The Two Matts

On Tuesday the Matts were staunch in their defence of Angela Rayner. Then she came out and admitted she had paid too little tax on her new flat. The Matts work through the various scenarios available to her and conclude she should resign - but not for the obvious reason. Also - Nigel Farage was in Washington DC this week blowing hard about freedom of speech in the UK… at the same time as his Reform party HQ were busy banning The New World from their conference tomorrow. Hypocrite? You bet. And the Matts get into a deep, thoughtful discussion about Graham Linehan’s arrest. Enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The discussion kicks off with Angela Rayner facing persistent scrutiny from the Daily Mail and Telegraph due to her authentic working-class roots. The hosts analyze how this portrayal impacts her image and reflects larger media narratives against the Labor Party. They also dive into Keir Starmer's government reshuffle and its potential effects on economic strategy, drawing parallels to historical leadership dynamics. The conversation expands to address systemic issues in property ownership, human rights discourse, and the complexities of asylum seeker terminology.

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss why Tony Blair is getting involved in Donald Trump’s meetings on Gaza, whether it was a mistake for the US president to give Vladimir Putin the impression that the West is ready to welcome him back, and the case of Labour councillor Ricky Jones. Plus they talk about why Britain loves nostalgia so much, what single law or act they would pass given the opportunity, and if The Thursday Murder Club is as irritating as it looks.Have a question to stump the two Matts? Email us now at the2matts@thenewworld.co.ukOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are shaken by the story of a 16-year-old who took his own life after pouring his heart out to ChatGPT which, his parents claim, encouraged him to act. It’s a desperate case and raises profound questions about the technology and how it will change society. The conversation focuses on the need for governments to regulate AI (despite their debilitating sloth in dealing with new tech) and the inevitable effects of AI on our job markets, education and economy. Please be aware this particular discussion includes details involving suicide and is not recommended to be listened to in the company of children.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pod is back after its summer break! The Matts analyse Reform’s anti-immigrant policies and ask themselves how might Labour counter them? Which leads them into a discussion about what is, and what isn’t racist, and how helpful is it for centrists to sneer at every St George’s flag they come across. But first, Matt K returns from the States where a few days in Seattle gave him fresh perspective on how Trump’s populism cuts through and how the US is in a very different place to the UK right now … enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy.The Matts are joined by acclaimed author and FT journalist Edward Luce to talk about his new book Zbig— the definitive biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, Cold War strategist and key architect of U.S. foreign policy. More than just a biography, Zbig offers sharp insights into the nature of power and America’s role in the world. If you want to understand how global strategy is shaped, this episode is essential listening.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy.The Matts are joined by Dutch popular historian and author Rutger Bregman to discuss his new book, Moral Ambition. How does the world change for the better? Why do so many talented people do bullsh*t jobs? And what’s wrong with a life spent worrying about reducing your carbon footprint to zero? Rutger’s a man with strong opinions on all the above and more. It’s a fascinating in-depth interview on what you - yes, YOU! - need to do to fix the planet. Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are taking a well-deserved break, so while they recharge their batteries here’s an interview from the archive to enjoy.The Matts are joined by Bloomberg’s Parmy Olson - author of Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world. Parmy leads us through the development of Artificial Intelligence, the extraordinary story of the two men leading the race towards AGI (don’t worry, all will be explained), and the enormous opportunities and challenges this new technology brings. If you find yourself wondering what the fuss is all about, and why AI should terrify you … or not, then this is the podcast for you. Enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matthew d'Ancona and I again respond to your queries. After this week’s exclusive interview with Gary Lineker on Gaza, the BBC and podcasting we discuss whether sport - and sports personalities - can ever be truly apolitical. Also, has political podcasting now become more influential than newspapers?Plus, we talk about whether cancel culture has peaked and what advice we’d offer 16 and 17-year-olds before voting for the first time. Finally, as Harry Frankfurt’s classic philosophical book, On Bullshit, is being republished to mark its 20th anniversary, we ask whether there is more bullshit around today than there was in 2005.Have a question to stump the two Matts? Email us now at the2matts@thenewworld.co.ukOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are joined by New World contributing editor Sonia Sodha to understand the bitter and consequential tribunal taking place in Fife - as nurse Sandie Peggie takes on the NHS over her treatment in the aftermath of a dispute over women’s rights in the workplace. Before that, the Matts discuss Starmer’s handling of the UK’s sort-of recognition of a Palestinian state. Has it helped or hindered the cause of starving children in Gaza?OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.