and the corresponding security threat. Kimmel has stressed that the joke was about the age difference between the President and First Lady “not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination. And they know that.” FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, sole Democrat still on the commission, issued a statement calling this “the most egregious action this FCC has taken in violation of the First Amendment to date…As part of its ongoing campaign of censorship and control, the White House called publicly for the silencing of a vocal critic, and this FCC has now answered that call.”* Another scandalous act of corruption from inside the federal government came to light this week with Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a special operations soldier stationed at Fort Bragg being charged with insider trading. Specifically, Van Dyke is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Account, one count of wire fraud and one count of an unlawful money transaction for using classified government information to win over $400,000 via prediction betting site Polymarket vis-a-vis the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, per the Hill. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, also heading up the prosecution of President Maduro, is quoted saying “Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain.” For their part, Polymarket has announced tightened insider trading rules, but continues to insist that “When we identified a user trading on classified government information, we referred the matter to the DOJ & cooperated with their investigation,” and that Van Dyke's arrest is “proof the system works.”* In more news related to Latin America, a new poll shows leftist Senator and presidential candidate Iván Cepeda with a substantial lead, according to the City Paper Bogotá. In polls of the first round, Cepeda drew 44.3%, while his rivals, Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia drew 21.5% and 19.8% respectively, an impressive showing for Valencia who has nearly doubled her support since the last poll was taken. In the second round, polling shows Cepeda besting both rivals, 54.6% to 42.6% against de la Espriella and a narrower 51.2% versus 46.6% against Valencia. A Cepeda victory would continue the leftward trend in Colombian politics begun with the election of Gustavo Petro in 2022, a remarkable turnaround for one of the most stalwart conservative countries in the region.* Elsewhere on the globe, a new poll shows Jeremy Corbyn – the British left icon, former Labour Party leader and founder of Your Party – in danger of losing his long-held seat in the riding of Islington North. Corbyn, who was first elected to the seat in 1983, was able to keep his seat as an independent MP even after his expulsion from the Labour Party following the hostile takeover of the party by the centrist Keir Starmer regime. Yet now, with Your Party coming apart at the seams, the Greens look poised to capture the seat. However, the Canary notes that this poll only asked voters about their partisan voting intentions, with no mention of individual candidates. This means even if voters in Islington North are more sympathetic to the Greens overall, they could still return Corbyn himself to Parliament. Nevertheless, this poll gives some indication of how successfully the Greens have outmaneuvered Your Party, even in what should be their most solid riding.* Another iconic British public figure – King Charles III – is in America this week for a royal visit in which he addressed a joint session of Congress, met with President Trump and enjoyed a White House dinner. On Wednesday, the King attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City, along with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and, most strikingly, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This unlikely pairing has clearly piqued the interest of the press, who asked Mayor Mamdani what he would talk about with the King if they were to have a private moment together. While the duo did not ultimately have a private meeting, Mamdani responded that he would “probably encourage [the King] to return the Kohinoor diamond,” which POLITICO identifies as “an enormous bauble set into a royal crown on display in the Tower of London,” noting that the diamond has “become a point of contention between England and India.”* In more local news, with the protracted California gubernatorial primary on the horizon at last, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE, has thrown their weight behind progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, Variety reports. This piece notes Steyer's pledge to keep film and television production in Los Angeles along with his outspoken criticism of the merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. as well as his proposal to levy a tax on AI computations and use the proceeds to “fund training for displaced workers.” IATSE represents around 50,000 workers in California and 130,000 workers nationwide. Steyer has amassed considerable union support in his bid for perhaps the second most powerful political executive position in the country after the presidency, including the California Teachers Association, the California Federation of Teachers, and the California Nurses Association. Steyer's closest Democratic rival in the open primary, former Congressman, state Attorney General and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra is racking up endorsements as well, including from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and powerful California politicianss such as Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. With a close race between the top four leading Democrats and Republicans, the June 2nd primary is sure to conclude with a photo finish.* Finally, in Washington DC, the Democratic Mayoral primary continues to grow more acrimonious. This week, former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, the candidate backed by corporate donors and the DC political establishment, criticized progressive Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George in a fundraising email for supposedly accepting “dark money from outside interest groups.” Which groups you may ask? Local unions, representing tens of thousands of DC workers, including local branches of the AFL-CIO, UFCW, transit workers, teachers, the building trades and more. In a stinging rebuke, the unions excoriated McDuffie for his “disturbing pattern of anti-union talking points and votes” including opposition to wage increases for DC restaurant and child-care workers – while simultaneously accepting donations from “MAGA developers…[and] utility and energy executives.” Moreover, Axios reports Safe & Affordable DC, a labor-aligned super PAC, is launching a half-million dollar ad blitz attacking McDuffie on his record of favoritism towards the utilities at a moment when bills are higher than ever. Tensions mounted even higher this week, when the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance opened an investigation to determine whether Lewis George's campaign is collaborating too closely with her union allies – an allegation she has dismissed as “baseless.” It is worth noting that DC progressives have had this accusation leveled at them in the past, only for it to indeed prove baseless. Expect this race to get more heated, and more expensive, the closer we get to the June 16th primary.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Jeremy Corbyn MP is our guest on this May Day morning. Now an independent MP and the leader of Your Party, Jeremy has been in Westminster for 43 years - for 41 of those as a Labour MP. He was leader of Labour Party from 2015 to 2020, and fought two general elections in 2017 and 2019. He talks about this to Gyles in this episode, and about the bitter divisions and recriminations that followed the final defeat. He also talks about his childhood, growing up in Wiltshire and Shropshire, with free-thinking parents who encouraged him to make things and gave him a lot of freedom. He talks about being an academic under-achiever, his formative experiences with VSO in Jamaica as a teenager, and travelling in revolutionary South America. He talks about being awkward, his love of reading, and his continuing commitment to making the world a better place. Whatever your politics, we hope you find this an inspiring, interesting and illuminating listen with one of the longest-standing and most committed of our politicians. With our thanks to Jeremy Corbyn for his time, energy and conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
James Schneider returns to the podcast to talk about Britains relationship to the United States of America, how this relationship is shaping the terrain of struggle in in the face of escalating imperialist aggression and the resulting economic turbulence this is causing. We also discuss his recent trip to Cuba as part of the Nuestra América Convoy. James Schneider is a writer and political organizer. He serves as the Communications Director for the Progressive International and was Director of Strategic Communications for the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. He is the author of Our Bloc: How We Win (Verso books, 2022.) SUPPORT: www.buymeacoffee.com/redmedicineSoundtrack by Mark PilkingtonTwitter: @red_medicine__www.redmedicine.substack.com/
Ralph welcomes journalist and author Megan Greenwell to discuss her book "Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream." Then, Ralph speaks to James Zogby (co-founder and president of the Arab American Institute) about the recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon.Megan Greenwell is a journalist who has written or edited for publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Magazine, WIRED, and ESPN. She is also the deputy director of the Princeton Summer Journalism Program, a workshop and college-access initiative for students from low-income backgrounds. She is the author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream.The real trick with private equity (and this was the thing that made me want to write a book on it) is that when they take out those billions of dollars worth of loans (if you're buying a bigger company), the private equity firm is not responsible for paying those loans back. Only the portfolio company in whose name the private equity firm has taken the money out is on the hook for that money. And so what you end up with is this split in incentive where what's good for the private equity firm is not necessarily what's good for its own portfolio company.Megan Greenwell[Congress hasn't repealed the carried interest loophole] because Congress is in the pocket of the private equity industry. 88% of members of the House and Senate take donations from private equity. Interestingly, Donald Trump has called twice for the carried interest loophole to be closed. And still, even he, as much of a stranglehold as he has on the Republican Party, he can't build support for it among Republicans. Because they're all taking private equity money, as are the vast majority of the Democrats. So this is not a partisan issue.Megan GreenwellOne of the reasons I was really interested to write this book as a series of narrative profiles of people trying to do something about [private equity] is: none of them are trying to do something about it through the federal government. And I think when we talk about “Only the federal government can save us,” we really risk turning people away from trying to do anything. And I think we've seen on the private equity issue there has been some really interesting movement on the state level in several places—real reforms that are much easier to accomplish on the state level than on the federal level.Megan GreenwellJames Zogby is co-founder and president of the Arab American Institute, and he is featured frequently on national and international media as an expert on Middle East affairs. Since 1992, he has written a weekly column— “Washington Watch” —that is published in 12 countries. He is the author of several books, including Looking at Iran: The Rise and Fall of Iran in Arab Public Opinion, The Tumultuous Decade: Arab, Turkish, and Iranian Public Opinion - 2010-2019, Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us, and Why it Matters, and Palestinians: The Invisible Victims.Not only are thousands being killed [in Lebanon], but there's a process underway of demolishing villages, obviously expelling lots of people, creating internal refugees and sectarian tension as a result of it. And clearly (as Israel has stated, and I think we have to believe them), that they actually want to annex the territory up to the Litani River and maybe even further. They call it a buffer zone, but we've heard that buffer zone stuff before. It's merely a way of taking new land and providing opportunities for settlements.James ZogbyAs we saw ourselves in Vietnam, as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel is now getting PTSD reports that are deeply disturbing to them. They're getting suicides. They're getting an exhausted military. They're not exhausted with the weapons that they're losing (because they're losing a lot and they're using a lot), they're getting emotionally and physically exhausted. Look, when the soldiers do what they've been doing—which is basically inhuman behavior, I mean, it's disgraceful behavior—it begins to eat away at the soul. You get these suicides. You get these emotional collapses. And what gets me upset is that—72,000 Palestinians dead, a few Israeli soldiers having PTSD and trauma and committing suicide becomes a news story? My feeling has to be with the Lebanese and Palestinians.James ZogbyWhen I hear on the DNC from other members who say to me, “When you talk about Israeli genocide, that's anti-Semitic, it makes me uncomfortable,” I said, “You know what makes me uncomfortable? That genocide is actually taking place. And it makes me equally uncomfortable that you won't admit it or even want us to talk about it.”James ZogbyNews 4/17/26* Our top story this week comes to us from New York City, where Mayor Zohran Mamdani is delivering on yet another campaign promise thought impossible by mainstream pundits and beltway insiders: the creation of municipal grocery stores. Capping off his first 100 days in office, Mayor Mamdani delivered remarks in front of La Marqueta in East Harlem, the site of one of the original city-run grocery stores created under Fiorello LaGuardia. Mamdani laid out how the stores will operate, noting that while “A private operator will run the store,” they will “answer to the standards the city will set…[including] requirements that at our stores bread will be cheaper. Eggs will be cheaper. Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation. And workers will be treated with dignity.” Mamdani plans to have the first of these stores open in 2027 and stores in all five boroughs open by the end of his term in 2029. This from NBC4 New York.* Meanwhile, in New York's 10th congressional district, former NYC Comptroller and Mamdani ally Brad Lander is aligning himself with AOC and calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel. In a meeting with a group of local journalists, Lander said “We need to follow the Leahy Law and condition all of our foreign policy aid on human rights and international law compliance…At the moment, Israel is very far from complying with human rights and international law. So I would not vote for any more aid,” adding that he “hopes” Israel will “[get] there.” The Forward notes that this is an evolution from the position he took during his mayoral candidacy last year. At that time Lander opposed sending offensive weapons to Israel, but believed that the US should keep funding Israel's Iron Dome, per the New York Post. Through a representative, Lander's opponent in this race, incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman, told the Forward he “will always support defensive systems,” like Iron Dome.* The liberal Zionist organization J Street is also shifting its position. The Middle East Eye reports the group is calling for an end to “direct” US military support to Israel, according to a new policy paper. To be clear however, while this does mark a shift from J Street's previous position that the U.S. should provide defensive weapons systems – like resupply for Iron Dome, at no cost to Israelis – J Street now argues that Israel should simply purchase these weapons instead. In short, J Street is arguing that Israel is rich enough to provide for its own defense and that the American financial subsidies are “unnecessary and politically counterproductive, creating avoidable tensions in US domestic politics and in the bilateral relationship.” This is in line with statements by Netanyahu himself, who has made it clear that Israel wants to reduce its reliance on U.S. military aid “all the way down to zero.”* In other news, Reuters reports Apple is closing several of its brick-and-mortar stores, including the first ever unionized Apple store. Over 100 workers at the store, located in Towson Town Center mall in Maryland, voted to join the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 2022; Reuters notes that “a similar union drive in Atlanta [around that same time] was withdrawn, with Apple workers alleging intimidation.”At the other stores being shuttered, employees were offered the option to continue their jobs at other nearby Apple stores. At the Towson store however, Apple is claiming that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation. The union says this is “false” and is reportedly exploring all legal options. IAM also expressed “serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union.”* Elsewhere in Maryland, the state legislature has passed the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act. This bill, which Gov. Wes Moore has vowed to sign into law, is designed to prohibit surveillance pricing, the practice of retailers charging different shoppers different prices for the same item at the same time based on information the store knows about them as an individual. While crucial and innovative legislation, Consumer Reports – which “engaged on the bill…throughout the legislative process,” argues that it has been watered down to the point of inadequacy via lobbying by the Maryland Retail Alliance. Some of the added exceptions include failing to establish any baseline or standard price – given that “with no set standard price, everything can be marketed as a discount” — and exempting any pricing associated with loyalty or membership programs or subscriptions. The bill also does not contain strong enforcement provisions, such as a private right of action. So, while this bill is a start – and you have to start somewhere – we echo Consumer Reports' urging that “other state legislatures considering personalized pricing legislation to build in stronger consumer protections and avoid loopholes that weakened this bill.”* In more consumer news, the scourge of sports betting continues to metastasize. A new report from Siena Research Institute has produced staggering findings: “27% of Americans and [52%] of men ages 18-49…[say] they have an active account with an online sportsbook such as DraftKings, Caesars, FanDuel, or BetMGM.” And, while most respondents maintain that they bet because it is “exciting” and “fun”, “31% of bettors report having had someone express concern about their usage of online sportsbooks, [42%] of bettors...say they have felt that they bet more than they should…Fifteen percent of bettors…say they have called a problem gambling Helpline or sought other help with problem gambling, and 22% of respondents overall say they know someone that has or has had a problem with online sports betting.” Taken together, this represents a deeply troubling gambling wave cresting in this country. And, while legislators are beginning to take notice, the sports betting interests are beginning to fight back, with Bloomberg reporting that these companies – FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics Sportsbook – are beginning to dump money by the truckload into new Super PACs. Just this year, they have contributed $41 million to Win for America, according to new FEC filings, and show no sign of stopping there.* In our final domestic story, this week saw the implosion of leading California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell. Swalwell ultimately opted to resign his seat in Congress after it became clear that the Democratic and Republican House leadership was mulling a deal to expel him and flagrantly corrupt Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick along with two scandal-ridden GOP Reps., Tony Gonzales and Cory Mills. The fact that Swalwell's resignation was paired with that of Gonzales lends credence to the idea that some deal was worked out behind closed doors. Yet, deal or no, this leaves Cherfilus-McCormick and Mills in their seats despite general acknowledgment that they should be expelled, per the Hill. This constitutes congressional horsetrading at its most base.* Turning to international news, this week Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has for months governed the country with a plurality in the House of Commons, has successfully secured a majority for his ruling Liberal Party. This majority was secured via three byelection victories, but more significantly, by five recent “floor crossings” – elected MPs switching parties to join the Liberals. Having secured a majority, Carney is now confident in his ability to stave off a no-confidence vote and will likely remain in power at least until the 2029 general election. Unfortunately, the New Democratic Party (NDP) saw improvement in their share of the vote in only one “riding” despite their new leadership. This just proves the party has a long, difficult climb back to relevance in Canadian politics. This from the CBC.* Looking Southward, this week, Peru held the first round of their presidential election. The top two vote getters will advance to a runoff, but who those candidates would be remained unclear for an agonizingly protracted period of time. Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the former Japanese-Peruvian dictator and a perennial far-right candidate herself, came in first with 17% of the vote. And at first, it seemed like the second slot would be taken by ultraconservative Rafael Lopez Aliaga. However, following days of vote counting, Aliaga moved down to third place, with the second place finisher proving to be Roberto Sanchez, a figure of the Peruvian Left and ally of ousted former President Pedro Castillo. Sanchez however is also allegedly allied with the Andean supremacist movement led by Antauro Humala in Peru. The Peruvian political system has been rocked by instability, churning through “eight presidents in the past 10 years, including four who were impeached,” per France 24. Castillo, the last democratically elected president, was sentenced to over 11 years in prison in 2025; if elected, Sanchez would likely pardon the former president as other left-wing Latin American leaders including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have urged. How long Sanchez, or for that matter Fujimori, might last in office is another question.* Finally, we turn to the United Kingdom where the dream of a new Leftist party – Your Party – is foundering. After a promising start, Your Party ultimately descended into infighting between the Grassroots Left faction, led by Zarah Sultana, and another faction, the Many, led by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Your Party also chose to bar from participation any avowedly leftist organizations. These moves, alienating to the very constituencies most interested in backing the YP, paired with the meteoric rise of the Green Party under Zack Polanski and a threatened exodus by the Scottish YP segment, have rendered what could have been a substantial power in Parliament, pressing for concessions on issues if not achieving a majority itself, utterly toothless. An inside account of the internal battles is available at Counterfire.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Ava caught economist Yanis Varoufakis before his conversation with Zack Polanski, Jeremy Corbyn, and Grace Blakeley at DiEM25. She talks to him about Keir Starmer, Iran, Donald Trump, and the weakness of European leaders.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Throughout its history the Labour left has been a key source of energy and ideas for the party – but left-right tensions have long been the cause of damaging divisions. What lessons does this story hold for today's left and the struggling Starmer government? Are they irreconcilable enemies - or can they ever work together? Guardian columnist Andy Beckett, author of When the Lights Went Out, Pinochet in Piccadily and The Searchers, a joint portrait of Labour mavericks Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone, John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn, was in conversation with journalist and novelist Melissa Benn, whose selection of her father Tony Benn's political writings The Most Dangerous Man in Britain? was recently published by Verso. In the chair was historian Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, whose most recent book Women and the Miners' Strike, 1984-1985 is published by Oxford.
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Libby Purves and Seb Payne. Is President Trump backing off Iran? Why does Britain needs a return to wartime frugality? And what is Jeremy Corbyn doing with Kneecap in Cuba? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ralph welcomes sociologist and historian Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi to discuss the United States' war of aggression on Iran.Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi is an Iranian-born American historian and sociologist. He is a Research Fellow at the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics at the CUNY Graduate Center. He was the Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of four books on different aspects and historical context of the Iranian revolution of 1979 and its aftermath.The only countries that I see that are in constant violation of international law is the United States and Israel. And frankly, I am speechless, although I'm speaking, but I am speechless—in what universe can this war be justified as self-defense? You listened to Secretary Rubio's speech in Munich where he laments 400 years of colonial rule being lost to this international law and laws of fighting wars because they want to go back to the way things were in the 18th and 19th century. This is a naked expansionist, extortionist administration here, and that's the only reason they have launched this war, and there is absolutely no justification for it.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziFor years and years, the Israelis have been assassinating Iranian scientists. They were sabotaging Iranian industries. And actually, the Iranian government showed tremendous restraint in responding to these Israeli provocations because they didn't want to create the situation in which we find ourselves today. But then at the end of the day, calling Iran the aggressor here I think is a total ignorance of history and the context in which this war has started.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziAll these things are not to suggest that the Iranian government in any form or shape is a democratic and just state. But the question here is about the sovereignty of the Iranian state. And the only inheritance of the revolution that has been kept throughout these forty-odd years was the question of sovereignty. Because that was one of the demands of the revolution. The question of social justice was thrown out of the window after the revolution. The question of civil liberties was thrown out of the window after the revolution. The only thing that is left is Iranian sovereignty. And according to every single intelligence study, what Iranians do outside their borders is a defensive posture. Iran does not have an expansionist agenda.Behrooz Ghamari-TabriziNews 3/6/26* Last week, Bill and Hillary Clinton testified before the House Oversight Committee on their respective relationships with financier and sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton, in a deposition described as contentious, maintained that she had virtually zero connections with Epstein, stating at one point “I am so tired of answering that question,” per PBS. Former President Bill Clinton meanwhile, tried to downplay his relationship with Epstein, describing it as “cordial,” and claiming that he had come to an arrangement with Epstein where the financier provided his private jet for humanitarian trips in exchange for Clinton discussing politics and economics with him. The committee pressed Clinton on this point, noting that Epstein visited the White House numerous times during Clinton's presidency and that there are photos of the two men shaking hands. Clinton told lawmakers he “did not recall those interactions.” These answers leave much to be desired.* Meanwhile, another Epstein associate occupies the Oval Office today – Donald Trump – and on February 26th the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice, under the stewardship of Attorney General Pam Bondi, has been withholding interviews with a woman who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault back in the 1980s. As the Journal writes, the suppression of this interview “raises new questions about the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files release and the pages that have been kept private.” The Journal adds that “Trump officials initially opposed the release of the files and then fumbled their response, including inconsistent redactions that exposed dozens of Epstein victims and initially kept some prominent men's names hidden.” However, on March 5th, POLITICO reported that the FBI has now published a trio of FBI interviews with the woman who accused the president of sexually assaulting her in collusion with Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and his allies categorically deny any wrongdoing on the part of the president, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the allegations “completely baseless…backed by zero credible evidence, from a sadly disturbed woman who has an extensive criminal history.” This story also highlights what is sure to be the next flashpoint in this saga: on Wednesday, a House committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about her handling of the Epstein files.* Turning to media news, last week we covered how Paramount-Skydance, led by the Ellison family and backed by the Trump administration, outmaneuvered Netflix to close a deal acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery – including CNN. Throughout this process, many have raised the alarm that if the Ellisons were to get their hands on CNN, they would turn it over to their ideological attack dog, Bari Weiss, as they did with CBS News. Variety is now echoing those concerns, reporting that “It's expected that Weiss will have a big role in steering CNN.” Just what exactly this role will be remains to be seen, but given her tenure as editor-in-chief of CBS News, there is much cause for concern.* In related news, Variety reports Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has filed to sell 4,004,149 shares – over $114 million worth of stock – in the company following the announcement of the sale to Paramount, including Paramount's eye-popping offer of $31 per share. Zaslav retains additional stock and options which he could cash out as the deal moves forward. Curiously, even as the Trump administration backed the Paramount buyout over the Netflix deal, the president himself continues to bank on the fiscal stability of the streaming giant, with the Hollywood Reporter documenting that Trump bought between $600,000 and $1.25 million worth of Netflix debt in January, adding to the $500,000 to $1 million in Netflix bonds that he purchased in December. This story notes that while the Netflix-Warner deal fell through, Netflix walked away with a $2.8 billion “break-up fee,” and an investment grade credit rating, unlike both WBD and Paramount.* Looking at domestic politics, this week primaries were held in Texas and North Carolina which yielded the nomination of James Talarico in Texas, beating out Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nod, and the razor thin victory of incumbent Valerie Foushee over her progressive challenger Nida Allam in the Durham-Chapel Hill region. But many more primary battles lay ahead, perhaps the most interesting of which is unfolding in Maine, where the Bernie Sanders-backed veteran-turned-oysterman Graham Platner is duking it out with Chuck Schumer's preferred candidate, outgoing Governor Janet Mills. Platner, despite damaging stories, has continued to draw massive crowds and enjoys a huge polling advantage. Last week, Platner's allies, led by United Autoworkers President Shawn Fain, staged a sort of intervention with Schumer, with Fain lambasting the “shortcomings” in Democratic leaders' approach to the 2026 midterms, “particularly their failure to adequately listen to working-class voters.” Michael Monahan, a high-level official in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, also sent a letter to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee strongly urging the DSCC to “refrain from intervening further in [the Maine] primary.” A mid-February independent poll found Platner with a 38-point lead over Mills among likely Democratic primary voters, yet the party continues to back Mills to the hilt. This from NBC.* Our remaining stories this week concern foreign affairs. First, in South Africa, it seems the forces of the Left are looking to pool their support by entering into a political alliance. According to TimesLIVE, a prominent South African online newspaper, the country's largest standalone Left party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has convened with the South African Communist Party (SACP) to discuss such an electoral pact. The SACP has long participated in a tripartite alliance with the African National Congress party (ANC), which has ruled South Africa since the end of Apartheid, but recently announced they would contest elections independently. The EFF and SACP emphasized that their priorities align on the “deep crises confronting South Africa: de-industrialisation, austerity-driven fiscal consolidation, collapsing energy security, mass unemployment, and extreme poverty.”* In another major political realignment, the Green Party of England and Wales is surging as the Labour Party, under the centrist leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, continues to lose ground to the Nigel Farage-led far right party, Reform UK. The rise of the Green Party has been bubbling for some time, as progressive voters feel betrayed by Labour and the momentum behind Jeremy Corbyn's “Your Party” has fizzled, but the first major test occurred recently in the Labour stronghold riding of Groton and Denton in Greater Manchester. According to the BBC, this marks the first ever win for the Greens in a by-election, with 34-year-old plumber Hannah Spencer becoming the party's first ever MP in northern England. Reform ran second, with Labour dropping by 25% into third place. Moreover, Zeteo reports the Greens have leapfrogged ahead of Labour in national polling, second only to Reform and has become the single most popular party among voters under 50. For the past five months, the Greens have been led by self-described “eco-populist” Zack Polanski, and have espoused policies including giving councils the power to control rents, extending free school meals to all children, and imposing a new ‘wealth tax' on assets above £10m.* In Congress, Representative Ro Khanna has introduced the West Bank Human Rights Resolution to Condemn Israeli Settlement Expansion. This resolution is described as utilizing far more specific language to condemn “Israeli settler violence and referencing potential sanctions tools while also calling for a review of US policies that may indirectly subsidise settlement activity,” per the Middle East Eye. In part, this resolution is a response to the Israeli government's February 8th approval of “sweeping changes to land registration and civil control in Areas A and B of the West Bank, which Palestinians say breach the Oslo Accords and advance de facto annexation.” This resolution was drafted in conjunction with Cameron Kasky, the survivor of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting who has become a leading activist on rights for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. In a statement upon the introduction of this resolution, Kasky wrote “this is a necessary measure for Democrats and Republicans to unite behind the upholding of international law. Democrats and Republicans can agree that U.S. taxpayer money being used to subsidize the violation of international law is an outrage.”* Our final two stories concern the U.S. attacks on Iran. First, a bizarre sequence of conflicting claims between the U.S. and Spain have left many observers puzzled. First, on March 3rd, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the Iberian nation, saying “Very often great wars start with a chain of events spiralling out of control due to miscalculations, technical failures, and unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, we must learn from history and cannot play Russian roulette with the fate of millions.” Sánchez warned of “repeating the mistakes of the past,” and drew a comparison with the invasion of Iraq, concluding his government's position is “No to war,” per CNBC. More pointedly, the Spanish government prevented two jointly operated bases in its territory from being used in the strikes on Iran. Trump responded on the 4th by vowing to cut off all trade with Madrid, saying “Spain has been terrible…We don't want anything to do with Spain.” Then, on March 5th, Karoline Leavitt told the press that “With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president's message yesterday loud and clear, and it's my understanding, over the past several hours, they've agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.” Yet, the Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares immediately responded that “The Spanish government's position on the war in the Middle East ... and the use of our bases has not changed at all.” This also from CNBC. Trump's threat to cut off trade with Spain would be difficult to follow through on, given that the 27 nations in the European Union negotiate trade agreements collectively,* Finally, far from assuaging concerns about the attacks on Iran leading to blowback, the Hill reports that, when asked during a phone call with Time magazine about whether Americans should be worried about a potential strike on the homeland, Trump replied, “I guess.” Trump went on to say “We think about it all the time. We plan for it. But yeah…we expect some things…some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die.” Stunningly, despite Trump openly declaring that we are at war with Iran sans congressional authorization and even casually admitting Americans could be killed on home soil, the feckless Congress has voted down War Powers resolutions in the House and Senate. In the upper house, the bill introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, failed 47-53, with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky crossing party lines to support it while Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania crossed party lines to vote nay, per the AP. A similar measure in the House, introduced by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie – the duo behind the Epstein Files Transparency Act and other war powers resolutions including on Venezuela – failed by a vote of 212-219. In addition to Massie, Republican Rep. Warren Davison of Ohio voted in favor of the resolution, while four House Democrats voted nay, per Axios. Again the question is presented to us, if this won't shock Congress to action, what will?This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Laura caught up with Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament yesterday after Rachel Reeves' Spring Forecast speech.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Labour Together was set up in the summer of 2015 as a way of uniting the UK Labour Party, but with the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader it soon became something very different. Driven by Morgan McSweeney, it became a means of destroying Jeremy Corbyn‘s leadership ‘by any means necessary. Keir Starmer was the vessel to take Labour away from Corbyn‘s politics.On Free State today, Peter Geoghegan talks to us about the extraordinary and chilling practices of Labour Together. He tells the story about the decision to hire a PR firm to investigate the motivations of journalists who were reporting on their funding. As Keir Starmer faces threats from all sides, will this be the scandal that upend him. Is this the scandal that is grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sonia Sodha discusses the Greens' by-election win in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton and where this leaves Sir Keir Starmer with the Bassetlaw MP Jo White, who chairs the Red Wall caucus and Andrew Fisher, who was a senior adviser to Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader and is now a columnist for the i newspaper. To assess reforms for children with special educational needs and disabilities, Sonia is joined by Sir Nick Gibb, a former Conservative MP and a long-serving schools minister and the Labour MP Jess Asato who is on the Education Select Committee and has a child with special educational needs..Sonia discusses the appointment of Antonia Romeo to the top job of Cabinet Secretary with Helen MacNamara, who spent 15 years in senior civil service roles and was deputy Cabinet Secretary during the pandemic. And the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart and Professor Robert Hazell from the Constitution Unit at UCL discuss whether this week's parliamentary debate on the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy in 2001 spells the end for the long-standing convention that MPs must not criticise members of the royal family in the Commons chamber.
Jeremy Corbyn's allies declared victory after he was voted to be Your Party's parliamentary leader in an election in which his rival Zarah Sultana was also voted on to the party's leadership committee. The party is hoping to turn the page on bitter in-fighting since its launch last year, but will it succeed? Lucy Hough talks to the Guardian columnist Owen Jones - watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Jonathan Shainin returns to Chapo after ten years to talk about what the hell is going on in the United Kingdom. We talk about Keir Starmer's and Labour collapse, his wildly unpopular policies and austerity regime, the rise of the Green Party, and Jeremy Corbyn's bizarre Our Party. We then talk about Shainin's new magazine Equator and their pieces on the end of liberal Zionism and the Long 90s. Check out Equator: https://www.equator.org/ Few tickets left for our April 3rd live show at the Palace Theater in LA: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0900643BE404F182
Today Ava is joined by the former leader of the Labour Party and co-founder of Your Party Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn details his experiences with Peter Mandelson, dating all the way back to the 1980s, up to his time as Labour leader. He also shows his concern for Keir Starmer going forward, having pinned so much of his political capital on the prince of darkness since pitching up in Number 10.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the House of Commons, Keir Starmer said that Peter Mandelson had ‘betrayed our country, our parliament and my party'.But what was that betrayal and who was actually complicit?On Free State today we look at the rise and fall of Peter Mandelson. We explain why the election of a football mascot monkey as mayor in Hartlepool was an early sign of who Mandelson was. We explain how Mandelson worked to undermine Jeremy Corbyn and advance a corporate agenda where New Labour would be ‘intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich'.We also examine the link between Starmer's right hand man Cork's Morgan McSweeney and Mandelson. In the House of Commons Starmer said ‘if I knew then what I know now, Mandelson would never have been anywhere near government.'We show how it was impossible not to know who Peter Mandelson was. Only more details have been revealed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Rachael Maskell, Conservative Shadow Cabinet minister Victoria Atkins, long-time Jeremy Corbyn adviser James Schneider, plus the Daily Telegraph columnist Tim Stanley.
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana are putting up rival slates of candidates for elections to Your Party's executive committee. Plus: The latest on ICE's mass deportation campaign, an exclusive report into NHS spending on a controversial surveillance system that films vulnerable inpatients, and Donald Trump finally gets his Nobel Peace Prize – sort of. With […]
In Part Two of this Old Newscast, we pick up with Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign trail. Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn entered the leadership contest with many doubting he would win the necessary 35 nominations from Labour MPs to make it on to the ballot. Three months later, on the 12th September 2015, he was elected as leader with almost 60% of the vote.Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn of the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Jane Merrick and Nick Watt, to revisit how the Corbyn campaign won.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Today's Old Newscast is travelling all the way back to 2015: it's the morning after the general election, and Ed Miliband resigns as leader of the Labour party. Veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn entered the leadership contest with many doubting he would win the necessary 35 nominations from Labour MPs to make it on to the ballot. Three months later, on the 12th September 2015, he was elected as leader with almost 60% of the vote.Adam is joined by two journalists who followed each twist and turn of the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Jane Merrick and Nick Watt, to revisit how the Corbyn campaign won.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Shiler Mahmoudi. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Can't wait until we have to Klarna pay in four our weekly water ration. Intro Music: Out Cold- Nothing Like You Submit music to demolistenpodcast@gmail.com. Become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/demolistenpodcast. Leave us a message at (260)222-8341 Queue: Fuck It, Feeble Minds, Gluskab, S.O.H., Occulted Death Stance, Look Away, Bloque, Modern Guilt, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour MPs, Circle Five https://fuckitpunk.bandcamp.com/album/no-rest-2 https://feeblemindsfuckyou.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2025 https://gluskab.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2025 https://theseatsofpiss.bandcamp.com/album/s-o-h-se-asia-tour-2025-edition-tsopr-049 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LdMzVD0Emc https://lookaway510.bandcamp.com/album/demo
Geraldine McKelvie reports from the ground at the inaugural Your Party conference, while Peter Walker talks to a number of insiders about the divisions that have beset the party until now. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
SHOW 11-4-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 18865 PUBLISHER ROW THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Economic Policy and China Trade. Elizabeth Peek discusses the US economy, where Treasury Secretary Bessent asserts that housing is in recession due to high Federal Reserve rates. Peek argues that lower rates are needed to "unstick" the housing market. The Fed, led by Jay Powell, is fixated on inflation, though Peek questions his rationale regarding tariffs and labor demand. The conversation also covers the Trump-Xi meeting, which was anticlimactic, postponing confrontation for a year. Key concessions included China relenting on rare earth exports and American soybean boycotts. 915-930 Economic Policy and China Trade. Elizabeth Peek discusses the US economy, where Treasury Secretary Bessent asser 930-945 The Far Right in Europe and German Rearmament. Judy Dempsey examines the rise of Europe's far right, noting that while they succeed in complaining, they often struggle to govern, exe. 945-1000 The Far Right in Europe and German Rearmament. Judy Dempsey examines the rise of Europe's far right, noting that while they succeed in complaining, they often struggle to govern, exemplified by t. SECOND HOUR 1245-100 AM Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi meeting, attributing the lack of confrontation to Xi Jinping's significantly weakened position due to China's shattered economy and internal power struggles. SHOW 11-4-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Economic Policy and China Trade. Elizabeth Peek discusses the US economy, where Treasury Secretary Bessent asserts that housing is in recession due to high Federal Reserve rates. Peek argues that lower rates are needed to "unstick" the housing market. The Fed, led by Jay Powell, is fixated on inflation, though Peek questions his rationale regarding tariffs and labor demand. The conversation also covers the Trump-Xi meeting, which was anticlimactic, postponing confrontation for a year. Key concessions included China relenting on rare earth exports and American soybean boycotts. 915-930 Economic Policy and China Trade. Elizabeth Peek discusses the US economy, where Treasury . 930-945 The Far Right in Europe and German Rearmament. Judy Dempsey examines the rise of Europe's far right, noting that while they succeed in complaining, they often struggle to govern, exemplified by the AfD's lack of concrete policies. Hungary's Viktor Orbán, though long-ruling, now faces popular pressure. Dempsey highlights Italy's Giorgia Meloni as an exception who has successfully governed by clearly communicating her reform agenda. She confirms that Russia supports destabilizing far-right movements across Europe, particularly hoping for an AfD win. Additionally, Germany's Chancellor Merz is committed to redeveloping the military and infrastructure for NATO defense. 945-1000 The Far Right in Europe and German Rearmament. Judy Dempsey examines the rise of Europe's far right, noting that while they succeed in complaining, they often struggle to govern, exemplified by the AfD's lack of concrete policies. Hungary's Viktor Orbán, though long-ruling, now faces popular pressure. Dempsey highlights Italy's Giorgia Meloni as an exception who has successfully governed by clearly communicating her reform agenda. She confirms that Russia supports destabilizing far-right movements across Europe, particularly hoping for an AfD win. Additionally, Germany's Chancellor Merz is committed to redeveloping the military and infrastructure for NATO defense. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Venezuela Pressure Campaign and Asian Diplomacy. Mary Kissel analyzes the massive US military buildup near Venezuela, staged from Roosevelt Roads, noting that the Trump administration prioritizes removing Maduro due to national security threats. She emphasizes that the State Department possesses numerous non-military levers, like sanctions and international pressure through the OAS, to induce Maduro's exit without direct intervention. Kissel also characterizes President Trump's diplomatic engagement at ASEAN and APEC as very successful, securing vital commitments on rare earth mining and processing to counter Chinese economic threats in the Pacific. 1015-1030 Venezuela Pressure Campaign and Asian Diplomacy. Mary Kissel analyzes the massive US military buildup near Venezuela, staged from Roosevelt Roads, noting that the Trump administration prioritizes removing Maduro due to national security threats. She emphasizes that the State Department possesses numerous non-military levers, like sanctions and international pressure through the OAS, to induce Maduro's exit without direct intervention. Kissel also characterizes President Trump's diplomatic engagement at ASEAN and APEC as very successful, securing vital commitments on rare earth mining and processing to counter Chinese economic threats in the Pacific. 1030-1045 Hamas Leverage, Gaza Ruin, and Hezbollah Rearmament. Jonathan Schanzer explains that Hamas is stalling hostage releases to maintain leverage, banking on Israel's lack of "strategic patience" for indefinite occupation. He explores the idea of a "Tale of Two Gazas," where Israel controls 53% and Hamas 47%, warning that reconstruction aid is improbable if Hamas remains in power. He highlights growing dangers, including the rearming of Hezbollah by Iran and unexpectedly Turkey, forcing Israel to reconsider the northern front. He adds that the Israeli military is actively engaged in "constant gardening" to address armed gangs in the West Bank. 1045-1100 Hamas Leverage, Gaza Ruin, and Hezbollah Rearmament. Jonathan Schanzer explains that Hamas is stalling hostage releases to maintain leverage, banking on Israel's lack of "strategic patience" for indefinite occupation. He explores the idea of a "Tale of Two Gazas," where Israel controls 53% and Hamas 47%, warning that reconstruction aid is improbable if Hamas remains in power. He highlights growing dangers, including the rearming of Hezbollah by Iran and unexpectedly Turkey, forcing Israel to reconsider the northern front. He adds that the Israeli military is actively engaged in "constant gardening" to address armed gangs in the West Bank. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK. Joseph Sternberg analyzes the rise of extreme political figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, warning conservatives that opponents' political mistak 1115-1130 The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK. Joseph Sternberg analyzes the rise of extreme political figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, warning conservatives that opponents' political mistakes do not guarantee their success, citing the UK's Jeremy Corbyn as a parallel. He notes that frustrated voters seek "sledgehammers" on both the left and right. In the UK, he details how Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Labour government are suffering plummeting approval due to economic mismanagement, forcing tax hikes and breaking promises, benefiting Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. 1130-1145 Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza Occupation. Colonel Jeff McCausland criticizes Secretary Hegseth's suggestion that resuming nuclear testing would make nuclear war "less likely," noting that the US deterrent is already credible and testing would destabilize adversaries. He highlights the excessive US military buildup near Venezuela, questioning the post-intervention mission, referencing the "Pottery Barn theory." Regarding Gaza, he suggests the potential creation of "two Gazas" leads to an indefinite, burdensome Israeli occupation and creates a breeding ground for future insurgency. 1145-1200 Nuclear Testing, Venezuela Buildup, and Gaza Occupation. Colonel Jeff McCausland criticizes Secretary Hegseth's suggestion that resuming nuclear testing would make nuclear war "less likely," noting that the US deterrent is already credible and testing would destabilize adversaries. He highlights the excessive US military buildup near Venezuela, questioning the post-intervention mission, referencing the "Pottery Barn theory." Regarding Gaza, he suggests the potential creation of "two Gazas" leads to an indefinite, burdensome Israeli occupation and creates a breeding ground for future insurgency. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nige. 1215-1230 Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military 1230-1245 Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley discusses Trump's order for military action in Nigeria, noting the violence is complex and not strictly genocide against Christians, contrasting it with US refusal to provide past aid. Discussion shifts to the overwhelming US military buildup near Venezuela, which might force Maduro's departure by damaging his credibility, possibly via anti-narcotics action. The interview concludes by analyzing the anticlimactic Trump-Xi meeting, attributing the lack of confrontation to Xi Jinping's significantly weakened position due to China's shattered economy and internal power struggles. 1245-100 AM Nigeria, Venezuela Intervention, and China Power Struggles. Gregory Copley d
The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK. Joseph Sternberg analyzes the rise of extreme political figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, warning conservatives that opponents' political mistakes do not guarantee their success, citing the UK's Jeremy Corbyn as a parallel. He notes that frustrated voters seek "sledgehammers" on both the left and right. In the UK, he details how Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Labour government are suffering plummeting approval due to economic mismanagement, forcing tax hikes and breaking promises, benefiting Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. 1940 BLITZ
The Rise of Extremist Politics in the US and UK. Joseph Sternberg analyzes the rise of extreme political figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, warning conservatives that opponents' political mistakes do not guarantee their success, citing the UK's Jeremy Corbyn as a parallel. He notes that frustrated voters seek "sledgehammers" on both the left and right. In the UK, he details how Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Labour government are suffering plummeting approval due to economic mismanagement, forcing tax hikes and breaking promises, benefiting Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. 1940
It's been a painful week for the government, with a migrant sex offender accidentally released from prison and a damning report on the spiralling costs of the asylum system. But is a plan to house asylum seekers on military sites really the answer? Political journalist Zoë Grünewald - standing in for Coco as Nish's co-host this week - dives into how this re-hashed Conservative plan has managed to piss off, well, just about everyone. In better news - it's curtains for the hated section 21 ‘no-fault evictions' notices. The long-awaited Renters' Rights Act has become law! Nish and Zoe talk to housing journalist Vicky Spratt about how big a deal this is for renters across England. Plus - why Housing Secretary Steve Reed's Maga-style 'build, baby, build' crusade looks likely to end in affordable housing targets more pathetic than they are now. Then later – from spending £75,000 on flags to their only black party chair quitting - is Reform out-reforming Reform? And why is Jeremy Corbyn swapping parliament for panto this Christmas. GUESTS Vicky Spratt USEFUL LINKS Peckham Not For Sale https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/acapeckham/ CREDITS Sky News X / Steve Reed Talk TV LBC Reform UK ITV News IG / Pleasance Theatre Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today is Emmajority Report on the Majority Report On today's show: As the government shutdown rolls along, we are left looking around for Democratic leadership as Hakeem Jeffries makes the fight about memes and himself. AOC and Bernie take the reins with a shutdown explainer video. Rep Nancy Pelosi is offended by the rumor that AOC is really the one in charge of the House Dems and reaffirms Hakeem Jeffries role as Minority Leader. Co-Founder of Drop Site News and co-host of Breaking Points, Ryan Grim joins the program to provide an update on the IF intercepted Global Sumud Flotilla. Award winning journalist and author of Another World is Possible: Lessons for America From Around the Globe, Natasha Hakimi Zapata joins the program to discuss Jeremy Corbyn's new leftist party in the UK, and the failures of Kier Starmer led Labour government. Check out her piece in The Nation "Labour Has Only Itself to Blame for the UK's New Left-Wing Party" In the Fun Half: We are joined by Matt Binder & Brandon Sutton Pete Hegseth pleads to the Generals and Admirals to treat your unit the way you would treat your child's unit. Benny Johnson and Corey Lewandowski are offended by the 'woke' NFL's choice of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show. Tim Pool and Charlie Kirk's B-Team crack themselves up by suggesting that TPUSA should broadcast a competing half time show featuring Creed. All that and more The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: ZOCDOC: Go to Zocdoc.com/MAJORITY and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor. SUNSET LAKE: Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and use the code JustTreats25 to save 30% on all their gummies for sleep, focus, and relaxation Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/