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A week on from the start of Andy Burnham's premiership, and Westminster is bracing for another innings of announcements from the government. Among them, after meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy today, the PM will be announcing fresh decisions on defence spending on Thursday. The government are also plotting out their plans for changes to adult social care this week, while Whitehall is still suffering from the recent influencer outbreak. James Heale is joined by Noa Hoffman to pick up on the key stories, and assess how they might play out in the coming days.Produced by Henry Lloyd and Natasha Feroze.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the nine hours after the Los Angeles wildfires, before the climate movement could get its shoes on, the narrative was being written. Through social media, podcasts and talking heads on cable news, the truth was buried behind a deliberate strategy of disinformation. In the twenty-one months since China's emissions have flatlined, everyone is asking whether this is a blip or a trend. And across 640,000 square kilometres of protected ocean, nobody is quite certain what happens next.You have probably seen these stories reported. But what is actually going on out there?This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson go after the questions underneath the headlines. What is actually changing, who is blocking progress, who is telling the story? And who holds power? Can a COP presidency really be split between two governments, one holding the diplomacy and the other the logistics? Christiana, who has run a few COPs, thinks it collapses over furniture. Is the addiction to profit an economic problem or a psychological one? Tom and Paul fight (amicably) about billionaires.Meanwhile, 1,600 communities across the UK have screened a film briefing the public on a crisis their government will not explain to them. If they can move that fast, what would it take for the rest of us to match them?LEARN MOREOn China's emissions
Schedule a Free Financial Assessment with an experienced professional:https://purefinancial.com/lp/free-assessment/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=free-assessment&utm_content=ymyw-pod-ep591-description-free-assessmentB and S in Maryland are in their mid-40s with $425,000 and a couple of rental properties. Can they retire early at 62? Vee in Oregon came to the US as a refugee with nothing and built a three and three-quarter million dollar portfolio from the ground up. Is his Roth conversion plan solid? And finally, Chandler and Monica in Texas are sitting on $1.4 million and hope they can walk away from work in 3 years. Will Roth conversions keep the tax man from taking a giant bite on their way out? That's all today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast 591 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA.Free Financial Resources in This Episode: https://bit.ly/ymyw-591 (full show notes & episode transcript)Withdrawal Strategy Guide - free downloadhttps://purefinancial.com/white-papers/withdrawal-strategy-guide/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=whitepaper-withdrawal-strategy-guide&utm_content=ymyw-pod-ep591-description-whitepaperThe Number One Spending Mistake Ruining Retirements - YMYW TVhttps://purefinancial.com/ymyw/episodes/number-one-spending-mistake-ruining-retirements/?utm_source=captivate&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ymyw-tv&utm_content=ymyw-pod-ep591-description-tv-s12e01Financial Blueprint (free, self-guided):https://bit.ly/YMYWblueprintCREQUEST your Retirement Spitball Analysis:https://bit.ly/YMYWaskCDOWNLOAD more free guides:https://bit.ly/YMYWguidesCREAD financial blogs:https://bit.ly/YMYWblogCWATCH educational videos:https://bit.ly/YMYWvidsCSUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter:https://bit.ly/YMYWnewsletterCConnect With Us:Subscribe on YouTube and join the conversation in the comments:https://bit.ly/YMYW-YTSubscribe or follow YMYW in your favorite podcast app:https://lnk.to/ymywLeave your honest reviews and ratings in Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-money-your-wealth/id312900254Chapters: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast00:57 - Half a Million and Rental Properties in Our Mid-40s. Can We Retire Early? (B & S, Westminster, MD)12:48 - Refugee to $3.75M: Is My Roth Conversion Plan Actually Solid? (Vee, OR)25:55 - Can Friends with $1.4M and a Roth Conversion Puzzle Retire in 3 Years? (Chandler & Monica, TX)33:05 - Outro: Next Week on YMYW Podcast
Today, Keir Starmer made his way from No 10 to Buckingham Palace to officially resign as Prime Minister.He was closely followed by his replacement, Andy Burnham, who is currently in his first few hours in the job.Anoosh Chakelian is in Westminster with Ailbhe Rea to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:
Andy Burnham Just Another Man with No Plan? #Burnham #ReformUK #NigelFarage #JonGauntTV #Westminster #JonGaunt Same
You can read the interview I did with Intel Lady, published in the Critic, November 2025 issue, below: I am speaking to my favourite satirist, Jenny Stanton, on Zoom, and she is trying to turn off her backdrop. Otherwise known as Intel Lady, Stanton's best known parody is of former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, speaking to the nation from a bunker, filled with cans of lager, cigarette butts, and a framed photograph of smug, woke radio presenter James O'Brien. I point out to Stanton that she has captured the perfect image of O'Brien looking an absolute plonker. “I don't think he can look any other way, can he,” she replies, laughing. I got to know Stanton after messaging her on X to thank her for providing me with endless entertainment, and have followed her rise to internet fame ever since. Stanton was born into a happy, hardworking family in Leeds in 1979. She started to become interested in acting in her final year of secondary school, having accepted that her first love, music, was not going to be the career for her. “I was obsessed with music, played the guitar, wanted to be a rock star, and then I discovered that I could act. I was a bit of a shit guitarist, and not that great a singer either. It turned out that I was a better actor than I was musician”.Studying performing arts at college, she was advised to go to drama school. “But I thought, do I want to saddle myself with debt for the rest of my life?”Taking what she calls “the scenic route”, she subscribed to The Stage and (between cleaning jobs) applied for as many auditions as possible. She was 19 when she secured her first ever paid acting role, as a street theatre performer at a major theme park. “My favourite job was a cleaner at one of the big bank call centres in Harrogate. I loved that because I didn't have to bloody talk to anybody,” she says. “I could just be in my own little world, running audition pieces through my head whilst hoovering carpets.” In 2004, Stanton auditioned for a part she was desperate to get – a drama series about the building of the Titanic. “I'd never auditioned at TV studios before, it was an overwhelming experience,” she recalls. An agonizing week later her agent called to tell her she had been offered the part. Prior to this, Stanton had been a touring theatre actor, “which means I was poor,” she laughs. In true Titanic style, the shoot was an utter disaster. Filmed that summer, on location in Liverpool, it rained so heavily that some of the trailers floated away. The director decided to move to a studio. “But on that day, there was a heatwave,” she says, “and everyone was in their full-dress corsets and layers of clothing, sweating like mad.”Months later, Stanton heard the terrible news that her scene had been cut, because it looked so unnatural. “I ended up as nothing more than an extra,” she says. “All I wanted was my name in the Radio Times, because that means you've made it. I was gutted.”She stopped acting professionally when pregnant with her son, born in 2007. Five years later, she had a daughter. Both children were subsequently diagnosed with autism, and Stanton gave up acting to care for them.However, the lure of performing eventually drew her back, and in 2021, during lockdown, she introduced Intel Lady to the world. “The name was inspired by the QAnon grifters (far-right conspiracy theorists) I was covering. They all had ‘insiders' with ‘intel'. So I created a character who used to feed them complete claptrap. I would answer the phone with “MI5 paid asset helpline, how many I help you?”Stanton soon tired of these people, “because they're insane and they're not going to change”. Looking around at what else was going on, she landed on the Johnny Depp - Amber Heard trial, so parodied that. “And then I started looking at politicians”.Her first victims were American: former US Vice-President Kamala Harris and liberal commentator Rachel Maddow – but it wasn't long before she set her sights on British politicians Nadine Dorries and Liz Truss. Then she looked to the opposite side of the bench, and Angela Rayner caught her eye. “I started covering her in 2022, and, when Labour were elected, realised she was going to play a prominent role in government. So I worked really hard to get her right”.In 2024, Stanton released a video of her perfected parody. Set in a filthy hotel room in Ibiza littered with empty champagne bottles, it featured a swimsuit-clad Rayner, asking “Why is everyone getting upset, just because I was having a dance and enjoying myself?”It was a colleague, Rik, who came up with the idea of moving Rayner into Lord Ali's apartment, with the backdrop exactly as it had been when Starmer once did a speech from there. The idea was a keeper. “She would always allude to it as her ‘mate's apartment'. “All declared, all above board.”Stanton explains how the infamous backdrop came about: “One day a crumpled-up can of Tennents [Lager] appeared behind me, slightly hidden by one of the framed photographs of James O ‘Brien. And then the next time, a full ashtray appeared and then, a clothes horse with knickers on it and bras hanging off it.”She says that some comedians think the only things it is acceptable to laugh at are Trump, Farage or Brexit, but that she doesn't have a political agenda. “Anyone is fair game,” she says. “I find humour in pretty much everything, even the most horrifying situations. I think it's quite a British thing.”In her recent Big Brother parody, one contestant gets called into the Diary Room for the crimes of misgendering, homophobia, and disability discrimination. Another character is Carol, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainer for the NHS, who Stanton loves to play. “The jokes are ridiculous… because it's their world. It's their language. It's crazy to regular people.”People keep asking Stanton how she writes. She says, “It's all ad-libbed. I go into character, I press record, you're in character. It usually takes me between five and sometimes 15 attempts to get it right – or the doorbell rings”. She first became aware of her own rising popularity when Tracy-Anne Oberman started following her. Stanton was shocked, “I was checking that it was her real account”. But then a private message came, saying, “I love your No Brainer with Angela Rayner, it's bloody genius. Keep doing it”. Not long after that, she saw that “somebody called JK Rowling” had followed her on X. “I thought, let's see, they've got two followers or something, and I clicked on it, and I had to sit down because it actually is JK Rowling, she's actually following me!”When Comedy Unleashed asked her to do Rayner in a tiny Westminster pub called The Speaker, Stanton knew it would be a dream come true for her to perform there, and panicked. But then there she was, “stood on a crate on top of beer barrels”, wearing a hard hat, hi-vis, a really ugly pink dress and “the worst shoes you've ever seen” before an audience of bewildered journalists and politicians who had no idea who she was. Stanton describes that evening as the weirdest, weirdest night, but her Rayner triumphed: “I don't know why everyone's getting upset. It's not even a banter ban. I don't know why you're calling it a banter ban because it isn't that. It's about respecting people's boundaries and not saying offensive stuff, that's all.” Stanton says she's “very fond” of Marjorie and Gerald from Just Stop Oil. “I think it's hard not to love her because she's just ludicrous. And it's that cantankerous old lady vibe that people just are too frightened to argue with. And Gerald has become such a creep. He started out with a slight bladder weakness and now he's turned into a piss fetishist.”The minute Just Stop Oil popped up on the news, Stanton knew she had to cover them. “The activists are the most bonkers,” she says, and found it hilarious when she got a “barrage of abuse” from people unaware it was satire. “They told me they hoped I'd get run over and stuff. And I would just come back to them in character because it was just too good not to. I could spend hours a day just responding to them and laughing my socks off”. I ask about plans to develop new characters. “There's always room for more. I try and just keep my eye on what's going on in the news and the celebrity world. And if something catches my eye and I think they are worth the parody, then I will parody them,” she says. “If you're in power, I'm going to cover you, especially if you're ridiculous, even better.”Does she have plans for Reform and Farage? “Oh yes! When Reform get in, and I think it is more of a when, than [an] if, I will be keeping a very close eye on the ladies in the party.”With the world as crazy as it is right now, with Green Party activists shouting ‘Queers for Palestine' at its annual conference, and Emma Watson doing a reverse ferret on JK Rowling, Stanton will not be running out of material any time soon.I have one last question for her. How did she feel when she heard that Angela Rayner, one of her most famous caricatures, had resigned? “I was gutted, as I love playing her. But she will definitely be back! I have a theory that she'll do ‘I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here', in which case, I will be all over it.” So will I. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has pledged to build a new economy, end rough sleeping and tackle the cost of living crisis. Can he deliver? Plus: We speak to IPPR North's Mirte Boot about Burnham's plan to devolve power away from Westminster. And finally, what will be the new Prime Minister's approach to dealing with a certain Donald J. Trump? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar & Mirte Boot.
In this episode of GENN, Nick Breeze talks to Professor Mike Berners-Lee, Chair of the National Emergency Briefing (NEB), about why the UK is “not ready” for the accelerating climate and nature emergency.Visit: https://nebriefing.orgThey begin with the recent Europe-wide heat dome that led to an estimated 20,000 excess deaths and record breaking UK temperatures, then explore what this tells us about how exposed our societies have become to extreme weather. Mike explains why the conditions we are living through now are likely to be the least extreme we will ever see in the UK, with a super El Niño expected to drive even more intense heat in the near term.The conversation covers the UK's ageing infrastructure, under investment in resilience and the rapid shift from “one in a thousand year” events to risks that now carry a realistic chance of occurring every year. Mike argues that the climate and nature transition is entirely doable and economically attractive, highlighting analysis that shows large scale investment in net zero and retrofit pays back rapidly and creates skilled jobs across the country.Nick and Mike dig into the role of disinformation and comforting narratives such as “we cannot afford it” or “Britain is only one per cent of global emissions so does not matter,” and why these stories amount to denial of the scale of response now needed. Mike explains how the NEB takes a different view of the public, treating people as capable of handling difficult truth, and how honest communication can improve psychological health by replacing vague anxiety with clear agency.They discuss systemic risk across food security, national security and infrastructure breakdown, including the possibility of a future food shock that could act as a national wake up call. Mike describes the NEB's work to create trusted briefings for leaders and the public, the energy in the Westminster briefing where no one felt the situation was exaggerated, and the growing movement around the People's Emergency Briefing film presented by Chris Packham.You will also hear how NEB screenings are snowballing across the UK and beyond, how the initiative is building support for a televised government supported national emergency briefing on climate and nature, and why Mike believes there is “nothing not to like” about a fair green transition that strengthens communities, farmers and livelihoods.The episode closes with a focus on agency: from attending NEB screenings and inviting MPs, to getting involved in local resilience and non partisan political work, and helping to take this emergency briefing model international. Mike sets out a theory of change for how public engagement, honest information and systemic action can still turn the tide, even in the face of deep geopolitical barriers.Key topics:Europe-wide heat dome and excess deathsWhy “we are not ready” for extreme weatherUK infrastructure, heatwaves and super El NiñoNet zero investment, jobs and paybackDisinformation, denial and national narrativesFood security, biodiversity and systemic riskThe National Emergency Briefing and People's Emergency Briefing filmPublic agency, psychological health and community resilienceHow to get involved and help NEB go mainstreamLinks mentioned:National Emergency Briefing: nebriefing.orgWould you like a shorter, 2–3 paragraph version of these notes as well for platforms that truncate descriptions more aggressively?
Keir Starmer has officially resigned as Prime Minister, handing power to Andy Burnham after a dramatic day at Westminster – with King Charles accepting Starmer's resignation and Burnham's government. Julia Hartley-Brewer dissects Starmer's self-congratulatory farewell speech, Labour's factionalism, and the frantic scramble over top jobs as Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper jostle for position. The Critic's Henry Hill unpacks the cabinet reshuffle fallout, while Baroness Kate Hoey questions Burnham's democratic mandate, his silence on immigration and welfare reform, and whether his early poll bounce can survive the long summer recess. Plus: reaction to the BBC's World Cup half-time promo.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.
Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Sunday 19 October at Church House, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, Hinge, Feeld – whatever your dating preference, there's an app for it. Gone are the days of hitting the town in the hopes of catching someone's eye in a busy bar. People moan about their problems, and some want to leave digital dating behind, but for today's generation, the first spark often happens over a keypad. Should we be worried about the prevalence of online dating? For some, the game-like approach to virtual romance, with love thwarted or given a chance with a swipe of the thumb, is degrading. Novara Media's Aaron Bastani recently called for a ban on dating apps, as they ‘encourage the worst possible behaviour towards other people'. Others argue that the addictive nature of online dating, where multiple partners can be found at the touch of a button, has fed the addictive and attention-deficit qualities of an already fidgety generation. When love is always just a click away, why would anyone stick with just one partner? On the other hand, without online dating many argue that finding love would be near impossible. Pub closures, lockdown-hangover regulation on social spaces and less intergenerational mixing means it can be hard out there to meet someone the old-fashioned way. Many argue that panics about online dating foget that the app is just a tool to facilitate what people continue to do – meet up in person and carry on as normal. Building a profile online is no different to a lonely-hearts advert in the paper, or wearing your best dress and standing by the bar. Is love only worthwhile if it's found in the flesh? Is the boom in hook-up apps merely the straight world catching up with what gays have been enjoying for some time? Should we loosen up about online dating? Or is there something lost when it comes to romance if the story we tell our kids of how we first met starts with a ‘swipe right'? SPEAKERS Elliot Bewick host, The Next Generation; former producer, TRIGGERnometry Ella Dorn journalist, New Statesman; creator, Fairyland! Substack; project assistant, Academy of Ideas Ralph Leonard author, Unshackling Intimacy: Letters on Liberty; contributor, UnHerd, Quillette, New Statesman and Sublation Magazine CHAIR Beverley Marshall AoI Parents Forum; working mum of three young adults
Football fans from the UK - and across the world - held their breath for a week in March 1966 when the Jules Rimet trophy, more commonly known as the World Cup - was stolen from an exhibition in Westminster, where it had been on display. The possibilities were endless - had it been transported abroad, and was in the clutches of an unscrupulous millionaire? Had it been melted down, or had it been abandoned and lost forever?The answer came in the most unlikely of circumstances, and a hero who came on to save the day. Not all heroes have two legs.Some have four... Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) In The Crossfire – StarsailorLola Stars And Stripes - The StillsThe True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer Support References - available upon request. Follow/Contact/Support The True Crime Enthusiast PodcastFacebookFacebook Discussion GroupTwitterInstagramYoutubeWebsiteTTCE MerchandisePatreon Page Remembering Pickles - The Canine Sherlock Holmes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Goodbye Starmer, Hello Burnham | New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham | Can He Succeed Where Keir Starmer Failed?Andy Burnham is Britain's new Prime Minister after replacing Keir Starmer as Labour leader, but will anything really change? In this episode of Mark and Pete, we ask the question millions of voters are already asking. Is this the fresh start Britain has been waiting for, or simply another change of face while the same old problems remain stubbornly parked on the nation's driveway?Burnham meets the King to be invited to form a government, beginning what could become one of the most closely watched premierships in recent history. We look at what brought Keir Starmer's time in office to an end, why Labour turned to Andy Burnham, and whether the new Prime Minister genuinely has a workable plan for Britain or merely a better sales pitch.We dig into the political realities behind the headlines. How secure is Burnham's position? Could he still be in Number 10 six months from now? What are his priorities on housing, immigration, the NHS, local government, policing and the economy? More importantly, can any Prime Minister realistically deliver meaningful change when expectations are sky high and public patience is, well, somewhere beneath the floorboards?Along the way we explore Britain's remarkable habit of changing Prime Ministers with alarming regularity. It almost feels as though Number 10 has become the political equivalent of a holiday cottage. Lovely address, but nobody seems to stay very long.As always, Mark and Pete go beyond the headlines with facts, context, statistics and plenty of good-humoured conversation. We don't simply repeat the news. We ask what it means, what might happen next, and what history suggests is likely to happen instead.Our Bible reflection comes from Psalm 146:3: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." It's a timely reminder that while governments rise and fall, Christian hope rests somewhere far more secure than Westminster.Whether you're fascinated by British politics, interested in current affairs, or simply wondering if this latest chapter will finally bring stability, this episode offers thoughtful discussion with a little dry humour, a few surprising facts and, quite possibly, more optimism than the evening news can usually manage. Then again, that isn't setting the bar terribly high.
A message by Pastor Jared Burke from Philippians 3:12-16 at Bethany Bible Fellowship, Westminster, California
Bill speaks with former British government minister The Rt Hon Alistair Burt about one of the most turbulent periods in modern UK politics. With Nigel Farage and Reform UK reshaping the political landscape, a change of Prime Minister, and fresh questions about Britain's future at home and abroad, Alistair offers a unique insider's perspective after more than three decades in Westminster. Together they discuss the rise of populist politics, the challenges facing Britain's next leader, the state of democracy, ongoing international conflicts, and what these changes could mean for Australia's long-standing relationship with the United Kingdom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The New Labour old boy was at one time a front runner to lead his Party. But after a scandalous resignation from Gordon Brown's Cabinet, it seemed his political career was over…until now. James Purnell grew up between France and Guildford. Spending his teenage years at the fee-paying Royal Grammar School, he was known for his distinctive Parisian style and ‘Rupert the Bear' trousers. A fan of the theatre, golf, and student politics, he began establishing a network that would prove fruitful for a high-flying career. This continued at Oxford - where he studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics - and spent summers interning with up-and-coming Labour politician, Tony Blair. His career took off early - serving as a councillor in Islingon, Head of Corporate Planning at the BBC, and then Special Advisor to the prime minister all in his 20s. In 2001, he was elected MP for the northern seat of Stalybridge and Hyde, and soon climbed the ranks of government, serving as a minister in Gordon Brown's government. Purnell weathered storms and scrutiny, before generating a scandal of his own: a failed coup against the prime minister, resigning from the cabinet in 2009. Now, after decades out of Westminster - with top jobs at the BBC, University of the Arts London, and a corporate advisory and lobbying firm under his belt - he's back. Andy Burnham, James Purnell's former flatmate and football buddy, will become prime minister on Monday. And he's invited his old friend back as his Chief of Staff. What will the so-called ‘Ant and Dec of New Labour' do when they take the reigns of government next week?Production: Presenter: Becky Milligan Producers: Tom Gillett, Ellie House Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele, Siobhan Reed Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Justine LangArchive: FA TV
¿Qué ocurre realmente detrás del biombo en la coronación de un monarca británico? Hoy nos adentramos en el corazón de la abadía de Westminster para desvelar el ritual más sagrado y oculto de la monarquía: la unción real. Analizamos el origen bíblico de este acto, el uso de la ampolla de oro y la cuchara del siglo XII, y cómo el rey Carlos III adaptó la tradición con un óleo vegano consagrado en Jerusalén. •Más allá de la corona, exploramos la transformación espiritual del monarca, el simbolismo de la Colobium Sindonis y la comparación inevitable con la sobriedad de las proclamaciones actuales. Un viaje al fondo de los símbolos que sostienen la legitimidad de la institución monárquica.
Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster
What does an Andy Burnham government mean for UK agriculture? This week, Westminster watcher Jeremy Moody examines the new prime minister’s farming credentials – and whether a land value tax could hit agricultural businesses. We also examine the law on defending yourself and your property after prosecutors decide that a Derbyshire farmer who fatally shot an intruder will face no criminal charges. Agricultural solicitor Aled Owen explains when force may be considered necessary and reasonable—and why picking up a firearm should always be a last resort. Elsewhere, we bring you the latest harvest results, advice on handling exceptionally dry oilseed rape, this week’s livestock and arable prices, and an unusual field fire started by a buzzard. And finally, could chickpeas become a profitable, climate-resilient break crop for UK growers? Louise Impey visits field-scale trials in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to find out. This episode is brought to you by plant breeder KWS. Special Guests Jeremy Moody – secretary and adviser, Central Association of Agricultural Valuers Matt Bull – product manager, KWS Aled Owen – agricultural solicitor and partner, HCR Law David White – Cambridgeshire arable farmer and chickpea trial grower Josiah Meldrum – Hodmedod’s Wholefoods Chapters 00:55 What does an Andy Burnham government mean for agriculture?04:51 Could farmers face a land value tax?08:45 Will rural Britain be heard?11:47 Farmers Weekly Harvest Update with KWS15:15 Farmer faces no charges over fatal shooting15:52 What does the law allow householders to do?19:44 Advice for farmers facing an intruder26:10 Harvest results: wheat, barley, beans and oilseed rape28:02 Adding moisture to very dry oilseed rape29:23 Buzzard blamed for standing-crop fire30:48 Church rejects blanket rewilding target31:41 Environment Agency farm inspection findings33:04 Should rural speed limits fall to 20mph?35:31 Market update38:11 Could chickpeas become a UK break crop?45:18 Closing remarks Useful links Farmers Weekly Central Association of Agricultural Valuers HCR Law agricultural regulatory team Crown Prosecution Service guidance on self-defence and crime prevention AHDB grain-storage moisture targets United Oilseeds NIAB: UK chickpea production research Hodmedod’s Farmers Weekly market prices This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is hosted by Johann Tasker with Abi Kay, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker. To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: - Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/ Contact or follow Abi: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/abi-kay-38927130 Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/ Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/ For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, Andy Burnham will be crowned Labour leader. On Monday, he'll become Prime Minister -- Britain's fifth in as many years. But questions are still lingering over the direction he'll take the government. And more than that, people are still trying to decipher who the man really is. We turn to our man in Westminster, who has spent plenty of time with Burnham, to try to get some answers.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: Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producers: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Andy Burnham wants to break ‘unaccountable state'Further listening: Will Burnham scrap the most expensive promise in politics?Clips: Andy Burnham / X, BBC, Coljax Parliament / Youtube, LBC, Nimrod Kamer / Youtube, Manchester Evening News, The Mirror.Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the day that Keir Starmer prepares to hand over the reins to the King of the North, Westminster is still reeling from the murder of Ann Widdecombe. This Friday, Jon sits down with Labour MP Sarah Sackman, a close friend and ally of Starmer, to reflect on his legacy and the mistakes that defined his premiership.What does Andy Burnham need to do to get Labour back on track? And has politics in Britain become too dangerous for those who serve in public life?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
Host Charlie James hears from Rob in Westminster, who points out that despite current headlines, China is not an ally of the United States. Rob expresses hope that the public will revive political memes comparing Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh, reminding the audience of how heavily China has meddling in American elections. Charlie agrees, recalling past remarks about relations with China and criticizing previous administrative handling of foreign policy.
As Andy Burnham prepares to enter Downing Street on Monday, the Whitehall Sources team goes behind the scenes of yet another transfer of power in Westminster.In this episode, Calum Macdonald, Jo Tanner, and James Nation break down the high-stakes chess game of Burnham's upcoming cabinet reshuffle. Will Shabana Mahmood be named Chancellor? Is Ed Miliband a massive risk or an indispensable domestic policy visionary? And what does the rise of the Greater Manchester Mayor mean for the future of UK devolution? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when activists from campaign groups Yes for EU and Europe for Scotland meet with an EU Parliament member to discuss the seismic shift in UK politics? On the 10th anniverary of the Brexit vote we travelled to Brussels for informal discussions across a wide range of topics. In this episode Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz sits down with a delegation of activists from Scotland to explore the implications of the newly elected nationalist governments across three of the four UK nations— the so called "Celtic Alliance" against a Westminster government presiding over a fracturing Kingdom and to reflect on a decade of post Brexit decline. Key themes: 00:02:01 Effect of Brexit on fishing and farming 00:04:14 Loss of EU citizens 00:05:17 Possibility of Uk rejoining EU? 00:08:46 Attitudes of UK political parties 00:11:55 Westminster's 15 minute dismissal of Scottish democracy 00:12:54 NI border polls and the Good Friday Agreement 00:14:54 Scotland has a lot to offer the EU 00:15:43 Europe needs to stand together 00:19:18 Are EU communications helpful? 00:22:27 Was the 2014 referendum anti-English? 00:23:11 Insights into the Makerfield by-election 00:28:38 Scotland feels European 00:30:15 Historic changes in Wales 00:33:02 Scotland needs to hear the EU welcome us 00:34:28 Overcoming the bias of the UK media 00:38:19 Could Canada join EU? 00:41:29 EU's role in world security For more from our EU visit check out our playlist here https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmrDKalFQSLC67NVexWaWc0IJBxXktvk1&si=X52BNsuYP9RM1x1u #brexit #eu #scottishindependence The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe! Get in touch: Email: indypodcasters@gmail.com Bluesky: @scottishindypod Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips. Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcasts or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause. Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political. Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.
I'm joined, I think, for the second time by my friend, the legendary architect and developer extraordinaire Russ Miles, who has given some of the most cerebral and exciting Spring keynotes and talks ever. And this time, he's back to talk about — guess what — A.I. As usual, he's got a different and very interesting angle on the whole thing in this short-but-sweet episode. Recorded at UberConf 2026 in Westminster, Colorado!
It's been branded “the scariest company on the planet” and it is busy weaving itself into the fabric of Britain's NHS, defence establishment and beyond. Peter Thiel's Palantir has a terrible reputation – but do its products even work as billed? As MPs call for Palantir's £330m NHS contract to be scrapped and fears grow over Big Brother-style data sharing, we talk to Democracy for Sale founder Peter Geoghegan whose investigation into Palantir reveals a company that's a lot better at schmoozing than delivery – and how Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm helped land the NHS deal.How did a controversial US tech firm – whose AI powers military strikes in Gaza and Iran and ICE's immigration raids, and whose founder Peter Thiel thinks the NHS makes people sick – wheedle its way into Westminster? And what can we do about it? • Read about Peter and Lucas Amin's investigation on Democracy for Sale • Read the full 7,000 word investigation on the London Review of Books• Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music: Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House and the Abbey Centre, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION After Labour's election last year, the new defence secretary, John Healey, wrote a memo to Cabinet colleagues in relation to the scandalous Afghan data leak and the subsequent cover-up of relocations. Healey stressed the need to ‘maintain control of the narrative', particularly in the wake of that summer's riots. The riots themselves were arguably fuelled by suppression of information about the Southport murderer, in an attempt to contain public reactions. The desire to control the narrative by curtailing public information has implications for the media's idealised role of telling ‘truth to power'. Beyond super-injunctions, governments seem preoccupied with muting the widespread availability of counter-narratives on social media. Countries across Europe are introducing measures such as the UK's Online Safety Act or the EU's Digital Services Act, which are partly designed to deal with threats to the establishment narrative via suppressing what has been dubbed ‘misinformation'. This mirrors governments' pressure on online and offline media during the Lockdown period to suppress any challenges to official, ‘consensus' health advice. However, the media stands accused of having taken it upon itself to have become more partisan in its reporting of our rapidly changing political landscape – championing a single, biased point of view, with little insight or empathy into what is driving new, popular concerns. Two recent events in America – the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the brutal stabbing of a young Ukrainian woman, Iryna Zarutska on the subway – have catalysed this sense that the mainstream media is more concerned with shaping narratives rather than reporting on them. In the case of Kirk, reaction from the mainstream media seemed to focus less on the appalling nature of the political violence or why he was so popular with millions of young people, than in communicating that Kirk was a ‘MAGA troll'. With Zarutska, whose murder by a black repeat felon was captured on CCTV, the media ignored the story for 18 days, despite its dominance on social media. Eventually, the New York Times reported only how the case had ‘ignited a firestorm on the right', a culture-war framing echoed widely in the mainstream. In the UK, media narrative-shaping is a familiar accusation on everything from the coverage of the unexpectedly large ‘Unite the Kingdom' march to the Southport riots. Populist anger has for some time focused on the supposed bias, arrogance and aloof nature of what is dismissed as the ‘MSM'. There is fury at the way protests and movements are often described as ‘far', ‘hard', ‘extreme' or ‘ultra' right – with media outlets almost running out of adjectives to communicate the idea that these movements are thinly disguised racists. No wonder journalists have been shunned or abused when they turn up to report on events. Trust is declining. All this touches on an older debate: does the media shape or reflect reality? Anti-populist commentators regularly accuse media outlets of amplifying populist talking points, contributing to moral panics about the small boats or ‘whipping up' hate about asylum hotels. Nigel Farage's frequent appearances on BBC Question Time are seen as a key explanation for Reform's credibility, indeed for the size of the 2016 Brexit vote. Has the role of the media changed, or have different outlets always be partisan? What drives governments to control the narrative for public consumption? Is mainstream media ill-equipped to deal with the pace of political change or has it abandoned even the ideal of impartiality? Can anyone, new or old media, credibly claim to merely report events rather than try to shape them? SPEAKERS Colin Brazier journalist; farmer Andrew Gold YouTuber; host, Heretics Dr Pamela Paresky academic dissident, Harvard; founder, Free Mind Foundation Tom Slater editor, spiked; co-host, spiked podcast and Last Orders Baroness Stowell former chair, Communications & Digital Select Committee CHAIR Jacob Reynolds head of policy, MCC Brussels; associate fellow, Academy of Ideas
Ken Skates has been confirmed as the new permanent leader of Welsh Labour, inheriting a party facing significant challenges after its disappointing Senedd election performance. As he steps into the role, he'll become the public face of one of Wales's opposition parties, with the task of rebuilding support and restoring confidence in Welsh Labour. Former journalist and ex-Chief of Staff to the Welsh Government, Jo Kiernan, joins us to assess the scale of the challenge ahead and what Skates must do to turn the party's fortunes around. We also hear from our Political Editor Gareth Lewis, who looks ahead to Andy Burnham taking the reins after Keir Starmer's final week as Prime Minister. Can Burnham reset relations between Wales and Westminster, and what might his leadership mean for the future of Welsh politics and for the Labour party here?
It's Wednesday, July 15th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Pakistani Christians targeted in absurd blasphemy cases Most blasphemy cases in Pakistan in recent years were fabricated. Officials admitted this to a parliamentary committee last week. Christians were among the people targeted in the hundreds of fabricated cases. The country's blasphemy law criminalizes insulting Islam. People often use the law to target religious minorities like Christians. Just last week, a Pakistani court acquitted a Christian man in this kind of case. Thirty-seven-year-old Dennis Albert had spent two years in prison over false accusations. In Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” British island legalizing assisted suicide The British Channel Island of Jersey is legalizing assisted suicide. The self-governing island is under the British Crown. Jersey received Royal Assent for its so-called “Assisted Dying Law” last week. Once the law takes effect, the territory will be the first place in the British Isles to legalize such killing. Other jurisdictions in the British Isles are also trying to legalize assisted suicide. These include the Isle of Man as well as England and Wales. Arkansas: Best state for religious liberty; New York is the worst First Liberty released its 2026 Religious Liberty in the States report. The index ranks states in America based on how well they protect religious freedom. Only Arkansas and Tennessee received excellent scores on the index. New York and Vermont scored the worst. The majority of states scored below 50 percent on the index. Arkansas' Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke at a press conference after her state won the highest score on the index. Listen. SANDERS: “Jesus commands us to live out our faith boldly. The Constitution protects our rights to do so. In this administration, we don't just believe that Jesus is our living hope. We will always stand up for the rights of Arkansans who believe the same. “I want to thank First Liberty for recognizing Arkansas's work and for honoring us with this ranking. It's something we are very proud of and we will continue to make sure we stay number one.” Michigan pro-life groups will not be compelled to hire pro-aborts A federal judge ruled in favor of pro-life groups in Michigan last week. A state law would require pro-life organizations to hire pro-abortion employees. Right to Life of Michigan and Pregnancy Resource Center challenged this law in court. The recent ruling blocks Michigan from enforcing the law. Amber Roseboom, president of Right to Life of Michigan, said, “The court's decision is a welcome reprieve and reaffirms our fundamental right to hire employees who agree with our life-affirming mission.” New law will make housing more affordable The 21st Century Road to Housing Act became law in the United States. last Saturday. The bipartisan bill is an attempt to make housing more affordable for Americans. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the law on X. She said, “This bipartisan bill includes policies long championed by the President. It cuts unnecessary red tape, helps increase housing supply, and limits the ability of large institutional investors to purchase single-family homes.” Median home price: $440,600 In related news, home prices continued to rise last month. A report from the National Association of Realtors found that the median sales price of an existing home reached $440,600 in June. That's the highest on record. Lawrence Yun with the National Association of Realtors noted, “Affordability is better than a year ago because wage growth is outpacing home price growth. However, progress on long-term housing affordability could be hampered if inventory growth continues to stall.” People who experienced heartache more likely to turn to Bible Last week, the American Bible Society released the fourth chapter of its “State of the Bible: USA 2026” report. The survey found that people who experienced a negative life event in the past year were significantly more likely to be Bible users than those who had not experienced that challenge. Such challenges included divorce, natural disaster, life-threatening illness or injury, death of a close friend or family member, and unemployment. The report noted, “Amidst hardships, those who regularly engage with Scripture maintain significantly higher flourishing scores.” In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Worldview listeners weigh in from Kansas, Washington, and Indiana Susan Tarwater in Hoyt, Kansas, wrote me and said, “I do not watch television. So, I depend on The Worldview as a shortened version of important news I need to hear. Especially news that a Christian needs to be aware of without all the glitter.” Tom Lister in Spokane, Washington wrote me to say, “Adam, I listen to your broadcast every weekday morning. I especially like how you keep us informed about the church, the persecution of many, and how, in many places, the church is slipping into apostasy. I also appreciate how you always end on a very positive outlook. Keep up the good fight! I'm a monthly supporter already but might be able to increase the amount.” And Melinda Johnson in Indianapolis, Indiana, wrote, “I've been listening to and reading The Worldview for several years now. My favorite part of the news is hearing about different stories that are not reported by mainstream media -- things like persecuted Christians, updates on abortion, how the Gospel is impacting the world, and issues affecting the conservative Christian movement. “The Worldview is quite different than any other news, even Christian sources, that cover the regular news. Your newscast brings up topics that help me know what to pray for in the world. You and the team are continuing in a great work!” 3 Worldview listeners gave $205 And finally, on Tuesday by 6:00pm Central, only 3 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year Our thanks to Teresa in Haverford, Pennsylvania who gave $5 as well as Lawrence in Lynchburg, Virginia and Gary in Westminster, Colorado – both of whom gave $100 Those 3 gifts add up to $205. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $24,008 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we need to raise a sizeable $32,557 in just three days to hit our $56,565 goal by this Friday, July 17th. Listen, if you have been a monthly donor from a previous year, and you intend to continue with your monthly donation, please email me to let me know, so that I can add your generous help toward our total. And if you would like to make a one-time donation today or start a new monthly pledge, please go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. If everybody does something, we can reach our $123,500 finish line to fund this upcoming year. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 15th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Alicia McCarthy reports from Westminster on Sir Keir Starmer's final Prime Minister's Question Time.
Hey Boos, join us today as we discuss the ghosts of the Westminster Burial Grounds in Baltimore, Maryland! Before we get into that, we talk about what friend groups from horror movies that we would not want to be a part of. Then we get into the history of Westminster, the iconic ghosts haunting it, and the pop culture surrounding the location. For our Boo Crew Moment of the Week, Brooke tells us about Robert Garrow. We would love to interact with you, send us an email or DM us on Instagram or Facebook! Follow us on Instagram - boo.busters.podcastFollow us on Facebook - Boo Busters PodcastFollow us on TikTok - boo.bustersEmail us - boo.busters.podcast@gmail.com
Andy Burnham is preparing to become Prime Minister—but what does that mean for Scotland, Labour and the future of UK politics?In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver to discuss what Burnham's government could look like, who could join his Cabinet, and whether Labour can truly deliver the change voters are demanding.What is Andy Burnham's leadership style?Who will sit round the cabinet table... What does the future hold for Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting, Douglas Alexander and other prominent figures in the Labour party.Will the new Prime Minister reset Westminster's relationship with Scotland and could his premiership lead to further devolution to Holyrood and right across the country? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer's farewell tour is well underway – but is he destined to spend most of it out of the UK?With an extra day in Paris for the Bastille Day celebrations and a possible dash state side for the World Cup final, Starmer is ending his premiership on the world stage – arguably his happy place.Back in Westminster, Prime Minister in waiting – Andy Burnham – ramps up preparations for government, telling colleagues his cabinet will reflect a “broad church.” But with days to go, cabinet ministers still don't know who will survive the reshuffle.Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy assess the challenges awaiting the Burnham government and what his first appointments and decisions will say about the direction of travel.Elsewhere, Rachel Reeves delivers her final Mansion House speech as chancellor setting out the economic legacy she wants to leave behind.Plus, Anne catches up with Tony Blair. What advice does the former Labour leader have for Labour's next Prime Minister?
Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet? It looks like Ed Miliband will not be chancellor after all. We have scoops for you about who's in line for the big jobs in the Westminster cabinet reshuffle.Burnham needs to make room for allies like Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell, so who will be sacked on Monday when Burnham takes over as prime minister?Westminster is like a hornet's nest of briefing and counter-briefing as Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Dan Jarvis, Yvette Cooper and others wait to hear what next week will bring.David Lammy has organised a whip-round for Keir Starmer's rather odd leaving present.And what will Burnham do once he's in post? We look at his immediate priorities and the possibility of a mega fiscal event in the autumn.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesPatrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images.01:10 - Blocking Ed Miliband From Chancellor02:30 - Why the City Doesn't Trust the "London Left"03:50 - Will Miliband Accept a Demotion?05:05 - The Brutal Briefing War Behind Closed Doors06:40 - Defending the "Net Zero Zealot"07:45 - Cabinet Jenga: Filling the Great Offices of State09:25 - Angela Rayner & The "Day One" Loyalists11:05 - The Starmer Purge: Who Is Getting Sacked?12:45 - The Yvette Cooper Foreign Policy Question15:05 - Secret Policy Clashes: Josh Simons vs. Miatta Fahnbulleh17:15 - Angry Loyalists With "Nothing To Lose"19:40 - Starmer's Bizarre Leaving Present21:30 - Flying to the World Cup Final22:35 - Burnham's Radical Plan for the Cost of Living25:00 - The Warning Over a "Mega Budget" & Wealth Taxes26:15 - North vs. South: The Growing Regional RebellionPicture: Getty ImagesEmail us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.ukThis 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.
The murder of Ann Widdecombe has sent shockwaves through Westminster and reignited the debate over politicians' security. But with questions still unanswered about the motive for the attack, Reform's response has already become politically charged. Is Nigel Farage right to argue that threats against him and his party have not been taken seriously – or is he ‘weaponising' Widdecombe's death for political advantage?Meanwhile, Andy Burnham is preparing to enter Downing Street, but Westminster is still struggling to work out what kind of prime minister he will be. Labour MPs are cautiously optimistic, yet many remain unconvinced that Burnham has the tactical judgement needed when the pressure mounts. With 322 MPs having backed him, his first challenge may be managing the expectations of the hundreds who will miss out on government jobs. Can he turn goodwill into authority – or will his opponents define him before he has a chance to define himself?Plus: Nigel Farage remains under pressure over his finances: is this his 'Mandelson' scandal? Tim Shipman speaks to James Heale.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Jacob Rees-Mogg discuss the latest developments in the case of Ann Widdecombe's killing, news which has rocked Westminster and the wider political world over the weekend. As news breaks that the investigation into her death is now being lead by counter-terrorism police, they focus the discussion on whether more should be done to ensure the safety and security of political figures and MPs in today's ever-polarising world.Iain Duncan Smith also discusses welfare reform, the issues with Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and criticises the latest Timms review into disability benefits.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorThe Telegraph is the Publisher Podcast Awards' Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026Studio Operator: Meghan SearleProducers: Emma Williams and David LeveneVideo Producer: Will WaltersSocial Producer: Nada AggourExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanEditor: Camilla TomineyHighlights:Jacob Rees-Mogg and Iain Duncan Smith share their experiences and thoughts on the security needs of MPsIain Duncan Smith discusses the Timms review into disability benefits and welfare reform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The leftist cultural critic David Masciotra isn't happy with the state of America in the first half of 2026. His dislike of the MAGA crowd goes without saying. But his anger at the state of progressive politics is more noteworthy. So far, he says, 2026 has been — to borrow from Antonio Gramsci — a time for monsters both on the left and right. With its “Epstein class” vocabulary, knee-jerk Luddism and AIPAC litmus tests, the left, Masciotra argues, is mimicking MAGA in its paranoid bigotry. The year's most disturbing story so far is Graham Platner, the erstwhile Maine Senate candidate who, Masciotra suggests, is either an idiot or a Nazi. Equally disturbing were the “progressives” who blindly defended Platner until the most recent rape accusations. So how to slay these monsters on the left? What's missing, Masciotra argues, is the kind of positively benevolent Jacksonian (Jesse) vision which seizes the moral high ground of American politics. We are still waiting for the next Bill Clinton, Obama, or even Bernie able to imagine a new dawn for the left in America. Maybe we'll see the early shoots of a more optimistic progressivism in the second half of the year. In the manner of a football (soccer) match, let's hope 2026 turns out to be a year of two halves. Five Takeaways • The Old Gods Return. Masciotra's answer to the what-time-is-it question is that 2026 has seen the old gods stumble back onto the landscape: nationalism, male chauvinism, paranoia and conspiracism. Borrowing from Zygmunt Bauman, he argues that we have moved from a solid age to a liquid one, in which nothing feels stable — and instability inculcates a nostalgia that is usually irrational and ill-informed. People are reaching for the resurrection of manufacturing, the male-headed nuclear family, even a return to religion, with young Americans reportedly turning to Catholicism. Quality of life is objectively better than in our grandparents' era, and yet we live in an age of doom-scrolling and pessimism. • The Epstein Class and the Left's New Litmus Tests. The criticism of Israeli conduct after October 7 has morphed, for many on the left, into an all-encompassing paranoia in which AIPAC, Zionists, and “the Epstein class” control everything. Graham Platner coupled those terms constantly in his stump speeches — antisemitic conspiracy-mongering 101, in Masciotra's phrase — and declaring Israel genocidal has become a litmus test in Democratic primaries from Maine to Denver to California. Masciotra, who saw Jesse Jackson spend decades atoning for Hymietown, calls this the most important story of 2026 to monitor: the collapse of parts of the progressive left into bigotry, misogyny tolerance, and purity tests. • Luxury Beliefs and Streamer Politics. Voter turnout used to be organized bottom-up — black churches, the NAACP, Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition — around the issues of actual neighborhoods. Now streamers like Hasan Piker mobilize thousands of calls into districts they know nothing about, amplifying what Masciotra calls luxury beliefs: positions whose consequences never touch the people who hold them, from making every race about Israel to defunding police in neighborhoods the believers don't live in. Whether it's Piker on the left or Nick Fuentes on the right, national streamers will always champion luxury beliefs, because they lack the knowledge to champion local ones. • Working-Class Drag Doesn't Work. Platner looked like he had just changed a tire and talked like a pro wrestler cutting a promo on Susan Collins — and the polls showed Collins beating him even before he dropped out over credible accusations of rape and domestic violence. White working-class voters, Masciotra argues, are not looking for someone in the right costume with the right gravelly voice; they have real beliefs, and they respond to people who speak directly to their concerns rather than in the nomenclature of consultant firms. Nobody in Maine piecing together a living as a farmer or a home-health aide has AIPAC first and foremost on their mind. • Waiting for the Benevolent Vision. What the half-year lacks, from Washington to Westminster, is what Jesse Jackson had even for his critics: a benevolent vision. Masciotra finds it today in Bryan Stevenson and the civil rights tradition he calls the moral center of American politics, and in Senator Raphael Warnock, who preaches from King's old church. His policy candidate for the next Clinton-or-Obama moment is a self-employment manifesto — politics for the millions piecing together gig work who appear in nobody's rhetoric, not the manufacturing nostalgia of the right nor the union nostalgia of the left. And on AI, he sees an opening: oppose the secretly-dealt data centers, as presidential hopeful J.B. Pritzker has, but harness the technology for the precariat rather than the moguls. About the Guest David Masciotra is a cultural critic, journalist, and lecturer. He is the author of six books, including Exurbia Now: The Battleground of American Democracy (Melville House, 2024) and I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters (Bloomsbury, 2020), drawn from his many years working alongside the late Reverend Jackson. His writing appears in UnHerd, The New Republic, Washington Monthly, The Progressive, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, and he teaches literature and political science in Indiana. He is a longtime friend of the show. References: • Exurbia Now: The Battleground of American Democracy by David Masciotra (Melville House, 2024). Booklist, starred review: “Insight and a fresh perspective on the culture wars.” • I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters (Bloomsbury, 2020) — Masciotra's biography of the Reverend, discussed here for Jackson's decades of recompense after the 1984 Hymietown remark. • Zygmunt Bauman — the Polish sociologist of liquid modernity, quoted in Exurbia Now, whose move from solidity to liquidity frames the episode's diagnosis of nostalgia. • Antonio Gramsci — the Prison Notebooks passage on the interregnum, in both its translations: morbid symptoms and monsters. • Masciotra's recent UnHerd essays — on why Democrats gave Graham Platner a free pass, on the party's luxury belief agenda, and on Stephen Colbert as the emblem of detached establishment liberalism. • Bryan Stevenson — founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and the legacy sites memorializing slavery and lynching; the subject of Masciotra's forthcoming piece and, in his view, the closest thing 2026 has to a benevolent vision. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brin...
Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh - whose resignation helped triggered Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, the Conservatives' Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith, the SNP's Westminster leader Dave Doogan, plus the journalist and broadcaster Angela Epstein.
What does this country need to do to shut down the questions over the Falkland Islands' sovereignty for good?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh - whose resignation helped triggered Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, the Conservatives' Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith, the SNP's Westminster leader Dave Doogan, plus the journalist and broadcaster Angela Epstein.
Recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House and the Abbey Centre, Westminster. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION In February 2025, the then deputy prime minister and communities secretary, Angela Rayner, established an independent government working group, chaired by former Conservative MP and Attorney General Dominic Grieve KC, to advise on a definition of ‘anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia'. The demand for such a definition comes after an official definition of anti-Semitism was adopted in 2016. Critics have argued since that, for the sake of fairness, something similar must be done for Muslims. The formation of this group, as well as its objectives, has incurred criticism from many quarters and sparked intense public debate. Questions have been raised over the transparency of the group's proceedings, the independence of its members, the marginalisation of certain Muslim communities' voices and the chilling effect that such a definition could have on free speech. The fear of being accused of Islamophobia is, some have argued, part of the reason for the lack of action on grooming gangs. Critics argue that a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia will inevitably be highly subjective and perception-based in its application by public bodies. This will limit freedom of speech by confusing criticism of the religion of Islam with prejudice against Muslim individuals, something which is already addressed through existing legislation. The freedom to interrogate and ridicule the tenets of all faiths is fundamental in a modern society and restricting this freedom for one faith risks quelling not only criticism of that religion from non-believers, but also criticism of it from within, amongst fellow believers who disagree over interpretations of texts and controversial practices, such as face coverings. This is why the working group's approach has led to criticism from Muslim groups, some of whom also make the point that through attempting to define what Islamophobia is, the government is neglecting the importance of addressing actual cases of anti-Muslim hate crimes. They also fear that at a time when many see the UK as a state that is on the road towards the application of ‘two-tier' justice, singling out Islam for special protection and threatening its critics with speech-restricting measures, such as non-crime hate incidents, will only increase tensions. This Free Speech Union discussion will give voice to leading opponents of defining Islamophobia who all have their unique and legitimate concerns over the wider and deeper consequences of this policy. The panel features voices from within Parliament, the Muslim community, the legal profession and campaigners. SPEAKERS Professor Khalid Mahmood former member of Parliament; visiting professor, Birmingham City University; director, KN Strategic Solutions Ltd Baroness Amanda Spielman conservative peer, former chief inspector; Ofsted Nick Timothy MP member of parliament, West Suffolk; former special advisor, Home Office; author and comment writer Toby Young general secretary, Free Speech Union; associate editor, Spectator; editor-in-chief, Daily Sceptic CHAIR Dr Jan Macvarish education and events director, Free Speech Union
A message by Pastor Jared Burke from Philippians 3:4-11 at Bethany Bible Fellowship, Westminster, California
Today, Adam and Alex take a deep dive into Andy Burnham's plan to move power out of Westminster and Whitehall and distribute it across the UK. There has been little detail announced about Burnham's plans to rewire the state but it's clear that it's top of his to do list.Adam and Alex are joined by Ant Breach, director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities to explore what devolution in England could look like, and what the challenges might be.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Gabriel Purcell-Davies. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Jonathan Greer. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Does it matter that MPs face a six-week wait before they can question the new prime minister? Sean Curran talks to expert Dr Ruxandra Serban. Also, we look at what Andy Burnham's agenda might mean for Westminster, MPs investigate the fall-out from recent public disorder in Northern Ireland and there's a call for voting to be made compulsory.
The Mustang Owner's Podcast had the honor of kicking off Show Day Saturday at this year's Carlisle Ford Nationals, recording a special podcast episode in front of the Fairgrounds Stage right after the 9 a.m. playing of the National Anthem. To showcase the podcast's theme of “Everyone Has A Mustang Story, co-hosts John Clor and Mike Rey chose seven Mustangs representing all seven generations from some 2,500 Mustang show field entries as part of a special stage-front display. There, the owners shared their car's story in live interviews recorded in front of hundreds of Mustang fans and friends who assembled in the Grandstands.The “7 Gens of Mustang Stories” participants were:1st Gen (1965-73) – 1968 Mustang GT Fastback Owner: Frank Radio, Franklinville, NJ2nd Gen (1974-78 / Mustang II) – 1978 Mustang II Cobra IIOwner: Arnold Rill, Westminster, MD3rd Gen (1979-93 / Fox Body) – 1980 Mustang Ghia CoupeOwner: Amy Rebecca, Mountain City, TN4th Gen (1994-2004 / SN95) – 2003 Mustang Mach 1Owner: Jonathan Woodward, Rutland, MA5th Gen (2005-14 / S197) – 2011 Mustang GT Owner: Bill Watkins, Wilbraham, MA6th Gen – (2015-23 / S550) – 2015 Mustang GT 50th Anniversary EditionOwner: John Olesuk, Long Island, NY7th Gen – (2024- Present / S650) – 2025 Mustang RTR Owner: Ben Nero, Milford, NHOur thanks to all of the above who appeared in this very special podcast episode, including all the fans in the Grandstands who came down after the recording session to meet the owners and check out their cars. And a special thanks goes to Carlisle Ford Nationals Show Manager Ken Appell (who promoted the live recording session and put it on top of Saturday's action-packed show program), and Mustang Unleashed Influencer and noted Ford Performance photographer Joe Deladvitch (who managed all the episode's recording duties). Of course, Carlisle hosts the world's largest all-Ford show each June, featuring nearly every Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and even Fords from all over the world on the nearly 3,500-vehicle show field for a three-day extravaganza in central Pennsylvania of all things related to the Blue Oval. As usual, all sorts of other special events and attractions were planned this year – with 3,538 total entries, the second largest in the show's history, beyond seeing all the hottest new Ford products – even the Mustang GTD – and thousands of classic and collectible Fords on display. Those included a 60th Anniversary Bronco Showcase celebrating the past, present, and future of the iconic SUV; a 50th Anniversary celebration of the Starsky & Hutch Torino, featuring three screen-used vehicles, nearly two dozen additional examples on the Showfield, and one of the stars of the television series, Antonio Fargas, who portrayed Huggy Bear. There were also displays commemorating the legacies of Roush, the Ford Taurus, and the Olympic Sprint special editions as well as all the other regular attractions such as the Vehicle Parades, Select Displays, Car Corral, Manufacturers Midway, the massive Flea Market and Vendors area, great food, the Women's Oasis and even Kids Activities. And don't forget the Club Challenge, the Coolest Club Hangout Award and the Club Mixer info-session hosted by Team Mustang's John Clor with help from podcast partner Mike Rey – plus the Autocross, Burnout & Exhaust contests, Celebrity Choice Awards, the annual Downtown Carlisle Parade, Park & Party and of course Sunday's big Carlisle Awards Presentations. Clearly, if there's only one big Ford show you need to attend each year, the Carlisle Ford Nationals is it. John and Mike NEVER miss this show – and neither should you! In the meantime, make sure to Like the video and Leave a Comment Subscribe to the Mustang Owner's Podcast Share with fellow Mustang enthusiasts. Plus, show that you're a true Mustang insider by wearing Mustang Owner's Podcast branded apparel, available on TheSVTstore.com.
Everyone in Westminster is trying desperately to peer inside Andy Burnham's head and work out what ‘Manchesterism' really is – and in the magazine this week, Tali Fraser offers the definitive take. Rather than being a mixture of vibes and ‘business-friendly socialism', it's roots lie in the 'Manchester liberalism' of Richard Cobden and John Bright, from which a direct line can be drawn to Margaret Thatcher. It turns out that the Manchester success story did not begin with a socialist rejection of neoliberalism, but by courting business. Will Burnham be able to sell that to the PLP? Or will he come unstuck on contact with the Labour left, in much the same way Starmer did?Noa Hoffman speaks to James Heale and Tali Fraser.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
BURNHAM'S LEFT-WING COUP? HAS BRITAIN BECOME A BANANA REPUBLIC? #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live #AndyBurnham #NigelFarage #ReformUK #GeneralElection #UKPolitics Westminster has done it again. Today Labour MPs queued up to salute their new leader as if the British people don't matter. No General Election. No manifesto. No mandate. Just another Westminster stitch-up. They tell us to shut up and accept it. I say rubbish. This country doesn't belong to MPs. It belongs to us. Today I'm asking whether Britain has become a democracy in name only. Has Parliament become a private members' club that picks Prime Ministers while voters are expected to clap politely? Are we becoming a Banana Republic where Westminster insiders decide who governs while the British people are expected to keep quiet? And isn't the timing remarkable? Reform UK has been leading the opinion polls for months. Nigel Farage has become the biggest electoral threat to the Westminster establishment. Yet while Andy Burnham gets the red-carpet treatment, Farage finds himself under relentless political and media scrutiny. Coincidence? Or panic from an establishment that knows the public has had enough? Tonight we'll debate:
Tom in for Nick and joined initially by David Yates who was busy in Westminster yesterday at the Kempton Park parliamentary debate secured by MP Lincoln Jopp. We hear from Lincoln and trainer Nicky Henderson who had made his way to Westminster in the fight to save the track and it appears there is, at least, a shaft of light on that front. Dave also spork to Conservative MP Louie French on Financial Risk Assessments after yesterday's Gambling Commission announcement and we hear from the CEO of the Betting & Gaming Council Grainne Hurst who outlines her concerns. George Boughey talks Libertango who lines up at this week's July meeting after her Ascot win and also updates us on Bow Echo's wellbeing. And Juddmonte's Barry Mahon talks Field Of Gold retirement and looks ahead to this weekend's key runners including Blue Bolt in the Tattersall's Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes.
Tom in for Nick and joined initially by David Yates who was busy in Westminster yesterday at the Kempton Park parliamentary debate secured by MP Lincoln Jopp. We hear from Lincoln and trainer Nicky Henderson who had made his way to Westminster in the fight to save the track and it appears there is, at least, a shaft of light on that front. Dave also spork to Conservative MP Louie French on Financial Risk Assessments after yesterday's Gambling Commission announcement and we hear from the CEO of the Betting & Gaming Council Grainne Hurst who outlines her concerns. George Boughey talks Libertango who lines up at this week's July meeting after her Ascot win and also updates us on Bow Echo's wellbeing. And Juddmonte's Barry Mahon talks Field Of Gold retirement and looks ahead to this weekend's key runners including Blue Bolt in the Tattersall's Sceptre Sessions Falmouth Stakes.
Nick is joined on his return to TW11 from South Africa by Racing Post senior writer Lee Mottershead to discuss the latest from around the racing world after a hectic weekend. They lead today with the publication of a governance blueprint from Goodwood and York racecourses, with Nick talking to bothe CEOs William Derby and Adam Waterworth. Nick and Lee ask just how good is Constitution River, with Donnacha O'Brien joining the show to talk about his Eclipse runner up A Boy Named Susie and his Belmont Oaks heroine Kensington Lane. We run the rule over Calandagan's GP de Saint Cloud comeback, while TPD's Adam Mills puts the Belmont Derby and the Deutsches Derby under the microscope. Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, who bought and raced the second, third and fourth in the Hamburg feature, tells us how he did it. Nick Smith - Racing Director at Ascot - also drops in to talk about how Hong Kong is beefing up the Shergar Cup, to clear up the Ka Ying Rising/Ascot debate, and to give Ascot's view of the York/Goodwood proposals. Plus, Nick and Lee discuss that controversial photo at Newmarket on Saturday, the retirement of Field of Gold and the upcoming events in Westminster surrounding the future of Kempton.
Andy Burnham has gone from metro mayor to prime minister-in-waiting.When did he decide to make the move against Starmer, and how's he done it?Chris Mason and Faisal Islam are in Sheffield for the Crossed Wires podcast festival for a special episode in which they track the journey from London to Manchester and back again.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes are released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Chris Mason and Faisal Islam. It was made by Chris Flynn. The social producer was Gabriel Purcell-Davies. The technical producer was Lewis Allsopp. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.