Shows
Political FixThe great stink of England’s sewage crisisThe raw sewage being pumped into rivers and seas in England has become a seismic election issue. The musician turned environmentalist Feargal Sharkey joins the FT’s Lucy Fisher, George Parker and Robert Shrimsley to assess how we got here, while the FT’s infrastructure correspondent Gill Plimmer analyses Thames Water’s woes. Plus, the team looks at scandals in Westminster and considers how much William Wragg’s honeytrap debacle and allegations that Angela Rayner failed to pay the right tax on a former house sale – which she denies – might damage their parties’ chances in this election year.Since re...
2024-04-1231 min
Electoral DysfunctionThe Grindr honeytrap fallout - and do Labour poll leads do them more harm than good?As the fall-out from the Westminster honeytrap scandal continues to unravel, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson explain why contacts are so valuable in Parliament and ask what William Wragg’s resignation tells us about Rishi Sunak’s leadership. And, with Labour riding hight after two major polls predicted landslide victories at the upcoming election, should Keir Starmer be worried about voter complacency? Plus, Beth, Ruth and Jess talk about the impact of Dr Hilary Cass’ review into gender identity services for under-18s in England. Email Beth, Jess, and Ruth at electoraldysfunction@sky.uk, post...
2024-04-1242 min
Where Politics Meets History442. Dirndl and LederhosenIain and Jacqui discuss Labour going after tax dodgers, William Wragg, Cameron paying Trump a visit, protesters outside Starmer's house, whether Angela Rayner's in danger, Harold Wilson's affair and loads more. Smut quota: Middling.
2024-04-121h 00
The TrawlEp 140: Forget Wragg, what about Rayner?Financial advice from Sunak, anyone? Because that's what was offered by our PM in his latest comms disaster video put out by No.10. The ladies discuss the desperate attempts by the PM to shift public perception, as well as the very obvious flaw.Then it's onto "courageous and fulsome" William Wragg - whose latest accolade includes being praised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for sending photos of his meat and two veg to a perfect stranger on the internet before compromising his colleagues, some of which, went on to do the same. What a time to...
2024-04-1046 min
The Weekly ScepticWraggs to SnitchesWelcome to the Weekly Sceptic episode 83 (recorded live at the Hippodrome) This week: -Will Wragg is praised for being 'brave' by Jeremy Hunt after sending intimate photos to a spear phisher and then, when blackmailed, handing over fellow MPs' phone numbers -The Tories issue a poster with the dubious claim that the UK is the second most powerful country in the world and prove this by including photos of an American jet and a Swiss ship -Angela Rayner is caught telling porkies to avoid capital gains tax and David Lammy's attempts to defend her make things exponentially worse -Toby is d...
2024-04-101h 19
WiD.ChatterEverything is changing, let’s help it change for the betterIs defence and security an attractive place for women to consider working?Defence is an engaging workforce with a great balance of employees. Defence isn’t just “Join the Army”, “Join the Navy”, there are many various aspects of defence rather than just putting yourself forward to the front line. Anyone can work in the armed forces, it is a team and needs people at all positions.“Make your business great by having great people in it, not make business great by having some type of great people in it!”
2024-03-0744 min
The Mookse and the Gripes PodcastEpisode 69: Our Favorite Books We Read in 2023, Part IThis week kicks off our annual two episode best of the year extravaganza! Trevor and Paul count down the first part of their ten favorite reads of 2023—and they’re joined by a cast of listeners who share some of their top books and best reading experiences of the year! We dare you to not add a book (or more!) to your 2024 TBR!Giveaway DetailsWe are excited to give away three Dalkey Archive books to a lucky listener with a U.S. address*.Please send us an email (or dm on Instagram or T...
2023-12-141h 40
On the MediaWe Are FamilyWhen you hear the word “Neanderthal,” you probably picture a mindless, clumsy brute. It’s often used as an insult — even by our president, who last year called anti-maskers “Neanderthals.” But what if we have more in common with our ancestral cousins than we think? On this week’s On the Media, hear how these early humans have been unfairly maligned in science and in popular culture.
1. John Hawks [@johnhawks], professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, on our biological family tree—and the complicated branch that is Neanderthals. Listen.
2. Rebecca Wragg Sykes [@LeMoustier...
2022-08-1950 min
The Constitution UnitParliament: the decline of scrutiny? - The State of the Constitution: Constitution Unit Conference 2022Johnson’s premiership has been marked by various controversies about parliament. On COVID-19, the government was accused of overusing delegated powers – adding to already long-standing concerns in this area. Subsequently, some primary legislation has been rushed, and the relationship between whips and backbenchers often difficult. Most recently, the proposed fast-track procedures for amending Retained EU Law and on human rights risk further sidelining parliamentarians. How concerned should we be about these developments, and how best can parliament respond? SpeakersBaroness (Angela) Smith of Basildon – Labour peer, and Shadow Leader of the House of Lords William...
2022-07-141h 13On the MediaHumans, BeingWhen you hear the word “Neanderthal,” you probably picture a mindless, clumsy brute. It’s often used as an insult — even by our president, who last year called anti-maskers “Neanderthals.” But what if we have more in common with our ancestral cousins than we think? On this week’s On the Media, hear how these early humans have been unfairly maligned in science and in popular culture.
1. John Hawks [@johnhawks], professor of anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, on our biological family tree—and the complicated branch that is Neanderthals. Listen.
2. Rebecca Wragg Sykes [@LeMoustier...
2022-01-2850 min