Quiet Riot

Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou, and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, covering the nuclear fallout from the war of words between the world's most powerful narcissist and the world's richest sociopath. Also, does Zia Yusuf's flounce out - and flounce back in - point to dysfunction inside Reform UK? Plus, we have the closest this podcast has even come to a row, over the result of the Scottish by-election in Hamilton. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “Trump is now a Tesla owner who hates Musk. Surely this will make him more popular than ever.” "If there is substance behind Musk's accusations, Team Trump are going to go into full panic lockdown. And if not, Musk's just gifted him the 'look at the unhinged billionaire trying to smear me' defense." "We're seeing this from an Anglocentric perspective. There is nothing to stop Musk from taking his technology and his business in a direction that brings him closer to the Middle East, let's say. There are plenty of other places. Who knows what China's view on this is, for example." "A lot of the MAGA crowd, the big influencers, the YouTubers, the podcasters, the blue ticks, are monetizing X. So a lot of them depend on it for reach and actual income. Musk is in quite a powerful position when it comes to them." "The Authoritarian Right is populated by people who think the harshest possible rules should apply - to everyone else." "The problem for Labour is that they are losing seven times more votes to the left than they are to the right. With such very small margins, in other parts of the country that could really tip them down into danger territory." "Labour dodged a bullet. And in that part of Scotland in particular, once upon a time, not too long ago, if Farage and Tice walked into a pub and started spouting, you'd have to say that they'd exit through the window." “Can you stop saying 'Boris Johnson' please? It might be like Candyman. Like, if you say his name on a podcast three times, he appears as a guest." "This fragmentation in a first-past-the-post system is difficult for Labour. And it is for that reason that I think they should definitely back PR - and they're not going to. But they will be extremely concerned about pursuing an 'if you don't like Farage, you have to vote for us' strategy. That's clearly not where voters are." Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Johnson, a former Home Secretary and author of a new biography on Harold Wilson, joins Alex Andreou and Zoe Williams for a lively discussion. They dissect the Strategic Defence Review and the balancing act between defense spending and public service needs. Johnson shares insights from Wilson’s tenure, drawing parallels to Keir Starmer's challenges today. The trio debates the pressures of U.S. foreign policy and the importance of cohesive leadership in tumultuous times, all while touching on the absurdities of current political anxieties.

The hosts dive into the absurdities of political life, scrutinizing Trump's chaotic administration and its latest antics, including his bizarre rapport with Elon Musk. They reflect on Harvard's evolving stance amidst political turmoil and the legacy of the RBS bailout in shaping current events. A critique of Robert Jenrick paints him as the epitome of pettiness in politics. The discussion highlights the detrimental effects of austerity on society and the ironies surrounding public image, wrapping up with a nod to a dystopian future in London.

In this discussion, comedian Marcus Brigstocke shares his sharp wit and insightful commentary on the political landscape. He tackles the UK's reluctance to protect creatives from AI threats and explores modern masculinity's challenges in today's society. The conversation dives into the political dynamics ahead of a crucial election year, emphasizing the accountability of local leaders. With a blend of humor and critical analysis, Brigstocke prompts listeners to reflect on the evolving role of men in addressing societal issues and the media’s powerful influence on public sentiment.

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, with a focus on the apparent briefing and counter-briefing war inside No. 10, the softening of policy on winter fuel payments, and the latest ONS migration data. PLUS guest Arthur Snell explains the significance of the change of stance by the US and Europe towards Israel over Gaza. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “Conventional wisdom was that local election results had strengthened the hand of the Blue Labour lot. The ‘Island of Strangers’ speech was seen as such an overreach, such a turnoff by so many that, whatever advantage they had, they overplayed it. It's backfired and backfired badly. So we now have a significant briefing and counter-briefing operation going on.”  “Some of the usual suspects have offered some hilariously hot takes on the winter fuel payment rethink, even linking it to market turbulence. To look at an environment where you have Trump threatening 50% tariffs on the EU and come to the conclusion that markets are worried about the threshold of the winter fuel payment… I mean, that is deranged.” “Everybody I speak to, on either side of the Channel, who wants [the UK-EU reset] to succeed is saying the biggest risk we face now is loss of enthusiasm on both sides. Business communities within Europe, within the UK, voter groups that want it, civilian groups, civil society - we have got to keep the pressure up.” “The one thing that is certain is that this can't go on for four years. You can't have No.10 factions briefing against each other. There needs to be some kind of sanitisation exercise with the widely expected reshuffle in June. Starmer will have to do the thing that Stammer really hates doing most: pick a side.” Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Arthur's superb "Behind The Lines" podcast here. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss Labour's obsession with voters to the right, while haemorrhaging voters to the left, with guest Labour MP Marsha de Cordova. Also, a deep dive into Labour's reform of support for people with disabilities and the worry and hurt it is causing. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** GRIN AND SHARE IT Read more about the International Museum of Migration. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a quick, end-of-the-day reaction to the UK-EU Summit. Light on detail, high on symbolism, does it have the potential to be a turning point? SPOILERS: Absolutely. Also, why is the media losing its mind over mackerel? The facts on fishing - including quite a lot of stuff you will NOT have heard widely discussed. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, including the presentation of a huge unconstitutional bribe as a moral and intellectual imperative, the state of the super-wealthy in the UK, the blocking of bonuses for Thames Water bosses, and last minute jitters before the EU-UK Corral. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith, and Kenny Campbell discuss Starmer's immigration policy, the language employed, the economic and psychological impact. Also a full preview of Monday's UK-EU summit. What to expect and when. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. "I look at Starmer's trajectory and it is immensely difficult not to notice the trail of devastation left behind. Disabled people, Palestinians, trans people, and now immigrants. All I can see is someone who is willing to throw anyone out of his hot air balloon, just so it can rise higher." ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠*** CALLS TO ACTION Help Best for Britain here. Help Hope not Hate here. Help The 3 Million here. Help The Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants here. GRIN AND SHARE IT Pair convicted of felling sycamore gap tree. Vandals questioned in homophobia case. Gap sycamore sprouts new growth. Trees of Hope - 49 sycamore saplings to be planted. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou talks to trade expert David Henig about the UK-US. Is it a trade deal? Is it a deal? What about hormone beef and chlorinated chicken? What about the tech tax? What about Boeing? What about the EU summit? ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices