Podcasts about nadhim zahawi

Send us a textPower makes itself felt in our bills, our jobs, and our beliefs and this week we trace that line from Arctic ice to everyday life. We unpack why Greenland has become a pressure point, how tariff threats could ripple through British businesses, and what a fraying “special relationship” means for a post‑Brexit UK with less leverage at the table. It's not just geopolitics; it's the cost of silence, the value of sovereignty, and the real climate stakes as ice sheets melt and shipping routes open to new competition.Culture mirrors power too. Drewski's viral church skit hits because it spotlights a truth many have lived: pastors dressed in luxury while congregations struggle to eat. We share raw personal stories of seeking refuge and finding exploitation, and we ask what modesty, stewardship, and care should look like when faith is put into practice. The point isn't to sneer at belief; it's to defend community against grift and to reclaim the simple standard that leadership serves people first.Then we shift to the world of work and name a trap many high earners won't admit: golden handcuffs. When a salary outpaces learning, mobility shrinks and fear grows. We offer a practical path forward extract skills that translate across industries, win visible outcomes tied to money or risk, build a small parallel income stream, and document impact so you hold leverage before burnout hits. For women, especially Black women navigating under promotion and overexposure, that strategy is protection. Pair it with urgent up-skilling in AI and data to avoid a new divide: technological inequality layered on top of pay gaps.If this resonated, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more listeners find the show and join the conversation.Sponsorships - Email me: hello@toyatalks.comTikTok: toya_washington Twitter: @toya_w (#ToyaTalksPodcast) Snapchat: @toyawashington Instagram: @toya_washington & @toya_talks https://toyatalks.com/ Music (Intro and Outro) Written and created by Nomadic Star Stationary Company: Sistah Scribble Instagram: @sistahscribble Website: www.sistahscribble.com Email: hello@sistahscribble.com

This Trawl starts with some actual good news before Marina and Jemma get it into the latest dyed in the wool Tory to join Reform. Nadhim Zahawi has defected declaring “nothing works”, despite having personally had several goes at running the place. Reform continue to collect disgraced millionaires like badly laminated Pokémon cards, and the Trawl ladies are armed with some very amusing Farage receipts.Things then take a darker turn as Jemma and Marina wade into men saying deeply dodgy things on podcasts about women, birth rates and “correcting” female choices, with expert takedowns, internet reactions, and some very practical suggestions for men who'd like women to actually like them.And finally: what the hell is going on over at X? Men are using Grok to generate AI abuse towards women and even children and it's utterly depraved. The Trawl ladies play some voice notes from fellow female political commentators who have been affected. Still, Rupert Loew thinks it's all fine and that X should be 'protected.' What a hill to die on.All that, plus a reminder that not all men are dreadful wombats by way of a very lovely pudding. Bin fires extinguished. Receipts provided. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the full episode, search 'Quite right!' wherever you are listening now. This week on Quite right!, Michael and Maddie examine Nadhim Zahawi's dramatic defection to Reform UK and ask whether it strengthens the party's insurgent credentials or exposes a deeper strategic mistake. Is Reform becoming a genuine outsider movement, or simply a refuge for disaffected Tories? And what does the pattern of Boris-era defections reveal about credibility, competence and the challenge of turning populist energy into a governing force?Then, Iran: mass protests against the regime have erupted onto the streets of Tehran and beyond. Are these demonstrations the prelude to real regime change – or another brutal crackdown waiting to happen? And what role should the West, and the United States in particular, play as the situation escalates?And finally: as MPs call for X to be banned in the UK over the conduct of Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, Michael and Maddie ask whether this is a necessary intervention to protect the vulnerable – or another bout of performative pearl-clutching that misses the far bigger risks posed by artificial intelligence.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.To submit your urgent questions to Michael and Maddie, visit spectator.co.uk/quiteright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dixon Cox is back again! This week: -Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK -Starmer is forced to scrap Digital ID -China plans to build a suspicious hidden chamber in its new London ‘super-embassy' Watch the full episode here: https://www.nickdixon.net/p/starmer-forced-to-scrap-digital-id Subscribe here: www.nickdixon.net   Support us with a donation here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nickdixon YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nick_dixon   X: https://x.com/njdixon   Paul's links X: https://twitter.com/PaulCoxComedy   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulcoxcomedy   Comedy clubs: https://www.epiccomedy.co.uk/  

Carl and Beau discuss the plight of liberal women, Nadhim Zahawi's defection to Reform, and how the Twitter algorithm works.

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a new strategy on the NHS. Sir Ed set out his big, bold plan this morning: scrapping the UK–US pharmaceutical deal to redirect £1.5 billion into social care. It sounds like a substantial sum – until you remember it amounts to less than 1 per cent of the NHS's annual budget. In today's podcast, the team discuss why Ed Davey is leaning into being deliberately boring, in an effort to appeal to the perceived sensibilities of Middle England.Meanwhile, with the dust settling after Nadhim Zahawi's defection, is Reform at risk of losing its outsider appeal, given that his resignation from government caused such a public outcry? Megan McElroy is joined by Luke Tryl, UK Director of More in Common, and James Heale. They also examine the polling results everyone really wants to see – including voting intention by “national treasure” status, with a few surprises along the way.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.

Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many Tories is too many? That's the question Westminster is asking after the unveiling of Reform's latest defector. Nadhim Zahawi, Boris Johnson's brief-lived Chancellor of the Exchequer, is Nigel Farage's latest recruit. He told journalists that the UK had reached a ‘dark and dangerous' moment, and that the country needed ‘a glorious revolution'. But are Reform just turning into the Tories 2.0? And what will Zahawi's role be – is he the elusive shadow chancellor Farage has been searching for?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran claims anti-government protests are under "total control." Human rights groups say hundreds have been killed. The former Tory chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, defects to Reform UK.

"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister” said the former chancellor.Oli Dugmore is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and Ailbhe Rea.SAVE £££ THIS CHRISTMAS:⭐️ Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just £2LISTEN AD-FREE:

Ofcom has launched an investigation into X over its AI tool Grok – but what does it mean when the platform is widely used by the government? Plus, Pippa and Kiran discuss Nadhim Zahawi's defection to Reform UK, and why it could both help and hinder the party. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Former Tory Chancellor (well, briefly) Nadhim Zahawi becomes Reform UK's highest profile defection yet - but does it make Nigel Farage's party look like a home for Tory has-beens? Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Charlotte Ivers and Seb Payne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is the latest Tory to defect to Reform UK. Laura, Ava, and Seán react to the news.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iain Dale talks to Nadhim Zahawi about the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Nadhim spent the first 11 years of his life living under Saddam before his family left Iraq for the UK Buy a signed copy of THE DICTATORS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-dictators-a-warning-from-history-edited-by-iain-dale-signe-copy-coming-in-2024Buy a signed copy of THE PRIME MINISTERS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-prime-ministers-edited-by-iain-dale-paperback-coming-on-august-26-2022-signed-copy Buy a signed copy of THE PRESIDENTS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-presidents-signed-by-iain-dale Buy a signed copy of KINGS & QUEENS here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/kings-queens-signed-by-iain-dale-coming-in-novemer-2023 Buy a signed copy of THE TAOISEACH here https://www.politicos.co.uk/products/the-irish-taoiseach-ed-iain-dale-coming-31-october-2026

More protests at migrant hotels took place this weekend - with people trying to break into a hotel in Canary Wharf on Sunday. As things escalated, rumours started to swirl. Former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi posted that police had banned all protest outside the hotel- only for the Met to point out that no such ban existed. Another Conservative MP quoted a video claiming (incorrectly) to show an illegal Deliveroo worker getting a police escort. So why are some Tories spreading misinformation? And why are they talking about 'revolts' against the 'regime'? And, as Lewis returns from Japan we take a look at the rise of the far right in the recent Japanese election. Who is behind the party founded on YouTube and taking notes straight from Donald Trump?You can visit our website here https://www.thenewsagents.co.uk/ The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

I've been viewing houses this past fortnight, so I thought I'd share my anecdotal 2p on the state of the London property market.I'm looking in Brockley, SE4, which, if you don't know it, used to be rough AF, but is now where all the cool kids are. The area has benefited from the various London rail line extensions – you can be in Shoreditch or Canary Wharf in 15 minutes; the Jubilee and Elizabeth lines are a similarly short step away – and that has attracted the slay crew to the area. The road links though are still horrendous though, made worse by 20mph speed limits and bus lane misallocation of essential road space. The drive to west London is interminable.Brockley has a good stock of beautiful detached, semi-detached and terraced Victorian houses. For example: With its proximity to Greenwich and the river docks, it was once a wealthy area, though, like most of south-east London, it got bombed to heck in the war.There are plenty of nice parks too. One of them, Hilly Fields, was modelled on Hampstead Heath, and there are many gorgeous houses in the roads running off it. Not quite Hampstead gorgeous, but getting there.Brockley also has the highest density of cemeteries in London, if you fancy dying any time soon, it's highly convenient. It is, I gather, London's most haunted area.It is only a bit stabby. Nothing like as bad as neighbouring Lewisham. (Maybe “only a bit stabby” will one day become part of estate agents' jargon, perhaps to replace “vibrant”. I can't believe how normalised stabbing now is that I'm talking like that.)The stabbiness is offset, however, by the plethora of nice restaurants, cafés, bars, craft ale breweries, the farmers' market, mini-festivals, pilates studios et al. I understand, in Browns, the area boasts London's best coffee and, in Babur, its best Indian restaurant. (Technically Babur is in Honor Oak, but, like England and many of its foreign sporting greats, we'll claim it as our own.)I shot this vid from the steps up to the station.Brockley feels younger and more up-and-coming than the once-cool areas to the west like Queen's Park, Kensal Rise, Clapham and so on, probably because of its easy access to east London. (A lot of people from Hackney move down here.)I moved here begrudgingly and skint in 2015 and have grown to really like it.But what about the housing market?I've known markets in which estate agents don't give you the time of day, there are so many prospective buyers, but – perhaps because they know I am an unencumbered buyer – the agents are maybe not quite all over me, but certainly on my case: lots of emails, phone calls and the rest of it. That indicates it's more of a buyers' market.But, while I would describe the housing market here as slow, it is not dead. Stuff has been going under offer in the two weeks I've been looking, though rarely at asking.With the costs of moving – Stamp Duty is 10% above £925k, and 12% above £1.5m, plus an extra 5% if you own another property – buyers have got to really want to buy.Sellers, meanwhile, have to really want to sell, which often entails reducing their asking prices. Stuff which is unrealistically priced is staying on the market a long time. Look at this one (actually up the road in Honor Oak):This is a 5,000-square-foot property, not so nice inside, but with access to a 2-acre private garden behind with its own tennis court – quite something in London. From £2.5 million to £1.75 million and they still can't shift it. (It needs a lot of money spending on it.)On the other hand, there don't seem to be many forced sellers – people who can't make their payments – and we won't get any house price crash, long-awaited or not, until that is a reality.I imagine Brockley, as a young, trendy area, is busier than other parts of town, but that is my overall feel: slow, but not dead.I've looked at a few family houses. I can't really comment on flats, but I gather there is an oversupply of 2-bed flats across London, and it is really hard to shift them. I'm not sure if this applies to Brockley or not.It doesn't feel as expensive as it did around 2019–2022 (realised sales prices are a fraction lower, but there is obviously currency debasement to consider too), but nor does it feel super cheap. We're a long way off where we were in, say, 2013, even though grander parts of London – Kensington and Chelsea, for example – are back at those 2013 levels.Where does the housing market go from here? It all depends on two things: interest rates and Stamp Duty.Britain's zombie housing market, brought to you by Stamp Duty.If rates go lower, the market will not collapse. There won't be the forced sellers. We'll continue as we are: stagnant. If rates go higher, the market is in trouble.But get rid of Stamp Duty, and you'd have a flurry of activity across the country tomorrow. People aren't moving because of the amount of dead money involved. Stamp Duty has immobilised the country.If you're buying a two-million-pound house, you will pay £153,750 in stamp duty. Cash. Money you've already paid tax on once. You can't borrow the money. You have to be extremely rich, or extremely desperate for a home, to be willing to pay a £150k one-off tax of this kind. Most would rather avoid paying it, so they don't move.You will pay more if you are not a UK resident.If you happen to own another property – which most people in that wealth bracket will, either their first flat they never sold, a property they inherited, or a home in the country – and the house you are buying is not your main residence, the tax rises to £253,750. A quarter of a million quid.That's why houses in Kensington and Chelsea no longer sell. EDIT: My mate, whose kids have now flown the nest, sent me this: "We live in a 4 floor house, 2 floors we don't use, I haven't been to the top floor for about 5 years (seriously). We would love to move and downsize but makes no sense as the costs of buying a new house would use up all the gain on downsizing . IE We just end up with a smaller house."This happens all the way down the scale. Kirstie Whatsit off the telly was tweeting about it the other day.My mother's friend, who is in her 70s, lives in a 2-bed flat two floors up in Wandsworth worth maybe £700,000. She is worried about climbing the stairs at her age, and wants to move to another 2-bed flat. She will pay £25,000 in Stamp Duty on top of all her other moving costs. She doesn't have 25 grand to throw away.The result is this nearly dead market. Britain's zombie housing market.Stamp Duties were one of the taxes the ignited the American Revolution. If only we had muskets today …The biggest villains in all this are former Chancellor Gordon Brown for first raising Stamp Duty on property transactions (before him it just one per cent on all properties over £60,000), and, worst of all, George Osborne for raising the rates to today's ludicrous levels. Rather than address the root causes of unaffordable housing – fiat money, artificially low interest rates, improper measures of inflation and dumb planning laws – he blamed the market, and attacked it with Stamp Duty. But all of Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Philip Hammond and Alistair Darling must take their share of the blame for failing to do anything about it, when they had the chance. (We'll give Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi a pass on the grounds they didn't have the gig for long enough).Osborne, Brown et al have given birth to the zombie situation we have now. They have immobilised the country in the process. Government. Yet again. 0 stars. Would not use again.It's enough to make you a libertarian. Until next time,DominicPS If you enjoyed today's article, please like, share and all that stuff. It really helps.PPS If you missed this week's market commentary, here it is:As always If you are buying gold to protect yourself in these times or relentless currency debasement, the bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. Find out more here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

There is also now a video version of this article, if you prefer, here:I've been viewing houses this past fortnight, so I thought I'd share my anecdotal 2p on the state of the London property market.I'm looking in Brockley, SE4, which, if you don't know it, used to be rough AF, but is now where all the cool kids are. The area has benefited from the various London rail line extensions – you can be in Shoreditch or Canary Wharf in 15 minutes; the Jubilee and Elizabeth lines are a similarly short step away – and that has attracted the slay crew to the area. The road links though are still horrendous though, made worse by 20mph speed limits and bus lane misallocation of essential road space. The drive to west London is interminable.Brockley has a good stock of beautiful detached, semi-detached and terraced Victorian houses. For example: With its proximity to Greenwich and the river docks, it was once a wealthy area, though, like most of south-east London, it got bombed to heck in the war.There are plenty of nice parks too. One of them, Hilly Fields, was modelled on Hampstead Heath, and there are many gorgeous houses in the roads running off it. Not quite Hampstead gorgeous, but getting there.Brockley also has the highest density of cemeteries in London, if you fancy dying any time soon, it's highly convenient. It is, I gather, London's most haunted area.It is only a bit stabby. Nothing like as bad as neighbouring Lewisham. (Maybe “only a bit stabby” will one day become part of estate agents' jargon, perhaps to replace “vibrant”. I can't believe how normalised stabbing now is that I'm talking like that.)The stabbiness is offset, however, by the plethora of nice restaurants, cafés, bars, craft ale breweries, the farmers' market, mini-festivals, pilates studios et al. I understand, in Browns, the area boasts London's best coffee and, in Babur, its best Indian restaurant. (Technically Babur is in Honor Oak, but, like England and many of its foreign sporting greats, we'll claim it as our own.)I shot this vid from the steps up to the station.Brockley feels younger and more up-and-coming than the once-cool areas to the west like Queen's Park, Kensal Rise, Clapham and so on, probably because of its easy access to east London. (A lot of people from Hackney move down here.)I moved here begrudgingly and skint in 2015 and have grown to really like it.But what about the housing market?I've known markets in which estate agents don't give you the time of day, there are so many prospective buyers, but – perhaps because they know I am an unencumbered buyer – the agents are maybe not quite all over me, but certainly on my case: lots of emails, phone calls and the rest of it. That indicates it's more of a buyers' market.But, while I would describe the housing market here as slow, it is not dead. Stuff has been going under offer in the two weeks I've been looking, though rarely at asking.With the costs of moving – Stamp Duty is 10% above £925k, and 12% above £1.5m, plus an extra 5% if you own another property – buyers have got to really want to buy.Sellers, meanwhile, have to really want to sell, which often entails reducing their asking prices. Stuff which is unrealistically priced is staying on the market a long time. Look at this one (actually up the road in Honor Oak):This is a 5,000-square-foot property, not so nice inside, but with access to a 2-acre private garden behind with its own tennis court – quite something in London. From £2.5 million to £1.75 million and they still can't shift it. (It needs a lot of money spending on it.)On the other hand, there don't seem to be many forced sellers – people who can't make their payments – and we won't get any house price crash, long-awaited or not, until that is a reality.I imagine Brockley, as a young, trendy area, is busier than other parts of town, but that is my overall feel: slow, but not dead.I've looked at a few family houses. I can't really comment on flats, but I gather there is an oversupply of 2-bed flats across London, and it is really hard to shift them. I'm not sure if this applies to Brockley or not.It doesn't feel as expensive as it did around 2019–2022 (realised sales prices are a fraction lower, but there is obviously currency debasement to consider too), but nor does it feel super cheap. We're a long way off where we were in, say, 2013, even though grander parts of London – Kensington and Chelsea, for example – are back at those 2013 levels.Where does the housing market go from here? It all depends on two things: interest rates and Stamp Duty.Britain's zombie housing market, brought to you by Stamp Duty.If rates go lower, the market will not collapse. There won't be the forced sellers. We'll continue as we are: stagnant. If rates go higher, the market is in trouble.But get rid of Stamp Duty, and you'd have a flurry of activity across the country tomorrow. People aren't moving because of the amount of dead money involved. Stamp Duty has immobilised the country.If you're buying a two-million-pound house, you will pay £153,750 in stamp duty. Cash. Money you've already paid tax on once. You can't borrow the money. You have to be extremely rich, or extremely desperate for a home, to be willing to pay a £150k one-off tax of this kind. Most would rather avoid paying it, so they don't move.You will pay more if you are not a UK resident.If you happen to own another property – which most people in that wealth bracket will, either their first flat they never sold, a property they inherited, or a home in the country – and the house you are buying is not your main residence, the tax rises to £253,750. A quarter of a million quid.That's why houses in Kensington and Chelsea no longer sell. EDIT: My mate, whose kids have now flown the nest, sent me this: "We live in a 4 floor house, 2 floors we don't use, I haven't been to the top floor for about 5 years (seriously). We would love to move and downsize but makes no sense as the costs of buying a new house would use up all the gain on downsizing . IE We just end up with a smaller house."This happens all the way down the scale. Kirstie Whatsit off the telly was tweeting about it the other day.My mother's friend, who is in her 70s, lives in a 2-bed flat two floors up in Wandsworth worth maybe £700,000. She is worried about climbing the stairs at her age, and wants to move to another 2-bed flat. She will pay £25,000 in Stamp Duty on top of all her other moving costs. She doesn't have 25 grand to throw away.The result is this nearly dead market. Britain's zombie housing market.Stamp Duties were one of the taxes the ignited the American Revolution. If only we had muskets today …The biggest villains in all this are former Chancellor Gordon Brown for first raising Stamp Duty on property transactions (before him it just one per cent on all properties over £60,000), and, worst of all, George Osborne for raising the rates to today's ludicrous levels. Rather than address the root causes of unaffordable housing – fiat money, artificially low interest rates, improper measures of inflation and dumb planning laws – he blamed the market, and attacked it with Stamp Duty. But all of Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Philip Hammond and Alistair Darling must take their share of the blame for failing to do anything about it, when they had the chance. (We'll give Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi a pass on the grounds they didn't have the gig for long enough).Osborne, Brown et al have given birth to the zombie situation we have now. They have immobilised the country in the process. Government. Yet again. 0 stars. Would not use again.It's enough to make you a libertarian. Until next time,DominicPS If you enjoyed today's article, please like, share and all that stuff. It really helps.PPS If you missed this week's market commentary, here it is:As always If you are buying gold to protect yourself in these times or relentless currency debasement, the bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. Find out more here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

Dan Neidle – poacher turned gamekeeper (although not in his own estimation) – has gone from Head of Tax at Clifford Chance to the scourge of tax shy plutocrats. He joins this week's Law & Disorder to sit down with Nicholas Mostyn, Helena Kennedy and Charlie Falconer and discuss his successes in revealing the dodgy dealings of a former-Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as a certain Italian jockey. In the process, he has changed the standards of modern lawyering and become one of Britain's most effective campaigners.If you have questions, criticisms, praise or other feedback, please do send your thoughts to us via lawanddisorderfeedback@gmail.com!Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast.Executive Producer and Editor: Nick Hilton.Associate Producer: Ewan Cameron.Music by Richard Strauss, arranged and performed by Anthony Willis & Brett Bailey.PR by Sally Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nadhim Zahawi is a former cabinet minister and Conservative Party chair. Before his parliamentary career, he founded YouGov, where he was CEO for a decade. Tune in to hear Nadhim's thoughts on: What have been your sliding doors moments in your journey into the boardroom? (1:58) How did you cut through bureaucracy with the Vaccine Task Force? (10:59) How do you deal with the court of public opinion as someone from a commercial background? (17:50) You brought in previous education secretaries as a pop-up board when you took on the role - was it effective? (24:37) Does government (and business) need a more agile means of accessing external expertise? (30:50) Should people with commercial backgrounds bother applying for government roles? (34:29)  Were there specific moments when board members created breakthroughs at YouGov? (36:56) How do you reflect on your decision to go public? (39:46)  And ⚡The Lightning Round ⚡(43:48) Host: Oliver CummingsProducer: Will Felton Music: Kate Mac Audio: Nick Kold Email: podcast@nurole.com Web: https://www.nurole.com/nurole-podcast-enter-the-boardroom

Nadhim Zahawi uncovers the secrets of working in government as he gives his hot take on Boris Johnson, the pandemic, and his feelings about the Partygate and Matt Hancock scandal! He also dives into the challenges of navigating Covid-19, sharing candid insights about the highs and lows of decision-making in a crisis. Zahawi reveals how his experience building a billion-dollar company played a crucial role in scaling the successful vaccine rollout. If you're curious about leadership, resilience, and the inside scoop on government during one of the toughest times in history, this episode is a must-watch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we sit down with British Conservative MP, former minister, and businessman of Arab origin, Nadhim Zahawi. We ask him about his time in politics, his take on the current Labour government, and what's next for him in his business career. We also discuss his recently released biography, The Boy from Baghdad, which documents his fascinating rise from an 11-year-old Iraqi refugee to one of the most prominent Tory politicians today.

Germany's hard right party the ADF have made astonishing gains in two regions of the country - the first time the hard right has seen substantial electoral gains since the Nazi era. What is propelling the rise? And what do the governing coalition parties do to combat them. Later, we sit down with Nadhim Zahawi - former chancellor, and former child refugee to talk about his party's rhetoric on immigration. And why he owed the treasury 5 million pounds of unpaid tax. Also, excitingly, there's a competition to win an special prize to come into the studio and watch the News Agents in person. All you need to do to enter is pre-order a copy of Jon's book from the link below.https://www.waterstones.com/win/strangeland-prize-draw Andy you can now buy your own News Agents merch in our online store https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsEditor: Tom HughesProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Shane FennellyDigital Journalists: Michael Baggs & Jacob PaulYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents"The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

What does the former Chancellor make of the current Conservative election campaign? What was his experience escaping Saddam Hussein's Iraq? And does he stand by his support of Boris Johnson and Brexit? Nadhim Zahawi joins Rory and Alastair to answer all these questions and more on today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. TRIP LIVE TOUR: To buy tickets for our October Tour, just head to www.therestispolitics.com Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Podcast Editor: James Hodgson Video Editor: Teo Ayodeji-Ansell Social Producer: Jess Kidson Assistant Producer: Fiona Douglas Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak's speech on Monday was one step short of giving the British public a very dreary ultimatum – vote Tory or else. But with Natalie Elphicke defecting, Nadhim Zahawi stepping down, and Dominic Cummings and Matt Goodwin wanting to create their own parties - can any message Sunak sends to the public give him a chance at the next election? Plus, Keir Starmer announced his plan to tackle immigration last week – what's in it, and ultimately how does the UK feel about immigration right now? • “It is very strange to make an apparently serious and scary speech and then to dilute all that by throwing in all this culture war stuff.” – Ros Taylor • “The chaos of the content demonstrates how bad his team really is at politics.” – Hannah Fearn • “I'm amazed more of them aren't standing down, to be honest.” – Ros Taylor • “I really hope the phrase ‘stop the boats' disappears after this election.” – Hannah Fearn We're on YouTube!: https://www.youtube.com/@ohgodwhatnow  Want more from the house of Podmasters? We've got loads for you to get your ears around. Origin Story Season 5 is out now! Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey are back with more deep dives into political concepts and personalities that are perhaps a little TOO misunderstood. George Orwell is up first, listen here! Jam Tomorrow's season finale is out this week with the next season already in the works. Listen to Ros Taylor and guests right here! And are you confused by the US election? Then why not listen to our new podcast American Friction, out every Friday lunch time in the run-up to November's big vote. Available here, or wherever you get your podcasts. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Alex Andreou with Hannah Fearn and Ros Taylor. Producer: Chris Jones. Audio production by: Robin Leeburn. Video production by Kieron Leslie. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former UK Chancellor and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi speaks to Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden on Bloomberg Radio.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Zaltzman is joined by Geoff Norcott, Chris McCausland, Isabel Hardman and Maisie Adam. This week they discuss a taxing week for Nadhim Zahawi, a downer week for levelling up, and the small matter of the end of the world. Hosted and written by Andy Zaltzman with additional material from Alice Fraser, Davina Bentley, Simon Alcock, and Cameron Loxdale. Producer: Sam Holmes Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Sound Editor: Marc Willcox A BBC Studios Production

With the PM and his party on the back foot – have they just given up? Our panel picks apart Sunak's dither and delay in his sacking of Nadhim Zahawi. Plus, are we seeing a new, even more hostile, hostile environment? And we forcefully quit the anti-growth coalition as we discuss alternatives to Trussonomics. This week's guest is Rachel Cunliffe, senior associate editor at New Statesman.  “If Rishi Sunak didn't know about this, what is the point of ministerial vetting processes? What is the point of saying you're going to bring integrity back to Government?” – Rachel Cunliffe  “Even an experienced PM would struggle to put the box in what Johnson is doing.” – Ian Dunt  “All of the things you need to fix the problems that we have takes much longer than Sunak has.” – Ian Dunt “The Tories have a talent pool problem and an exhaustion problem. That is really problematic because we need the best Government we can to weather the storm.” – Miatta Fahnbulleh  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ian Dunt and Miatta Fahnbulleh. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Alex Rees. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nadhim Zahawi is sacked as Conservative party chairman after an inquiry finds he failed to disclose an investigation into his tax affairs. Also: Israel to speed up gun applications after attacks, and the guitarist Tom Verlaine dies aged 73.

Rishi Sunak, Britain's prime minister, sacked Nadhim Zahawi, the chairman of the governing Conservative Party, for “a serious breach of the ministerial code”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak has promised more beds and ambulances for the NHS, but until he pays NHS workers properly he'll have no-one to staff them. Plus: Sunak desperately tries to claim decisive strength after finally sacking Nadhim Zahawi; and we speak to Dr Yara Hawari on further violence in Palestine. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. […]

The problem of Nadhim Zahawi may not have gone away as quickly as the Prime Minister might have hoped. Today, allies of the former Tory Chairman have suggested the decision to sack Zahawi has been 'rushed' and 'unfair'. Is there more of this story to come? Natasha Feroze speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls. 

Rishi Sunak is facing questions over his sacking of Nadhim Zahawi. An inquiry found the Conservative chairman had failed to disclose a tax investigation, and this was a "serious" breach of the code of conduct for ministers. Today's Martha Kearney spoke to the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason, while Mishal Husain examined the government's defence with Health Minister Helen Whately. (Image credit: PA)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in the Middle East for a three-day visit, as tensions flare between Israelis and Palestinians. After a stop in Egypt, Blinken will head to Jerusalem and Ramallah where he will hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. We speak to a former US ambassador to Israel. Also on the programme: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacks the Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi following weeks of revelations about his tax affairs; and Novak Djokovic wins a record-extending 10th Australian Open. (Image: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the American University in Cairo, Egypt, January 29, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Pool)

This morning, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired the Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi over the scandal surrounding his tax affairs. This story has been ongoing for a few weeks now – why now? Natasha Feroze speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked as Conservative Party chairman, after weeks of controversy about his tax affairs.

It emerged this week that Nadhim Zahawi was in a row last year with HMRC over tax payments, but he is currently holding onto his post as Conservative party chairman. When should a politician resign? And is it worth fighting back? Ten years ago, the News of the World broke a story about then Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten's personal life. On the podcast, Mark joins Fraser Nelson and James Heale to talk about what it's like to be in the centre of a scandal.

As a HRMC boss says there are “no penalties for innocent errors”, Adam and Chris talk through the latest with Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs. They're joined by shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, who sets out Labour's view on the UK's relationship with Europe. And Dame Arlene Foster, former first minister of Northern Ireland, talks about breaking the Brexit stalemate in Northern Ireland, and the state of the the Good Friday Agreement. This episode of Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming and Chris Mason, and was made by Chris Flynn with Danny Wittenberg. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.

Over the last few days, Downing Street has been quietly distancing itself from Nadhim Zahawi, though seems unwilling to do anything until the investigation into Zahawi's tax affairs finishes. Today, the Tory chairman's plight was made worse by comments from Jim Harra, chief executive of HMRC. Is the government preparing for the inevitable? Cindy Yu discusses with Katy Balls and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Cindy Yu.

Nadhim Zahawi is facing pressure to explain his multi-million pound tax settlement.

The Home Office has allowed hundreds of children seeking asylum to go missing. We speak to refugee and aslyum specialist Lou Calvey to find out what’s going on. Plus: the Richard Sharp scandal at the BBC gets worse; and Sunak faces yet more criticism over Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. […]

As the nation feels the squeeze, the Tories revel in sleaze. We get down to brass tacks on Nadhim Zahawi's taxes. And while they ditch levelling up, do this cabal of cronies even understand what needs fixing? Plus, we ask: is it time for the West to go full throttle in backing Ukraine in the war against Russia? Our guest this week is Rock and Roll Politics host Steve Richards.  “The Tory party hasn't really reformed and changed, the same issues that brought them down in ‘97 have just recurred.” – Steve Richards “The people who are running this country just live in a different world, they have no conception of what real life is.” – Arthur Snell  “The chaos around levelling up announcements conveyed the emptiness of the policy.” - Steve Richards  “What happens to some of these people is that they get into as ort of fantasy mindset when they've been in power for so long they become immune to how they will be perceived.” – Steve Richards [Not for Patreon] www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell and Yasmeen Serhan. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jet Gerbertson and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This morning government minister Chris Philp gave a less than convincing defence of former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi as the row over his tax affairs continue to cast a cloud over Rishi Sunak's government. Does he have to go? Also on the podcast, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy will lay out Labour's foreign policy plans today at Chatham House. What can we expect? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Stephen Bush.  Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson. 

Five days ago the Prime minister said the issues around Nadhim Zahawi “had been addressed in full” but has now called an his ethics advisor to look into the former chancellor and current Conservative chairman. There are also questions about BBC Chairman Richard Sharp's links with former PM Boris Johnson prior to his appointment. Today's Mishal Husain spoke to to Policing Minister Chris Philp about both issues. Amol Rajan spoke to former acting chair of the BBC Trust, Professor Diane Coyle & former Culture Minister Lord Vaizey. (By:Peter Nicholls - Credit : Reuters)

Newsreader Huw Edwards is in the Newscast studio to discuss addressing the nation following the Queen's death, the annual BBC Young Reporter Competition and why podcasts maybe aren't his thing. Also, Adam and Chris are joined by tax expert Rebecca Benneyworth to crunch the numbers on Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi's tax headache. Today's episode was presented by Adam Fleming and was made by Tim Walklate with George Dabby, Madeleine Drury, Annabel Dry, and Daniel Wittenberg. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The editor was Damon Rose.

Nadhim Zahawi’s political career is on the ropes, and Rishi Sunak is not enjoying a renewed focus on super-rich people who try and avoid tax. Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar discuss the latest Tory scandals. __________________________________________ Support Novara Media for as little as £1 a month: https://novaramedia.com/support

Having just recovered from his own seatbelt fine saga, Rishi Sunak spent the weekend fighting two more Tory sleaze scandals. First over the ongoing investigation into Nadhim Zahawi's taxes and the second linked to the BBC chairman Richard Sharp's £800,000 loan guarantee. Both stories link back to Boris Johnson's time as Prime Minister, but how much damage could this do to Rishi Sunak? Natasha Feroze speaks to Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson. 

Rishi Sunak has ordered an investigation into former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi's taxes. And an investigation is being launched into the appointment of the chairman of the BBC.

Richie is joined by the founder and leader of The Heritage Party, David Kurten and by the author and broadcast journalist, Tony Gosling.On today's show, Richie and his guests discussed Boris Johnson, Nadhim Zahawi and Tory sleaze, The Green Agenda, Cultural Marxism, Freemasonry, Ukraine, Tony Blair and The World Economic Forum and much more. For more on David Kuten visit:www.heritageparty.orgTo listen to Tony Gosling's brilliant Brisol-based radio show every Friday at 5pm, visit:www.talkradio.org.ukwww.thisweek.org.uk 

Keir Starmer has today committed Labour to abolishing the House of Lords. How radical will Labour be when it comes to the UK constitution? Plus, Nadhim Zahawi hits a new low and we ask Aghileh Djafari-Marbini if Iran will follow through with disbanding the morality police. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. __________________________________________ Support Novara […]

Good morning everyone, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, July 8th, 2022… Happy Friday to you and yours, and let’s start off by talking about our conference! FLF Conference Plug: Folks, our upcoming Fight Laugh Feast Conference is just 4-months away from happening in Knoxville TN, October 6-8! Don't miss beer & psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers which includes George Gilder, Jared Longshore, Pastor Wilson, Dr. Ben Merkle, Pastor Toby, and we can’t say yet…also dont miss our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and stuff for the kids too…like jumpy castles and accidental infant baptisms! Also, did you know, you can save money, by signing up for a Club Membership. So, go to FightLaughFeast.com and sign up for a club membership and then register for the conference with that club discount. We can’t wait to fellowship, sing Psalms, and celebrate God’s goodness in Knoxville October 6-8. https://www.theepochtimes.com/boris-johnson-resigns-as-uk-prime-minister_4580680.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Boris Johnson Announces Resignation as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally announced he is stepping down as prime minister after the resignation of more than 50 government ministers, including a Chancellor of the Exchequer, ruh-shee soo-naak, whose successor Nadhim Zahawi, then called for his boss to “do the right thing and go.” Johnson, standing at a podium in Downing Street with his wife Carrie and his baby daughter Romy behind him, said, “It’s clearly the will of the Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of the party and a new prime minister.” He thanked those who voted for the Tories in December 2019 and he said the reason he had held on for so long to the job was because of the mandate he received in that election. Johnson said it was “painful” to give up the job of prime minister but he said nobody was “indispensible.” On Wednesday Johnson, 58, had vowed to soldier on, after admitting it was a “mistake” to keep Chris Pincher on as a government whip despite sexual misconduct allegations against him. After receiving a hostile grilling at Prime Minister’s Question Time, and then before the House of Commons Liaison Committee, he was lobbied by Michael Gove and several other Cabinet ministers who urged him to resign. But Johnson then sacked Gove as Secretary of State for Levelling Up and appeared determined to carry on, having told MPs earlier he had a “mandate” from the general election victory of December 2019 and would continue to deliver on the Conservative Party’s manifesto promises. On Thursday morning Nadhim Zahawi, who had been appointed chancellor less than 48 hours before following Sunak’s resignation, turned on Johnson, writing on Twitter: “This is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now.” Then, at lunchtime on Thursday, Johnson finally confirmed he would be resigning, triggering a leadership contest in the Conservative Party. So now what? Johnson will remain as prime minister until a leadership election takes place in the ruling Conservative Party. Among the front-runners will be Sunak and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, but the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is expected to be in the running, along with Attorney General Suella Braverman, and possibly Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and trade minister Penny Mordaunt. When a new leader has been chosen Johnson—the 14th prime minister of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign—will visit the head of state at Buckingham Palace to formally tender his resignation. The scandal over Chris Pincher had proved to be the final straw for many of his Cabinet colleagues, who had backed him in a vote of confidence over the “partygate” scandal last month. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/07/1110078914/montana-abortion-pills Montana clinics preemptively restrict out-of-state patients' access to abortion pills The four states bordering Montana have "trigger laws" in effect or pending now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ended federal protections for abortion, making conservative Big Sky Country an unlikely haven for women seeking to end their pregnancies. But Montana's potential to become an abortion refuge has been diminished — not by the lawmakers and governor whose attempts to restrict abortions have been stymied by the state constitution's right to privacy, but by the operators of at least four of the state's five clinics, which are preemptively limiting who can receive abortion pills. Officials from Planned Parenthood of Montana, which operates three of the four clinics, said the intent is to ensure that they and their patients from states with trigger bans — laws to ban or restrict abortion that were designed to go into effect if Roe v. Wade was struck down — are protected from criminal charges and lawsuits. But the policy change is yet another complication for women in neighboring states such as South Dakota who want to end a pregnancy and face a rapidly narrowing field of options. "That was a state that we were hoping was going to be available," said Kim Floren, director of the Justice Through Empowerment Network, a South Dakota abortion fund which provides financial aid to people who need the procedure. "At this point, it's just more bad news on top of more bad news." Patients often prefer medication abortions over surgical abortions because they are cheaper, require less time at a clinic, and offer them greater privacy and more control. The most common type of medication abortion is a two-part pill regimen: The first taken in the clinic if an in-person visit is required; the second typically taken at home. In many states, the medications can be shipped to the patient after a telemedicine appointment. In 2020, medication abortions made up more than half of abortions in the U.S. for the first time, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Advocates expect medication abortions to become a target of new state laws. In South Dakota, a law that bans abortions by telemedicine took effect July 1. The Planned Parenthood policy change in Montana is a response to the shifting legal landscape, said Jennifer Sandman, senior director of public policy litigation and law for Planned Parenthood's national organization. "People are acting under conditions of extraordinary chaos and fear that has been instilled by where the Supreme Court has left us and by threats by anti-abortion politicians in some states," Sandman said. Planned Parenthood of Montana decided June 30 not to provide abortion pills at their clinics in Billings, Great Falls and Helena to patients from states where trigger laws have gone into effect. At the time, bans were in place in South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, but Planned Parenthood officials said they see a significant number of patients from South Dakota. The officials did not respond when asked how many South Dakota patients would likely be affected. Montana's other neighbors — Idaho, Wyoming and North Dakota — also have trigger laws, but they have not yet gone into effect. Story Real Estate: Home. It’s where you build your legacy. Where traditions are started, seeds are planted, meals are shared, and stories are told. Home is where you prepare to go out into the world. Finding the home that’s perfect for your family is a big job. Story Real Estate is Moscow’s top real estate team. They give people real estate advice all over the country. Family homes, investments, land, new construction, or commercial— they know real estate. If you’ve thought about a move to Moscow or anywhere in the country, reach out to get connected with a Story Real Estate agent. Wherever you’re going, they can help guide you Home. Visit storyrealestate.com. https://www.foxnews.com/us/last-surviving-band-brothers-member-bradford-freeman-dead-97 Last surviving 'Band of Brothers' member Bradford Freeman dead at 97 Bradford Freeman, the last surviving member of Easy Company that was portrayed in the World War II series "Band of Brothers," has passed away. Freeman, 97, died Sunday at Caledonia, Mississippi's Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, according to Stars and Stripes. His death was announced in his local newspaper, with an obituary composed by his children. The military legend is survived by a sister, two daughters and four grandchildren. He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren. Freeman was the last surviving soldier who helped to inspire "Band of Brothers," a seminal television series depicting life in combat during World War II. The "Band of Brothers" HBO miniseries, based on a book by Stephen Ambrose, followed the members of Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division from training in Georgia in 1942, through some of the war's fiercest European battles and through the war's end in 1945. Its producers included Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Richard "Dick" Winters, Easy Company commander, died following a several-year battle with Parkinson's disease, longtime family friend William Jackson said Monday. An intensely private and humble man, Winters had asked that news of his death be withheld until after his funeral, Jackson said. Winters lived in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and died in suburban Palmyra. If you guys haven’t watched that series, I highly recommend it. One of the best war series I’ve ever seen. Now, it’s time for the topic that I love sports! https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/07/brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-faces-10-years.html Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty, Faces 10 Years in Russian Prison But wait a minute Garrison, you might say… I thought you said sports! Not a WNBA player! In a court outside Moscow on Thursday, WNBA superstar Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug-smuggling charges widely thought to be politically motivated. She faces up to ten years in prison — though the Biden administration is working to secure her release, possibly as part of a prisoner swap. In an appearance on Thursday detailed by the state news agency RIA Novosti, Griner told the court she hadn’t intended to commit a crime when she brought two cartridges of hashish oil into Russia in February but that she had merely packed in a hurry. For years, Griner has played for a team in central Russia to supplement her income in the WNBA. Griner’s trial, which began several days ago, is all but predetermined in the state’s favor; the majority of cases in Russia that are not pleaded out end in a guilty verdict. Her next hearing is scheduled for July 14. A guilty plea may help set the wheels in motion for a potential prisoner exchange. (Speculation in Russia has focused on Viktor Bout, an arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death.) Russian authorities have previously stated there will be no prisoner swap until a verdict is handed down. On Wednesday, the White House announced that President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris had spoken with Griner’s wife, Cherelle, to assure her that the administration is working to bring Griner home. The call came after Griner asked for help in a handwritten letter delivered to the White House on July 4. In it, she wrote that she was “terrified I might be here forever.” This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked this show, hit that share button for me would ya? If you’d like to sign up for our conference, become a club member, or subscribe to our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine, you can do all of that at fightlaughfeast.com. And as always, if you’d like to become a corporate partner with CrossPolitic, email me, at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPoltiic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great weekend, and Lord bless.