The Two Matts
Join The New World's Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona plus occasional guests for weekly chat on politics and media with a side of cultural stuff. A podcast in the spirit of the award-winning New World newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people.
Episodes
The Two Matts Q&A: The decline of Zack and best ever speeches
The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A session, including: why is Zack Polanski’s popularity plummeting? How bad are the riots in France? Who would you put in the cabinet? Is Andy Burnham courageous or cowardly on Europe? What's the best political speech in history? And what movie did you once think was amazing but makes you cringe now? Enjoy!Produced
A disaster for the Green Party
The Matts discuss the impact of the Green Party resolution that “Zionism Is Racism”. Will Zack Polanski survive as leader? What does it mean for Jews living in the UK? What does it mean for the party's supposed core eco agenda? Also this week: what's the story behind Kemi Badenoch's conference speech? What does success look like for her? It's a lively conversation. Enjoy!Produced b
The Two Matts Q&A: On The New World at 500 and the Burnham bounce
The Matts answer your questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A episode. Including: what should you do with your collection of New European/New World magazines? What will dominate the next 500 issues? Is Andy Burnham the real deal? Has football sold its soul? Should we proscribe Patriot Platform? And which beloved movies flopped at the box office? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER:
48 hours after THAT speech… how many marks out of 10?
The Matts give a considered analysis of Andy Burnham’s conference speech. So much to talk about and so many obvious strong points - but where will the testing moments come from? They go deep into the policies he announced and try to put together the evidence for a big plan - and rate his chances of pulling it off. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: To celebrate our 500th edition, get The New Wor
The Two Matts Q&A: Ketamine epidemic and trouble in Narnia
The Matts answer listeners' questions in their regular Sunday morning edition, including: How does Andy Burnham take Britain into the EU? Is ketamine the new heroin? Why are CS Lewis fans suddenly furious? What does podcasting mean for the future of media? And is Trump right about the Chagos deal? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason
A lot of Andy Burnham and a bit of Hitler
The Matts discuss Andy Burnham's speech to the United Nations - and what it tells us about both the opportunities and challenges facing the new PM and Britain as we seek to rediscover our place in the world 10 years after Brexit. In part two the Matts discuss the waning effect of Adolf Hitler on the global conscience and what it means in concrete terms for all our futures. Enjoy! PS: Use code
The Two Matts Q&A: What is it crypto billionaires love so much about Nigel Farage?
The Matts answer listener questions, including: Why do crypto billionaires fall over themselves to give Nigel Farage money? Does Canada joining the EU help or hinder the UK’s return? Why isn’t the UN dealing with AI? Is the rise of the far right in Germany something to worry about? And isn’t Ed Sheeran basically right? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free
Is AI really coming to eat us all... and how do we stop it?
The Matts open with a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Bonnie Greer, who died this week. In the first half they discuss the extraordinary pace of developments and concern around AI, explain exactly what has happened and why everyone really should be very worried indeed. In part two, they reject the outright demonisation of the citizens of Piddington, the small Oxfordshire village which held a
The Two Matts Q&A: Can’t we have welfare AND defence?
The Matts answer listener questions including: why can’t we have decent welfare and a strong defence? Was Reform stung or entrapped? Why is Liz Truss still costing us so much money? Is AI really going to kill me? And why is everyone losing their minds over the Bayeux Tapestry? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to
An historic shift in UK foreign policy towards Israel. Now what?
As Ed Miliband announces sanctions against illegal settlements in the West Bank, the Matts take a holistic look at what the government hopes to achieve and at what cost. Does this make British Jews less safe? Are challenges to Miliband’s level of Jewishness fair? And will this action make any difference to the chances of a two-state solution? Also - 25 years after 9/11, the Matts discuss Matt d’An
The Two Matts Q&A: Is Farage finished? And where are all the women?
The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning question and answer edition. Including; is Farage finished; what tax pledge should Burnham break; is Michael Gove stupid; how should we think about China; apart from Dante, Giotto, Thomas Aquinas, Chaucer and the Bayeux Tapesty, what’s the Middle Ages ever done for us; maintaining a dignified silence in the face of Will Self
REDS - the best political book of the year? With Paul Mason
The Matts are joined by The New World contributing editor Paul Mason to discuss his blockbuster book Reds: A Global History Of Communism. We cover a lot of ground - from pre-historic society through the French Revolution to the USSR and finally modern day China, where the entire definition and history of Communism is being rewritten as we speak. Paul’s book has been receiving glowing reviews from
The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books
The Matts tackle listener questions in their regular Sunday morning Q&A edition, including: Is there a resurgence of homophobia? Should Harry and Meghan be welcomed back to the UK? Are we heartbroken over Dolly Parton? What does the Meta mega settlement mean? Are online comments a good thing? And what should we be reading next? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World fo
Andy Burnham’s first big test is around the corner
The Matts think about Andy Burnham’s first month (and a bit) in Downing Street and anticipate a period of difficulty ahead for a PM whose inclination may be to keep people happy in an age when dramatic change is required. In the second half, what does the release of Jason Arday’s autobiography tell us about attitudes towards truth in publishing?Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New W
The Two Matts Q&A: is the Kelly Plan dead? And TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY SPEAKER PHONE!
The Matts answer listener questions including: Is the Kelly Plan for an early election a non-starter? Is Richard Tice a secret Labour asset? How should we respond to the huge numbers of suicides in the UK each year? And is Wetherspoons right to ban speaker phones? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/
2026: the year the climate crisis came home
The Matts discuss the government’s response to the severe heat this summer in England and Wales (sorry Scotland!)… and whether this year will be a turning point in the public’s perception of urgency around the changing climate. But first, they deal with the charge they were “lily-livered” in their response to the tragic death of Jason Arday.Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World
The Two Matts Q&A: On the death of Jason Arday
The Matts answer listener questions in their regular Sunday morning episode, including the tragic death of Jason Arday, whether Nigel Farage has lost his touch, what Andy Burnham is trying to do on social media and whether the solar eclipse was all it was cracked up to be.Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.u
Andy Burnham vs Geoffrey Howe... and a side order of Jason Arday
The Matts remember an astonishing letter of 45 years ago which provides stark contrast with Andy Burnham’s politics of place. Also - how the Jason Arday saga has shamed not just one academic but an entire university… and much of the liberal establishment whose instinctive rush to defend Arday is indicative of a deeper problem. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for jus
The Two Matts Q&A: Is Andy Burnham a hot dad, and eff off Gianni Infantino
The Matts answer listeners' questions including: when will politicians actually face up to the climate crisis? Is Andy Burnham being creepy on social media? Has Zack Polanski’s bubble burst? Where would you start when fixing social care? Is The Odyssey really all that? And should Gianni Infantino be allowed to sell the World Cup? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for
Burnham’s flying start... but is he also fibbing?
The Matts appreciate the velocity of action in Andy Burnham’s first days as PM. And the big intention to fix social care is of enormous consequence. But it also makes them wonder if Burnham is being completely open about the possibility of an early election. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Subscribe to The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
The Two Matts Q&A: Why tell ourselves lies about prison time? And what do we miss about the 70s?
The Matts answer listener questions including: Has Andy Burnham made a mistake appointing so many loyalists? Why aren’t the courts more honest about what time prisoners will actually serve? What do the Matts miss about the 70s? Should Gianni Infantino run the United Nations? Are generation gaps a real thing? And what can you recommend to someone who has zero interest in The Odyssey? Enjoy!Produced
What is it about the prospect of a Reform government they don’t get?
The Matts dig into the reaction to Andy Burnham’s first few days in government. Obviously the usual suspects - such as the Daily Mail and GB News - have already declared it a failure. But one column by Janan Ganesh in the Financial Times stands out as an utterly miserable misreading of the reality of where British politics is. Is the biggest problem Burnham faces a hostile right wing media, or is
The Two Matts Q&A: Will Self on football and audiobook recommendations
The Matts answer listeners’ questions in their regular Sunday Q&A session, including: Is Will Self right about the impact of football on our national mentality? What is the long term future of the Falklands? What should Andy Burnham’s first message to the nation be? How could Rupert Lowe skew hard right politics? How do we protect MPs? And what audiobooks do the Matts recommend for a populatio
It’s not coming home after all
The Matts reflect on England’s World Cup tournament (and listeners from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be delighted to know it’s not a sea of self-pitying Anglophilia) and what lessons we can learn from Argentina’s late comeback about the prevailing DNA of institutions.Also - what should we expect from Andy Burnham as he comes into power? First as Labour leader and then, on Monday, as P
The Two Matts Q&A: Does Andy Burnham live rent-free in Farage’s head?
The Matts answer listeners' questions including: Is the Andy Burnham effect already kicking in? Should Congress give Donald Trump the red card? Who - apart from Count Binface - should take on Nigel Farage? How do we make the BBC great again? Is Elon Musk more Homer Simpson than Homer’s Odyssey? And what books do the Matts recommend for a summer holiday? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The
Have you been Touching Grass? You should be
The Matts are joined by James Ball and Lucy Reade, hosts of The New World’s new podcast Touching Grass - the internet culture podcast. If you like The Two Matts, you’ll love this. We’ll let Lucy and James explain all. And the four of us also reflect on a bizarre 72 hours in the life of Nigel Farage. Has he completely lost it? Did the main parties do the right thing in letting him twist in the wind
SPECIAL: Farage fighting for his political life
The Matts react to the simply extraordinary speech Nigel Farage made today - quitting his Clacton seat in order to fight a by-election to “let the people decide” his political future. What is going on in his head? What precipitated this crisis? How should Andy Burnham react? Is Farage having a breakdown or is this some masterstroke of populism? And how could a World Cup win for England affect Brit
The Two Matts Q&A: Hydration Break sponsored by Powerade!*
The Matts get stuck into listener questions including: should England get a new capital city? Is Andy Burnham chippy? Why isn’t Nigel Farage paying tax on his £5 million gift? How do we promote the humanities? How do we fix universities? And what do the Matts think of FIFA’s hydration breaks and will they ever come to the Premier League? Enjoy! *This podcast is NOT sponsored by Powerade, which - i
Why place matters so much to Andy Burnham
The Matts discuss the founding principles behind Andy Burnham’s emerging strategy for a “circuit break” in how politics works in the UK. Why is he obsessed with the idea of place? Why does it make so much sense as a corrective to the way Westminster operates? And why should people prattling on about vibes kindly give their heads a wobble? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for
The Two Matts Q&A: Burnham’s to-do list and the shameless Brexit villains
The Matts answer listener questions including: What should be on Andy Burnham’s to-do list? How do the Brexit villains get away with it? Is Nigel Farage losing the plot? Should we criminalise climate crisis denial? Has Giorgia Meloni won us over? And why don’t we talk about video games more? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www
Andy Burnham’s first six months
The Matts bring listeners up to speed with all the inside info coming their way on what Team Burnham may have in store for Britain. Who are the people behind the scenes preparing the ground for the new government - in what is surely make or break for Labour? And what are the policies that will define this new administration? How could Andy Burnham’s sense of a politics of place come to change a na
POD SPECIAL: It’s the end of the Keir show… now what?
The Matts bring you a special edition after Keir Starmer quit as UK prime minister. These monumentally historic events only occur every 18 months or so on average these days, but all the same - Starmer’s going crystallises the profound danger liberal progressive democracy faces in the UK. What awaits Andy Burnham? And what should his big bet be? The Matts have a plan. Enjoy!Produced by Matt Wither
The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?
The Matts answer listener questions in their regular Sunday morning Q&A, including… what will prove to be Andy Burnham’s biggest vulnerability? Has Donald Trump just suffered the biggest US military loss since Vietnam? Do UK nukes count for nothing? How do we improve the quality of our politicians? Is the BBC in acute danger? And is there life out there, beyond the stars? Enjoy!Produced by Mat
Game on… Burnham wins; now get on with it Labour
The Matts are in optimistic mood today with news of Andy Burnham’s resounding win in Makerfield. Has the Labour Party got the gumption to seize the momentum and get full square behind the one man we can objectively say has the ability to smash Reform? And what does the defeat of the sexist plumber in Makerfield mean for Nigel Farage? The Matts believe his problems are mounting. So, all in all, an
A history of Brexit in 256 disasters
The Matts celebrate the launch of A History of Brexit in 256 Disasters, a book by Jonty Bloom with a foreword by Alastair Campbell and amazing illustrations by Martin Rowson chronicling the disastrous consequences of the 2016 referendum 10 long years ago! You can get your copy at The New World's website or on Amazon (if you must!). Also, in part two - is Canada a model for British reinvention, and
The Two Matts Q&A: Do you really want your country back?
The Matts answer questions from listener’s including; are we heading for a summer of discontent; do we understand what people mean when they say they want their country back; should pensioners lose the triple lock; is Andy Burnham cutting the mustard in Makerfield; do too many kids go to university; and can you both please have another massive argument about Artemis? Enjoy!Produced by Ruby Mitchel
Farewell David Hockney … and farewell Keir Starmer too?
The Matts digest the events from yesterday and the underlying duplicity at the heart of government that resulted in the blistering resignations of John Healey and Al Cairns. How much longer can (or should) Starmer stay on? Also … the dreadful news that the great David Hockney has died. The Matts have a suggestion for how to mark his passing. Enjoy!Produced by Ruby Mitchell OFFER: Get The New World
Britain is in grave danger of disintegrating
The horrific attack by a Sudanese asylum seeker in Belfast has triggered a wave of disorder. What is underpinning the violence, and what can liberals not afford to dismiss it out of hand? It’s time again to face into very difficult questions … questions the far right have simplistic answers to but which have been left hanging by a Westminster elite out of touch, even contemptuous, of an angry elec
The Two Matts Q&A: Will Starmer survive, and has the Pope got it right on AI?
The Matts answer listeners’ questions in their weekly Q&A session, including: Is Kemi Badenoch now the best chance of beating Nigel Farage; can Keir Starmer actually see off this slow-moving coup; should Palantir be kicked out of the NHS; what is Michael Grade thinking when he defends GB News; has Pope Leo’s encyclical made sense of AI… and humanity; and if England win the World Cup, will it r
Nigel Farage gaslights the nation
The Matts discuss the dreadful murder of Henry Nowak and the ensuing political reaction. In particular, they examine Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s apparent strategy to leverage the murder for maximum political advantage - seeking exactly the division and hatred Henry’s grieving father has warned against. This is a taste of what to expect for the next three years as Farage seeks power. And a dark
The Two Matts Q&A: What hope for the next generation and how does Farage get away with it?
The Matts answer listener questions including: how can we change the system so our young people thrive; has reality TV gone too far; is Elon Musk a legend after all; why does anyone give a damn about bond markets; how does Nigel Farage get away with it; and what did the Victorians know that we seem to have forgotten? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first
The Two Matts Q&A: A media scandal and a dementia hero
The Matts answer listeners' questions including: will the smear against Misan Harriman work; what will it take to get the UK back in the EU; should the Tories defer to Reform in the Makerfield by-election; and why does Eurovision hate the UK so much? 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
Britain is failing the next generation. With Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote
The Matts are joined by Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote on the day they launch their incredibly impactful, important and moving report into the plight of one million NEETs in Britain - that’s young people Not in Education, Employment or Training. It’s a remarkable piece of work; a total eye-opener into a generational crisis which urgently needs a solution. The personal stories Peter and Shuab encount
SPECIAL with Misan Harriman: Under attack from the UK’s right wing press
The Matts speak with Misan Harriman, the chair of Britain’s largest arts and culture institution, the Southbank Centre. Misan has been under persistent attack from much of the UK’s right wing media - all for something he didn’t say. It’s an extraordinary and ugly case study in how the press in Britain work. But, perhaps, in Misan Harriman they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. Enjoy the podca
The Two Matts Q&A: Farage and the five million plus Palestine Action trial scandal
The Matts answer listeners’ questions including: where is the outrage over Nigel Farage’s ethical void; why do people who think they were sold a pup on Brexit now vote for the puppy salesman; should the entire cabinet now resign; what is China doing right; why are the Palestine Action 24 being sentenced as terrorists; and can the Matts suggest a short list of cultural destinations for a very speci
SPECIAL EDITION: The most consequential by-election ever…
The Matts consider just how much is at stake in the Makerfield by-election, assuming Andy Burnham is allowed to stand. Who will Reform put up against him (we have one idea) and what will Zack Polanski’s move be? Take a chunk of Burnham’s vote or sit it out? And how will Keir Starmer play his cards? If you want to hear two pundits try to work out what the hell any of this will add up to… you’ve com
AND... THEY’RE OFF!
Join the Matts as they discuss the omnishambles in Downing Street. Exciting times as they receive the breaking news that Wes Streeting has resigned and the contest to be the next PM is afoot. Who now holds the upper hand? Matt K has surveyed his most influential contacts on who will be PM by Christmas - their answer may surprise you. Certainly, Matt D disagrees. Either way - enjoy!Produced by Matt
The Two Matts Q&A: Starmer timetable, a Telegraph smear and love for David Attenborough
The Matts answer listeners' questions, including the optimal timetable for a Starmer handover; whether Andy Burnham is trustworthy enough to be PM; if Banksy modelled his statue on Nigel Farage; how you can criticise Israel and avoid accusations of anti-semitism and why the Telegraph is smearing the chair of the Southbank Centre; whether we should be terrified of hantavirus; and, apart from revolu
Election Special: Who will save Britain from Reform now?
The Matts reflect on a terrible day for both Labour and the Tories and ask what it is going to take to keep Nigel Farage from Downing Street. Three years ago they were mocked for suggesting Nigel Farage could be PM. Now he’s even money favourite to win the most seats at the next general election. What does this surge tell us about Keir Starmer and how Labour need to act if it stands a chance of mo
Special: Exploring the Ghosts of Iron Mountain with Phil Tinline
The Matts sit down with Phil Tinline to discuss his book The Ghosts of Iron Mountain - genuinely one of the most fascinating and consequential stories of our age. Phil tells how a 1967 hoax report into the desirability (or lack of it) of peace in America triggered a culture of conspiracy and paranoia which not only infects American politics today, but sometimes dictates it to a quite surreal degre
The Two Matts Q&A: Kings good, zoos bad
The Matts answer listeners' questions, including whether or not the UK should use the King more; whether we bash Starmer too much; if zoos really are the front line of conservation; and what is the most astonishing object the Matts have beheld? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts/ H
The Starmer Conundrum… with special guest Tom Baldwin
A special episode of the podcast today with real depth of thinking on where Keir Starmer has gone wrong… and why right now is NOT the right time to replace him. Tom Baldwin is the journalist who knows Starmer best. He’s studied him at close range for years. He’s still very much got the inside track on how he’s thinking. In a totally candid conversation, Tom talks to Matt Kelly about the core of St
“A KNIFE THROUGH MY SOUL"... pod special on Morgan McSweeney
Hot from the two-and-a-half hours of select committee evidence, the Matts digest the evidence of Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his role in the Peter Mandelson affair. It was engrossing testimony - giving a rare insight into how this Labour government operates (and which probably explains why they are in a state of permacrisis). In part two the Matts play out a few scena
The Two Matts Q&A: How to pay for the NHS and will robots rule?
The Matts answer listeners' questions including when Starmer should go; why we don’t vet our politicians; how to fund the NHS; why the news is relentlessly grim; whether banning social media for children is a good thing; and are The Matts looking forward to having robots provide unmentionable services to them in their dotage? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World fo
Should he stay or should he go now?
Indecision’s bugging the Two Matts… should Keir Starmer stay or should he go? If he stays there will be trouble. But if he goes it will be double. What is the right timing for a deeply disappointing premiership to end? It’s a clash of considerations - what’s right for the country, what would a successor look like, how do we get out of the cycle of endlessly dumping PMs? No easy answers but a diffi
Is a brave new world possible? With John Kampfner
Journalist and author John Kampfner joins the Matts to discuss his stunning new book Braver New World - a global travelogue of bold solutions to some of the world’s thorniest problems. Over three years of globetrotting to see for himself what can be done has given John a sense of belief in the future… but with some important caveats. So if you’re feeling pessimistic about the future, tune in and g
The Two Matts Q&A: The fall of Orbán, Corbyn and Kanye West
The Matts tackle listeners' questions, including how positive should we be about the fall of Orbán, why is Corbyn polling zero percent, is the collapse of the Wireless Festival a good thing, would they welcome Nicole Kidman at their deathbed… and what opinions do they hold which would alienate the most Two Matts listeners?Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1
A New Hope from Hungary
The Matts assess Péter Magyar’s spectacular ousting of Viktor Orbán in Hungary and what it means for the fight against right-wing populism worldwide. It’s an encouraging moment but no time for complacency. In part two, they catch up with events in Iran and the deepening humiliation being visited upon Donald Trump as his strategy-free war continues. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get&nbs
The Two Matts Q&A: Royal visit to the US, Roger Daltrey’s opinions and Italy’s football team
The Matts answer listeners’ Easter Sunday questions, including on whether or not the King should be visiting the States, whether the debate around joining the EU will be as divisive as 2016, if we can enjoy The Who when Roger Daltrey is a Brexiteer, whether Scott Mills should have been fired from the BBC, what would happen if NATO collapsed and how Italian football fell from grace. Enjoy! And Happ
DARK SIDE OF THE MATTS: A spectacular row erupts over NASA’s moonshot
The Matts fall out spectacularly and unexpectedly over NASA’s moon shot, Artemis 2. How is this even possible, you ask? They’re not even sure… but the topic quickly descends into a brutal space war of words. In part two, common ground is regained as they analyse the latest Trump position on Iran and ask whether this war is going to push the UK back into the arms of the EU faster than anyone could
The Two Matts Q&A: Are we journalists or activists?
The Matts answer your questions in their regular Sunday Q&A show, including whether their mission to see Reform fail is blinding them to the full picture, how the war in Iran is going for Donald Trump, whether Scotland’s MSPs can hack it, whether we have a problem in discussing Muslim culture in the UK and if The Repair Shop was right to cancel Bob Monkhouse. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFE
Here’s how the UK joins the EU and sooner than you think
The Matts open with a war update - the signals from Washington point to an escalation which will be devastating for the world, yet the off-ramp (as it apparently must be called) is difficult to divine. In part two they discuss what seems to be an inevitable movement towards rejoining the EU. Labour are headed towards the position already fully asserted by the Greens and Lib Dems - that Brexit was
Podcast special: THIS WAR IS NOT REAL
The Matts explore how French philosopher Jean Baudrillard was right about the nature of warfare in the 21st century - especially when applied to the unprecedented chaos unfolding in the Middle East. It is, we hope, a thought-provoking conversation which tries to make some sense of what seems utterly senseless. Also - the Matts react to the bombing of Jewish ambulances in North London and ask: why
The Two Matts Q&A: On Trump, GB News, Tony Blair… and playing the drums
The Matts answer listeners' questions including whether or not Donald Trump has lost control of the war in Iran, why the BBC isn't covering The New World’s GB News investigation, how Tony Blair can still believe war in Iraq was right, whether we have learned nothing from Covid, if Angela Rayner is the next PM and how to keep sane in a world of dreadful news. Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER:&nb
Inside the GB News scandal - with Alan Rusbridger
Alan Rusbridger joins the Matts to discuss The New World’s investigation into GB News’s persistent breaches of Ofcom’s code on impartiality and accuracy. Get the inside track on the story from an editor who has led some of the most consequential newspaper investigations of our age. They discuss what happens next and what Ofcom should do to fix the reality of a TV channel out of control and basical
The Two Matts Q&A: Oscars, Oakeshott, China and centrism
The Matts answer listener questions including on Isabel Oakeshott’s hypocrisy, China’s century, the death of centrism, the rule of law, the future of the Telegraph and their tips for tonight’s big Oscar night in Hollywood. 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 ac
The increasingly complex calculus in being the British Prime Minister
The Matts tackle a number of intersecting topics: can the Peter Mandelson affair damage Keir Starmer more than it already has? What did his stance on Iran do for Labour in the polls? How is Westminster geared for an election where four - maybe five - parties are nip and tuck? And does Shabana Mahmood’s banning of a pro-Palestine march signal a split at the top of government? Enjoy!Produced by Matt
Trump’s Iran war could not be going more wrong
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
This week's Two Matts Q&A: Is this the start of World War III?
The Matts again respond to your queries. They discuss whether we are on the verge of World War III, why Mark Carney endorsed Donald Trump’s actions and why Dubai-based expats don’t pay their own way home. Plus they talk about whether political defectors should trigger a by-election, why they are so harsh on Keir Starmer and how he can save himself and and which artists they love and hate.Produced
Who’s winning the Iran War... and how can you tell?
The Matts unpick the events of the past week and are intrigued by the internal Labour Party politics that created a sense of chaos around the UK’s response to the war. They are also staggered - and not a little bit ashamed - of the UK’s humiliating lack of preparedness for events that were wholly foreseeable. Has this all just confirmed what many suspected - that these isles are wholly ill-equippe
Trump’s War: The man with no plan bombs Iran
The Matts do their level best to make sense of the last three days - events which make little sense in isolation, but once a wider spectrum of factors comes into play, does a sinister strategy emerge? Donald Trump is defying the US electorate just at a time when he needs to be rebuilding support. Why doesn’t he care? Was the suspected aspiration for a short four- or five-day conflict, followed by
This week's Two Matts Q&A: Deference, Piers Morgan deepfake and Tracey Emin
The Matts answer questions from listeners, including whether or not the age of deference is dead; is Trump going flat; is Farage just like Thatcher; why doesn’t NATO repel Russia; what does a deepfake of Piers Morgan say about the future; and is Tracey Emin right about museum and gallery funding? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month.
The Two Matts by-election special: OK, is it clear enough yet Labour?
Maybe it’s sinking in now? The Matts agree that whatever mitigation there is, Keir Starmer’s Labour government does not have the cut-through with voters to win the next general election. The clock is ticking - just 175 weeks at most until the next election. Does Labour have enough time and the right person to see off the dual threat of a resurgent socialist message from the Greens or the ethno-nat
ARGUMENT ALERT! The Matts clash over Tourette’s row
Before the Matts start kicking lumps out of each other, they enjoy the relative calm of a brief discussion on the smokescreen around the arrest of Peter Mandelson. Then it all kicks off as they explore the ramifications of the N-word Bafta Tourette’s row. It would take about 1,000 words to explain the points of difference, so just click play and enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get T
The Two Matts Q&A: Nigel Farage, Jim Ratcliffe and assorted other nasties
The Matts answer listeners' questions, including whether Nigel Farage really is a man of the people, if Manchester United deserve an owner as odious as Jim Ratcliffe, how to deal with friends who turn bad, whether we just wait out Donald Trump… and what is our favourite Robert Duvall role? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.t
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: The photo that says it all
The Matts sweep up an extraordinary 24 hours in British history. But first, they marvel at the power of a single photographic frame - currently splashed on every newspaper front page in the country. Is this the most extraordinary back seat photo since Thatcher? Then they discuss if the media has an innate deference to the Royal Family and whether Jonathan Dimbleby in particular needs to rethink hi
SPECIAL: ANDREW MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR ARRESTED!
The King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested this morning by Thames Valley Police officers investigating allegations of misconduct in public office. It is an historic moment in British history. While he remains innocent until proven guilty, the consequences of the arrest of the former Duke Of York will have a profound impact around the world. The Matts get their heads around just h
The Two Matts Q&A: Starmer coup, Sadiq for PM and too much Dracula?
The Matts answer listeners' questions. This week: is Keir Starmer the new Joe Biden; why isn’t Sadiq Khan in the frame for next PM; how does Boris Johnson get off so lightly; should we keep calling Prince Andrew Prince Andrew; why are the Brits sucking up to Noel Gallagher; and do TV bosses make too many repeats of telly classics? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1
Re: Starmer - a little humble pie, a lot of conviction
The Matts reflect on the last week, and address their own fallibilities (and thank you, dear listeners, for pointing them out!). But the argument around Keir Starmer’s premiership remains solid. Also - is the Royal Family doing enough to bring the wrong ‘un formerly known as Prince Andrew to justice? Enjoy.Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to ht
Face it, Keir, it’s over. But you could still save the nation
The Matts digest the events of the past 24 hours. Will Morgan McSweeney’s departure delay or hasten the existential crisis facing Keir Starmer? Does Starmer’s plea bargain over Peter Mandelson’s appointment wash? How could he take a bold personal decision and salvage his legacy? And of all the problematic contenders circling overhead, who could achieve mission barely-possible: to keep Nigel Farage
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