PoliticsJOE Podcast

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.

Seán and Laura swap hard political analysis for crystal balls as they set out to predict the big stories of 2026; from Trump and the fate of NATO to who could topple Starmer.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're back to the grindstone reacting to another Wednesday in the House of Commons, where today Keir Starmer batted down questions of foreign policy from the leader of the opposition.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year. Seán and Laura return to discuss 2026's blistering start, from US strikes in Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro to X's Grok and its use to create explicit images of women and children.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sat down with Children's Minister Josh MacAlister to hear about the government's launch of a new Child Protection Authority. In a wide-ranging conversation, MacAlister tells us about his role, the mess the Labour government inherited from the Conservatives, and how to properly address the needs of victims.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As another year draws to a close, we are joined for another therapy session by none other than Ian Hislop.The editor of Private Eye took time out of his busy schedule to run through the insanity that has been the year in politics.From the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform and Zack Polanski's Green Party, to the complete and utter collapse in support for Keir Starmer's Labour government, this year in British politics gives ample ground for Ian to reflect on the year that has been.Elsewhere the royals have had a year to forget with Andrew losing all of his titles for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Another Epstein link had Britain's Ambassador to the US lose his job, even though Peter Mandelson certainly had a mutual friend with Donald Trump through his meetings with the New York financier.Ian also gives his take on how the fiasco that was the founding of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's Your Party, and how Donald Trump has managed to alienate the globe by throwing the might of the White House around on the world stage.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the final PMQs podcast of the season! Today Keir Starmer came under fire for two ongoing strikes: The resident doctor strikes set to go ahead in the run up to Christmas, and the ongoing hunger strikes in British prisons.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday, Keir Starmer defended his record in government before the Liaison Committee. Ava and Laura check his report card.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Ava and Laura on Facetime as they react to Bonnie Blue's endorsement of Reform UK. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an impassioned defence of the Employment Rights Bill in the Commons on Monday, Angela Rayner is back in the Labour limelight. She rivals only Wes Streeting, the supposed faithful, for number of rumours swirling about a leadership bid. Laura and Seán get to the bottom of things.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Laura react to one of Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch's sharper exchanges in recent weeks, and hear questions from Rachael Maskell, Ed Davey, and Sojan Joseph.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author, journalist, and train nerd John Elledge joins Ava to talk Labour's nationalisation of rail under the freshly unveiled Great British Railways.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava comes back from her slot on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and gave us the lowdown on what was missing from the debate on the BBC yesterday.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked the lovely people of the PolJOE Patreon to ask us everything they wanted to know about Your Party conference. From the office floor, Laura, Ava, and Seán endeavour to answer those questions. Hear about the Corbyn-Sultana feud, rumours of expulsions and boycotts, and all the behind-the-scenes gossip.Take part in the discussion:patreon.com/PoliticsJOESubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another week at the despatch box, but this time Keir Starmer had to fight off attacks from the opposition on the fallout from the budget which led to the resignation of the head of the OBR over the weekend. Safe to say Kemi Badenoch made great hay off the decision.Grace Blakeley interview: https://youtu.be/LFVgYXfegkQClive Lewis interview: https://youtu.be/qc1E_t68ehsSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from a new studio, Laura and Seán reflect on Rachel Reeves' autumn budget and the controversy surrounding the OBR.Watch our Paul Collier interview here: https://youtu.be/f51urcvWmsMSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Laura come to you from the long and arduous journey back to London from Liverpool, where the future of Britain's newest political party was decided over the weekend.If you'd like to watch Ava's explainer video find it here: https://youtu.be/5WnxZFg_J9USubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Noah East of Northstar Politics is joined today by author and Journalist Cory Doctorow to discuss his new book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Laura are on the ground at Your Party conference in Liverpool, where day one of the inaugural conference has been thrown into disarray after founding member Zarah Sultana decided to boycott the first day. We've got the scoop from the inside for you.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura was joined by Grace Blakeley to make sense of the Budget, and find out who the real winners and losers were.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 Richard Murphy to break down Rachel Reeves' Budget, what it means for workers, and debunks the idea that the Chancellor has just delivered a traditional Labour budget.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were outside the mother of Parliaments this afternoon on College Green with our instant reaction to the Budget, which was conveniently leaked an hour before the Chancellor Rachel Reeves took to the despatch box. Ava and Laura are joined by Labour MP Natalie Fleet and SNP MP Stephen Flynn who give their instant reaction to the goings on in the chamber, and what it means for the rest of the country.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava and Laura discuss rumours that Zarah Sultana, co-founder of Your Party, considered defecting to the Green Party. What's going on with the British left, and what might come next?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Laura Kuenssberg yesterday Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hinted that Labour might scrap the two-child benefit cap in Wednesday's budget. Mel Stride was not happy about this revelation. Ava and Seán discuss.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 artist and activist Bob Vylan to discuss his music, politics, and the controversy surrounding the group since their Glastonbury set this summer.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were joined by Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport Lisa Nandy to discuss the government's plans to tackle a crisis in male loneliness through greater support for those who need it most.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You asked, we delivered. The old PMQs format returns, and Noah from Northstar Politics joins Ava and Laura to break down another blockbuster PMQs bout.Check out the JOE pub quiz here: http://joe.co.uk/quizliveSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shabana Mahmood is set to announce today plans to rejig Britain's asylum system that wouldn't look out of place in a Conservative manifesto. We break down the plans.We also touch on the news from the United States of a special relationship between Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.Subscribe to how to rebuild the left now: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/690c814368055f905c9893ecSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.