PoliticsJOE Podcast

Ava is joined on today's episode by Conor Clark of Gay Star News and renowned drag queen Davina de Campo to discuss the clash between Belfast Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and a Drag Queen Storytime event at a local library.Save more, earn more—up to 4.22% AER (variable). Interest rates are tiered,with the top rate for balances over £1M. Each tiered rate applies to theportion within that range. New Tide members get these rates free for 6 months; after that, your Tide plan’s rates apply. Visit tide.co/joe for more.” Rate correct as of 8th May 2025.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How's the head? After last night's live show, Seán and Laura wade bravely into the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle discourse. They break down the ad's backlash, as well as the wider state of American politics.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jacob Hawley of the Screen Rot Podcast joins us at JOETowers to unpack last week's interview with Bonnie Blue.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Monday. This morning Ed, Ava, and Oli reunite to debrief Bonnie Blue, talk digital IDs, and further unpack the Online Safety Act.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf came by the PoliticsJOE studio this week to chat to us about Labour's roll out of the Online Safety Bill.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the yellow and green corner, Ava and Oli. In the blue corner, Tom Tugendhat MP and James Cowling of Next Gen Tories. The two slides clash and debate housing, immigration, and the state of the major parties.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour Tech Secretary Peter Kyle had some choice words for Nigel Farage, saying he is on the side of 'people like Jimmy Savile'. Ed and Ava break down his comments and all the ensuing fallout.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Seán and Laura reunite to chew the cud on Donald Trump's summer holiday in Scotland, where he sat down with Ursula Von Der Leyen and Keir Starmer to finalise trade talks, parry questions on Jeffrey Epstein, and change his tune on Israel's conduct in Palestine.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday morning. Oli and Ava chat about the Online Safety Act, child protection, and all types of graphic materials.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Head of Investigative research at Handelsblatt Sönke Iwersen came by JOE Towers this week on the release of his and Michael Verfürden's book The Tesla Files.In this chat we break down the findings of a massive data leak from Tesla that fell into Sönke's lap, the inner workings of Elon Musk's empire, and what all these things tell us about the life and mind of the world's richest man.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richie Jones of Ipsos joins Ed and Oli to chat about exclusive new polling that sheds light on the male loneliness epidemic. Are the headlines right? Where are the third spaces? What makes a friendship meaningful?Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli and Ed break down Kemi Badenoch's latest chess move (a minor cabinet reshuffle) and ask why Donald Trump won't just release the Epstein files already.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK Director of More in Common Luke Tryl joins Laura to dive into voting at 16 and how it might impact future elections.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli was on Newsnight. Ed was on holiday. The pair reunite to talk Diane Abbott, the Labour rebels, and far-right activity in Epping.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oli and Ava are joined by South-East Londoner, journalist, and teacher-in-training Jack Beaumont to hear about his experience working in a SEND school ahead of Labour's projected education reforms.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Thursday. Ava is joined by JOE's national reporter Tom Usher to talk steroids, body image, and men's mental health.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of parliamentary recess, Keir Starmer has just purged his party. Ava and Laura report and react to the news as it unfolds.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed, Oli, and Ava sit down to react to the final PMQs before parliament enters recess. Kemi and Keir's last dance, if you will.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 MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne to talk about the Hillsborough Law, which was blocked in parliament last week. He also speaks to his experience being a progressive Labour MP in an era of welfare cuts.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday morning. Oli and Ava talk Wimbledon, Donald Tusk's dinner, and Ed Miliband reminding the Commons that climate change exists. All this and Mapgate, an exclusive scoop from the West Midlands broken by Oli's dad.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Elder is global spokesperson for UNICEF. He came by the studio to speak to us about what he has seen on the ground in Gaza since Israel's violent campaign against the Palestinians began nearly two years ago.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Green leader candidate and self-declared eco-populist Zack Polanski joins us to talk wealth taxes, a new direction for the Greens, and how he can beat Farage.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's PMQs analysis Ava and Oli debut their new segment: Lickarse of the Week.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed, Oli, and Seán chat about a wealth tax, but they also just chat. How will Rachel Reeves fill the newest hole in government finances? Is a seal a bird?(0:00:00) PoliticsJOE Premium(0:00:48) Opening chat(0:10:45) Torture methods(0:28:00) Aquatic birds(0:41:30) Wealth tax?(0:56:24) Footy chat(1:05:59) EndSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday morning. Another Reform scandal, another party on the left. Oli and Ed discuss.(0:00:00) PoliticsJOE Premium(0:00:47) Start(0:02:00) Gigs chat(0:06:30) Gardens and civil liberty(0:15:17) Ed is a cyclist (?)(0:22:12) James McMurdock suspends himself from Reform(0:45:04) The Left is back(1:09:48) PoliticsJOE PremiumSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global investor and author Ruchir Sharma joins us to unpack the core arguments from his latest book, What Went Wrong With Capitalism. Drawing on decades of experience in global markets and political analysis, Sharma offers a sweeping critique of how modern capitalism has strayed from its original purpose — and why it's no longer delivering for the many.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 react to the Gaza documentary the BBC refused to publish.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed and Ava are joined by comedian and fellow Scot Marc Jennings to discuss today's blockbuster PMQs, which saw Rachel Reeves cry and Starmer struggle to answer for yesterday's rebellion.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what's being dubbed a modern classic, Oli and Seán discuss Labour's welfare rebellion and Bob Vylan's criminal investigation, as well as partaking in some vacuum-sealed analysis.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today the triple threat are back in the dungeon on this, the Monday after Glastonbury, to chew the cud over the weekend's events. As the BBC comes under fire for broadcasting Bob Vylan's set where the group led anti-IDF chants, we ask whether the backlash is overegged and whether free speech is dying at the hands of right-wing snowflakes.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Snowden of the IEA, a neoliberal think tank, joins Ava in the JOETowers basement to talk smoking, gambling, and threats to the neoliberal way of life.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 the US Editor of Channel 4 News Anushka Asthana on the launch of her new book Taken for Red. They get into the mind of Keir Starmer, his plans for the country, and his cutthroat nature at the helm of Labour.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ava and Conor talk welfare cuts, the rebellion Starmer faces over them, and the state of Pride in 2025.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian and friend of friends of the podcast Vittorio Angelone joins us for some (deputy) PMQs analysis.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura returns from yesterday's Palestine Action protest to tell Seán all about it.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what could be described as a loose record, Ed and Ava touch on recent developments in the Middle East, Labour's threatened proscription of Palestine Action, and are joined by Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at LSE, for some real analysis of Trump's actions in Iran.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author of The Big Short Michael Lewis swing by JOETowers to chat to Oli about "who" actually is government. His new book Who is Government? is out now. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Lewis swung by JOETowers to chat if anyone is actually a genius - and what who we label "geniuses" tells us about society. She argues that "genius" is a romanticised idea: the notion that extraordinary talent excuses bad behaviour or moral failings. Think, Elon Musk. She unpacks how celebrated (almost always male) figures like Edison, Einstein, Picasso, Tolstoy (and even Elon Musk) benefit from a halo effect that glosses over serious flaws such as abuse, neglect, misogyny, and selfishness. She traces the historical roots of the term “genius,” linking it to hierarchy-driven ideologies and the eugenics movement, arguing that intelligence testing and the “innate talent” narrative come with harmful baggage. Helen Lewis is a journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic. She is a former deputy editor of the New Statesman, and has also written for The Guardian and The Sunday Times.Her new book "The Genius Myth" is out now. Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After reporting from the scene of Mo Chara's court hearing and its surrounding protest yesterday, Seán and Laura dive into what they saw and why the British state are really going after KNEECAP.Support PoliticsJOE's journalism: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticsJOE(0:00:00) JOEnlyFans(0:01:20) Love Irish podcasts hate Irish nonces(0:01:47) A note on endangered languages(0:04:30) The trial of Mo CharaSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's 'tight' record, Ed and Oli discuss the illustrious Deputy Prime Minister's Questions, Robert Jenrick's dark arts, and school uniforms.Support PoliticsJOE's journalism: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticsJOE(0:00:00) JOEnlyFans(0:01:20) Grand opening(0:03:40) (D)PMQs(0:40:13) The record gets looseSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Yvette Cooper's statement in the Commons yesterday responding to the findings of the Casey report, Seán, Oli, and Laura delve into what's really going on with grooming gangs.Support PoliticsJOE's journalism: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticsJOE(0:00:00) A bit of chat(0:07:10) But why JOEnlyFans?(0:15:24) Grooming gangsSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed returns to the studio to discuss his Journalism in Northern Ireland, where he was on the ground reporting on the Ballymena riots. Oli joins him to create the platonic ideal of a podcast.Support PoliticsJOE's journalism: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticsJOE(0:00:00) Dross(0:10:01) PoliticsJOE Premium(0:22:40) Witches(0:26:18) BallymenaSubscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava is joined by journalist and historian Anne Applebaum on the release of the paperback of her book Autocracy Inc. They discuss Trump, authoritarianism, and the failure of liberal democracies and world order.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura's been in Birmingham, finding out about the city's synthetic opioid crisis. She chats to DISPATCH's editor Jacob Furedi about the drug deadlier than fentanyl being cut into Britain's drug supply. You can watch Laura's report tomorrow on the PoliticsJOE YouTube. You can read Jacob's investigation here: https://dispatch-media.com/britains-hidden-opioid-crisis/ Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a quiet studio, Oli Dugmore alone takes on Rachel Reeves' spending review with some hard analysis... and a surprise at the end.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Oli dives into the spending review tomorrow morning, Seán joins him to talk the Ballymena riots and how the far right are mobilising across borders.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ava was at Reform's unveiling of a new party chairman on Tuesday, where Zia Yusuf was also shown off as heading up their UK DOGE wing. We got in the studio for a quick few minutes to break down the crossroads the party is beginning to find itself.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mathew Lawrence of the progressive think tank Common Wealth makes the trip down to JOETowers to talk deindustrialisation, GB Energy, and all things nationalisation.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed, Oli, and Ava hastily reassemble in the PolJoe dungeon to cover Labour's announcement that they will reinstate the winter fuel payment for pensioners.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following his return from Scotland, Ed is reunited with Oli and Ava to talk immigration protests in LA, wade into last week's backlash, and figure out what's going on with Reform.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.