Podcasts about Scottish National Party

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. With just weeks to go, polling suggested the ‘Yes' campaign had it, and Scottish voters were going to vote to leave. Nicola Sturgeon reveals the sense of jubilation inside the SNP when the tide began to turn their way, and fear the British establishment was only set to become more ferocious. If the poll had come just a little later, could the ‘Yes' side have been triumphant? Did the “Vow” – a promise for more devolution powers – make a difference? Who was convinced Rupert Murdoch was going to use his tabloid to support their interests? Remember to send us your questions in for our special Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum episode of EMQs. You can send them to questions@politicalcurrency.co.ukPolitical Currency Gold subscribers have exclusive access to Ed and George's debrief chat. POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. As the independence vote approached, the question of finances and currency began to plague the ‘Yes' campaign. In episode two of this special miniseries, Nicola Sturgeon, Ed Balls and George Osborne reflect on the decisions, mistakes and motives that may have tilted public perceptions around Scotland's departure from the UK. We go inside Cameron government's so-called Project Fear – was it all just scaremongering? Nicola reveals the moment she thought it was all going to collapse, and why George played part. And Ed lifts the lid on the machinations that led him to say Scotland would have to join the Euro if it were to leave the UK. Part 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum' is available to listen to NOW for subscribers to Political Currency Gold, as well as Ed and George's exclusive debrief. POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement. In this first of three episodes, Nicola, Ed and George walk through the key moments leading up to David Cameron's decision to grant Holyrood the referendum vote. What was the focus of the conversations in Downing Street? George explains why he wanted to call the nationalists' bluff and catch them off guard. And what advice did Gordon Brown provide – that Nicola says was ignored – to keep the United Kingdom intact? Parts 2 and 3 of 'Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum' are available to listen to NOW for subscribers to Political Currency Gold.POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

Episode 244 of Talk Media discusses the media coverage following the sudden death of Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who in 2014, took our country within touching distance of Independence. Eamonn, joined by Catriona Stewart and David Pratt, have a frank discussion on the media coverage , a look at the horrors taking place in the Middle East and the frankly strange news of Labour pushing weight loss drugs in an attempt to cut back the welfare bill. Recommendations: Eamonn The War Room- doc - Amazon Prime This documentary follows President Clinton's campaign trail and focuses on his aides, James Carville and George Stephanopoulos. Catriona Break Up - : How Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon Went to War - Book Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon's political partnership changed the face of Scotland, bringing the country to within 200,000 votes of independence and holding sway at Holyrood for more than a decade. So how and why has their thirty-year alliance irretrievably broken down? Break-Up tells the inside story of how the once unbreakable unity of the Scottish National Party was ripped apart amid shocking claims of sexual assault. With unrivalled access to both camps and the women who made the allegations, and with rigorously fair-minded reporting, journalists David Clegg and Kieran Andrews go behind the headlines to uncover the truth about this extraordinary episode, in a piece of political history that reads like a thriller. Now fully updated, this is a jaw-dropping tale of inappropriate behaviour in the highest reaches of power, of lies, distrust and alleged conspiracy, with profound implications not only for Salmond and Sturgeon themselves but for Scotland's governing party and the wider independence campaign. David Wild Thing - book Paul Gauguin is chiefly known as the giant of post-Impressionist painting whose bold colours and compositions rocked the Western art world. It is less well known that he was a stockbroker in Paris and that after the 1882 financial crash he struggled to sustain his artistry, and worked as a tarpaulin salesman in Copenhagen, a canal digger in Panama City, and a journalist exposing the injustices of French colonial rule in Tahiti. In Wild Thing, the award-winning biographer Sue Prideaux re-examines the adventurous and complicated life of the artist. She illuminates the people, places and ideas that shaped his vision: his privileged upbringing in Peru and rebellious youth in France; the galvanising energy of the Paris art scene; meeting Mette, the woman who he would marry; formative encounters with Vincent van Gogh and August Strindberg; and the ceaseless draw of French Polynesia. Prideaux conjures Gauguin's visual exuberance, his creative epiphanies, his fierce words and his flaws with acuity and sensitivity. Drawing from a wealth of new material and access to the artist's family, this myth-busting work invites us to see Gauguin anew.

The British Government has suspended seven Labour MPs for six months after they voted against an amendment to scrap the UK's two-child benefit cap.  The Scottish National Party had voted to end the policy, which prevents almost all parents from claiming child tax credit for more than two children.  The amendment was rejected by 363 votes to 103, but seven MPs from the ruling Labour Party voted in favour of the amendment.  UK correspondent Rod Liddle says among those suspended included ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane delved into more details on the outcome of the UK elections, speaking with Martin Docherty-Hughes, Scottish National Party politician for West Dunbartonshire. They discussed the implications of the election results and what they mean for the political landscape in the UK.

Paul Brand is joined by Robert Peston and Anushka Asthana as Sir Keir Starmer becomes the first Labour Prime Minister in 14 years.Plus, Louise Scott comments on an 'incredibly tough night' for the Scottish National Party.

Shane delved into more details on the outcome of the UK elections, speaking with Martin Docherty-Hughes, Scottish National Party politician for West Dunbartonshire. They discussed the implications of the election results and what they mean for the political landscape in the UK.

On the final day of campaigning, the Sky News correspondents who have followed party leaders to every corner of the UK reflect on the key moments.    From kayaking photo opportunities to people who bet against their own election chances – they tell Niall Paterson how the stories have cut through and the impact they could have on polling day.    Joining Niall are our political correspondents - Darren McCaffrey with the Conservatives, Serena Barker-Singh on the Labour bus, Matthew Thompson following the Liberal Democrats, Gurpreet Narwan from the Reform trail, and in Scotland Connor Gillies on the Scottish National Party.Producers: Rosie Gillott, Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth   Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku 

Emma Tracey interviews representatives from all the major parties to find out what they are pledging when it comes to disability and mental health, ahead of the general election on 4 July. In this edition, we hear from Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, and Marion Fellows, disabilities spokesperson for the Scottish National Party. Kate Lamble, from More or Less, a Radio 4 programme all about numbers, also offers some analysis on how the plans add up. Production: Daniel Gordon, Alex Collins and Natasha Mayo Sound recording and editing: Dave O'Neill Editors: Farhana Haider and Beth RoseAt the time of recording, all the statistics provided by the Disability Policy Centre, around the number of disabled candidates were correct. The DPC says it will continue to collate the information and will have a final tally shortly after the election.Get in touch, we really want to hear from you. You can email us at accessall@bbc.co.uk or message @bbcaccessall on X or Instagram. Our WhatsApp number is 0330 123 9480, please begin your message with the word ACCESS.

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.  The election date betting scandal engulfs the Conservatives, while James Cleverly also has to contend with a Tory aide calling the Rwanda policy ‘crap'. There's controversy also in the Scottish National Party, with allegations that staff may have used public money on the election campaign. Bridget Phillipson is asked to clarify Labour's position on gender identity in schools, and Unite's Sharon Graham suggests Labour voters might move to Reform if workers aren't supported. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.

Rachel Stevens was one of the founding members of S Club 7, the pop band that took the world by storm in the early 2000s. She joins Anita to talk about her memoir Finding my Voice: A story of strength, belief and S Club, which covers her time in the hit-making band, her solo career and what it's been like being in the public eye.In a special extended 90 minute programme, Nuala McGovern hosted the Woman's Hour Election Debate. Senior women from the main political parties of Great Britain outlined their priorities for women and answered your questions.Taking part were: Scottish National Party spokesperson for Consular Affairs and International Engagement Hannah Bardell; Reform UK candidate Maria Bowtell; Green Party spokesperson for Housing and Communities Ellie Chowns; Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper; Conservative Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work Mims Davies; Labour's Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation Sarah Jones and Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts.Actor Jill Halfpenny has starred in popular TV series such as Byker Grove, Coronation Street, EastEnders and The Cuckoo. She won an Olivier Award for her role in the musical Legally Blonde and she won the second series of BBC 1's Strictly Come Dancing. But, two tragic events have framed Jill's life story; when she was four years old her dad died suddenly of a heart attack. Then in 2017, in similarly tragic circumstances, her partner Matt died. Jill talks to Clare about confronting her grief head-on, something she examines in her new book, A Life Reimagined.For over a century, many Americans believed that interracial marriage was illegitimate and until the late 1960s, the American legal system supported that belief. Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White is a play written in the 1960s that explores the impact of these laws. Anita is joined by Monique Touko, the director of a new production of the play, and American historian Dr Leni Sorensen who had a black father and white mother in 1940s California.Can you ever really be just best friends with the love of your life? Laura Dockrill talks to Nuala about the thrills and awful heartache of first love, the inspiration for her first adult novel, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.'Presenter Clare McDonnell Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Louise Corley

It's been a horrendous campaign for the Conservatives so far, careening from disaster to catastrophe, but the Tories don't have the exclusive on political drama. This week Nish and Coco focus on the action in the devolved nations, with a particular focus on Wales and Northern Ireland. First, we check in with Welsh Journalist Will Hayward to learn about the recent vote of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething and Labour's manifesto pledge to tune up the current devolution agreements. Then, Coco chats to Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, to learn more about Plaid's ambitions for Wales and their plans to turn up the heat on Labour. Later, we check in to Northern Ireland, speaking to journalist Amanda Ferguson about the stakes of the next election and whether allegations about former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will have any bearing on the election. Finally, the gang break out some of Coco's recently rebranded charming and quizzical moments. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Rhun ap IorwerthWill HaywardAmanda Ferguson Audio credits:Sky NewsBlue Sky.mp3 by Sergmusic -- https://freesound.org/s/639933/ -- License: Creative Commons 0TikTok/ Suella Braverman  Useful links:Jo Stevens interview with S4C https://x.com/NewyddionS4C/status/1802786241852707250Constituencies and candidates: Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr.2024-07-04/montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr/Ynys Mon:https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.ynys-mon.2024-07-04/ynys-mon/Dudley:https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.dudley.2024-07-04/dudley/Fareham: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.fareham-and-waterlooville.2024-07-04/fareham-and-waterlooville/

This bonus episode of Newscast is a profile of the leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney.Adam and James are joined by Liz Lloyd, former special adviser to John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon's chief of staff, to chronicle John Swinney's early life and political career. They discuss his family life, his long political career with the SNP, and how he kept trying - and failing - to step back from Government.This episode is part of a series where Newscast profiles each of the leaders of major political parties.Rishi Sunak: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j477c7 Sir Keir Starmer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j47dw8 Sir Ed Davey: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j4x9cv You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

In a special extended 90 minute programme, Nuala McGovern hosts the Woman's Hour Election Debate. Senior women from the main political parties of Great Britain outline their priorities for women and answer your questions. Taking part are: Scottish National Party spokesperson for Consular Affairs and International Engagement Hannah Bardell; Reform UK candidate Maria Bowtell; Green Party spokesperson for Housing and Communities Ellie Chowns; Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper; Conservative Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work Mims Davies; Labour's Shadow Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation Sarah Jones and Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts.

Summary The UK is having an election! In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan and Jackie discuss the British election system and how it works from a non-party political perspective. They provide an overview of the parties involved, the role of the monarch, the campaign season, election day, and the counting and results process. They also touch on the concept of party manifestos and the importance of constituency-level vote counting. The conversation explores various British political TV shows and their relevance to the British political system. The hosts discuss shows like Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, and more. They also mention books that provide a crash course in British politics. The conversation concludes with recommendations for viewers who want to learn more about British politics or enjoy political dramas. Links Non-sugar Sweetener Books: UK Explained The British Polity Yes Minister History The Shortest History of England How Britain Really Works British TV Shows Discussed: Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister The Thick of It House of Cards A Very British Coup The Politician's Husband  The Diplomat A Very English Scandal Stonehouse Anatomy of a Scandal The Amazing Mrs Pritchard Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years The Gathering Storm Relevant Clips to Watch: Michael Portillo Loses the Count Election 2019 BBC Coverage Politics Unboringed by Jay Foreman Yes Minister Funniest Moments The Definitive Malcolm Tucker Rant Anthology | The Thick Of It - BBC Keywords British election system, parties, monarch, campaign season, election day, party manifestos, constituency-level vote counting, British politics, TV shows, Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, political dramas Takeaways The British election system operates on five-year terms, with the Prime Minister having the power to call an election within that timeframe. The main parties in the UK are the Conservative and Union Party (right-wing), the Labour Party (left-wing), and the Liberal Democrats (middle of the road). The Scottish National Party and Northern Irish parties also play significant roles in elections. Manifestos are a major part of the election process, with each party outlining their policies and commitments if they come into power. Election day in the UK is not a national holiday, and media coverage is limited until the polls close at 10 p.m. Vote counting takes place at the constituency level, with a race to see which constituency can count the votes first. British political TV shows like Yes Minister, The Thick of It, and House of Cards provide an entertaining and insightful look into the British political system. These shows often highlight the power struggles, backroom deals, and comedic elements of British politics. Books like 'Britain Explained' and 'The British Polity' offer a crash course in British politics and provide a deeper understanding of the political system. Viewers interested in British politics or political dramas can find these shows on platforms like Britbox and Netflix. The shows mentioned in the conversation are Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, A Very British Coup, The Diplomat, A Very English Scandal, Stonehouse, The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, The Politician's Husband, Anatomy of a Scandal, and Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, and The Gathering Storm. Sound Bites "A party manifesto is like a contract with the voters" "This usually leads to some very wonderful political clips for later on of candidates being embarrassed that they lost in 'Portillo Moments' or like people surprised that they won an outburst." "So Michael Portillo is now known for his colorful pants and doing train tours around Britain on like your favorite show." "He lost his seat. He was a government minister and he didn't even win like, he's just standing there. Like he could see the soul drain from his body as he lost." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the British Election System 02:20 The Role of the Monarch in British Politics 05:37 Party Manifestos: A Contract with Voters 16:54 The British Election Season: A Six-Week Affair 26:38 Insights into the British Election Process and Election Night Traditions 54:13 Exploring British Political TV Shows and Dramas

This week we talk about the Tories, Labour, and the UK Parliament.We also discuss the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Rishi Sunak's gamble.Recommended Book: Like, Literally, Dude by Valerie FridlandTranscriptThe government of the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy led by a Prime Minister and their cabinet, the Prime Minister attaining their position through the primacy of their party in the country's key legislation-passing body, its Parliament.So the Prime Minister runs day-to-day operations in the country, they are technically appointed by the monarch, who is currently Charles III, as of 2022, though that appointment is generally determined by other factors, like who has the most support within Parliament—the most seats held by their party, and in many cases seats held by allies and allies of convenience, as well; when this happens, the resulting government is called a coalition government, because while the Prime Minister is from one party, usually the one with the most seated MPs, Members of Parliament, they're only able to govern because they have one or more other parties working with them as part of a coalition.Now, the UK government has two houses in its Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and the names of these houses tell you a lot about them: the House of Lords consists of folks who have been granted Lordships by government higher-ups, alongside those who have inherited Lordships from their parents, but it also includes experts in various fields who have been granted that status by the Prime Minister—economists, for instance.The House of Commons, in contrast, is voted upon by the people, so when there are Parliamentary elections in the UK, that's what we're talking about, votes for MPs who represent a region, a parliamentary constituency—of which there are 650 across the UK's constituent countries, England, Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland.Within the UK, political parties have to be officially registered to participate in governance and votes, though folks who want to run solo can register as independent or label-less candidates for voting purposes.As of late-May 2024, there were 393 officially registered political parties in the UK, though only 13 of them currently have representatives in the House of Commons, and only four of those have more than 10 seated representatives—the Conservative and Unionist Party, often called the Tories or Conservatives, the Labour Party, which is the main center-left party in the UK, the Scottish National Party, which is also generally center-left, but tends to be focused on Scottish politics and priorities, and the Liberal Democrats, who are generally seen as a sort of blend of the Tories and Labour.General elections, during which MPs are voted upon, are held every five years or so, but elections can also be held sooner if the current Prime Minister asks the monarch to dissolve parliament, which in practice means the Prime Minister is calling for a general election, generally scheduled for a specific date in the future, usually because the House of Commons has lost faith in the current government, which makes passing law and overall getting things done difficult; they don't have enough votes to pass anything, basically, though in some cases it's because of more general political circumstances that indicate calling for an election, now, might be better than holding an election sometime later in the future.That latter case seems to be the impetus for what I'd like to talk about today, which is the recently called and now upcoming UK general election, and the state of political play in this, one of the world's wealthiest and most influential countries.—On May 22, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he was calling for a snap election on July 4 of this year, just a half-dozen weeks in the future, surprising many analysts who expected he would wait as long as possible before committing to a date.That expectation was predicated on the reality of how Sunak's party, the Tories, have been doing in the polls in recent years; pretty abysmally.Labour has been crushing the Conservatives in these polls, of late; the Tories have been in power since 2010, which means purely by virtue of having been governing that long, a lot of people will tend to blame them for a lot of things, their party having been in charge all that time, but they also catalyzed and oversaw the secession of the UK from the European Union, which is a move that was initially pushed by many on the further right wing of the party, but the populist nature of the movement eventually claimed the majority of Tory politicians who changed their vote to support it, rewiring politics in the UK, similar to how former President Trump rewired the Republican Party in the US—a lot of power changing hands, a lot of previously top people being elbowed aside or pushed into retirement, a lot of new policies ascending to the front-burner, while previous priorities were relegated to the back-burner.Not quite a decade after the referendum that led to the passage of Brexit, back in mid-2016, polls from from this month, May of 2024, show that 55% of British people think leaving the EU was the wrong choice, while only 31% think it was a smart move.So while some of the tarnishing of the Tory party's reputation is likely the result of simply having been in power for a long time, and during some really unusual global happenings, like COVID and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, some of it is directly attributable to specific things they've done which turned out not to be very popular, once implemented.Many of the non-Brexit complaints the majority of British citizens have about how the Tories have governed are related to their austerity policies—the idea that they need to shrink the government and its spending as much as possible, because that will, according to their theories, at least, make the country wealthier, more efficient, and more secure.This has led to dramatic cutbacks on incredibly popular programs and agencies focused on or related to health, housing, and education, alongside the bankrupting of civil services, the privatization of previously public assets like highways and waste systems, and the concomitant spending—while claiming there's not enough money for healthcare and public services—on pet projects for Conservative lawmakers and their constituents, many of which ended up being money pits.All parties in all countries are of course periodically staggered by scandals, spending-related and otherwise, but over their long period in control, the Tories have racked up a huge number and a large variety of scandals, and some of them led to very public embarrassments for the party, including the Tories' seeming inability to keep a Prime Minister in office following the Brexit referendum, then-PM David Cameron making way for Theresa May, who handed things over to Boris Johnson, who was ousted and replaced by Liz Truss, who was Prime Minister for a record-setting 49 days before resigning and being replaced by current PM Rishi Sunak.That's five prime ministers in the six years between 2016 and 2022, all of them from the same party, that party seemingly unable to govern with enough popularity to maintain the confidence of parliament.So the situation right now, following all that, is that Labour has a 17-point lead over the Conservatives and is, and has been for a while, broadly expected to wipe the floor with the Tories in the next election; and a few minor elections leading up to this point seem to support that assumption.This is why Sunak was expected to delay scheduling the next election as long as possible, because as soon as that election is held, his party is expected to be pushed out of power, and that expectation is leading to an exodus amongst Tory lawmakers, 121 of them stepping down instead of running for reelection as of late-May, surpassing a similar wave of quitting in 1997, when 117 of them declined to run again, leading up to a landslide victory for the Labour Party and their popular leader, Tony Blair.This isn't an unusual phenomenon: being part of the government is very different from being part of the opposition party, and back in 2010, after Labour had been in control for 13 years, and was expecting to lose in the next election, 149 politicians decided to step down rather than running again—100 of them Labour MPs, and 35 of them Conservatives; that later group ostensibly because while the Tories won, they didn't take a majority, and had to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, which is also a very different situation from being in a government that has complete control, rather than shared control; some MPs just don't want to deal with that kind of negotiated leadership.Sunak's reasoning here, then, might be that while things are bad for his party now, they could get even worse if he waits to hold an election; so it's better to act at a moment in which some economic numbers are actually starting to look a little bit better, after a long period of the opposite, and at a moment in which announcing an election would catch his Labour opposition off-guard, possibly providing his party the benefit of surprise and better preparation.This announcement has led to a scramble, though, for all UK parties, seemingly, to try to get some actual governing done—work they thought they'd have several more weeks to finish up, at least, before going into full campaign-mode, suddenly needing to be accomplished yesterday.That's meant a lot of important legislation has been dropped or permanently back-burnered, including some of the policies, like a smoking ban, an end-to no-fault evictions, and a plan that would allow the government to ship asylum-seekers to Rwanda, which Sunak had wanted to serve as fundamental elements of his prime ministerial legacy—those have now been completely dropped.This has led to a situation in which the Tories seem to be scrambling to put new ideas out into the ether—future-facing stuff to replace all the things they had to drop or backtrack on—hoping that something they propose in this way appeals broadly enough to earn them the votes they require to hold their own in the upcoming election; to maybe still lose, but not as much, and in such a way that they're in a good spot when the next election is called.One such idea is mandatory national service for 18-year-olds, which would require that folks either serve in the military or volunteer for one weekend a month, beginning on their 18th year—a policy that's reportedly meant to compete with a proposal from Labour leader Keir Starmer, that 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to vote.The degree to which any of these new plans will catch the public imagination is up in the air, though,  as again, a lot of what's happening now, in terms of campaigning, is somewhat half-baked, all involved parties scrambling to prepare for what seems to have been a somewhat last-minute decision on Sunak's part to upend expectations about the timing of the next election in order to attain some kind of advantage for his party, which seems to be entering this round with a losing hand.And all of this is important, of course, if you live in the UK, but it's also important globally, even standing out amongst the many other important elections that are occurring around the world this year, because the UK, even battered and bruised in the aftermath of Brexit and a COVID crisis that it weathered somewhat less-well than its world-leading peers, is still an incredibly powerful, influential, and wealthy entity of global significance.It has the sixth largest economy in the world, after only the US, China, Japan, Germany, and India.It's incredibly powerful geopolitically, out of proportion with its population and military strength, in part because of the role it plays within the Commonwealth, a group of 53 nations that the UK previously ruled, and in part because it has long-lived, tight alliances and relationships with governments and other entities that it's been maintaining for centuries, in some cases.The UK is a nuclear power, and is the seventh largest exporter of arms in the world—though it's especially vital to the global aircraft market, military and non-military.The UK is home to the second-largest financial center in the world, London, and it's culturally very powerful, exporting all sorts of norms and pop culture and creative products; a sort of soft-power that plays a huge role in beliefs, behaviors, and understandings, worldwide.Whomever wins this election, then, and how they win, and to what degree they control Parliament, will have a major impact not just on the UK, but on the world, and at a moment in which there are several major military conflicts ongoing, in which new technologies are simultaneously threatening and enlivening entire industries and economies, and in which the global order that has set the tone and guardrails for the world since WWII is being challenged—all variables the UK may influence in substantial ways, and over which the folks running the UK government will thus have outsized sway.Show Noteshttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/23/rishi-sunak-rwanda-smoking-policies-election-conservativeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_of_prime_ministers_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c844x1xp05xohttps://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqhvmnb/revision/6https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/more-uk-conservative-lawmakers-set-quit-than-before-1997-election-defeat-2024-05-24/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-22/labour-finally-has-uk-election-it-craves-but-traps-lie-in-waithttps://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-05-23/uk-election-sunak-has-the-weight-of-history-against-himhttps://wsj.com/world/uk/british-leader-sunak-calls-snap-election-as-his-party-trails-in-polls-e234bdc0https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/25/how-rishi-sunaks-early-election-backfired-on-pmhttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-labour-starmer-sunak-tory-gove-b2551518.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/world/uk/lagging-polls-uk-conservatives-pitch-national-service-18-2024-05-26/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c288xxvrdz7ohttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2jjvpxxgr5ohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_governmenthttps://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-workshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_United_Kingdomhttps://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Search/Registrations?currentPage=1&rows=10&sort=RegulatedEntityName&order=asc&et=pp&et=ppm®ister=gb®ister=ni®ister=none®Status=registeredhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_the_United_Kingdom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Hamas accepts Qatari-Egyptian ceasefire proposal, Israel has yet to respond. Judge overseeing Trump hush money trial fines him over gag order violations, threatens him with jail if he repeats it. Scottish National Party chooses new leader. Protesters demonstrate against Secretary of State Antony Blinken's appearance at San Francisco cyber security conference. Bill to limit use of retail self checkout stands now in state legislature. The post The Pacifica Evening News, Weekdays – May 6, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.

The Westminster rumour mill went into overdrive last weekend peddling an ultimately incorrect rumour that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was due to call a summer election. With suggestions that this rumour was started by the Labour Party, Nish and Coco ask whether progressives might be starting to control the narrative.And might that change in power balance towards the Left also be coming to the fore in Scotland? Following the shock resignation of First Minister and SNP Leader Humza Yousaf, Politico's reporter Andrew McDonald unpacks how the Green Party may have greater influence in Scottish politics moving forward.And what are the radical solutions we need to address the crisis in Britain's care system for children? The collaborators of the new book Free Loaves on Friday poet Lemn Sissay and journalist Rebekah Pierre explain why hearing directly from care leavers is vital for addressing problems across the system.This week - we present the PSUK hero no one asked for and the villain you never saw coming. Move aside Idris Elba - Nish Kumar is coming for your spotlight…Finally - make sure to look out for a bonus edition of Pod Save the UK this week where we bring you analysis from the results of the elections across England and Wales with Liz Bates.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guests:Andrew McDonald, PoliticoRebekah Pierre, Journalist and Social WorkerLemn Sissay, Poet and Activist Audio credit:Sky News Useful links:https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-idhttps://unbound.com/books/free-loaves-on-fridays

Canadian journalist Nora Loreto reads the latest headlines for Thursday, May 2, 2024.TRNN has partnered with Loreto to syndicate and share her daily news digest with our audience. Tune in every morning to the TRNN podcast feed to hear the latest important news stories from Canada and around the world.Find more headlines from Nora at Sandy & Nora Talk Politics podcast feed.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Sign up for our newsletterLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcastReferenced articles:Story 1 - McGill's attempt to clear out pro-Palestine encampment is blocked by judge for being too broad  Story 2 - Landfull search in Saskatoon begins to find remains of woman missing since 2020. Story 3 - ER at Williams Lake hospital closed over night this week due to a lack of nursing staff. Story 4 - The Treasury Board has announced that civil servants will be expected to be in the office three days per week as of the fall. PSAC and PIPSC both vow to fight the plan. Story 5 - The Scottish National Party wins confidence vote after Greens pull support for Humza Yousaf as leader, triggering his resignation.

One week ago, Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, terminated the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens. There had been mounting pressure on both Yousaf's leadership and ending the coalition, but the eventual timing of the termination caused the now former leader to appear panicked and triggered a Scottish government crisis.On Monday, just after 13 months in office, Yousaf resigned, ahead of two no confidence votes. This morning John Swinney announced his leadership to be Scotland's next first minister, meanwhile this afternoon Kate Forbes has announced that she will not be entering the leadership race.But the SNP was deeply fractured when Yousaf inherited it, would a successor be able to unite it?Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, is joined by Chris Deerin, Scotland editor, and Freddie Hayward, political correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's polling day. Ed Balls and George Osborne give their expert analysis on the importance of local elections: what contests do you need to look out for? And what do they reveal about Rishi Sunak's political fortunes?Across the border, the Scottish National Party is in turmoil after First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned. Could this open the door to a Labour resurgence in Scotland?Speaking of, the person hoping to lead that resurgence is Keir Starmer. But how well do we really know the man hoping to be our next Prime Minister? George has called up Keir's old friend Andrew Cooper to find out more about the Labour leader's youth.Become a member of POLITICAL CURRENCY GOLD

*) Top UN court to rule in Germany 'genocide' case over Gaza The United Nations' top court will rule on charges by Nicaragua that Germany if facilitating genocide in Gaza by supplying arms to Israel. Nicaragua initiated proceedings against Germany at the International Court of Justice, accusing Berlin of breaching the 1948 Genocide Convention. At a hearing earlier this month, Nicaragua requested the court issue emergency measures for Germany to stop its arms exports to Israel. *) Living conditions worsen in Gaza's Rafah amid rising heat, trash piles Meanwhile, garbage piles up and the heat rises in war-torn Gaza as life becomes even more grim for displaced Palestinians living in tents. Last week, temperatures already topped 30°C, turning the makeshift shelters made from plastic tarps and sheets into sweltering ovens. Rafah hosts about 1.5 million displaced, more than half of Gaza's population which has been besieged and bombarded by Israel for nearly seven months. *) Security deal ready for Saudi if it normalises ties with Israel: Blinken The United States is nearly ready with a security package to offer Saudi Arabia if it normalises relations with Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. Blinken was visiting the kingdom on his seventh trip to the region since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which has then launched a relentless offensive in Gaza. President Joe Biden's administration, while supporting Israel, has sought moderation from its government by dangling the prospect of formal relations with Saudi Arabia. *) Scores of people dead in western Kenya after dam collapses At least 42 people have died when a dam burst its banks near a town in Kenya's Rift Valley, as heavy rains and floods battered the country. The dam bust in Nakuru county, washing away houses and cutting off a road, with rescuers digging through debris to find survivors. Monday's dam collapse raises the total death toll over the March-May wet season to 120 as heavier than usual rainfall pounds East Africa. *) Scotland's first minister Yousaf steps down after a year Humza Yousaf has announced his resignation as Scotland's first minister, before he was due to face two confidence votes this week. The 39-year-old quit following a turbulent year as head of the devolved administration, during which support for his pro-independence Scottish National Party has fallen. Yousaf had been facing growing calls to resign since unceremoniously ending the party's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens in the Scottish parliament.

Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2021 on Sunday 10 October at Church House, London. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION According to many political commentators, the break-up of the UK is becoming inevitable. When devolution was implemented in the 1990s, one of the aims of its supporters was to head off rising support for separation. But the opposite has happened, with support for Scottish independence and greater Welsh autonomy growing even stronger. In Scotland, for example, the pro-independence SNP has now won four elections on the trot and has renewed calls for another referendum. Some commentators now believe that a politicised sense of Englishness is on the rise, too. One factor is the differential impact of the Brexit referendum. People in England and Wales voted to leave the EU while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain. The situation is full of contradictions and complications. For example, people emphasising a British national identity were more likely to vote Leave in Scotland and Wales but Remain in England. Those supporting the cause of ‘independence' in Scotland and Wales want to remain within the EU, proclaiming the importance of free movement, yet their borders were imposed during the Covid crisis. The devolved government in Scotland favours rejoining the EU, yet others wonder how that fits with the desire for self-government. On all sides, there has been a problem of legitimacy. Those who favour keeping the Union have struggled to espouse a convincing sense of what it means to be British. The result has often been a crude attempt to manufacture a sense of Britishness. For example, the Westminster government recently announced plans are being drawn up to protect ‘distinctively British' television programming and asked Ofcom to provide a definition of Britishness for public-service broadcasters. Meanwhile, contrary to the tradition that the push for statehood means demanding more democracy and freedom, the devolved assemblies appear to have amplified the illiberal impulses of twenty-first-century politics. In Scotland, for example, the government has devoted much of its energy to devising new ways to monitor, control and restrict people's day-to-day lives: criminalising football supporters, attempting to impose a ‘named person' to monitor children's upbringing and passing a Hate Crime Bill that opponents regard as an attack on free speech. Forty years ago, writer Tom Nairn said that the break-up of Britain would come, not because of the strength of the independence cause in any particular part of Britain, but because of a more general fading of support for the Union. Has Nairn been proved correct? Is the real issue not a democratic surge to independence but gradual separation by attrition? That said, there are signs that perhaps the break-up of the Union is not a foregone conclusion. In recent months, for example, opinion polls have suggested that support for Scottish independence has weakened. Perhaps the real nail in the coffin is if the English lose interest in the Union. In his book How Britain Ends, journalist Gavin Esler argues that the UK could survive Scottish and Welsh nationalism, but English nationalism is the force that will break up the Union. Is he right? With Brexit divisions and the impact of Covid, are we witnessing the fragmentation of the Union and a new sovereignty by stealth? How substantial are the differences between the UK and devolved governments' approaches? Do those arguing for independence or more devolution offer the genuine possibility of a democratic future? Or does this trajectory risk creating a Union based on anomalies and a patchwork of competencies, in the process undermining the viability of UK democracy? SPEAKERS Dr Richard Johnson writer; lecturer in US politics, Queen Mary, University of London; author, The End of the Second Reconstruction: Obama, Trump, and the crisis of civil rights Penny Lewis lecturer, University of Dundee; author, Architecture and Collective Life Alex Salmond leader, ALBA Party; former leader, Scottish National Party; author, The Dream Shall Never Die Christopher Snowdon head of lifestyle economics, Institute of Economic Affairs; editor, Nanny State Index; author, Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism Max Wind-Cowie co-author, A Place for Pride; former head, Progressive Conservatism Project, Demos; commentator CHAIR Alastair Donald co-convenor, Battle of Ideas festival; convenor, Living Freedom; author, Letter on Liberty: The Scottish Question

Today, we look Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland's first minister. In an emotional resignation speech, Yousaf said he had “clearly underestimated" the hurt he'd caused the Scottish Greens by ending the SNP's power-sharing deal with them in the way he did. As a result, the SNP leader was facing two votes of no confidence later this week. Yousaf says he will stay on as first minister until the Scottish National Party chooses his replacement.Who will become the new first minister? What does this mean for Scottish independence? Adam is joined by Chris and BBC Scotland Editor James Cook. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Natasha Mayo and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The editor is Sam Bonham.

London Correspondent Mark Paul joins Hugh Linehan to talk about the issues making an impact on British politics right now. The issues include upcoming local elections, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's drive to pass his Rwanda Bill, which will allow Britain to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda while their claims are processed, and the contrasting fortunes of the Conservative and Labour parties. In part two they look north to Scotland, where the Scottish National Party is showing signs of fatigue after a prolonged period in power. It is a weariness that shows in party leader Humza Yousaf's struggle to handle a wide range of controversies, from green policies to corruption, rape trial reforms and trans rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facts & Spins for April 20, 2024 Top Stories: Israel reportedly conducts a limited counterattack against Iran, While the US vetoes a Palestinian push for full UN membership, A man tragically self-immolates outside of Donald Trump's New York trial, A Polish man is arrested over an alleged Russian plot to assassinate Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US House Speaker Mike Johnson proposes a $95B foreign aid bill, The US resumes deportation of Haitian migrants, 108 students are arrested at a Pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University, Peter Murrell is charged with embezzlement in a Scottish National Party probe, A study reports that almost a quarter of all UK kids under 7 own smartphones, and Meta is rolling out new AI chatbots across its platforms. Sources: https://www.verity.news/

The powerful rise of the Scottish independence movement once struck fear into the British ruling class, threatening to break the United Kingdom and raise the rebellious spirit of the working class. Nearly ten years since the referendum that unleashed opposition to Tory Britain, and raised the Scottish National Party to unprecedented support, the movement is at a crossroads. The SNP leadership clique have proven themselves to be politically bankrupt, unable to retain their rosy reformist image as they carry out attacks on the working class, and completely lack any sincere strategy for the independence movement. In this session, Shaun Morris will discuss the crisis faced by Scottish nationalism, and why we can look toward the class struggle for a way forward for the fight for independence.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf. His first year in the top job has been tough. Is the Scottish National Party's supremacy in peril?

House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle faced a no confidence motion signed by some 59 MPs in a neutrality row over a Gaza ceasefire vote.He was under pressure over his handling of a tinderbox debate on an SNP motion that resulted in the passing of a Labour amendment - potentially helping Sir Keir Starmer head-off a rebellion among his own MPs.Chaos descended on the chamber as the motion was approved, with Scottish National Party and Conservative MPs walking out in protest.It came as crowds of protesters outside beamed pro-Palestine slogans on to Big Ben.Sir Lindsay said his actions were meant to help protect the safety of a number of MPs being targeted by activists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf joins Nish and Coco to reflect on the highs and lows of his first year as leader. He takes us back to the fateful Valentine's night phone call with Nicola Sturgeon that changed his life, and tells us how he felt watching his former mentor shed a tear at the Covid Inquiry last week.The First Minister talks about the helplessness he felt when his family members were trapped in Gaza, and reveals his fears for his brother-in-law, a surgeon who remains in Khan Younis. He tells how Keir Starmer called to offer his support, in stark contrast to Rishi Sunak and his then Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.Their wide-ranging conversation also takes in King Charles' shock cancer news, independence and Brexit, and the challenge the SNP faces at the next general election. Plus there's Celtic FC, samosas and learn why his first ever job gave him a huge bicep! This week's hero and villain can be found on our social media channels.Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukWhatsApp: 07514 644 572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644 572Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTwitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld Guest:Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland, and leader of the Scottish National Party Audio credits:UK Covid-19 InquiryBBC News

The Matts discuss Scottish National Party's political strategies, ponder the what-if scenario of a centrist incursion oining the Tory party and delve into data protection issues. Plus: some podcast plugs and Oscar tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, January 11th, 2024. Pub Membership Plug: Public Houses, or Pubs, are not just places to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little stronger. It is also a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the world. We here at CrossPolitic hope to emulate that for you and yours. That’s why you should grab yourself a pub membership at fightlaughfeast.com… we need you on this ride with us. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us on this ride at fightlaughfeast.com - that’s fightlaughfeast.com. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-hunter-biden-shows-up-at-house-while-oversight-considers-contempt-resolution-against-him?utm_campaign=64487 Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at Oversight contempt proceeding in congress, then storms out After defying a Congressional subpoena in December, Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at Wednesday’s markup meeting in which lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are working on a resolution to hold the president’s son in contempt of Congress. House Oversight member Nancy Mace addressed Biden directly. https://twitter.com/i/status/1745105809439150194 - Play Video When Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene began speaking Hunter Biden stormed out, with Greene telling him as he left, "Apparently you’re afraid of my words." https://twitter.com/i/status/1745108562043437517 - Play 0:00-0:39 Then as Hunter Biden was exiting the building, a man asked him on numerous occasions, “are you on crack today?” https://twitter.com/i/status/1745107221992632623 - Play Video Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell addressed reporters in the halls of Congress, saying that "Republicans have sought to use [Hunter Biden} as a surrogate to attack his father." Lowell said that "we have offered to work with House committees to see what and how relevant information to any legitimate inquiry could be provided." "Our first five offers were ignored. And then in November, they issued a subpoena for a behind-closed-doors deposition, a tactic that the Republicans have repeatedly misused in their political crusade to selectively leave and mischaracterize what witnesses have said." Hunter Biden was subpoenaed to appear for a closed-door deposition on December 13, 2023. He refused to attend this deposition, instead speaking from the Capitol lawn. Hunter Biden declared that he would only appear in a public session, but Committee on House Administration rules states that depositions of a witness are to take place only in the presence of the "Committee, Committee staff designed by the Chairman or the ranking minority member, an official reporter, the witness, and the witness’ two designated attorneys." Hunter Biden, however, doesn't think this rule should apply to him. https://www.theblaze.com/news/mexican-president-demands-20-billion-and-work-permits-for-10-million-hispanics-before-offering-immigration-help Mexican president demands $20 billion and work permits for 10 million Hispanics before offering immigration help Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently revealed what that U.S. must do in order for the Mexican government to help slow down the flow of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and the price is steep. Fox News Digital reported that Lopez Obrador announced his demands during a press conference on Friday. The development comes just a week after the Mexican president met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Mexico City. In order for Mexico to help the U.S., Lopez Obrador demanded that the U.S. provide $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries; provide work visas to 10 million Hispanics who have been working in the U.S. for at least 10 years; end sanctions against Venezuela; and put an end to the blockade of Cuba. The demands have put pressure on President Joe Biden, who has not polled well on illegal immigration since he took over the presidency in 2021. The report noted that the border experienced a large surge of migrants this fall, with around 240,000 encounters per month toward the end of 2023. However, some of the decisions — if Biden decides to go through with the proposal — would need to get the approval of Congress. Lopez Obrador has not been shy about challenging U.S. politicians on the topic of illegal immigration. He recently challenged Texas Governor Greg Abbott on one of the state's new immigration laws just last month. Blaze News reported last month that Abbott had ratified legislation that would make illegal immigration a state crime. The law, Senate Bill 4, moved forward after the Biden administration seemed unwilling to enforce federal immigration law. The state authorities will now be able to arrest foreign nationals who sneak into the country illegally, and magistrates will be able to order illegal aliens to leave the country. Lopez Obrador said last month: "The Texas governor acts that way because he wants to be the Republican vice presidential candidate and wants to win popularity with these measures." "He’s not going to win anything. On the contrary, he is going to lose support because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas, a lot of migrants." However, the law recently ratified in Texas will not punish those who enter the country legally — only those who attempt to circumvent U.S. law. https://notthebee.com/article/parents-who-refuse-to-go-along-with-their-childs-gender-transition-can-now-face-7-years-in-jail-in-scotland Scottish parents could face years in jail for preventing kids from "dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity" Scotland is really making it simple for parents. Let them trans your kids or you go to jail. You may think that's overstatement, but that's actually the plan in Scotland. Parents who do not go along with "affirming" their child's "gender identity" could face jail for SEVEN YEARS! Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to "change or suppress" another individual's gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law. SNP (Scotland National Party) ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a "family setting", raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child's declaration that they are transgender. Just so you know the extent of this proposal and how it could apply to families, one of the examples of "conversion therapy" punishable by jail time is preventing a child from wearing clothing of their preferred gender identity. So if Billy wants to wear a dress and you stop him you would be guilty of "conversion therapy" and be subject to punishment under the law. Even if you don't do anything, the state could preemptively take action against you based solely on your beliefs! If they know you're a conservative Christian in Scotland they could issue civil orders against you, warning you not to cross the line of telling your kids what to do. The Scottish National Party is currently the largest and most represented party in parliament. They hold nearly a majority in the multi-party system. If they're fully on board with this there's not much that can be done to stop them in parliament. It's important to note this is in the "public consultation" phase which, in Scotland and the UK, means they have to lay out the plan for public feedback, in this case until April, before moving forward with the proposal. So my suggestion, between now and April, is for every freedom and faith-loving Scot to channel his inner Braveheart and publicly oppose this radical anti-family, anti-faith, anti-human proposal from the Scottish liberals. Braveheart - FREEDOM- Play 1:36-1:47 https://mynorthwest.com/3945835/rantz-wa-democrats-deem-ammo-privilege-ammunition-tax-way-end-gun-rights/ Wash. Democrats deem ammo a ‘privilege’ as way to end gun rights Washington Democrats opened the 2024 legislative session with another assault on gun rights. This time they hope to reclassify ammunition as a “privilege” — one that should be subject to an onerous tax because the one thing they love more than taking away guns is taking away your money. State Representatives My-Linh Thai and Liz Berry, both Democrats, introduced House Bill 2238. Under the auspices of public safety, claiming access to ammunition is the cause of violence and not their soft-on-crime policies that go easy on criminals (including those who use guns in their crimes), the bill imposes an 11% sales and use tax on ammunition statewide. This would be an additional tax on top of the sales tax and any other tax that may levied when purchasing ammunition. The city of Seattle, for example, imposes a per-round tax. But the bill also reclassified ammunition, claiming you do not have a right to purchase them as a consumer. Instead, it’s labeled a “privilege.” The legislation creates a new section in pre-existing law that reads, “A use tax is levied on every person in this state for the privilege of using ammunition as a consumer at the rate of 11% of the selling price.” Neither Reps. Thai nor Berry responded to inquiries asking the basis for their claim that ammunition is a privilege. But Washington Democrats have set the stage to make this outrageous claim. Washington Democrats have consistently moved to make gun ownership more onerous for non-criminal Washingtonians. The end goal for Democrats is to ban guns so that we cannot protect ourselves against the criminals they embolden. Instead of a flat-out ban against guns, they’ve hoped to reclassify ammunition as a privilege by severely restricting how much of it a gun owner can use at a time. The Washington Legislature approved a bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, and manufacture of firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This is meant to set the precedent claiming Washingtonians do not have a constitutional right to ammunition. Like most of their clearly unconstitutional bills, they’re based on a flimsy and purposefully obtuse understanding of the right to bear arms. The Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 24, clearly states that “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.” You cannot bear arms if the firearm has no ammunition in it. This provision, like the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, implicitly includes all necessary components of firearms like ammunition as essential to the protected exercise of the right to bear arms. Without access to ammunition, the right to bear arms would be rendered meaningless, as firearms without ammunition are unable to fulfill their intended purpose in defense of oneself or the state. In an ironic twist, Democrats are the best gun salesmen. Their actions are pushing Washingtonians into purchases they might not otherwise make. Washington Democrats’ interest in banning guns does not extend to the criminals they support with legislation that keeps them out of prison before the end of their sentences under the claim the criminal justice system is racist. By passing legislation that is clearly tied to the rise in crime, they give every Washingtonian ample reason to purchase firearms for self-defense. We have a rise in violent crime in Seattle, where homicides have hit historic highs. Democrats pretend they hold no blame in this new reality. State Reps Tarra Simmons and David Hackney pushed a bill in the 2022 legislative session to lessen charges against drive-by shooters. It would even be applied retroactively to release a drive-by shooter serving time. They claimed the change promoted “racial equity in the criminal legal system” because they implied too many black people commit drive-by shootings and it’s unfair for them to be charged more than white people who don’t commit as many drive-by shootings. It was as silly an argument as it was racist. Only after considerable public pushback, did the bill die. But it seems reasonable to want a firearm to protect yourself when you have pro-criminal legislators pushing dangerous bills. State Rep. Roger Goodman, another anti-gun Democrat, is back this year with HB 1268. It would prevent judges from offering additional years of prison to violent criminals who use guns during their crimes (“stacking” on gun enhancement charges). It even offers “good time credits” (or earned release time) to felons serving time on a firearm or deadly weapon enhancement. Any one of these criminals released early is reason enough to own a firearm of your own.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, January 11th, 2024. Pub Membership Plug: Public Houses, or Pubs, are not just places to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little stronger. It is also a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the world. We here at CrossPolitic hope to emulate that for you and yours. That’s why you should grab yourself a pub membership at fightlaughfeast.com… we need you on this ride with us. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us on this ride at fightlaughfeast.com - that’s fightlaughfeast.com. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-hunter-biden-shows-up-at-house-while-oversight-considers-contempt-resolution-against-him?utm_campaign=64487 Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at Oversight contempt proceeding in congress, then storms out After defying a Congressional subpoena in December, Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at Wednesday’s markup meeting in which lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are working on a resolution to hold the president’s son in contempt of Congress. House Oversight member Nancy Mace addressed Biden directly. https://twitter.com/i/status/1745105809439150194 - Play Video When Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene began speaking Hunter Biden stormed out, with Greene telling him as he left, "Apparently you’re afraid of my words." https://twitter.com/i/status/1745108562043437517 - Play 0:00-0:39 Then as Hunter Biden was exiting the building, a man asked him on numerous occasions, “are you on crack today?” https://twitter.com/i/status/1745107221992632623 - Play Video Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell addressed reporters in the halls of Congress, saying that "Republicans have sought to use [Hunter Biden} as a surrogate to attack his father." Lowell said that "we have offered to work with House committees to see what and how relevant information to any legitimate inquiry could be provided." "Our first five offers were ignored. And then in November, they issued a subpoena for a behind-closed-doors deposition, a tactic that the Republicans have repeatedly misused in their political crusade to selectively leave and mischaracterize what witnesses have said." Hunter Biden was subpoenaed to appear for a closed-door deposition on December 13, 2023. He refused to attend this deposition, instead speaking from the Capitol lawn. Hunter Biden declared that he would only appear in a public session, but Committee on House Administration rules states that depositions of a witness are to take place only in the presence of the "Committee, Committee staff designed by the Chairman or the ranking minority member, an official reporter, the witness, and the witness’ two designated attorneys." Hunter Biden, however, doesn't think this rule should apply to him. https://www.theblaze.com/news/mexican-president-demands-20-billion-and-work-permits-for-10-million-hispanics-before-offering-immigration-help Mexican president demands $20 billion and work permits for 10 million Hispanics before offering immigration help Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently revealed what that U.S. must do in order for the Mexican government to help slow down the flow of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and the price is steep. Fox News Digital reported that Lopez Obrador announced his demands during a press conference on Friday. The development comes just a week after the Mexican president met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Mexico City. In order for Mexico to help the U.S., Lopez Obrador demanded that the U.S. provide $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries; provide work visas to 10 million Hispanics who have been working in the U.S. for at least 10 years; end sanctions against Venezuela; and put an end to the blockade of Cuba. The demands have put pressure on President Joe Biden, who has not polled well on illegal immigration since he took over the presidency in 2021. The report noted that the border experienced a large surge of migrants this fall, with around 240,000 encounters per month toward the end of 2023. However, some of the decisions — if Biden decides to go through with the proposal — would need to get the approval of Congress. Lopez Obrador has not been shy about challenging U.S. politicians on the topic of illegal immigration. He recently challenged Texas Governor Greg Abbott on one of the state's new immigration laws just last month. Blaze News reported last month that Abbott had ratified legislation that would make illegal immigration a state crime. The law, Senate Bill 4, moved forward after the Biden administration seemed unwilling to enforce federal immigration law. The state authorities will now be able to arrest foreign nationals who sneak into the country illegally, and magistrates will be able to order illegal aliens to leave the country. Lopez Obrador said last month: "The Texas governor acts that way because he wants to be the Republican vice presidential candidate and wants to win popularity with these measures." "He’s not going to win anything. On the contrary, he is going to lose support because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas, a lot of migrants." However, the law recently ratified in Texas will not punish those who enter the country legally — only those who attempt to circumvent U.S. law. https://notthebee.com/article/parents-who-refuse-to-go-along-with-their-childs-gender-transition-can-now-face-7-years-in-jail-in-scotland Scottish parents could face years in jail for preventing kids from "dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity" Scotland is really making it simple for parents. Let them trans your kids or you go to jail. You may think that's overstatement, but that's actually the plan in Scotland. Parents who do not go along with "affirming" their child's "gender identity" could face jail for SEVEN YEARS! Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to "change or suppress" another individual's gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law. SNP (Scotland National Party) ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a "family setting", raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child's declaration that they are transgender. Just so you know the extent of this proposal and how it could apply to families, one of the examples of "conversion therapy" punishable by jail time is preventing a child from wearing clothing of their preferred gender identity. So if Billy wants to wear a dress and you stop him you would be guilty of "conversion therapy" and be subject to punishment under the law. Even if you don't do anything, the state could preemptively take action against you based solely on your beliefs! If they know you're a conservative Christian in Scotland they could issue civil orders against you, warning you not to cross the line of telling your kids what to do. The Scottish National Party is currently the largest and most represented party in parliament. They hold nearly a majority in the multi-party system. If they're fully on board with this there's not much that can be done to stop them in parliament. It's important to note this is in the "public consultation" phase which, in Scotland and the UK, means they have to lay out the plan for public feedback, in this case until April, before moving forward with the proposal. So my suggestion, between now and April, is for every freedom and faith-loving Scot to channel his inner Braveheart and publicly oppose this radical anti-family, anti-faith, anti-human proposal from the Scottish liberals. Braveheart - FREEDOM- Play 1:36-1:47 https://mynorthwest.com/3945835/rantz-wa-democrats-deem-ammo-privilege-ammunition-tax-way-end-gun-rights/ Wash. Democrats deem ammo a ‘privilege’ as way to end gun rights Washington Democrats opened the 2024 legislative session with another assault on gun rights. This time they hope to reclassify ammunition as a “privilege” — one that should be subject to an onerous tax because the one thing they love more than taking away guns is taking away your money. State Representatives My-Linh Thai and Liz Berry, both Democrats, introduced House Bill 2238. Under the auspices of public safety, claiming access to ammunition is the cause of violence and not their soft-on-crime policies that go easy on criminals (including those who use guns in their crimes), the bill imposes an 11% sales and use tax on ammunition statewide. This would be an additional tax on top of the sales tax and any other tax that may levied when purchasing ammunition. The city of Seattle, for example, imposes a per-round tax. But the bill also reclassified ammunition, claiming you do not have a right to purchase them as a consumer. Instead, it’s labeled a “privilege.” The legislation creates a new section in pre-existing law that reads, “A use tax is levied on every person in this state for the privilege of using ammunition as a consumer at the rate of 11% of the selling price.” Neither Reps. Thai nor Berry responded to inquiries asking the basis for their claim that ammunition is a privilege. But Washington Democrats have set the stage to make this outrageous claim. Washington Democrats have consistently moved to make gun ownership more onerous for non-criminal Washingtonians. The end goal for Democrats is to ban guns so that we cannot protect ourselves against the criminals they embolden. Instead of a flat-out ban against guns, they’ve hoped to reclassify ammunition as a privilege by severely restricting how much of it a gun owner can use at a time. The Washington Legislature approved a bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, and manufacture of firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This is meant to set the precedent claiming Washingtonians do not have a constitutional right to ammunition. Like most of their clearly unconstitutional bills, they’re based on a flimsy and purposefully obtuse understanding of the right to bear arms. The Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 24, clearly states that “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.” You cannot bear arms if the firearm has no ammunition in it. This provision, like the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, implicitly includes all necessary components of firearms like ammunition as essential to the protected exercise of the right to bear arms. Without access to ammunition, the right to bear arms would be rendered meaningless, as firearms without ammunition are unable to fulfill their intended purpose in defense of oneself or the state. In an ironic twist, Democrats are the best gun salesmen. Their actions are pushing Washingtonians into purchases they might not otherwise make. Washington Democrats’ interest in banning guns does not extend to the criminals they support with legislation that keeps them out of prison before the end of their sentences under the claim the criminal justice system is racist. By passing legislation that is clearly tied to the rise in crime, they give every Washingtonian ample reason to purchase firearms for self-defense. We have a rise in violent crime in Seattle, where homicides have hit historic highs. Democrats pretend they hold no blame in this new reality. State Reps Tarra Simmons and David Hackney pushed a bill in the 2022 legislative session to lessen charges against drive-by shooters. It would even be applied retroactively to release a drive-by shooter serving time. They claimed the change promoted “racial equity in the criminal legal system” because they implied too many black people commit drive-by shootings and it’s unfair for them to be charged more than white people who don’t commit as many drive-by shootings. It was as silly an argument as it was racist. Only after considerable public pushback, did the bill die. But it seems reasonable to want a firearm to protect yourself when you have pro-criminal legislators pushing dangerous bills. State Rep. Roger Goodman, another anti-gun Democrat, is back this year with HB 1268. It would prevent judges from offering additional years of prison to violent criminals who use guns during their crimes (“stacking” on gun enhancement charges). It even offers “good time credits” (or earned release time) to felons serving time on a firearm or deadly weapon enhancement. Any one of these criminals released early is reason enough to own a firearm of your own.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, January 11th, 2024. Pub Membership Plug: Public Houses, or Pubs, are not just places to drink beer, wine, cider or even something a little stronger. It is also a unique social centre, very often the focus of community life in villages, towns and cities throughout the length and breadth of the world. We here at CrossPolitic hope to emulate that for you and yours. That’s why you should grab yourself a pub membership at fightlaughfeast.com… we need you on this ride with us. So pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us on this ride at fightlaughfeast.com - that’s fightlaughfeast.com. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-hunter-biden-shows-up-at-house-while-oversight-considers-contempt-resolution-against-him?utm_campaign=64487 Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at Oversight contempt proceeding in congress, then storms out After defying a Congressional subpoena in December, Hunter Biden made a surprise appearance at Wednesday’s markup meeting in which lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee are working on a resolution to hold the president’s son in contempt of Congress. House Oversight member Nancy Mace addressed Biden directly. https://twitter.com/i/status/1745105809439150194 - Play Video When Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene began speaking Hunter Biden stormed out, with Greene telling him as he left, "Apparently you’re afraid of my words." https://twitter.com/i/status/1745108562043437517 - Play 0:00-0:39 Then as Hunter Biden was exiting the building, a man asked him on numerous occasions, “are you on crack today?” https://twitter.com/i/status/1745107221992632623 - Play Video Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell addressed reporters in the halls of Congress, saying that "Republicans have sought to use [Hunter Biden} as a surrogate to attack his father." Lowell said that "we have offered to work with House committees to see what and how relevant information to any legitimate inquiry could be provided." "Our first five offers were ignored. And then in November, they issued a subpoena for a behind-closed-doors deposition, a tactic that the Republicans have repeatedly misused in their political crusade to selectively leave and mischaracterize what witnesses have said." Hunter Biden was subpoenaed to appear for a closed-door deposition on December 13, 2023. He refused to attend this deposition, instead speaking from the Capitol lawn. Hunter Biden declared that he would only appear in a public session, but Committee on House Administration rules states that depositions of a witness are to take place only in the presence of the "Committee, Committee staff designed by the Chairman or the ranking minority member, an official reporter, the witness, and the witness’ two designated attorneys." Hunter Biden, however, doesn't think this rule should apply to him. https://www.theblaze.com/news/mexican-president-demands-20-billion-and-work-permits-for-10-million-hispanics-before-offering-immigration-help Mexican president demands $20 billion and work permits for 10 million Hispanics before offering immigration help Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador recently revealed what that U.S. must do in order for the Mexican government to help slow down the flow of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and the price is steep. Fox News Digital reported that Lopez Obrador announced his demands during a press conference on Friday. The development comes just a week after the Mexican president met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Mexico City. In order for Mexico to help the U.S., Lopez Obrador demanded that the U.S. provide $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries; provide work visas to 10 million Hispanics who have been working in the U.S. for at least 10 years; end sanctions against Venezuela; and put an end to the blockade of Cuba. The demands have put pressure on President Joe Biden, who has not polled well on illegal immigration since he took over the presidency in 2021. The report noted that the border experienced a large surge of migrants this fall, with around 240,000 encounters per month toward the end of 2023. However, some of the decisions — if Biden decides to go through with the proposal — would need to get the approval of Congress. Lopez Obrador has not been shy about challenging U.S. politicians on the topic of illegal immigration. He recently challenged Texas Governor Greg Abbott on one of the state's new immigration laws just last month. Blaze News reported last month that Abbott had ratified legislation that would make illegal immigration a state crime. The law, Senate Bill 4, moved forward after the Biden administration seemed unwilling to enforce federal immigration law. The state authorities will now be able to arrest foreign nationals who sneak into the country illegally, and magistrates will be able to order illegal aliens to leave the country. Lopez Obrador said last month: "The Texas governor acts that way because he wants to be the Republican vice presidential candidate and wants to win popularity with these measures." "He’s not going to win anything. On the contrary, he is going to lose support because there are a lot of Mexicans in Texas, a lot of migrants." However, the law recently ratified in Texas will not punish those who enter the country legally — only those who attempt to circumvent U.S. law. https://notthebee.com/article/parents-who-refuse-to-go-along-with-their-childs-gender-transition-can-now-face-7-years-in-jail-in-scotland Scottish parents could face years in jail for preventing kids from "dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity" Scotland is really making it simple for parents. Let them trans your kids or you go to jail. You may think that's overstatement, but that's actually the plan in Scotland. Parents who do not go along with "affirming" their child's "gender identity" could face jail for SEVEN YEARS! Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to "change or suppress" another individual's gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law. SNP (Scotland National Party) ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a "family setting", raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child's declaration that they are transgender. Just so you know the extent of this proposal and how it could apply to families, one of the examples of "conversion therapy" punishable by jail time is preventing a child from wearing clothing of their preferred gender identity. So if Billy wants to wear a dress and you stop him you would be guilty of "conversion therapy" and be subject to punishment under the law. Even if you don't do anything, the state could preemptively take action against you based solely on your beliefs! If they know you're a conservative Christian in Scotland they could issue civil orders against you, warning you not to cross the line of telling your kids what to do. The Scottish National Party is currently the largest and most represented party in parliament. They hold nearly a majority in the multi-party system. If they're fully on board with this there's not much that can be done to stop them in parliament. It's important to note this is in the "public consultation" phase which, in Scotland and the UK, means they have to lay out the plan for public feedback, in this case until April, before moving forward with the proposal. So my suggestion, between now and April, is for every freedom and faith-loving Scot to channel his inner Braveheart and publicly oppose this radical anti-family, anti-faith, anti-human proposal from the Scottish liberals. Braveheart - FREEDOM- Play 1:36-1:47 https://mynorthwest.com/3945835/rantz-wa-democrats-deem-ammo-privilege-ammunition-tax-way-end-gun-rights/ Wash. Democrats deem ammo a ‘privilege’ as way to end gun rights Washington Democrats opened the 2024 legislative session with another assault on gun rights. This time they hope to reclassify ammunition as a “privilege” — one that should be subject to an onerous tax because the one thing they love more than taking away guns is taking away your money. State Representatives My-Linh Thai and Liz Berry, both Democrats, introduced House Bill 2238. Under the auspices of public safety, claiming access to ammunition is the cause of violence and not their soft-on-crime policies that go easy on criminals (including those who use guns in their crimes), the bill imposes an 11% sales and use tax on ammunition statewide. This would be an additional tax on top of the sales tax and any other tax that may levied when purchasing ammunition. The city of Seattle, for example, imposes a per-round tax. But the bill also reclassified ammunition, claiming you do not have a right to purchase them as a consumer. Instead, it’s labeled a “privilege.” The legislation creates a new section in pre-existing law that reads, “A use tax is levied on every person in this state for the privilege of using ammunition as a consumer at the rate of 11% of the selling price.” Neither Reps. Thai nor Berry responded to inquiries asking the basis for their claim that ammunition is a privilege. But Washington Democrats have set the stage to make this outrageous claim. Washington Democrats have consistently moved to make gun ownership more onerous for non-criminal Washingtonians. The end goal for Democrats is to ban guns so that we cannot protect ourselves against the criminals they embolden. Instead of a flat-out ban against guns, they’ve hoped to reclassify ammunition as a privilege by severely restricting how much of it a gun owner can use at a time. The Washington Legislature approved a bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, and manufacture of firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This is meant to set the precedent claiming Washingtonians do not have a constitutional right to ammunition. Like most of their clearly unconstitutional bills, they’re based on a flimsy and purposefully obtuse understanding of the right to bear arms. The Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 24, clearly states that “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.” You cannot bear arms if the firearm has no ammunition in it. This provision, like the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, implicitly includes all necessary components of firearms like ammunition as essential to the protected exercise of the right to bear arms. Without access to ammunition, the right to bear arms would be rendered meaningless, as firearms without ammunition are unable to fulfill their intended purpose in defense of oneself or the state. In an ironic twist, Democrats are the best gun salesmen. Their actions are pushing Washingtonians into purchases they might not otherwise make. Washington Democrats’ interest in banning guns does not extend to the criminals they support with legislation that keeps them out of prison before the end of their sentences under the claim the criminal justice system is racist. By passing legislation that is clearly tied to the rise in crime, they give every Washingtonian ample reason to purchase firearms for self-defense. We have a rise in violent crime in Seattle, where homicides have hit historic highs. Democrats pretend they hold no blame in this new reality. State Reps Tarra Simmons and David Hackney pushed a bill in the 2022 legislative session to lessen charges against drive-by shooters. It would even be applied retroactively to release a drive-by shooter serving time. They claimed the change promoted “racial equity in the criminal legal system” because they implied too many black people commit drive-by shootings and it’s unfair for them to be charged more than white people who don’t commit as many drive-by shootings. It was as silly an argument as it was racist. Only after considerable public pushback, did the bill die. But it seems reasonable to want a firearm to protect yourself when you have pro-criminal legislators pushing dangerous bills. State Rep. Roger Goodman, another anti-gun Democrat, is back this year with HB 1268. It would prevent judges from offering additional years of prison to violent criminals who use guns during their crimes (“stacking” on gun enhancement charges). It even offers “good time credits” (or earned release time) to felons serving time on a firearm or deadly weapon enhancement. Any one of these criminals released early is reason enough to own a firearm of your own.

In this week's episode, we talk to one of the BBC's longest-serving political presenters, James Naughtie, who has covered every United States and United Kingdom election since the 1990s. We hear his observations on the recent implosion of the Scottish National Party, the stunning downfall of Nicola Sturgeon, one of the longest-running political leaders in the UK, and the 2024 American presidential election and why he thinks Donald Trump appeals to the electorate. Naughtie is one of many journalists who have written espionage thrillers, so our resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, gives his verdict on what these novels get right and wrong. Sir Richard reacts to Israel's landmark Supreme Court ruling striking down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul plan. 

Michael Malice (“YOUR WELCOME”) welcomes the always funny, Count Dankula, back onto the show to talk about the recent (and hilarious) happenings in the Scottish National Party, how the Hays Code era in Hollywood has many similarities to today, and what happens when video games accidentally send the wrong message. twitter.com/CountDankulaTV youtube.com/c/countdankula Order THE WHITE PILL: http://whitepillbook.com/ Order THE ANARCHIST HANDBOOK: https://www.amzn.com/B095DVF8FJ Order THE NEW RIGHT: https://amzn.to/2IFFCCu Order DEAR READER: https://t.co/vZfTVkK6qf?amp=1 https://twitter.com/michaelmalice https://instagram.com/michaelmalice https://malice.locals.com https://youtube.com/michaelmaliceofficial Intro song: "Out of Reach" by Legendary House Cats https://thelegendaryhousecats.bandcamp.com/ The newest episode of "YOUR WELCOME" releases on iTunes and YouTube every Wednesday! Please subscribe and leave a review. This week's sponsors: Miracle Made Sheets – Self-Cleaning Sheets: trymiracle.com/MALICE (Free Towel Set + over 40% off) Omaha Steaks: omahasteaks.com, promo code: Malice (50% off sitewide + extra $30 off) Patriot Gold Group – No Fee IRA: Call 888-505-9845 or visit malicegold.com (Free investor guide) PlutoTV – Streaming TV: Pluto.tv Sheath - Dual Pouch Underwear: sheathunderwear.com, promo code: MALICE (20% off)

We talk to Stephen Byrne, host of Whats Am Politics about events in the United Kingdom with some contrasts to politics in the United States. In the UK currently, the government is very unpopular but there's nothing they or anyone else can do about it for at least six months, and probably a year. Meanwhile, a man labelled 'Mr. Boring' might become the country's leader. And a major third party in Parliament, the Scottish National Party, may be decimated in the next election due to intra party changes. Complex, yet interesting - tune in. What Am Politics -https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hvnK8EhRyANSapXIh8PQI We are part of Airwave Media Network Wish to advertise on the show? advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Autumn Statement is an update on the Government's taxation and spending plans for the economy. The statement usually takes place in October or November, and is delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Commons. After the Statement is delivered, the Shadow Chancellor will respond, followed by a representative for the Scottish National Party. The Chair of the Treasury Committee is often called to respond at this point too. MPs will then debate the Autumn Statement for three days.

Two of Britain's ruling political parties find themselves without the strong, charismatic leaders who won them a handsome election victory – and now they're struggling. At Westminster, it's the Tories who are emerging, with difficulty, from the shadow of Boris Johnson. At Holyrood, it's the Scottish National Party getting used to life without Nicola Sturgeon. Both were once riding high – yet this month, both the Conservatives and the SNP lost closely-watched byelection contests to Labour, those Tory defeats coming in Tamworth and mid-Bedfordshire just a few days ago. But the hole left after a once-dominant leader departs the stage is not new – not in Westminster and not in Edinburgh. .Jonathan Freedland takes The Long View of the void left by once-dominant leaders - to the fall-out from the demise of Sir Robert Peel in the middle of the 19th century and the way Tory politics was upended by the exit of the man who had all but created the modern Conservative Party; and the power vacuum that was left by the sudden death of King James V of Scotland in 1542. The Guests Dr Luke Blaxill, political historian at Hertford College, Oxford Dr Amy Blakeway, Senior Lecturer in Scottish History at St Andrews Readers Michael Bertenshaw Kenny Blyth Assistant Producer: Olivia Sopel Production Coordinator: Shan Pillay Producer: Mohini Patel

Lisa Cameron MP has quit the SNP to join the Conservative party, just days before the SNP holds its party conference in Aberdeen. What does this say about the state of the Scottish National Party under Humza Yousaf? James Heale talks to Isabel Hardman and Lucy Dunn. Produced by Max Jeffery and Cindy Yu.

Host Ailbhe Rea hits the campaign trail in the greater Glasgow constituency of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, where a high-profile by-election battle between Labour and the ruling Scottish National Party looks very much like next year's general election in Scotland in microcosm.Ailbhe meets the leaders of the two parties battling it out here: the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar. She meets their candidates, the SNP's Katy Loudon and Labour's Michael Shanks, and the voters of Ruthergen and Hamilton West. Everyone's favourite pollster, Professor John Curtice, explains what's at stake.And do be sure to check out POLITICO's brand new transatlantic podcast "Power Play," hosted by Anne McElvoy. In this week's inaugural episode, Labour leader Keir Starmer unpacks his vision for U.K. foreign policy should he make it to No. 10 at the next election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former head of Israel's Space Directorate claimed last week that ETs from a “galactic federation” have contacted Earth and that former President Donald Trump was “on the verge of revealing” their existence. 5) Illegal biolab apparently owned by shadowy Chinese company discovered near Fresno; 4) New Defense Department memo grants transgenders perks like exemption from physical fitness standards and deployment; 3) Scottish National Party admits to cutting down nearly 16 million trees since 2000 to build wind farms; 2) Former Israeli general claims Donald Trump knows about existence of ETs from “galactic federation”; 1) Would-be robber drops through a hole in bank's roof—into trash can next to the drive-through window and waiting police.

Nish and Coco ask “what's going on with Labour?” Sir Keir Starmer caused consternation within his own ranks, by saying he wouldn't abolish a two-child limit on claiming some benefits - a Tory policy that many of his frontbench colleagues have condemned. Nish and Coco wonder why politically tough decisions only ever seem to come at the expense of the poorest in society. SNP MP Mhairi Black tells Nish and Coco about dodging falling masonry,  sociopaths and bullies in the corridors of Westminster - part of the reason she's quitting at the age of 28. We also have a handy guide to three crucial by-elections. Plus why you should never accept a plum from Coco - or invite her to a picnic!Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk WhatsApp: 07514 644572 (UK) or + 44 7514 644572Twitter: @podsavetheukGuest:Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, and deputy leader of the SNP at Westminster.Audio credits:Sunday with Laura KuenssbergBBC Newsparliamentlive.tv

Narendra Modi is cosying up to America, but not at the expense of valuable relationships with Russia and China. Our correspondent speaks with the country's foreign secretary who details its unique worldview. After losing its charismatic leader, what does the future hold for the Scottish National Party? And a change the supply of body parts in Britain.Please take a moment to fill out our new listener survey: www.economist.com/podcastsurvey For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narendra Modi is cosying up to America, but not at the expense of valuable relationships with Russia and China. Our correspondent speaks with the country's foreign secretary who details its unique worldview. After losing its charismatic leader, what does the future hold for the Scottish National Party? And a change the supply of body parts in Britain.Please take a moment to fill out our new listener survey: www.economist.com/podcastsurvey For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The blistering report into Boris Johnson's behaviour by the House of Commons privileges committee casts doubt over his political future. The FT's Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher is joined by FT columnists Stephen Bush and Miranda Green to discuss the committee's brutal conclusions — and where the former prime minister goes next. Plus, the FT's Scotland correspondent Lukanyo Mnyanda joins Lucy from Edinburgh for an update on the turmoil engulfing the ruling Scottish National Party.Follow Lucy on Twitter @LOS_FisherRead a transcript of this episode on FT.comWant more? Has Rishi Sunak seen the back of Boris Johnson?Johnsonism will haunt the Conservative partyHumza Yousaf rejects calls to suspend Nicola Sturgeon from SNPSign up for 90 free days of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter, winner of the World Association of News Publishers 2023 ‘Best Newsletter' award: https://ft.com/insidepoliticsofferPresented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Anna Dedhar and Audrey Tinline. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Audio mix and original music by Breen Turner. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. View our accessibility guide Clips: Jacob Rees-Mogg:BBC, Angela Rayner:Sky News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On power, values and class.   [Patreon Exclusive]   British professor Matt Goodwin joins us to talk about his recent new book Values, Voice and Virtue: The New British Politics published earlier this year with Penguin. Matt has argued that a new elite has come to dominate public life, leading institutions and the cultural industries in Britain and across the wider Western world, and that they are fixated with issues that divide them from the larger public – to whom they are bitter and hostile.   We talk about elites, old and new, as well as ideas about elites stemming back to Daniel Bell and Christopher Lasch, and how these elites are shaping the future of politics.   Matt also gives us a breakdown of the most recent local elections from the UK, what has happened with the Scottish National Party since the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, why Keir Starmer's Labour party will likely win the next election, and why the Tories are - contrary to their ruthless reputation - failing to adapt to the new political landscape.   Readings: National Swing Man, the British electorate's new-old tribe, Bagehot, The Economist A decade of SNP one-party rule left Scotland in a state, Matthew Goodwin, The Times Sunak's Tories have lost the Red Wall – and are destined for oblivion, Matthew Goodwin, The Telegraph The New Elite is in complete denial, Matthew Goodwin, spiked

The Scottish National Party's treasurer, Colin Beattie, has been arrested by police investigating its finances.

China has pledged to “join forces” with “like-minded” Russia to defend national interests. Step by step, the conflict in Ukraine is transitioning into a world war. 5) China echoes Russia's call for investigation into destruction of Nord Stream gas pipelines; 4) Deadly strain of avian flu spreading to mammals; 3) Candidate to head Scottish National Party forced to defend biblical views on marriage; 2) Asbury revival spreading to other Christian universities; 1) New study shows that people with higher cognitive ability are less likely to be woke.