PoliticsJOE Podcast

Today Seán is joined by none other than Ash Sarkar as her book Minority Rule hits paperback. After a turbulent 2025 and an utterly batshit start to 2026, Ash reflects on the permacrisis as it continues to warp and destabilise the fabric of society, and reality as we know it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined by Editor-in-Chief of Middle East Eye David Hearst to break down the foreign policy nightmare Donald Trump could be facing in his continued war against Iran.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura caught up with Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament yesterday after Rachel Reeves' Spring Forecast speech.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Bright is an investigative journalist and author. He came by the studio to talk to Ava about Nigel Farage's strategy at the helm of Reform UK, the funders propping up Britain's new right, and how a collapse may be right around the corner.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa McKenzie is an academic who fell into an online storm when her tweets about Hannah Spencer and class went viral.Lisa joins Andy in our first episode of Cancelled to share her views from the time, whether they've changed, and the wider class dynamics at play in British politics.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy, Laura, and Seán react to a particularly heated PMQs showdown between Kemi Badenoch and Keir Starmer, as the Tory leader ramps up the rhetoric over Trump’s escalating conflict with Iran.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are once again joined by the great Scott Lucas to make sense of another chaotic weekend in Donald Trump's foreign policy escapades. This time, the President decided to join forces with Benjamin Netanyahu to make a martyr of Ayatollah Khamenei, for which the Iranians have attacked multiple gulf states and Israel.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán, Ava, and Andy unpack what Hannah Spencer and the Green Party's victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election means for British politics, as well as the attack lines Reform have been putting out since Matt Goodwin's loss.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura is joined by Lib Dem MP Martin Wrigley to find out just how deep Palantir's influence stretches in British society, including in the NHS, the MOD, and even the police.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week we spoke to Green Party co-deputy leader Rachel Millward about the party's surge in support under Zack Polanski, their prospects as the new party of the left, and the downfall of Labour under Keir Starmer.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the shroud of purdah descending this fine Thursday, we take to the studio to answer some of your burning questions.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava, Laura, and Seán sit down after PMQs to make sense of Keir Starmer's claims that the country is on the up and up, even though nobody feels it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just hours after Peter Mandelson was released on bail by police investigating allegations of misconduct in a public office, Ava, Laura, and Seán head to the studio to break down today's Opposition Day debate.The Lib Dems are planning to get MPs to back the release of documents detailing the process behind Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as a trade envoy under Tony Blair.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday once again. Seán, Laura, and Andy get stuck into Nigel Farage's thwarted attempt to accompany a humanitarian mission to the Chagos Islands, further abuses of the Royal name by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as well as Bridget Phillipson's SEND reforms.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava sits down with economist Clara Mattei to explore a bold and unsettling idea: capitalism isn’t failing - it’s functioning exactly as intended.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava is joined by journalist Peter Oborne to discuss the Labour party under Keir Starmer, and the man that dragged him into power: Morgan McSweeney.Peter breaks down the allegiances that McSweeney built over a long career campaigning for the Labour Party, leading to his links to the man that almost brought down Starmer's premiership - the former American Ambassador Peter Mandelson.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Seán discuss Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain project, and who or what is responsible for pulling British politics to the right.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán and Laura bring you an emergency broadcast in response to news that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office earlier today.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura sits down with Michael Waldman, series director of new documentary The Tony Blair Story, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most consequential and controversial political figures in modern Britain.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Seán look ahead to the upcoming local elections, and discuss Keir Starmer's decision to roll back his delay of thirty council elections following a legal challenge from Reform UK.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seán and Andy give their two cents on the Jim Ratcliffe discourse before Ava joins them to report on a story that broke yesterday about Labour Together, the group behind Keir Starmer's rise to power. The group, at the time headed by Morgan McSweeney, paid £36,000 to lobbyists that falsely suggested reporters were linked to Russia.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava sits down with financial crime expert and author Oliver Bullough to unpack the vast, hidden system of money flowing through London and the UK.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava is joined by the former leader of the Labour Party and co-founder of Your Party Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn details his experiences with Peter Mandelson, dating all the way back to the 1980s, up to his time as Labour leader. He also shows his concern for Keir Starmer going forward, having pinned so much of his political capital on the prince of darkness since pitching up in Number 10.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Smith of Republic joins Ava and Seán to dive deep on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's connections to the Epstein files, and what that means for Britain's monarchy.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody's in for PMQs, including a nervy Keir Starmer with quite the challenge ahead of him: keeping his job. Ava, Seán, and Laura break down an important PMQs where the Prime Minister continues to defend his judgement amid scandals new and ongoing.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a full house today as Ava, Seán, and Laura assemble to figure out what exactly is going on with Keir Starmer, whether he'll survive the week, and what a post-McSweeney Labour Party looks like. And what's going on with Wes Streeting's WhatsApps?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy and Seán take to a new PolJOE set to discuss Morgan McSweeney's resignation, and the sweeping political implications it's sure to have. With May elections coming up and the Peter Mandelson scandal ongoing, will the Labour Party be satisfied with a scalp? Will the public? Can Starmer survive?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura is joined by investigative journalist and co-founder of The Nerve Carole Cadwalladr to break down the influence of one of Silicon Valley's shadiest characters, Peter Thiel, in the operation of the British state.Cadwalladr spells out the operations of Thiel's Palantir, and how it has gotten its claws into everything from NHS data to Britain's defence system.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNICEF Spokesperson Tess Ingram joins Seán after returning from Gaza to break down the situation on the ground. Just over 100 days on from the ceasefire, Ingram explains why the hope of the early days of the ceasefire hasn't truly materialised, the continued attacks by Israel despite the ceasefire, and how he lives of Gazans can truly be respected in phase two of the ceasefire.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friend of the show Andy Twelves returns to break down an explosive PMQs, as Keir Starmer attempts to defend his appointment of Peter Mandelson—further implicated in the past week by the DOJ's release of more Epstein files—as US ambassador. Ava analyses Starmer's responses, trying to get to the bottom of who really knew what when.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Seán continue the Epstein files discourse after the latest release by the DOJ, discussing the extent of former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, how he hadn't yet resigned from the House of Lords, and his most recent interview.NOTE: This episode was recording this morning, and Mandelson has since announced that he will resign from the Lords.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friend of the podcast Andy Twelves joins Ava and Seán to discuss the latest file release by the DOJ relating to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The three discuss Peter Mandelson, Prince Andrew, and what their repeated mention means for British politics.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Omar Abdel-Mannan is a Pediatric Neurologist and co-founder of Health Workers 4 Palestine.He was a medical escort for the first Gazan child to receive medical attention in the UK since the bombardment of Gaza began in 2023 - two years after the war broke out, and one month before the UK government announced plans to welcome Gazan children needing vital medical interventions.He joined us to speak about the horrific situation on the ground in Gaza, the crackdown on criticism of attacks on the territory, and what gives him hope for the future.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

It's deputy day again at PMQs as Keir Starmer jets off to China in hopes of trade talks and that fabled growth. In the meantime, Ava and Seán react to David Lammy's return to the despatch box, but are not impressed.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

We had the pleasure of being joined once again by American political guru Scott Lucas to make sense of Donald Trump's latest imperial urges as he tries to lay claim to Greenland.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Seán react to a fiery PMQs session, in which Keir Starmer stands strong in his defence of UK-Greenland solidarity. Also, an MP gets booted out!Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava and Seán are joined by friend of the pod Andy Twelves to look back on the antics of the American right last weekend, where neofascist streamer Nick Fuentes went out on the town with Andrew Tate and his brother, along with some other questionable figures.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Jenrick, "the new sheriff in town", defected to Reform last week. Laura and Seán unpack what that means for the right and for Britain, as well as the tariffs Donald Trump has threatened the UK and its European allies with over Greenland.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann Pettifor is an economist and author of The Global Casino: How Wall Street Gambles with People and the Planet. Ann swung by to speak to Ava about the global financial system and how it has been rigged to only support the mega-rich, the powers at the heart of the system ensuring the it never alters to support those who need to be supported, and how the current US President is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the skewed system.Get your copy of The Global Casino here: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3258-the-global-casino?srsltid=AfmBOopYGe51hGOj2nGQBjl6jFBDfBv-ijLQ8fsel7vtdRydytcl7ynqSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polling expert and friend of the podcast Richie Jones joins Seán and Ava to discuss new data on economic optimism, and what it means for Britain.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another week, another PMQs session where Keir Starmer bats away criticism from the Tory benches, takes aim at the Reform benches, and welcomes planted questions from his backbenchers. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa joins Laura in the studio to share stories about the dire state of British homes.Kwajo is supporting the recent Health Equals campaign which revealed that 15 million people in the UK - over one in four - are living in homes affected by damp, mould or cold. As a result, lives are being cut short by up to 16 years in parts of the UK.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is the latest Tory to defect to Reform UK. Laura, Ava, and Seán react to the news.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Lucas is an academic and expert in US politics and foreign policy. He joined us to break down the aftermath of Donald Trump's move to kidnap Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.In a wide ranging conversation, Lucas breaks down the new global order that the Trump administration is forcing into place, what the Venezuela coup means, and whether the US is marking the end of their era of global domination.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Twelves is a writer and commentator, and joined Seán to chat about the battle the Labour Party has ahead in winning back support from their traditional base, after bleeding support to Reform UK since their election victory.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.