Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007
POPULARITY
Categories
As the U.S. escalates military operations against Iran, questions arise about the loyalty of allies—especially the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially refused access to British bases for U.S. forces, delaying support just days before missile strikes. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump asserts U.S. dominance and questions the effectiveness of NATO and the UN, emphasizing that American-built bases and personnel are at risk. The episode breaks down the geopolitical stakes, European reluctance, and what this means for U.S. global strategy. Episode Summary U.S.-UK relations are under scrutiny as the Iran conflict unfolds. Sixteen days before the first U.S. missile strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump requested access to UK bases. Keir Starmer initially refused, sparking criticism from former leaders like Tony Blair and raising existential questions about the UK's role as an ally. The refusal, analysts suggest, may be politically motivated to appease Muslim immigrant voters in Britain—a key demographic for the Labour Party. Even after agreeing to allow access, Starmer addressed immigrant groups first, seemingly prioritizing domestic politics over strategic obligations. Operational challenges compounded the issue. British forces struggled to deploy the HMS Dragon to protect UK bases in Cyprus due to shipyard scheduling limits and RAF constraints, highlighting logistical hurdles. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio emphasizes the importance of loyal allies, contrasting the U.K.'s delays with the unwavering cooperation of other nations. Critics argue this underscores the risks of relying on European partners whose domestic politics may interfere with global security. From missiles striking bases to European hesitation, the episode paints a detailed picture of how U.S. strategy depends not just on military might, but on alliances—and how fragile those alliances can be when political considerations dominate. Key Takeaways UK initially refused U.S. access to bases for Iran operations, delaying strikes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces criticism for prioritizing domestic politics over strategic needs. U.S.-built bases and personnel remain at risk from Iranian missile strikes. The incident raises questions about NATO, UN, and the reliability of European allies. Logistical issues, like deployment of the HMS Dragon and RAF limitations, delayed defense of British interests. Senator Marco Rubio stresses the value of true allies who support U.S. operations unconditionally. Host: Tara Show: AmperWave Daily Topic Tags: Iran Conflict, U.S.-UK Relations, NATO, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Military Strategy, HMS Dragon, European Politics, Geopolitics
From contested UK cooperation in the Iran conflict to explosive domestic terrorism and unresolved Epstein case mysteries, today's episode dissects the chaos at home and abroad. President Donald Trump navigates allies' delays, military strategy, and geopolitical risk, while law enforcement and media misreport ISIS-inspired attacks in New York City. Plus, shocking DOJ revelations from the Epstein case highlight systemic failure. Episode Summary The United States' Iran operation sparks global and domestic controversies. The UK initially refused U.S. requests to use military bases for attacks on Iran, creating a diplomatic firestorm. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced heavy criticism from Tony Blair and British media, reportedly prioritizing political survival and immigrant voting blocs over allied cooperation. The HMS Dragon deployment and RAF response highlight logistical delays caused by strict labor rules, raising questions about NATO and allied reliability. On the ground, the U.S. and Israel maintain overwhelming air superiority against Iran. President Donald Trump praises the campaign's effectiveness, with thousands of Iranian military targets already struck and ground invasions deemed unnecessary. Energy markets spike, but experts assert the oil price increase is temporary. Domestically, New York City faced terror threats when self-radicalized ISIS supporters targeted protests near Gracie Mansion, using IEDs packed with the volatile “Mother of Satan” explosive. Misreporting by mainstream media initially mischaracterized the attackers and their motives, obscuring the severity of the incident. Legal and political commentary highlights the disconnect between narrative framing and reality. Meanwhile, new DOJ documents on the Jeffrey Epstein case reveal suspicious behavior and cash activity by prison staff before his death, raising further questions about accountability and transparency in federal institutions. Key Takeaways UK initially resisted U.S. requests to use military bases in Iran; Starmer faces criticism from Blair and the British media. HMS Dragon and RAF responses delayed due to labor regulations; NATO reliability questioned. U.S. and Israeli air forces dominate Iranian skies; ground invasion unnecessary. Oil prices spike temporarily; short-term disruptions tied to fear, not supply shortages. ISIS-inspired IED attacks in NYC misreported by media; attackers targeted ideological opponents. DOJ files on Epstein reveal suspicious cash deposits and questionable guard behavior, sparking renewed scrutiny. Topic Tags: Iran Conflict, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, NATO, UK Military, ISIS, Gracie Mansion, Mother of Satan, Jeffrey Epstein, DOJ, FBI, U.S. Security, Oil Markets, Marco Rubio, Geopolitics, Domestic Terrorism
From the UK's surprising delays on Iran base access to explosive revelations about secret FBI files, this episode dives deep into global and domestic power plays. We cover Trump's strategy in Iran, UK Prime Minister Starmer's controversial stance, the chaos in Cuba, the rise of ISIS-inspired attacks in New York, and how the FBI's secret “prohibited access” system threatens oversight. Total power, total control—what's really happening behind the scenes? Episode Summary: UK Stumbles in Iran War: Starmer refuses US use of bases, delaying operations, while Tony Blair and British media criticize his decision. Trump navigates alliances with unmatched strategic insight. Iran Campaign Update: The US achieves air superiority; Iran's military is crippled. Oil prices spike temporarily, but Trump assures Americans it's short-term. ISIS Attack in NYC: Self-radicalized extremists throw IEDs at protesters, revealing media misinformation and mayoral inaction. Secret FBI Files Exposed: Whistleblowers reveal “prohibited access” files hiding surveillance of Republicans, including Trump allies. Kash Patel now investigates and cleans house. Latin America & Cartels: Trump works directly with heads of state to dismantle cartel leadership, offering targeted military precision. Cuba & Beyond: Lindsey Graham and Trump prepare for intervention, signaling a reshaping of global influence. Political Accountability: Ken Paxton challenges Republican leadership, tying domestic enforcement to global strategy. This episode connects the dots between military strategy, domestic power struggles, and secret intelligence operations—laying bare how alliances, enemies, and internal corruption shape the US today. Social Post Copy:
As news reporters, we are in the story-telling business, the eye witnesses to history, writing, it's said, ‘the first draft of history'. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Lockerbie. Hillsborough. Dunblane. Mad Cow disease. 9/11. These are all events that have entered our national, and international, consciousness. Events so momentous that we can all say where we were, what we were doing, when the Berlin Wall fell, or when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent, Glen Oglaza, can say exactly where he was when these events happened. He was there, he had a front-row seat as history unfolded. And in this informative and fascinating account of those years, he allows the reader to be there too. From Thatcher and the miners' strike, to the Gulf War, the Good Friday Agreement and Tony Blair at Number Ten, captivating national and global events are all given an intriguing new inside angle. Glen Oglaza is an award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent with more than twenty-five years' experience with ITN and Sky News. At ITN, he covered many of the biggest stories of the 1980s and 1990s, and was part of the award-winning ITN teams covering the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the plight of the Kurds in the wake of the First Gulf War, and the massacre in Dunblane. He was BAFTA-nominated for his coverage of the London Poll Tax riot. As a political correspondent, he covered the governments of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Glen is also an accomplished poet with several volumes of poetry published these Religion Fake News and Misdemeanors, No Words, always and his latest collection Spam and other poems. In this podcast we discuss Glen's books When I Stories and More When I Stories (Pegasus, 2024), starting in local journalism in Television news with ITN and Sky News, and the great events he covered during his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
This Matts ad hoc pod episode takes stock of the first days of Operation Epic Fury and wonders if this is the war when it's going well (as Donald Trump insists) what does it look like when it's going badly? Oil through the roof, stock market crashes, service personnel coming home in coffins, regional allies being drone-attacked and now a new Supreme Leader who hates America even more than his dad did. Also - can Keir Starmer take Tony Blair's rebuke and turn it into electoral advantage? And are we seeing the emergence of a Trump dynasty that will influence global politics for decades to come? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As news reporters, we are in the story-telling business, the eye witnesses to history, writing, it's said, ‘the first draft of history'. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Lockerbie. Hillsborough. Dunblane. Mad Cow disease. 9/11. These are all events that have entered our national, and international, consciousness. Events so momentous that we can all say where we were, what we were doing, when the Berlin Wall fell, or when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent, Glen Oglaza, can say exactly where he was when these events happened. He was there, he had a front-row seat as history unfolded. And in this informative and fascinating account of those years, he allows the reader to be there too. From Thatcher and the miners' strike, to the Gulf War, the Good Friday Agreement and Tony Blair at Number Ten, captivating national and global events are all given an intriguing new inside angle. Glen Oglaza is an award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent with more than twenty-five years' experience with ITN and Sky News. At ITN, he covered many of the biggest stories of the 1980s and 1990s, and was part of the award-winning ITN teams covering the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the plight of the Kurds in the wake of the First Gulf War, and the massacre in Dunblane. He was BAFTA-nominated for his coverage of the London Poll Tax riot. As a political correspondent, he covered the governments of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Glen is also an accomplished poet with several volumes of poetry published these Religion Fake News and Misdemeanors, No Words, always and his latest collection Spam and other poems. In this podcast we discuss Glen's books When I Stories and More When I Stories (Pegasus, 2024), starting in local journalism in Television news with ITN and Sky News, and the great events he covered during his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography
At a private lunch last Friday, Tony Blair said that Keir Starmer "should have backed America from the very beginning". Andy and Laura discuss the former PM's meddling, as well as anti-trans protestors putting Hannah Spencer at risk, and polling on Gen-Z men's uniquely conservative views.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As news reporters, we are in the story-telling business, the eye witnesses to history, writing, it's said, ‘the first draft of history'. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Lockerbie. Hillsborough. Dunblane. Mad Cow disease. 9/11. These are all events that have entered our national, and international, consciousness. Events so momentous that we can all say where we were, what we were doing, when the Berlin Wall fell, or when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent, Glen Oglaza, can say exactly where he was when these events happened. He was there, he had a front-row seat as history unfolded. And in this informative and fascinating account of those years, he allows the reader to be there too. From Thatcher and the miners' strike, to the Gulf War, the Good Friday Agreement and Tony Blair at Number Ten, captivating national and global events are all given an intriguing new inside angle. Glen Oglaza is an award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent with more than twenty-five years' experience with ITN and Sky News. At ITN, he covered many of the biggest stories of the 1980s and 1990s, and was part of the award-winning ITN teams covering the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the plight of the Kurds in the wake of the First Gulf War, and the massacre in Dunblane. He was BAFTA-nominated for his coverage of the London Poll Tax riot. As a political correspondent, he covered the governments of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Glen is also an accomplished poet with several volumes of poetry published these Religion Fake News and Misdemeanors, No Words, always and his latest collection Spam and other poems. In this podcast we discuss Glen's books When I Stories and More When I Stories (Pegasus, 2024), starting in local journalism in Television news with ITN and Sky News, and the great events he covered during his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
As news reporters, we are in the story-telling business, the eye witnesses to history, writing, it's said, ‘the first draft of history'. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Lockerbie. Hillsborough. Dunblane. Mad Cow disease. 9/11. These are all events that have entered our national, and international, consciousness. Events so momentous that we can all say where we were, what we were doing, when the Berlin Wall fell, or when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent, Glen Oglaza, can say exactly where he was when these events happened. He was there, he had a front-row seat as history unfolded. And in this informative and fascinating account of those years, he allows the reader to be there too. From Thatcher and the miners' strike, to the Gulf War, the Good Friday Agreement and Tony Blair at Number Ten, captivating national and global events are all given an intriguing new inside angle. Glen Oglaza is an award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent with more than twenty-five years' experience with ITN and Sky News. At ITN, he covered many of the biggest stories of the 1980s and 1990s, and was part of the award-winning ITN teams covering the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the plight of the Kurds in the wake of the First Gulf War, and the massacre in Dunblane. He was BAFTA-nominated for his coverage of the London Poll Tax riot. As a political correspondent, he covered the governments of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Glen is also an accomplished poet with several volumes of poetry published these Religion Fake News and Misdemeanors, No Words, always and his latest collection Spam and other poems. In this podcast we discuss Glen's books When I Stories and More When I Stories (Pegasus, 2024), starting in local journalism in Television news with ITN and Sky News, and the great events he covered during his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/journalism
As news reporters, we are in the story-telling business, the eye witnesses to history, writing, it's said, ‘the first draft of history'. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Lockerbie. Hillsborough. Dunblane. Mad Cow disease. 9/11. These are all events that have entered our national, and international, consciousness. Events so momentous that we can all say where we were, what we were doing, when the Berlin Wall fell, or when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent, Glen Oglaza, can say exactly where he was when these events happened. He was there, he had a front-row seat as history unfolded. And in this informative and fascinating account of those years, he allows the reader to be there too. From Thatcher and the miners' strike, to the Gulf War, the Good Friday Agreement and Tony Blair at Number Ten, captivating national and global events are all given an intriguing new inside angle. Glen Oglaza is an award-winning television news reporter and political correspondent with more than twenty-five years' experience with ITN and Sky News. At ITN, he covered many of the biggest stories of the 1980s and 1990s, and was part of the award-winning ITN teams covering the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the plight of the Kurds in the wake of the First Gulf War, and the massacre in Dunblane. He was BAFTA-nominated for his coverage of the London Poll Tax riot. As a political correspondent, he covered the governments of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Glen is also an accomplished poet with several volumes of poetry published these Religion Fake News and Misdemeanors, No Words, always and his latest collection Spam and other poems. In this podcast we discuss Glen's books When I Stories and More When I Stories (Pegasus, 2024), starting in local journalism in Television news with ITN and Sky News, and the great events he covered during his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture
For the last decade or so we've looked on as the United States has radically changed itself, but the UK has been changing too as it continues to struggle with economic stagnation and the fallout from Brexit.The British people, famous for their aversion to radical and emotional politics, have embarked on a course which was supposed to take them back to the comforting certainties of the past, but has instead, brought them into an uncertain new world.It began with the huge shock of Brexit, then the constant turnover of Prime Ministers including Liz Truss whose term in office was famous outlived by a head of lettuce.In 2025 British Labor won government in a massive landslide, which saw many hope things might settle down, but now Kier Starmer is hanging on by his fingernails.And for those looking to the monarchy for a sense of continuity and national unity, that's not going well either.So what on earth has happened to the land of toast and tea? Ian Dunt is a British political journalist and author of How Westminster Works and Why is Doesn't Ian is also a regular contributor to Late Night Live on Radio National.This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores British politics, Brexit, the financial crash, austerity, David Cameron, The Conservative Party, referendum, European Union, New Labor, populism, government services, the UK-US alliance, Christianity, Marxism, puberty, disillusioned, dogma, ideology, psychedelic, journalism, political discourse, British public school system, elites, power, Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, immigration.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, the Ayatollah is dead - and nobody should mourn a murderous dictator who presided for decades over state-sponsored terrorism across the world. But we don't know if his replacement will be as bad - or worse. Donald Trump says Iranian dissidents should take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sweep into power. But how? The President says the war should last four weeks. But as Iranian bombs rain down on Gulf states who did not want a war, we don't know if it can be contained. Trump's legacy will now be defined by what happens next, just as Tony Blair and George W Bush are defined by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A free and democratic Iran, allied with the West, would be an outcome that eclipses any of Trump's domestic failures or successes. But the same thing applies with equal menace to a regime change that goes the way of US-led regime changes in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and elsewhere. Piers Morgan speaks to former Vice President Mike Pence about the conflict in the Middle East as well as former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett. He's also joined by his panel; The Young Turks Ana Kasparian, System Update host Glenn Greenwald, retired lieutenant colonel and IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus, former general and US assistant secretary of state Mark Kimmitt and former Canadian lawmaker and Iranian activist Goldie Ghamari. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Bruce Power, and Fidelity Investments Canada.Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites. A fellow podcaster on the show today. But leaving his credentials there would be selling our guest very short indeed. Michael Liebreich is here!He's an acclaimed thought leader on clean energy, mobility, technology, climate, sustainability and finance. The CEO of Liebreich Associates and co-managing partner of EcoPragma Capital, which focuses on companies committed to the net-zero transition. Michael's former roles include membership in the UK's Taskforce on Energy Efficiency, advisor to the UK Board of Trade, as well as advisor to the UN on Sustainable Energy for All. He's addressed the UN General Assembly.His very own podcast is called “Cleaning Up” where he hosts in-depth conversations with leaders in climate change and its solutions. Guests have included Tony Blair, Prince Albert of Monaco ... and some fellow named Mark Carney.So today, I'm talking with Michael about clean energy and the energy transition. Lessons learned from efforts until this point. I want to know how clean electrification moves forward and accelerates as political interest in western democracies wanes. And lastly, what should Canada's role in all of this be?Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.
Is authority a justly unfashionable quality that we should consign to the past? Or does it still have a place in political and business leadership, schools, medical settings and in the home? What is the difference between authority and power, how have historical shifts such as the advent of the internet affected public perceptions of authority, and how much should authority feature in the raising of children?In Radio 4's roundtable discussion programme about ideas past and present, Anne McElvoy and guests explore these questions and more.Justine Greening is a former Conservative Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Martin Gurri is a former CIA analyst who writes about the relationship between politics and media who published a book called The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium Sophie Scott-Brown is a philosopher and historian of anarchism Peter Hyman is a former headteacher and adviser to Tony Blair and Keir Starmer who writes a Substack, Changing the Story Tom Simpson is the Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of OxfordProducer: Eliane Glaser
This week on The Trawl, Marina and Jemma sift through a news cycle that feels less like global politics and more like a lads' WhatsApp group with state power.In the US, the Epstein saga takes another disturbing turn as fresh reporting suggests dozens of pages have vanished from the public database — including material relating to allegations against Donald Trump. As questions swirl around the Department of Justice and potential cover-ups, Trump is busy raging about tariffs, lashing out at the Supreme Court, and assembling a “Board of Peace” that looks more like a billionaire protection racket.Back home, the BBC racks up not one but two eyebrow-raising moments — from by-election “impartiality” that looks anything but, to the BAFTAs fallout that reignites serious questions about racism, responsibility and who institutions are really shielding when things go wrong.Meanwhile, in a locker room in the States, Trump phones the victorious US men's hockey team and jokes about “having to” invite the women champions too — thankfully, the women respond with considerably more class (and a rather fabulous Vegas twist).Add in Tony Blair positioning himself as a global peacemaker while Gaza remains in ruins, rumblings of escalation with Iran, and yet another threat from within Trump's own supporter base, and the picture becomes clear: power is being hoarded, accountability is being dodged, and the gaslighting is relentless.It's dark. It's absurd. It's deeply unsettling. But as ever, Marina and Jemma find the clarity, the receipts, and the underrated internet gems that make it survivable.Buckle up, trawlers.Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf you've even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you'll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on• Early access to The Trawl Meets…• Glorious ad-free episodesPlus, there's a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.And it's your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you're not alone.Come join the fun:https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bár az Epstein-aktás botrányáig és a letartóztatásáig alig foglalkozott vele a magyar média, Peter Mandelson az elmúlt negyven év egyik legnagyobb hatású politikusa, a brit Munkáspárt korábbi teljhatalmú kommunikációs vezetője. Mandelson találta ki a "harmadik útra" állított brit szociáldemokrata párt új imázsát - vörös rózsa -, és azt is, hogy az új politikát a feltűrt ingujjú, laza Tony Blair karakterével adják el. Így közvetve az MSZP szegfű-emblémáját és Gyurcsány Ferencet is neki köszönhetjük Magyarországon. Kicsoda Peter Mandelson, akit csak a "Sötétség Hercegeként" emlegettek a brit politikában, és akinek baloldali politikusként Machiavelli és Szun-ce voltak a kedvenc olvasmányai? Hogyan jutott el a fiatalkori, világjobbításban gondolkozó idealista, kommunista aktivista odáig, hogy Jeffrey Epstein jóbarátja legyen? És miként bukott bele most ebbe a kapcsolatba? A Tony Blair és Gordon Brown melletti rejtélyes "harmadik emberről" visszatérő Nagy-Britannia-szakértőnk, Tóth Csaba, a Mérce újságírója beszélgetett velünk.A beszélgetés résztvevői:Csunderlik PéterLaska PálTóth CsabaA Régen minden jobb volt a Tilos Rádió történelmi-popkulturális műsora:https://www.facebook.com/regen.minden.jobb.volt
Hour 2 for 2/26/26 Drew and Elizabeth pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (1:00). Then, Dr. Gavin Ashenden covers conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism (29:02), why some conversions take so long (31:55), the Queen and Tony Blair (34:55), and how England has become woke (43:58). Link: https://drgavinashenden.substack.com/
Norge sa nei. Saudi-Arabia, Tyrkia og Ungarn var blant dem som takket ja. Trump vil styre fredsrådet selv, til evig tid - og skape fred, både i Gaza og andre konfliktområder. Kan han lykkes? Med Midtøsten-korrespondent Gina Grieg Riisnæs og kommentator Halvor Hegtun. Foto: Kevin Lamarque, Reuters/NTB
Charles Steele reflects on "more than two decades in private equity, banking," combined with "public service roles, including advising Tony Blair," and how these experiences led him to a late but powerful discovery: "the best way to really find purpose in life is to be creative, to make stuff." He explains that "the things I'm writing about now I am only able to write about because of what I spent the last two decades doing," and how this realization became a turning point. He describes how stepping outside traditional career paths creates "periods where you have perspective," and how "follow your curiosity" eventually brought him back to the ideas that mattered in his youth. He shares that "in the last five years, I feel like I've become a student again" and that this shift awakened a deeper understanding of work, mission, and meaning. Charles discusses the discipline behind creative work: "writing is not writing. Writing is rewriting," and how the creative act is "one of making mistakes, learning from them, getting better." He also explains the importance of reframing difficulty, saying, "if it was an easy thing to do, then everyone would do it," and why maintaining "a sense of humor" matters when navigating the inevitable "peaks and troughs." Turning to Elon Musk, Charles argues that Musk is "far more different than most people would imagine." He explains that Musk always says, "when I talk you don't need to read between the lines, just read the lines," and that understanding him requires stepping outside our assumptions: "you have to step out of your shoes and step into his shoes." Charles outlines Musk's worldview, guided by what Musk calls "a philosophy of curiosity." Musk believes "the universe is the answer," and that progress comes from learning to "ask better questions" so we can "increase our consciousness" as a civilization. Charles describes how Musk's companies, from Tesla to SpaceX to XAI, are designed as "civilizationally positive" efforts to "increase the scope and scale of consciousness." He explains Musk's use of first-principles thinking: "you need every time to go back to look at your assumptions," then "make a conjecture" and "try and prove that your theory is wrong." This mindset also shapes how Musk builds organizations: through mission, product obsession, and "the rate of innovation," a culture in which people "work extremely hard" because they believe deeply in the purpose. Charles closes by stressing the importance of alignment and risk-taking: that leaders must understand "your risk tolerance," think in "a range of different outcomes," and recognize that this discipline "really helps you to think about how much risk you're willing to take on for what return." Get Charles' book, The Curious Mind of Elon Musk, here: https://charlessteel.com/book/ Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift
Overnight, Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.He has not commented publicly in recent weeks, though he has previously denied any wrongdoing.How long will this row continue to haunt Labour? With more documents due to be released relating to his appointment as US ambassador, can the party contain the damage — or is this just the beginning?Elsewhere, Keir Starmer has made an unexpected visit to Gorton and Denton. Is this a show of confidence — or a last-ditch attempt to shore up support?Tim Shipman and John McTernan, former political secretary to Tony Blair, join Megan McElroy to discuss.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What links Bono and Tony Blair? You may be asking, what doesn't? Both men have made the news as U2's new EP was released and Blair addressed the world as part of Donald Trump's Board of Peace.But what is the fervour that drives them?On Free State today we look at Blair and Bono and what happens when a man believes he can change the world.What is Blair's goal on the Board of Peace and why is he there? Some people ask the same about U2 and their music…Let us know what you think - info@freestatepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Just hours after Peter Mandelson was released on bail by police investigating allegations of misconduct in a public office, Ava, Laura, and Seán head to the studio to break down today's Opposition Day debate.The Lib Dems are planning to get MPs to back the release of documents detailing the process behind Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as a trade envoy under Tony Blair.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Julia Hartley-Brewer Show, Julia is joined by Lord Foulkes (Labour peer and former minister under Tony Blair) and Brendan O'Neill (Chief Political Writer at Spiked) to unpack the growing political storm around Peter Mandelson's arrest last night in connection with the wider Jeffrey Epstein fallout. He was released on bail in the early hours of the morning. With Mandelson denying wrongdoing and there being no confirmed charges, the focus turns to Keir Starmer's political judgement in appointing Mandelson in the first place. Does Britain operate with one rule for the powerful and another for everyone else? Julia argues the story now lands squarely on Keir Starmer, because it raises questions about why someone with controversial associations was elevated to a senior diplomatic role — and what ministers and security vetting may have known.The episode also ranges across Reform UK's immigration and ECHR stance, proposals to restrict the Burka and other face coverings, and the Gorton & Denton by-election, including controversy over campaigning in languages other than English - namely Urdu, appealing to British-Pakistani voters - and the rise of sectarian-style politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dopo il clamoroso fermo dell'ormai ex principe Andrea, è stato arrestato da Scotland Yard l'ex ambasciatore del Regno Unito Peter Mandelson perchè travolto a livello giudiziario dai suoi stretti legami con il finanziere pedofilo Jeffrey Epstein.
Could Reform really carry out a Trump-style, Project 2025-inspired shock-and-awe assault on Britain's institutions and politics if they get into government? America's much-vaunted system of checks and balances turned out to be made of tissue paper. Is Britain's hand-me-down constitution any more robust? We look at the firewalls in our politics with special guest James Ball of The New World paper. Plus, what did we make of Channel 4's epic Tony Blair documentary? Did it let Tonty off too lightly? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: Barack Obama thinks aliens are real. Why do UFOs hold such a weird grip on the political imagination? ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn recommends Hijack with Idris Elba on Apple TV+ • Jason recommends Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic by Stu Hennigan. You can hear our vintage 2023 Bunker with Stu Hennigan on Apple, Spotify and everywhere else. • James loved White House murder comedy The Residence on Netflix. • Seth recommends the Panorama documentary Our Man in Moscow. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Simon Williams and Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I denne uges udsendelse skal det handle om en legendarisk prisuddeling, for i går (19. februar) var det nemlig præcis 30 år siden, at den britiske musikpris Brit Awards 1996 blev uddelt ved et stort show i Earl's Court i det vestlige London. Ved uddelingen året før havde der været et ”blodigt” opgør mellem Blur og Oasis, og Blur endte med at vinde 4 priser mod Oasis' ene. Men i 1996 er britpoppen på sit højeste, begge bands har udgivet nye albums året før, og der er derfor endnu engang lagt op til en duel mellem de 2 grupper. Det skal vise sig at blive en aften der udvikler sig til et af de mest vilde shows i 90'erne. Som en rollercoaster i frit fald. Ikke mindst pga. de mange superkendte stjerner der har lagt vejen forbi London denne aften. Det er bl.a. Kylie Minogue, Bob Geldof, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Pete Townshend, Massive Attack, Celine Dion, Brian Eno og sågar Tony Blair. Vi spiller også flere numre fra nogle af aftenens store stjerner deriblandt, David Bowie, Simply Red, Annie Lennox, Take That, Pulp og selvfølgelig også Blur og Oasis. Derudover mindes vi gamle tandbørster, vi kigger endnu engang på den turbulente Michael Jackson optræden, vi overvejer hvad der mon var særligt ved uddelingen i 1999, og så kommer vi også lige forbi en forbigået Per Gessle, Alanis Mosilette, en vred Michael Hutchence, den amerikanske psykolog Howard Gardner, Björks daværende forlovede, diverse James Bond film og så afslører Andy sin store afhandling om den engelske 90'er skuespiller Neil Morrisseys afdøde bror. Playliste: Blur - Parklife Simply Red - Fairground Supergrass - Alright Alanis Morissette - Hand in my pocket INXS - Elegantly wasted Take That - Back for good Pulp - Sorted for E's & Wizz Annie Lennox - No more I love you's Oasis - Roll with it David Bowie - Hallo spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys Mix) David Bowie - Under pressure (Live at Brit Awards 1996)
The Board of Peace began with the grand ambition of reconstructing Gaza and securing a lasting end to one of the world's most intractable conflicts. But with Donald Trump as chairman for life, its ambitions have grown: it wants to become a wider international peacekeeping organisation. As members meet for the first time in Washington DC, will their lofty ambitions translate into action on the ground? Or is it all just a vanity project?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Gabrielle Weiniger, Israel correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Harry Stott, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Tony Blair to attend Trump's inaugural Board of Peace meetingFurther listening: Trump's Greenland play and the future of transatlantic relationsClips: OneIndia News / Youtube, AP / Youtube, CTV, BBC, Channel 4, ABC News.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Laura sits down with Michael Waldman, series director of new documentary The Tony Blair Story, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most consequential and controversial political figures in modern Britain.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As I watch Chris Hipkins, presumably gleefully, mess about with the India Free Trade deal, I'm reminded this is not the Labour Party that did the FTA with China. Hipkins is no Helen Clark and in that is a great sadness. For all those who occasionally contact me and ask of the possibility of a so-called “grand coalition” —a relationship between the Labour and National parties— before you ask, next time look at the way Hipkins plays these games and there is your answer. Even in areas of broad agreement, they still can't act like grownups. It's also a lesson in name vs substance. The Labour Party of the past few years is nothing like Labour of the late 90's and early 2000's. That was a centrist version. Yes, they still handed out free money to people like students to bribe them in election year. But the rest of the time they actually ran the economy in growth. Compared to Barbara Edmonds, Michael Cullen was a conservative. In the early parts of 1984 Labour, with David Lange, was similar, and here is your irony that Hipkins fails to recognise: when Labour are, broadly speaking, middle of the road they are actually popular. Ask Bob Hawke or Paul Keating or Tony Blair – centrist Labour is successful Labour. By the time you take modern Labour with Hipkins and Sepuloni, and add the Greens in the mix, you are seeing the left wing “group think” that not only keeps them out of office, but leads to the sort of game playing we have with an FTA. Yes, the Government probably shouldn't have to rely on them and for all the games Labour plays, New Zealand First is just as bad with their xenophobic nonsense. But Labour once had a global view. It's not like the Chinese weren't thought of with great suspicion prior to 2008. But the bigger picture was at play. The realisation that large countries and their economies could be good for everyone was a driving force. What Labour would do well to do is put this country first. Not score points, not look like children, and not pretend they actually had anything to do with negotiating this thing at all. FTAs are big picture, not a three-year electoral cycle game. I don't think I'm alone in wishing there were more adults in the room. Labour 1999-2008 put the current lot to shame. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Caroline Wheeler of The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.After a week in which the Prime Minister had to fight for his political survival, Caroline speaks to Labour grandee, Alan Johnson, a Cabinet minister in both the Blair and Brown governments, and Peter Hyman, a former strategist for Tony Blair when he was in Number Ten.In the wake of the scandal around Peter Mandelson, and amid concerns about the slow progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a new cross-party group is calling for 'wholesale' reform of the House of Lords. One of those involved is Carmen Smith of Plaid Cymru, the youngest member of the House of Lords. Lord Young of Acton, a Conservative peer and founder of the Free Speech Union, is concerned that rule changes on stripping peerages could be used to suppress speech.Ahead of the Government's Schools White Paper, which is likely to include controversial reforms to special educational needs provision, Caroline speaks to Jo Hutchinson of the Education Policy Institute about how the system might be changed.And, to discuss what it's like inside Number Ten at moments of political crisis, Caroline brings together Guto Harri, former Director of Communications to Boris Johnson, and Luke Sullivan, former political director for Sir Keir Starmer.
Sam is an experienced transformational leader and adviser with 25 years experience in politics, government, policy-making, strategy, sustainability, financial services and running his own business.Sam has undertaken some big roles in politics and Government. He was Sir Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff for the turnaround of the Labour Party and long-serving adviser to Chancellor Rt Hon Alistair Darling's during the Global Financial Crisis. Sam helped Starmer drive the political and professional transformation of the Labour Party in opposition; climbing from -10% in the polls when Sam took on the role to +30% when he left.He has worked across Government: in Whitehall, in devolved administrations and with intergovernmental bodies, and covered briefs including the Treasury, transport, energy, business and trade during the last Labour Governments under Tony Blair & Gordon Brown.Sam spent a decade as a senior executive at the FTSE100 Aviva plc, running a range of teams and advising the CEOs and Board. One of the projects he was most proud of is authoring Aviva's Net Zero 2040 plan, which remains one of the most ambitious and comprehensive climate plans for a major financial services company.Today, Sam is Chair of Foundations: the What Works Centre for Children and Families, advising government on effective interventions in policies affecting children (for example children's social care, family support etc). He has a long history championing causes including Living Wage Foundation, Climate Change, Gender Equality and Social Mobility.He also acts as a Specialist Partner at the strategic consultancy Flint Global as well as MD of his own advisory business Next Chapter Strategy, working with senior leaders in business, charities and politics. He is on a number of advisory boards, including the Social Market Foundation think tank.He is married, living in Yorkshire with two daughters. And is proud to have been one of the most senior job-sharing dads in the UK.Sam regularly appears on the media to provide insight and commentary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mandelson crisis engulfs an already embattled Starmer Nick Cohen talks to John McTernan about the Labour Party's deep political crisis in the wake of the struggles, leadership challenges, and ideological direction. They explore athe implications of the Peter Mandelson scandal, the factionalism within the Labour Party, and the broader context of the collapse of Christian democracy, which has created opportunities and challenges for the centre-left. John McTernan emphasise the need for Labour to reconnect with its ideological roots and address key issues like housing and AI, while Nick highlights the importance of strong leadership and communication. They also discuss potential leadership candidates like Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, and the broader political landscape, including the rise of Reform and the Greens. They discuss the urgency for Labour to define a clear purpose and coherent political economy to address the challenges of the modern era.Labour's struggles under StarmerJohn McTernan and Nick discuss the current dire state of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer's leadership, now plunged into dee crisis over the Peter Mandelson crisis. They criticise Starmer's administration for being overly factional and ostracising lmore eft-wing members like Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband. John suggest that the Labour Party needs to engage with more left of centre ideas to create a more balanced and effective political strategy. They emphasise the importance of owning the future and fairness in politics, which the Labour Party currently lacks. Nick and John agree that Starmer's government lacks a clear purpose and direction, leading to internal conflicts and ineffective governance.Read all about it! John McTernan @Johnmcternan is a political strategist and commentator, and a former senior advisor to the Labour Party. John was Tony Blair's Director of Political Operations from 2005-2007 before acting as special advisor to two cabinet ministers under Blair's Number 10 successor - Gordon Brown. Other roles since then has been as a columnist at The Scotsman and as Director of Communications for Australia's Labor party prime minister Julia Gillard.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lord Foulkes, Labour peer and former minister under Tony Blair, comes on The Julia Hartley-Brewer Show to discuss Keir Starmer's chances of survival after Morgan McSweeney, No 10's chief of staff, resigned. Morgan McSweeney and Sir Keir Starmer were previously inseparable. Morgan McSweeney followed Starmer's rise to PM, after deciding that Starmer was the man to win power back for Labour during the Jeremy Corbyn years. When Sir Keir became Labour leader, he advised the PM on electoral strategy, which contributed to a resounding Labour victory in the 2024 general election. But he has been criticised for a failure to adequately prepare for governing - as the government quickly descended into chaos. He resigned following heavy pressure on Downing Street for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. Details continue to emerge revealing the depth of Lord Mandelson's relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Also: Lord Foulkes defends Keir Starmer's record in office, Darren Grimes on Reform's plans for a shadow cabinet, And the whether Reform are being hypocritical about the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson to his role as US ambassador, given the Russian bribery scandal that engulfed Nathan Gill, former leader of Reform in Wales. Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Charles Steel spent two decades at top-tier firms like Goldman Sachs, The Carlyle Group, and Ares Management, working closely with management teams to build companies and deploy capital at scale. He later advised Tony Blair in Jerusalem, chaired Save the Children UK, and most recently authored The Curious Mind of Elon Musk: Nine Ways He Thinks Differently, where he dissects how the world's most driven entrepreneur approaches risk, purpose, and problem-solving. Across finance, policy, and philanthropy, Charles brings a rare, multi-angle perspective on how big money and big ideas actually get made. On this episode we talk about: How a hectic teenage restaurant job taught Charles camaraderie, stoicism, and the confidence that “we'll figure it out and get paid by the end of the day.” The path from a middle-class upbringing and studying history at Cambridge to landing at Goldman Sachs and learning what true excellence looks like. Why he wishes he'd fed his curiosity more at university—and how he's become a student again later in life. The workload and culture at elite investment banks in the late '90s, and the tradeoffs of chasing excellence at 80–100 hour weeks. How curiosity pulled him from private equity into advising Tony Blair in the Middle East and chairing Save the Children UK. Why Elon Musk is so hard to categorize and the three “ingredients” Charles believes truly explain him: existential anxiety, hyper-rational engineering, and unusual creativity. How Musk reframes risk, probability, and failure—and what regular entrepreneurs can learn from that mindset. Why embracing your “strangeness,” feeding your curiosity, and doing intricate, carefully made work can be a powerful (and profitable) life strategy. Top 3 Takeaways Curiosity is not just about asking questions; it's about caring enough to explore deeply, cross disciplines, and stick with difficult, intricate work long enough to make something truly valuable. Elon Musk's advantage isn't just IQ or work ethic—it's the way he reframes risk, failure, and the future as a range of possible outcomes he can influence by backing himself and acting boldly. You don't need to copy Musk to benefit from his thinking; you can apply the same principles by betting on yourself, embracing hard problems, and leaning into what makes you different instead of trying to be “normal.” Notable Quotes “At Goldman Sachs, I learned what excellence really was.” “I wanted to understand what really drove him—what drives the most driven person in the world.” “Don't worry so much about being normal. Embrace your differentness.” Connect with Charles Steel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-steel-3804397b/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/crasteel Other: Website – https://charlessteel.com (links to his book The Curious Mind of Elon Musk: Nine Ways He Thinks Differently and other work) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After the most difficult week of Keir Starmer's premiership, with mounting speculation over how long he can last as Prime Minister, this week on Westminster Insider, host Patrick Baker explores Labour's long and not-too-illustrious history of failed coups and botched insurrections. Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson remembers the "curry house plot" in 2006 that forced Tony Blair to bring forward his departure from office and urges Starmer "not to let himself be forced out". One of those at the heart of "balti-gate" as it became known, ex-Labour MP Sion Simon, explains how being well-organised and having a viable successor in Gordon Brown made all the difference. Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika and The Independent's John Rentoul remember the one-man kamikaze mission that was ex-Culture Secretary James Purnell's hapless bid to oust Gordon Brown, and reflect on why the Tory party seem to be much more efficient at removing leaders. Former Jeremy Corbyn adviser Andrew Fisher describes what it was like to be on the receiving end of multiple failed attempts by Labour MPs to remove the then Labour leader, pointing to the power of the Labour membership - a factor which could mean Labour is now more ripe for a change at the top than the famously regicidal Conservative party. POLITICO's Dan Bloom takes us through the dramatic week in Westminster, with Number 10 engulfed by the revelations about Peter Mandelson. Labour insider Sienna Rodgers of Parliament's The House magazine outlines who she believes might be in the strongest position to challenge Keir Starmer. And politics expert Richard Johnson, an academic at Queen Mary University, illuminates the complex tangle of rules and procedures that any would-be Labour challenger needs to follow to depose Keir Starmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The UK is rapidly becoming one of the most aggressive surveillance states in the democratic world, and many don't even realize it's happening.Support my independent journalism:
Ce jeudi 5 février, les impacts du dossier Epstein sur les Britanniques, ont été abordés par Annalisa Cappellini dans sa chronique, dans l'émission Good Morning Business, présentée par Laure Closier, sur BFM Business. Retrouvez l'émission du lundi au vendredi et réécoutez la en podcast.
During a chance encounter over coffee with former U.K. prime minister Tony Blair, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon abruptly cut in, pointing a finger and telling Armstrong bluntly, “You are full of s—,” according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal. The outburst underscored some of the raw tensions happening between traditional banks and crypto firms over the future of U.S. financial regulation.~This episode is sponsored by Tangem~Tangem ➜ https://bit.ly/TangemPBNUse Code: "PBN" for Additional Discounts!00:00 Intro00:10 Sponsor: Tangem00:50 Full of crap01:30 Deal this month?02:00 Banks ain't negotiating02:15 Banks put out PR statement02:50 Meeting of the wolves03:10 Paul Grewal goes on Fox Business to combat FUD05:10 Anti-Stablecoin yield Ad05:40 Six figures?06:00 CASE Lobby06:10 Media ties06:30 Yahoo lies07:00 Treasury Department?07:50 Big Banks are worse than fintechs08:30 Epstein FUD09:20 JP Morgan x Epstein?10:00 Banks claim Money market Funds caused 2008 crisis10:30 Lawyers: CLARITY needs to pass asap12:15 Aave incoming12:40 ETH Wins13:00 Outro#Crypto #Ethereum #XRP~Banks Waging WAR on Stablecoin Yields and Coinbase!!
Danny argues that if Labour wants to ditch Keir Starmer and pick a new leader, his replacement should immediately go to the polls. Have we switched to a presidential system without realising it, and would the party ever actually risk letting Reform into Downing Street?The team also discuss whether No 10's handling of Andy Burnham has parallels with Tony Blair's opposition to Ken Livingstone becoming mayor of London, and Danny's ongoing beef with Reform's Danny Kruger.Send your comments, questions and voicenotes to howtowin@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Note: This month's Feeney Files with Jessie McCrone will come out next week, due to a scheduling conflict (a.k.a Stephen's globetrotting). But not to worry, we have an equally formidable guest for you this week.John Mcternan is back! He shares his expert analysis of UK politics and the health of social democracies around the world. Mcternan formerly served as the Director of Political Operations for Tony Blair from 2005-2007 and the Director of Communications for Julia Gillard from 2011-2013. In addition to working as a senior political strategist within UK Labour, he is a prolific political commentator and a pretty cracking podcast guest as well. This week, we discuss:
IT WAS TERRIBLE AS THE AI EDITOR THAT TAKES OUT UMS AND AHS JUST BUTCHERED IT - ZENCASTR SUCKSIt's better now. As usual, ai slop shownotes. Robots think that I am Jack or whatever. Enjoy!In this episode of The Two Jacks, Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) and Hong Kong Jack (Jack) dive into a packed agenda of Australian and global politics. They start with the federal government's urgent move to push through new hate speech and gun control laws, discussing the disbanding of neo-Nazi groups and the alarming rise of minors on extremism watchlists. The conversation takes a sharp turn into a heated debate over the "economic self-harm" of Brexit, with Jack the Insider citing a £100 billion annual trade loss while Hong Kong Jack remains a defiant supporter.The Jacks also cover:Trump's Trade War: The impact of a 10% tariff hike on European allies and America's dependence on Danish pharmaceuticals like Ozempic.UK Political Maneuvers: How Kemi Badenoch outsmarted Robert Jenrick's defection to Nigel Farage's Reform party.Sporting Scandals and Struggles: From the "oversold" crowds at the Australian Open to a bizarre aerodynamic "groin inflation" scandal in Norwegian ski jumping.00:00:25 – Introduction Jack the Insider (Joel) and Hong Kong Jack open the show on January 20, 2026, discussing the unscheduled sitting of the Australian Parliament to finalize an omnibus bill.00:01:05 – Hate Speech Legislation & The National Socialist Network The Jacks break down the removal of racial vilification clauses and the remaining "hate group" provisions. They discuss the reported disbanding—and subsequent lobbying efforts—of the National Socialist Network.00:04:17 – Extremism Watchlists & Youth Grooming A discussion on the 320 individuals currently monitored by security agencies, with a focus on the alarming number of minors being "groomed" by radical ideologies.00:06:50 – The Bondi Royal Commission & Law Enforcement Lethargy The hosts preview the upcoming Royal Commission, touching on claims that New South Wales Police may have ignored security warnings prior to major anti-Semitic incidents.00:08:14 – Anti-Semitism and Australian Migration History A look at the "New Australian" migration success story post-WWII and the current shameful necessity of armed guards at Jewish schools and synagogues.00:17:09 – Australian Gun Law Changes Analyzing the impact of new limits on ammunition and firearm ownership for amateur hunters and "weekend warriors."00:19:22 – Political Polling: The Rise of One Nation Recent Demos polling shows One Nation surging to over 20%, potentially acting as a "parking spot" for disaffected voters from both major parties.00:24:35 – Iran: Echoes of 1979 Reflecting on the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the late Mark Colvin's coverage of the regime's early massacres.00:27:50 – US Midterms & The Battle for Greenland A look at the Polymarket odds for the 2026 US Midterms and the strategic (and perhaps absurd) debate over the US acquisition of Greenland.00:33:11 – Trump's Tariffs & "The Art of the Renegotiation" The impact of a 10% hike on European goods, including a deep dive into America's dependence on Denmark for Ozempic and insulin.00:35:22 – The Brexit Economic Autopsy The Jacks have a heated debate over the long-term economic damage of Brexit, including trade losses estimated at £100 billion a year and alleged Russian influence on the "Leave" campaign.00:42:15 – UK Politics: The Jenrick Defection How Kemi Badenoch outmaneuvered Robert Jenrick's defection to Nigel Farage's Reform party.00:46:09 – Germany's Energy Crisis Friedrich Merz calls the exit from nuclear energy a "strategic mistake" as Germany reverts to brown coal to keep the lights on.00:49:29 – The Gaza "Board of Peace" Discussing the controversial international board involving Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, and Australia's invitation to join.00:54:29 – Sports: Australian Open & BBL Privatization Crowd chaos at the Australian Open and the warnings from Jason Gillespie regarding the potential sale of BBL franchises to overseas interests.01:06:53 – West Ham & The High Cost of Relegation The "sweetheart deal" for the Olympic Stadium is turning into a nightmare for UK taxpayers as West Ham faces the threat of the Championship.01:12:47 – Strange World: Norwegian Ski Jumping Scandal A bizarre report on Norwegian ski jumpers allegedly "artificially inflating" their suits for aerodynamic advantages.01:15:30 – Wrap Up The hosts invite listener feedback on Brexit and current events before signing off for the week.
Trump's board of peace includes Putin, Netanyahu and Tony Blair. What on earth will it do? Julian Borger reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
When Donald Trump backed down on Greenland, he tried to make it sound like a victory.But what caused him to cave? Western leaders have tried to placate Trump and continued this approach at Davos until Canada's prime minister Mark Carney laid out the truth about the world today.‘The strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must,' he said quoting Thucydides.This is the reality of the world and somebody naming it shook Trump.On Free State today we look at where he goes next and how Tony Blair remains part of the Gaza Peace Board.We look at Blair's journey to the heart of power and wealth. Dion and Joe disagree on what drove him to this. Joe outlines how Blair moved closer to Israel during his time in power and why he has always sided with the strong while the weak suffer what they must. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here we go again – Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs DAVOS – Elitists are Meeting Suicide Coaches? Hedge funds – finally a good year! PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Here we go again - Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs - DAVOS - Elitists are Meeting - Suicide Coaches? - Hedge funds - finally a good year! Markets - Silver and Gold - ATH - Selling off after Greenland threat - Netflix - Saga continues Davos - 2026 - Economic Confab that often brings out the elite (elitists) - Many watch for their key points and do the opposite - Trump going, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi not - Why is Zelensky going? - Kushner, Bessent, Little Marco will be attending with Trump - Did you know - Larry Fink is the interim Co-Chair. - The CEOs that you would expect that love the limelight ) (Jensen, Nadella etc) World Economic Forum Report (Davos) - Due out Wednesday - expected to show that geopolitical confrontation is the top concern this year - Rising Inflation - Economic Downturn - Asset Bubbles - High debt burdens - Any of those could be any year and anyone in the world that is breathing could have made that list WEF List NEXT - Greenland - Sell or Else! - Trump promises 100% that he will impose tariffs and follow through - The tariffs will start at 10% on Feb. 1 and shoot up to 25% on June 1, Trump said. - Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland - Supposedly in response to EU allies moving troops into Greenland - Greenland protests with - Make America Go Away hats - 200% tariff threatened in champagne and wines (Mad at Macron) Oh - and Gaza - The new Board of Peace - Trump names himself 'Board of Peace' chair under October plan - Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. - Supposedly Putin has said he was also invited to be on the board. - Purpose? Officially, the Board is mandated to “promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict... Saks - bankrupt - Chapter 11 - Problems really got worse after they agreed to purchase Needless Markup (aka Neiman Marcus) - Amazon filed an objection to Saks Global's bankruptcy financing plan on the grounds it could harm creditors and push the tech company further down the repayment pecking order. - Amazon The tech company invested $475 million into Saks' acquisition of Neiman Marcus in December 2024, a stake it said is now effectively “worthless.” - Amazon threatened more “drastic remedies” if Saks doesn't heed its concerns, including the appointment of an examiner or a trustee. - Amazon initially invested because it thought Saks would start selling its products on Amazon's website and the tech company would offer technology and logistics expertise.| - Amazon's attorneys: “Saks continuously failed to meet its budgets, burned through hundreds of millions of dollars in less than a year, and ran up additional hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices owed to its retail partners.” Suicide Coaches - “This year, you really saw something pretty horrific, which is these AI models became suicide coaches,” Benioff told CNBC's Sarah Eisen on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum's flagship conference in Davos, Switzerland. - In 2018, Benioff said social media should be treated like a health issue, and said the platforms should be regulated like cigarettes: “They're addictive, they're not good for you.” - “Bad things were happening all over the world because social media was fully unregulated,” he said Tuesday, “and now you're kind of seeing that play out again with artificial intelligence.” China - China 2025 new yuan loans 16.27 trln yuan, lowest since 2018 - Dec new yuan loans beat forecast - PBOC announces targeted monetary policy easing - "From the asset side, amid the property market adjustment, the private sector including households and firms showed insufficient willingness to add leverage, while government bond issuance was ramped up to stabilize leverage and the economy." - Now what is happening is that $ that used to go into real estate is heading for stocks/risk assets. - Chinese authorities tightened rules on margin financing, signaling unease over the pace of a rally. - - Under the new rule, investors must now provide margin equal to the full value of the securities they buy on credit, up from the previous 80% threshold. - - - Regulators made the move to rein in potential froth in financial markets, with a fund manager saying it sends a clear signal that they want a slow bull market, not an overheated one. --- Under the new rule, investors must now provide margin equal to the full value of the securities they buy on credit, up from the previous 80% threshold, according to a Shenzhen Stock Exchange statement. The move, which applies to Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing bourses, underscores regulators' efforts to rein in potential froth in financial markets. More China - China's population of 1.4 billion continued to shrink, marking the fourth straight year of decrease, new government statistics show. The total population in 2025 stood at 1.404 billion, which was 3 million less than the previous year. - After the one-child policy - now government is pushing or more births - Measured another way, the birth rate in 2025 — 5.63 per 1,000 people — is the lowest on record since 1949 - Government tactics range from cash subsidies to taxing condoms to eliminating a tax on matchmakers and day care centers. Bank Earnings - Generally pretty good! - Yield curve is helping in a big way - steepening - Goldman beats, BAC beast Morgan Stanley bets etc. etc. - Goldman: The company said profit jumped 12% from a year earlier to $4.62 billion, or $14.01 per share, on gains across its capital markets businesses. - Morgan Stanley: Last Thursday reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations on the back of strong revenue from wealth management. Fed Chair - Over the weekend, Hassett thinks Trump is right not to have him in that position (What a sap! Good he is not in running anymore) - Rick Reider and Warsh are front-runners - Who ever kisses the most ass should win - Warsh would actually be a good pick - experience and smart guy that is level headed - Meanwhile - all of a sudden Trump says he is not looking to fire Powell (maybe h wants him to resign) Netflix/Warner Brothers Update - Netflix now plans to pay $27.75 per WBD share entirely in cash to acquire WBD's streaming platform HBO Max and the Warner Bros. film studio. - In reaction tot he hostile takeover bid from Paramount/Skydance - The last offer was unanimously approved by the BOD - NFLX Earnings ..... --- Earnings per share: 56 cents vs. 55 cents, estimated ------Revenue: $12.05 billion vs $11.97 billion, estimated - Stock down AH Inflation (Did we talk about this?) - Even though we are told there is little inflation... - Consumer Price Index increases 0.3% in December - Food, rents were the main drivers of consumer inflation - Underlying inflation rises a moderate 0.2% - Food prices surged 0.7% Planes! - Boeing outsold Airbus last year - First time since 2018 - BA stock made an ATH last week Bond Vigilantes - Danish pension operator AkademikerPension said it is exiting U.S. Treasurys over finance concerns tied to America's budget shortfall. - The move comes amid increasing tensions with the U.S. over Greenland as President Donald Trump pushes for control of the island. - AkademikerPension said it plans to have closed its position of around $100 million in U.S. Treasurys by the end of the month. - 10 YR yields moved up again to 4.3% - What if.....??? (Mutual assured destruction?) Hedgies - Hedge fund investors posted gains of about 12.6% last year, the best returns since 2009, according to data compiled by Hedge Fund Research Inc. - Funds run by industry giants such as D.E. Shaw & Co. and Millennium Management posted double-digit returns, with Bridgewater Associates' Pure Alpha II fund scoring a 34% gain. - Hedge funds secured net inflows of $71 billion during the first three quarters of last year, a major reversal after a decade of outflows, with the industry's giants being among the major beneficiaries. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN CUP 2025 Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt! FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter
En este episodio profundizamos en una semana de tensiones sísmicas. Analizamos la decisión de Donald Trump de castigar a Europa con un arancel del 10% por el control de Groenlandia, un movimiento que fractura la OTAN y redibuja la seguridad del Ártico. En México, desmenuzamos la alianza Oxxo-Uber Eats y el cambio de guardia en Nemak hacia la electrificación total. Además, cubrimos la brutal represión en Irán, la "Junta de Paz" de Gaza liderada por Jared Kushner y Tony Blair, y el choque institucional en Minnesota entre el gobernador Walz y el Departamento de Justicia.Este episodio es presentado por STRTGY, líderes en expansión territorial mediante IA. Gracias a su analista virtual EVA, STRTGY transforma millones de datos en estrategias de mercado con certeza absoluta en solo 21 días. Optimiza tus decisiones comerciales con la certeza que solo encuentras en www.strtgy.ai.Recibe gratis nuestro newsletter con las noticias más importantes del día.Si te interesa una mención en El Brieff, escríbenos a arturo@strtgy.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten | Deutsch lernen | Deutsche Welle
17.01.2026 – Langsam Gesprochene Nachrichten – Trainiere dein Hörverstehen mit den Nachrichten der DW von Samstag – als Text und als verständlich gesprochene Audio-Datei.
Confira os destaques do Jornal da Manhã deste sábado (17): O Mercosul e a União Europeia assinam o acordo comercial em evento realizado no Paraguai neste sábado (17). No entanto, a primeira-ministra da Itália, Giorgia Meloni, realizou a transferência do acordo do presidente Lula (PT) para o líder paraguaio Santiago Peña. Reportagem: Janaína Camelo e Eliseu Caetano. O especialista em investimentos Beny Fard avalia a atual situação do Irã, onde os protestos começam a perder força, mas a tensão segue elevada. Relatórios recentes indicam que o número de mortos durante os confrontos com as forças do regime já passa de 2,6 mil pessoas. A Alemanha iniciou o envio de soldados para a Groenlândia após as recentes ameaças feitas pelo presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump. A movimentação militar ocorre em um cenário de crescente tensão diplomática na região do Ártico. O INSS bloqueou o repasse de R$ 2 bilhões destinados ao Banco Master após identificar indícios de irregularidades. A medida atinge cerca de 254 mil contratos de empréstimo consignado sob suspeita de fraude. Reportagem: Matheus Dias. O governo de Donald Trump anunciou a criação do Conselho da Paz em Gaza para atuar no conflito do Oriente Médio. O grupo contará com o secretário de Estado Marco Rubio e o ex-primeiro-ministro britânico Tony Blair entre os integrantes. O presidente americano espera anunciar novos nomes para compor a equipe diplomática nos próximos dias. Reportagem: Carlos Eduardo Martins. Segundo informações dos bastidores de Brasília, o Palácio do Planalto ainda enxerga o governador Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) como ameaça eleitoral. A presença do governador na corrida pela Presidência da República ainda não foi descartada completamente. No entanto, Tarcísio também começou a manifestar apoio público ao pré-candidato Flávio Bolsonaro (PL). Reportagem: Igor Damasceno. A Fifa anunciou que recebeu 500 milhões de solicitações para ingressos da Copa do Mundo 2026. O confronto entre as seleções de Portugal e da Colômbia desponta como a partida mais procurada pelos torcedores até o momento. A alta demanda reflete a expectativa global para o torneio que será realizado em 2026 na América do Norte. Reportagem: Taís Brito. O governo de São Paulo intensificou a campanha de imunização contra o sarampo e a febre amarela. As ações ocorrem em shoppings, estações de metrô e terminais rodoviários. Reportagem: Julia Fermino. Em entrevista ao Jornal da Manhã, o especialista em direito tributário Angelo Paschoini analisa as ações do Banco Master que motivaram as recentes investigações. De acordo com o especialista, já havia uma certa suspeita sobre as operações da instituição. Os Estados Unidos emitiram um aviso oficial sobre atividade militar no espaço aéreo do México. A medida ocorre após o presidente Donald Trump declarar a intenção de realizar ataques contra o narcotráfico. Reportagem: Eliseu Caetano. A União Europeia e o Brasil iniciaram negociações voltadas para a exploração de minerais críticos. O bloco europeu entra oficialmente na disputa global para atrair investimentos em insumos estratégicos. Reportagem: Janaína Camelo. Essas e outras notícias você acompanha no Jornal da Manhã. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alastair Campbell joins host Jack Stafford and musician Allman Brown for a rare and deeply human conversation on Podsongs.Known for his central role in New Labour and his openness about mental health, Campbell reflects on vulnerability, resilience and leadership under pressure. The discussion moves from mental health in politics and the emotional weight of decision-making to Brexit, legacy and comparisons between past and present political leaders. Music weaves throughout the episode, offering insight into creativity, survival and Campbell's lifelong love of sound — including an unexpected passion for bagpipes.A thoughtful, wide-ranging podcast episode exploring politics, mental health and the power of music to shape who we become.Stream the song: https://ffm.to/livingbetter00:00 Introduction and Greetings00:10 Discussing Alistair Campbell's Inspiration01:45 Mental Health and Vulnerability02:51 The Impact of Podcasts03:46 Music Industry Challenges11:10 Boarding School Experiences15:08 Songwriting and Creative Process24:53 Alistair Campbell Joins the Conversation31:46 Defining Bravery and Personal Growth34:05 Political Vulnerability and Empathy37:52 Mental Health in Politics48:40 Creative Processes and Inspirations01:00:30 Legacy and Historical Impact01:09:22 Tony Blair's Legacy Beyond Iraq01:10:15 Angela Merkel and the Fluidity of Legacy01:11:34 Emotionality in Politics: Blair vs. Modern Leaders01:12:30 Keir Starmer and the Modern Political Landscape01:13:40 The Weight of Leadership Decisions01:16:58 Understanding Brexit and Political Discontent01:26:19 The British Empire and Education01:28:10 Reflections on Global Political Shifts01:30:36 Podcast Wrap-Up and Future Plans// SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL //Newsletter, donations and download the song for €/$1 @ https://podsongs.com// LINKS //Website: https://podsongs.comPodcast episodes: https://podsongs.com/podcast-episodesSongs: https://podsongs.com/musicSpotify artist: https://open.spotify.com/artist/32FYyRx1y1ex3jHHAgLMC7?si=4Nv7WW85SbSPZvCsj1o7IgSpotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6sN1viy82HPiNTVX2YBxpq?si=1b84c2b9bdea4656// SOCIAL //Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsongsInstagram: https://instagram.com/podsongsFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsongs
¿Por qué algunas personas parecen ganar siempre... y otras siempre pierden? ¿Qué sucede exactamente en tu cerebro cuando tienes éxito? ¿Por qué el poder cambia a las personas... y cómo evitar que te pase a ti?En este episodio analizamos El Efecto Ganador, de Ian Robertson (The Winner Effect, 2012), un libro que revela los mecanismos neurobiológicos más profundos del éxito y el fracaso humano.Ian Robertson no es el típico autor de autoayuda. Es profesor de Psicología en Trinity College Dublin, profesor visitante en University College London y científico en el Instituto de Investigación Rotman de la Universidad de Toronto. Es miembro de la Academia Real Irlandesa y ha dedicado décadas a estudiar cómo funciona el cerebro humano bajo presión, bajo estrés... y bajo el poder.Lo más valioso: Robertson descubrió que ganar literalmente reprograma tu cerebro para más victorias —a través de testosterona y dopamina— pero también que el poder puede corromperte sin que te des cuenta si no construyes los sistemas adecuados para protegerte.
¿Por qué algunas personas parecen ganar siempre... y otras siempre pierden? ¿Qué sucede exactamente en tu cerebro cuando tienes éxito? ¿Por qué el poder cambia a las personas... y cómo evitar que te pase a ti?En este episodio analizamos El Efecto Ganador, de Ian Robertson (The Winner Effect, 2012), un libro que revela los mecanismos neurobiológicos más profundos del éxito y el fracaso humano.Ian Robertson no es el típico autor de autoayuda. Es profesor de Psicología en Trinity College Dublin, profesor visitante en University College London y científico en el Instituto de Investigación Rotman de la Universidad de Toronto. Es miembro de la Academia Real Irlandesa y ha dedicado décadas a estudiar cómo funciona el cerebro humano bajo presión, bajo estrés... y bajo el poder.Lo más valioso: Robertson descubrió que ganar literalmente reprograma tu cerebro para más victorias —a través de testosterona y dopamina— pero también que el poder puede corromperte sin que te des cuenta si no construyes los sistemas adecuados para protegerte.