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31 episodes
The Two Matts
by The New World · English
Join The New World's Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona plus occasional guests for weekly chat on politics and media with a side of cultural stuff. A podcast in the spirit of the award-winning New World newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes
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Inside the Russell Brand trial with Lucy Reade, and a path to Europe
Lucy Reade discusses her reporting on the Russell Brand rape trial and the broader “pendulum swing” away from Me Too, arguing that justice can still happen but that society needs more systematic,…
12 Nov 2026 · 1h 10m · 25 chaptersThe Two Matts Q&A: How did Russell Brand get away with it for so long?
The Two Matts Q&A discusses (1) why Russell Brand’s sexual-assault convictions took so long and whether TV/radio industry colleagues enabled him, (2) US politics and what Congress can do about…
8 Nov 2026 · 55m · 14 chaptersBUMPER EDITION: Trump's disaster and Sophia Smith Galer on How To Kill A Language
The episode is a “bumper edition” mixing political analysis of the U.S. midterms with a conversation about language loss.
5 Nov 2026 · 1h 22m · 20 chaptersLaura Kuenssberg: Pay Attention... they're wrong about the BBC
Laura Kuenssberg discusses her book Pay Attention, arguing that UK politics has become more volatile due to social media, party “churn,” and aggressive campaigning, but that the solution isn’t to…
3 Nov 2026 · 53m · 17 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Iz it okay to be excited about Europe?
The Two Matts Q&A covers UK welfare policy, Europe re-entry, Israeli politics, US midterms, Remembrance Day “performative” culture, and the reception of the new Ali G film.
1 Nov 2026 · 47m · 12 chapters
Two very different takes on what the Budget adds up to!
A special “Budget show” debating what the UK government’s first budget adds up to—arguing it was unusually incremental and “anemic,” missing bold reforms, but possibly a tactical “breathing space”…
28 Oct 2026 · 51m · 12 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Is John Healey's big day going to be a nothingburger?
Q&A on UK politics and public policy, focusing on John Healey’s upcoming budget (especially capital gains tax), Ed Davey and the Lib Dems, BBC channel cutbacks, “postcode lottery” language in…
24 Oct 2026 · 41m · 10 chapters
What do the riots in France really signal?
Riots and unrest in France (and wider Europe) and what they “signal”: a deeper European malaise, generational nihilism, and the failure of liberal-centrist politics to address alienation,…
21 Oct 2026 · 54m · 17 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Palestine Action lunacy and made up words
A Q&A episode covering Ukraine war diplomacy, Russia’s interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum, European re-entry politics, Elon Musk’s alleged Starlink/Starshield disruption of Ukraine’s defense,…
17 Oct 2026 · 37m · 12 chapters
Putin's the big winner in Trump's betrayal
The episode argues that Donald Trump’s actions are strengthening Vladimir Putin and weakening Ukraine, while also warning that the U.S.
15 Oct 2026 · 57m · 25 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: The decline of Zack and best ever speeches
UK politics and Europe—Zack (Zach Polanski) and the Greens’ recent collapse, Andy Burnham’s Brexit/Europe messaging, and France’s school-related riots and how they may be politicized.
10 Oct 2026 · 36m · 12 chapters
A disaster for the Green Party
The episode discusses two main political developments in the UK. First, it focuses on a Green Party conference motion declaring “Zionism is racism,” arguing it was politically disastrous and could…
8 Oct 2026 · 55m · 23 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: On The New World at 500 and the Burnham bounce
Q&A celebrating The New World’s 500th issue, with discussion of magazine hoarding/archiving, predicted future themes for the next 500 editions, and political/cultural debates (Andrew Burnham, Patriot…
3 Oct 2026 · 43m · 17 chapters
48 hours after THAT speech… how many marks out of 10?
Two Mats podcast discusses Andy Burnham’s Labour conference speech “48 hours after THAT speech…
1 Oct 2026 · 57m · 20 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Ketamine epidemic and trouble in Narnia
Q&A covering UK/EU geopolitics (UK convening power, Chagos Islands deal, EU rejoining path and “red lines”), a ketamine epidemic among young people (classification, wastewater data, harms, fentanyl…
26 Sep 2026 · 55m · 14 chapters
A lot of Andy Burnham and a bit of Hitler
The episode discusses (1) Andy Burnham’s performance at the UN and an interview about resilience, arguing he linked domestic hardship to geopolitical vulnerability to Russian disinformation; (2)…
24 Sep 2026 · 53m · 17 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: What is it crypto billionaires love so much about Nigel Farage?
The episode is a listener Q&A covering: (1) Canada potentially becoming the EU’s first associate member and how that could offer the UK a “path into” rejoining without relitigating Brexit; (2) why…
19 Sep 2026 · 43m · 15 chapters
Is AI really coming to eat us all... and how do we stop it?
The episode is about two current UK/US political stories: (1) AI safety fears and how AI could “break out” of sandbox controls, and (2) the UK village referendum in “Piddington” after asylum seekers…
17 Sep 2026 · 54m · 20 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Can’t we have welfare AND defence?
Q&A episode covering (1) whether the UK can afford both strong national defence and a strong welfare state, (2) fears about AI causing human extinction and how to regulate/opt out, (3) public…
12 Sep 2026 · 56m · 12 chapters
An historic shift in UK foreign policy towards Israel. Now what?
The episode discusses a “historic shift” in UK foreign policy under Labour, with Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband announcing a boycott of Israeli-occupied territories, and debates whether it’s meaningful…
10 Sep 2026 · 58m · 18 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Is Farage finished? And where are all the women?
A Q&A episode focused mainly on whether Nigel Farage/Reform UK is “finished,” arguing populism’s electoral weakness is venality and dodgy funding; it also discusses Andy Burnham’s likely tax pledge…
5 Sep 2026 · 51m · 22 chapters
REDS - the best political book of the year? With Paul Mason
Paul Mason discusses his book Reds: a global history of communism—why communism appealed, how it evolved from early revolutionary blueprints to Leninism and Stalinism, and why China under Xi poses a…
3 Sep 2026 · 47m · 18 chapters
The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books
Q&A covering (1) whether progress on LGBT rights can be reversed, (2) the “game” behind social-media settlements for child harm, (3) whether Harry and Meghan should be welcomed back to Britain, (4)…
29 Aug 2026 · 39m · 10 chapters
Andy Burnham’s first big test is around the corner
The episode argues that UK Labour under newly installed PM Andy Burnham faces a “first big test” soon: the party conference speech (29th) and the October 28 budget, amid fast-moving political and…
27 Aug 2026 · 44m · 12 chaptersWe use cookies.They keep VO running smoothly and help us improve it. Privacy policy