PoliticsJOE Podcast

Ava sits down with Labour MP Steve Witherden, the politician who made headlines after standing up to Donald Trump at PMQs last week. He challenged the government’s stance on US foreign policy, human rights, and global accountability. Steve, MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, has quickly become one of the most outspoken voices in Westminster since his election in 2024.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They grill deputy performances at PMQs and react to a lacklustre return to the despatch box. Conversation turns to Keir Starmer’s China trip and green tech trade hopes. They unpack business rates U-turns and what that means for pubs and venues. Tensions over Tory defections, Reform’s rise and Westminster comms failures also feature.

We are joined once again by Scott Lucas, who speaks to us off the back of ICE agents in Minneapolis killing yet another US citizen in cold blood, this time Alex Pretti.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined today by Labour MP John McDonnell to react to the chaos surrounding the Gorton and Denton by-election. On Monday Keir Starmer said the reason Andy Burnham has not selected to run is to not divert funds and attention from important elections Labour have coming up. John McDonnell doesn't buy it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anton Jäger is a writer, historian, academic, and author of Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization without Political Consequences. He came by our studios to map out the drastic changes in political engagement since the 1980s, the growth of the far-right, and how to stop their march on power.Buy Hyperpolitics here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3460-hyperpolitics?srsltid=AfmBOoqHtrDLa3DEpn3XulhFLfYzrjbnvrM_i4Oci4c3nk0y7awY5xrzSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to cover the Battle of the Bosh. On today's episode, Laura tells Seán about a bold new theory: Romford is about to become the centre of British politics. With a disillusioned, working class population increasingly getting behind two champions, she explains what the Big John Fisher/Tom Skinner divide tells us about Reform's chances at the next election. Bosh.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this discussion, Scott Lucas, an academic and political commentator with a keen focus on US foreign policy, breaks down Trump's controversial interest in acquiring Greenland. He critiques the media's narrow focus on Trump while highlighting the real players influencing policy. Lucas elaborates on the strategic implications of Greenland for US-European relations and warns of internal divisions, as well as potential threats to NATO. He also touches on the economic consequences and UK political ramifications of this unfolding situation.

Laura and Seán dive into a high-energy PMQs session where Keir Starmer robustly defends UK-Greenland ties against Trump's controversial remarks. They analyze a significant Chagos deal and debate defense spending, while unpacking Trump's confused tweets linking various geopolitical hotspots. The discussion also highlights Denmark's unwavering stance against ceding influence to China. Tensions rise as an MP gets ejected from Commons, overshadowed by the heated Greenland discourse. Local water crises and appeals for justice add depth to the conversation.

Andy Twelves, a social media commentator focused on politics and culture, joins to discuss a wild Miami weekend involving neofascist Nick Fuentes and controversial figures like Andrew Tate. The conversation dives into the troubling effect of online algorithms on radicalizing young men and the toxic 'looks-maxing' culture within male communities. They also explore the connection between online rhetoric and real-world violence, touching on the impact of echo chambers and the need for accountability in addressing these extremes.

The podcast dives into Robert Jenrick's recent defection to Reform UK, examining its implications for the Conservative Party. Sean and Laura discuss Trump's surprising threats regarding tariffs linked to Greenland and debate his motives, pondering the geopolitics at play. They critique the idea of running countries like businesses, reflecting on Trump's approach. The conversation spans concerns about US-UK relations, Keir Starmer's cautious diplomacy, and the potential for more defections as Reform targets dissatisfied voters. Finally, they explore the shifting dynamics of Arctic geopolitics.