The Standard

To mark the launch of our YoungLondonSOS campaign, we’re joined by investigations editor David Cohen whose reporting has revealed how badly the pandemic has affected schoolchildren. 500,000 teenagers and children who had no mental health problems before the lockdowns will now need support in 2021 – that’s on top of the 1 in 6 already identified by the NHS.The Evening Standard’s teaming up with Place2Be, a charity providing mental health support to schools. It currently works with 150 primary and secondaries in London. David tells us the campaign will help them “turbo-boost” expansion plans to double that figure by 2025, and how that will help the capital’s younger generation in a unique crisis.The Standard is calling on its readers, as well as corporates and charitable foundations, to give generously. Every £100 you donate could deliver a whole school service to one vulnerable child for one year.Go to standard.co.uk/YoungLondonSOS for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The top speechwriter for the Obama administration, Cody Keenan, says he would give Amanda Gorman a job at the White House after astonishing the world with her inauguration poem.The 22-year-old’s “The Hill We Climb” was a highlight of the ceremony marking the start of Joe Biden’s presidency, and has been hailed by critics for its themes of unity and togetherness. The advisor, who was director of speechwriting at the White House between 2013 and 2017, also gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of how to write a great political speech.Also, The Hill’s Capitol reporter, Juliegrace Brufke, joins us to discuss a lightning fast first day at the Oval Office with 17 executive orders dispatched from the Resolute Desk.Joe Biden’s already begun dismantling his predecessor’s work, signing off on the US re-joining the Paris climate change agreement, and halting construction of a wall on the border with Mexico.But will the pace slow down as the White House slogs through what it calls “four converging crises:” the Covid-19 pandemic, an economic crisis, climate change, and racial inequality? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika says new US vice president, Kamala Harris, “represents the two things Donald Trump hates the most: women and people of colour”. She tells the Leader podcast, the Trump administration was “founded on racism” and Ms Harris’s arrival at the White House is “karmic justice” for four years of turbulence. It comes as Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States at a ceremony in Washington. But how will he work with a woman who attacked him, including over issues of race, when she was an opponent in his run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination? Ayesha believes it was Ms Harris’s strength in those debates that most impressed Mr Biden, and the two of them have their work cut out to restore faith in the United States across the globe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s editor-in-chief, George Osborne says the Republican party will never allow Donald Trump to run for the White House again. Speaking to our columnist Philip Collins, he says Mr Trump has been “unique,” testing the US constitution and the country’s democratic process to its limits. He predicts the GOP will “shut out” the tycoon if, as he is reported to be considering, Mr Trump attempts a presidential run in 2024. With Joe Biden’s inauguration due to take place under intense security in Washington, George and Phillip also discuss what might be in the much anticipated speech. They also look at what the new administration will do with two crises, Covid-19 and the economy, already ongoing in the States.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s political editor, Joe Murphy, tells us why London may have turned a corner in the battle against coronavirus. We’ve learned case numbers for the infection are now falling in every one of the capital’s boroughs, in some cases up to 30 percent. But Joe also warns that, despite the good news, hospitals are still packed with record numbers of patients, and both the Health Secretary and Mayor of London are appealing for people “not to take their foot off the peddle”.Also, we look at what the first 100 days of a Joe Biden presidency might look like. The man who beat Donald Trump will be inaugurated at a ceremony in Washington with unprecedented security, including extra vetting for the National Guard amid fears of an “insider attack.”Once he gets to the Oval Office, though, what will President Biden do?We’re joined by Jack Kessler to look through the probable portfolio of executive orders and policy decisions that will be coming out of the White House from the very first day.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Evening Standard investigation has revealed half a million under-18s who previously showed no signs of mental health issues are now facing problems, due to the lockdowns caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Investigations editor David Cohen joins us to talk about his findings, which also show A&E wards are seeing increasing numbers of adolescents admitted for self-harm and suicidal thoughts. We also hear from a psychologist who tells us why social media cannot replace physically seeing friends and a headteacher describes seeing traumatised children forget lessons. With cases already at unprecedented levels, the Centre for Mental Health says a new cohort of 500,000 previously healthy children under 18 will require mental health care due to the devastating economic, health and family pressures caused by the virus crisis.For information and support call Mind on 0300 123 339 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Nicholas Cecil joins the show as pressure grows on the government to send more vaccine doses to London. It's emerged the city's delivered just one tenth of the jabs nationally, which mayor Sadiq Khan says has him "hugely concerned". But there appears to be hope on the horizon, with hospital admissions dropping and infections falling in some boroughs. Nicholas also discusses the possible threat of further lockdown restrictions, telling us the government's taking a 'wait and see' approach. Also, from Washington, we're joined by The Hill's Capitol reporter Juliegrace Brufke who was in the building when the riots broke out. She describes a city nervous about the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden, especially after Donald Trump's second impeachment. And she relives the moment the Capitol was breached, telling us how she texted her family while hiding from rioters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health editor Ross Lydall joins the podcast as the Evening Standard reveals London’s getting fewer doses of coronavirus vaccine per head than other areas of the country. t’s down to a “fair share” system that’s distributing the Oxford and Pfizer doses equally between primary care networks. London has the highest infection rates in the UK, but is losing out because its population is more dense than some areas. On Tuesday night, London had a record number of Covid patients on ventilators, with the number of working-age adults with the virus taking total inpatient numbers in the capital above 15,000. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked Boris Johnson for additional supplies to help curb the pressure on hospitals.  Also, Donald Trump is about to become the first US President to be impeached twice in a historic vote in the House of Representatives. We hear from UCL politics expert Julie Norman who tells us, unlike the first time, there are increasing signs some within his own party will support the move in a Senate trial. That may include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who reportedly thinks impeachment will help the Republican party expel Mr Trump’s influence.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Sophia Sleigh tells us how her Sunday outing to a local park ended up with a political controversy. She spotted Boris Johnson out on his bike in Stratford with a security detail, seven miles away from Downing Street, at a time when the government’s telling everyone to “stay local”. Sophia says while the PM didn’t break any laws he has an “optics problem” with some claiming it’s a “do as we say not as we do” situation. The row’s also resurrected memories of Dominic Cumming’s eye test at Barnard Castle, leading to calls for ministers to clarify exactly what “local” means.Also, #FreeSchoolMeals has been trending on social media after pictures of what impoverished families are being sent to feed their kids started appearing. In lieu of £30 vouchers, they’ve been receiving boxes from private companies, but the meagre offerings only include some bread, a few vegetables and cans of baked beans. The department of education say’s its looking into it. Our columnist, Susannah Butter, tells us she thinks it’s “appalling” and wonders what would have happened if Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford hadn’t, once again, stepped in to help. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chief Medical Officer, Chris Witty, is warning the health service will face unprecedented pressures as coronavirus continues to spread. In London, an estimated one in twenty have the infection. We speak to Lewisham GP Dr Louise Irvine who describes five hour waits for ambulances, poor co-ordination in the vaccine delivery system, and little support for those trying to stick to lockdown rules. Also, celebrity correspondent Lizzie Edmonds talks to us about the reboot of Sex and the City. The gang's getting back together for a new series on HBO Max, but Kim Cattrall's iconic Samantha Jones is not on the announced cast. Will it really be the same without her? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.