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Novara Media is an independent media organisation addressing the issues - from a crisis of capitalism to racism and climate change - that are set to define the 21st century.
Available episodes
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3 hours ago
Downstream: ‘Dodgy Dave’? The Facts on the Greensill Saga
Political scandal no longer seems to cut through the conversation, but is the unfolding saga around Max Greensill and David Cameron an exception? Aaron Bastani is joined by Sunday Times journalist Gabriel Pogrund to discuss the implications of a story which is only set to grow.
18 hours ago
TyskySour: Tory Sleaze Row Gathers Pace
Keir Starmer has called on the PM to launch a full inquiry into Greensill and said “sleaze is now at heart of this Tory government”. Will the allegations stick? With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Tory Sleaze Row Gathers Pace
2 days ago
TyskySour: David Cameron Investigated Over Greensill Scandal
The government have announced an independent review into David Cameron and the Greensill affair. Is another white-wash incoming? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. David Cameron Investigated Over Greensill Scandal
5 days ago
TyskySour: Northern Ireland Sees Riots From Loyalists
After a week of violence in Northern Ireland, we speak to Amanda Ferguson about the events that led to unrest among loyalist communities, and whether the peace process is in danger. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Northern Ireland Sees Riots From Loyalists
Apr 7, 2021
TyskySour: The AstraZeneca Blood Clot Risks
The JCVI have announced that under 30s should be offered an alternative to the Astra Zeneca vaccine. What does this mean for the vaccine rollout, and for young people who’ve already had the AZ jab? With Michael Walker, Deenan Pillay and Dalia Gebrial. What Are the AstraZeneca Blood Clot Risks?
Apr 7, 2021
Downstream: Why The Tories Keep Winning w/ Sam Earle
Excluding Tony Blair’s back-to-back victories, the Conservative Party has governed the UK for all but 18 of the last 100 years. While the media often presents elections as Labour’s to lose, the truth is that Britain is a one-party state that occasionally lets the other side have a go in the interest of fairness. With […]
Apr 5, 2021
TyskySour: Johnson Announces Vaccine Passports
Boris Johnson has announced trials for vaccine passports. Are they a route to freedom, or authoritarian overreach by the backdoor? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. Johnson Announces Vaccine Passports for Major Events
Apr 3, 2021
#ACFM Trip 15: Folk
Nadia Idle, Keir Milburn and Jeremy Gilbert go back to the land to dig into the politics of folk. With music from The Pogues, Steeleye Span and Enigma, the gang discuss island cults, progressive patriotism, Communist folkies and the pitfalls of accelerationism. Turn on, tune in, muck out! Music: Woodie Guthrie – You Gotta Join […]
Apr 2, 2021
TyskySour: A Year of Keir
As the anniversary of Keir Starmer’s election as Labour leader approaches, how should we assess his first year in charge? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. A Year of Keir
Mar 31, 2021
TyskySour: Britain Not Racist Says Government Report
We discuss two white washes: The government appointed commissioners who absolved the government of racism, and the police inspectorate who absolving the police of overreach. With Michael Walker, Kojo Karam and Dalia Gebrial. Britain Not Racist Says Government Report
Mar 31, 2021
Downstream: When Will China Be The World’s Most Powerful Country?
Will the 2020s be the decade when power decisively shifts from the United States to China? How important is China’s rise in a broad historic context – and is that why we are seeing an emerging Cold War between Washington and Beijing? Do appeals to a ‘civilisation-state’ undermine the power of universal values and human […]
Mar 29, 2021
TyskySour: Police Violence at Third Bristol Protest
On Friday Bristol saw its third protest against the policing bill in 6 days. We speak to Adam Cantwell-Corn, co-founder of The Bristol Cable, who reported from the scene. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. Police Violence at Third Bristol Protest
Mar 26, 2021
TyskySour: The Suez Canal Blockage
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the Suez Canal blockage and its impact on global trade. The Suez Canal Blockage
Mar 26, 2021
#NovaraFM: Luddites, Hackers, Saboteurs
At the birth of industry in England, a movement of weavers gathered together to resist the imposition of technologies which threatened their way of life. Their actions – which ranged from petitioning government to direct sabotage and destruction of the new weaving frames – were done in the name of their fictional leader, the ‘mass […]
Mar 24, 2021
TyskySour: Patel’s Harsh New Asylum Rules
Priti Patel has announced harsh new plans to restrict people’s right to asylum in Britain. We speak to Maya Goodfellow about the Tory war on refugees. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.
Mar 24, 2021
Downstream: Independence for the North of England w/ Philip Proudfoot
In recent years Scottish and Welsh independence, as well as Irish unification, have become increasingly plausible, with Britain’s departure from the EU highlighting major points of difference, as well as economic imbalances, across the home nations. But could the break up of the UK ever include the North of England? And what would a sovereign […]
Mar 22, 2021
TyskySour: Bristol Riots
On Sunday night police vans were burned and windows smashed at the end of a protest against the Policing Bill. But was it aggression from the cops or from protesters that caused the riot? We speak to a journalist and an activist who were there. Plus, the riots have caused an enormous backlash among the […]
Mar 19, 2021
Stop Asian Hate
A horrific mass shooting in Atlanta has shone a spotlight on anti-Asian racism in the USA. But what about the challenges faced by East and Southeast Asians in the UK? We speak to Zing Tsjeng. With Michael Walker and Owen Jones. Stop Asian Hate
Mar 19, 2021
#NovaraFM: After Storming Heaven
150 years ago this week, workers and the poor of Paris seized control of the city and established a popular, elected municipal government: they took over great buildings, wiped out debts, instituted free education – and inspired countless radicals worldwide. The Commune lasted only 72 days before being drowned in blood. But each of those […]
Mar 18, 2021
Downstream: Why All Drugs Should Be Decriminalised w/ David Nutt
The criminalisation of drugs has almost no impact on drug use, denies access to proven medical treatments and disproportionately targets people of colour. Yet the idea that drugs are ‘evil’ and that drug users are criminals is entrenched in international and domestic law. How can we begin to shift this point of view? What are […]
Mar 17, 2021
TyskySour: Banning Your Right To Protest
On Tuesday the Policing Bill – which will criminalise a wide range of protests – passed its second reading in the commons. Yet the bill still needs to jump many hurdles before it becomes law. Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss whether it can be stopped. Banning Your Right to Protest
Mar 15, 2021
TyskySour: Outrage At Met Police
This weekend the Met Police sparked outrage with their heavy handed response to a vigil in remembrance of Sarah Everard. Meanwhile, parliament debates a new law that would give police forces even more power at cracking down on protests. We discuss what’s going wrong at the Met and the dangers of the Police, Crime, Sentencing […]
Mar 12, 2021
TyskySour: Sarah Everard & Violence Against Women
The disappearance and death of Sarah Everard has shone a spotlight on the epidemic of violence against women in Britain, and has provoked an outpouring from women on social media sharing their own experience of harassment, threats and violence at the hands of men. Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial discuss the case and the response […]
Mar 10, 2021
TyskySour: Meghan Takes Out Morgan
Piers Morgan is out from ITV and the Society of Editors is facing a growing backlash over its dismissal of media racism. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Meghan Takes Out Morgan
Mar 10, 2021
Downstream: Abolish The Monarchy
Will Harry and Meghan bring down the monarchy? Ash Sarkar is joined by gal-dem political editor Moya Lothian-Mclean and Novara Media’s very own James Butler to discuss how we ended up with a family of dysfunctional aristocrats at the very top of British society, why republicanism is still so marginal, and the collision course between […]
Mar 8, 2021
TyskySour: Harry & Meghan’s Oprah Interview
In an explosive Oprah interview, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle levelled allegations at the royal family which could fatally undermine their legitimacy. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.
Mar 5, 2021
TyskySour: Slap For Carers
Throughout the pandemic the Tories have loudly thanked NHS workers for standing on the frontline against coronavirus. Now they’re offering them a miserly 1% pay rise. How did Boris Johnson go from clapping for carers to giving them a slap in the face? Slap for Carers
Mar 5, 2021
#NovaraFM: In the Cookshops of the Future
We all dream of a better world. In fact, all politics of emancipation – all serious politics of the left – is rooted in claims about a better world and a vision of the future. Why, then, do so many leftists disdain “making recipes for the cookshops of the future”? Did Marx really think we […]
Mar 3, 2021
TyskySour: Budget 2021
Does Rishi Sunak’s budget speech show the Tories have finally dumped Osbornomics to instead channel John McDonnell? With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Jeevun Sandher. What’s in Rishi Sunak’s Budget?
Mar 3, 2021
Should We All Be Vegan? w/ Peter Singer
Should we all be vegan or vegetarian? Does climate change require a new relationship to nature and non-human animals? And will Covid-19 be the moment when we realise industrial farming carries devastating, unacceptable risks? Aaron Bastani speaks to the author of ‘Animal Liberation’ and professor of bioethics at Princeton University, Peter Singer.
Mar 1, 2021
TyskySour: Johnson’s Travel Rules Under Strain
With the vaccine rollout going well, the one thing that could disrupt the route back to pre-covid normality is the spread of a new immune resistant strain. So how worried should we be about the arrival of the Brazil variant in Britain, and does this show Boris Johnson’s travel rules aren’t fit for purpose? Michael […]
Feb 26, 2021
TyskySour: Begum Can’t Come Home
The Supreme Court have ruled Shamima Begum has no right to return to Britain to appeal the removal of her citizenship. Is the UK abdicating responsibility? Shamima Begum Can’t Come Home
Feb 26, 2021
#NovaraFM: Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again
Following the headlines of recent years, you might be forgiven for thinking the problem of sex and power can be solved just by thinking about consent. But what if consent was only the beginning, not the final answer, to the question of desire? What would it mean to face the intractability and difficulty of sexual […]
Feb 24, 2021
TyskySour: Labour Outflanked By Tories
Labour have confirmed that if Rishi Sunak raises corporation tax at next week’s budget, they will vote against it. Has Starmer’s single-minded obsession with reassuring swing voters meant Labour are now to the right of the Tories on tax? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Starmer Outflanked by Tories on Corporation Tax
Feb 23, 2021
Downstream: Conservatives Don’t Care About Free Speech w/ Ronan Burtenshaw
Does the right actually care about free speech? Why do many think Britain has a unique history of defending freedom of expression when evidence suggests otherwise? And why should free speech matter to the left? Aaron Bastani speaks to the editor of Tribune magazine, Ronan Burtenshaw.
Feb 22, 2021
TyskySour: The Exit Plan
Boris Johnson delivers his roadmap out of lockdown. Do his plans for students to all return on the 8th March risk a resurgence? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. The Exit Plan
Feb 19, 2021
TyskySour: Starmer’s Reboot Speech
Was Keir Starmer’s “relaunch” speech an example of astute political positioning or a damp squib. We ask James Meadway, the former advisor to John McDonnell, who proposed “recovery bonds” a week before they were endorsed by the Labour leader. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Starmer’s Reboot Speech
Feb 17, 2021
TyskySour: Starmer Called Out By Key Ally
A key architect of Keir Starmer’s leadership campaign now believes that the Labour leader has wasted a year being soft on the Tories, and needs a change of course. Will he listen? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Starmer Called Out by Key Ally
Feb 17, 2021
Downstream: Maybe Don’t Defund the BBC? w/ Nish Kumar
Can the BBC be trusted to fight for its own survival? Television has become ground zero in the reactionary backlash against liberal norms and, for some reason, current affairs comedy has found itself in the crosshairs. This week on Downstream, Ash Sarkar meets Nish Kumar – comedian and host of The Mash Report – to […]
Feb 15, 2021
TyskySour: When Should Lockdown End?
The UK has met its target to give 15 million first-dose vaccines to those vulnerable to Covid-19. Does this mean we can start loosening the lockdown? We ask Professor Susan Michie of Independent Sage. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.
Feb 14, 2021
#ACFM Trip 14: Desire
Nadia Idle, Keir Milburn and Jeremy Gilbert explore the political power of desire from the storming of the Capitol to the millenarian strands of Corbynism, with music from Portishead and the Au Pairs. Music: Portishead – Glory Box / Tricky – Makes Me Wanna Die / Alton McClain & Destiny – Crazy Love / Alternative […]
Feb 12, 2021
TyskySour: Fired By The Guardian
The Guardian is supposed to be Britain’s leading liberal newspaper. However, its US arm this week fired a columnist for tweeting a joke about Israel. We speak to the journalist in question, Nathan J Robinson With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Fired From the Guardian
Feb 11, 2021
Downstream: Can Capitalism Solve Its Crises? w/ Mariana Mazzucato
What can the Apollo missions teach us about dealing with the major crises of the 21st century? And why are politicians so eager to dwell on caricatures of the public rather than engage in problem-solving – from climate change to housing and education? Aaron Bastani speaks to author and academic Mariana Mazzucato to find out.
Feb 10, 2021
TyskySour: Jail Time For Travel Breaches
The health secretary has announced that arrivals from ‘red zone’ countries will need to quarantine in hotels for ten days at a cost of £1,750. Labour are demanding a more comprehensive blanket policy approach. In a bid to look tough, Matt Hancock has threatened 10 years in jail for anyone who lies on a passenger […]
Feb 10, 2021
#ACFM Microdose: Tabitha Bast on Dating and Desire
Nadia Idle speaks to psychosexual therapist and writer Tabitha Bast about dating and desire. They discuss the changing dynamics of dating, how to build romantic resilience, the politics of swiping right and more. Tabitha is a qualified psychosexual therapist who works privately and through a charity, currently conducting her sessions online. She was also involved […]
Feb 8, 2021
TyskySour: The Oxford Vaccine Setback
The Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine is already being rolled out in the UK, and is the most ordered jab in the developing world. However, this weekend results from trials suggest the vaccine is ineffective against the South African strain of the virus. How big a blow is this news to the global fight against coronavirus? We […]
Feb 5, 2021
TyskySour: Starmer’s Worst Week
This week a leaked presentation sparked ridicule for Labour, just as Starmer was caught lying in parliament. As commentators question if he’s up for the job, we discuss Keir Starmer’s worst week as Labour leader. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Starmer’s Worst Week
Feb 5, 2021
#NovaraFM: I Am Not My Work
Once, it was enough just to work. Now everyone – from self-help gurus to employment counsellors, from superstar artists to glassy-eyed Silicon Valley CEOs – tells us we have to love it as well. Why? When did this change happen? And what should we love, if not work? Sarah Jaffe has reported for years on […]
Feb 3, 2021
TyskySour: Clap For The Captain
Boris Johnson has called for a nationwide clap to remember Sir Captain Tom Moore, who on Tuesday passed away from covid-19. Given the Prime Minister has presided over 109,000 deaths and leads a party that cut the NHS to the bone, is he simply exploiting a tragedy for his own partisan end? Clap for the […]
Feb 3, 2021
Downstream: Why Has Britain Failed on Covid? w/ Richard Horton
A year after the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic, with Britain enduring more than 100,000 deaths since, major questions remain unanswered. Why was the response of the UK among the worst in the world? How is it possible that the death toll of countries in Europe and North America is so much higher […]
Feb 1, 2021
TyskySour: Closing The Borders
The UK transmission of the South African Covid strain demonstrates how the vaccine rollout could be undermined. Are Labour right to call for closed borders? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. Closing the Borders
Jan 29, 2021
TyskySour: The GameStop Stock Surge
As GameStop shares keep rising while hedge funds lick their wounds, are Reddit users a real threat to the power of Wall Street? Plus, Ben Smoke speaks about the Stanstead15 on the day they have seen their convictions overturned in the Court of Appeal. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. The GameStop Stock Surge
Jan 28, 2021
Downstream: The Influencer Industrial Complex w/ Moya Lothian-McLean
The last few years have heralded the rise of the influencer: social media users who have, in essence, found a way to get paid for being themselves on the internet. But has this commodification of the self poisoned the public sphere? Or are we witnessing the end of gatekeeping – and the beginnings of a […]
Jan 27, 2021
TyskySour: Johnson Is To Blame
Boris Johnson has claimed that his government “did everything” they could to protect lives and tackle the coronavirus pandemic. As the death toll exceeds 100,000 people, we explain why Boris Johnson was lying. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Johnson Is to Blame
Jan 25, 2021
TyskySour: Schools Out Till Easter?
Government briefings suggest schools will stay closed until Easter. Is this a policy progressives should support? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar and Chloe Tomlinson Schools Out Till Easter?
Jan 22, 2021
TyskySour: The New ‘More Deadly’ Covid Variant
Boris Johnson has announced the new covid variant may be more lethal. We ask clinical epidemiologist Deepti Gurdasani how worried the public should be about this variant. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial The New ‘More Deadly’ Covid Variant
Jan 22, 2021
#NovaraFM: Capital, Care and Crisis
Every election we hear of the “care crisis” as if it’s about to explode. But care affects us all, and not just in election cycles. And rather than an explosion, the reality of care in the UK looks more like the slow and gradual erosion of the fabric of social provision. But why is care […]
Jan 20, 2021
TyskySour: Biden Time
The Trump presidency has ended and Joe Biden is in the White House. Is there now a chance to seriously reform the US? With Nomiki Konst, Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Nomiki Konst The Start of the Biden Era
Jan 18, 2021
TyskySour: Will The UK Ever Eradicate Covid?
The UK is on target to have vaccinated the most vulnerable in society by mid-February. Can restrictions be relaxed after this point, or should we aim to eradicate the virus altogether? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. Will the UK Ever Eradicate Covid?
Jan 17, 2021
#ACFM Trip 13: Crowds
Nadia Idle, Keir Milburn and Jeremy Gilbert return to talk about the power and potential of crowds – from mobs and marches to mesmeric leaders and terrace anthems, with music from the Joubert Singers, Sham 69 and more. Music: The Polyphonic Spree – Light and Day / The Joubert Singers – Stand On The Word […]
Jan 16, 2021
Downstream: A Red Flag and a Silver Dress? Ash Sarkar meets Divina De Campo
RuPaul has turned drag into a multi-million dollar industry and a global TV franchise, but has that meant that the art of drag has lost its claim to being punk? Ash Sarkar is joined by Divina De Campo, first runner up from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1, to talk about drag, gender identity, and […]
Jan 15, 2021
TyskySour: Breaking Point
Experts suggest new Covid infections in England may have finally peaked, but with two more weeks of rising hospital admissions expected, can the NHS avoid collapse? We speak to A&E doctor Silas Webb. Plus: We speak to SAGE advisor Professor Susan Michie on the lockdown blame-game, and Richard Leonard resigns as the Leader of Scottish […]
Jan 15, 2021
#NovaraFM: Ten Years of #NovaraFM
2021 marks a decade since Aaron Bastani and James Butler started the radio show which would eventually become #NovaraFM, and which would give birth to Novara Media. To mark the start of the new year – a year in which all the crises which prompted the show’s creation are more visible and more pressing than […]
Jan 14, 2021
Downstream: Can The Left Trust Keir Starmer? Interview w/ Richard Burgon
Was the Corbyn leadership a complete failure for the left – and what can be learned for next time? What are the chances of a socialist Labour government implementing the kinds of policies seen in the 2017 and 2019 manifestos? And can the left trust Keir Starmer as party leader after a disappointing first year? Aaron […]
Jan 13, 2021
TyskySour: Fleecing Britain’s Children
The government have once again been shamed by a footballer for failing Britain’s kids. From a botched schools policy to paltry meals, are the Tories failing a generation? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. Fleecing Britain’s Children
Jan 13, 2021
#ACFM Microdose: Ece Temelkuran on Crowds
Nadia Idle speaks to Turkish journalist and author Ece Temelkuran about the potency of crowds. Reflecting on their experiences in Tahrir Square and Gezi Park, they talk about feeling powerful in political demonstrations, why raves might be infantilising rather than inspiring, and how Covid-19 has put an end to free assembly. Ece, twice named Turkey’s […]
Jan 12, 2021
Welcome to #ACFM!
#ACFM is a podcast about left-wing politics, culture, music and experiences of collective joy, brought to you by Novara Media. Nadia Idle, Jeremy Gilbert and Keir Milburn present a new Trip just about once a month, as well as Microdose interviews with special guests. Search for “ACFM Music” on Spotify to find a playlist of […]
Jan 11, 2021
TyskySour: Shifting The Blame, Again
Boris Johnson’s late lockdown has condemned Britain to weeks of rising Covid deaths. This weekend his media outriders have focussed on making the public blame each other. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.
Jan 8, 2021
TyskySour: After The Insurrection
Was this week’s storming of the Capitol a genuine insurrection or just a clown coup, and how does our answer inform how the left should respond? Plus, How long will it be until Britain bends the Covid curve? And global health expert Yara Asi on Palestinians under occupation being left out of Israel’s vaccination efforts. […]
Jan 6, 2021
TyskySour: Covid Restrictions Next Winter?
As Boris Johnson passes legislation for a lockdown until the end of March, and after Chris Whitty suggested we might still need covid restrictions next winter, should we abandon hope of a covid-free post pandemic world? Plus, A&E doctor Tariq Jenner on how NHS hospitals are coping amid the pandemic, Bhaskar Sunkara on the Democrats […]
Jan 6, 2021
Downstream: Does the US Want Julian Assange Dead?
On Monday a British judge ruled that Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States on charges of espionage and computer hacking. Yet despite that verdict the judgment arguably represented a blow to freedom of the press – with the judge accepting the substance of the case made by the US state department. […]
Jan 4, 2021
TyskySour: Johnson Finally Locks Down
Boris Johnson will tonight finally announce a national lockdown. But with hospitals already under more strain than in March, how much has the delay cost Britain? Johnson Finally Locks Down
Dec 18, 2020
TyskySour: War On Woke
Liz Truss has declared war on “woke”. But as UNICEF intervene in Britain for the first time in 70 years, can the Tories really blame record levels of poverty on too much anti-racism? With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.
Dec 18, 2020
#NovaraFM: After the Robots: Aaron Benanav on Work, Automation and Utopia
Everyone’s heard about the rise of the robots: they’re going to put us out of jobs, Skynet is going to usher in a miserable dystopia, or a friendly AI will automate everything we hate, freeing us to live a life of luxury. But what if both of these accounts are wrong? A deeper look at […]
Dec 17, 2020
TyskySour: Christmas Cancelled?
Despite concerns from scientists, the UK government’s rules for Christmas Covid will not change. Will Boris Johnson’s call for us to have a “merry little Christmas” stop the spread? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Dec 16, 2020
Downstream: The Year In Review
Nearly 12 months ago some said that we were on the verge of entering a new Roaring ’20s. How prescient they turned out to be. One pandemic and a global economic freefall later, all the assumptions we started out with in January have turned to dust. In their place are pressing questions. Did Boris Johnson’s […]
Dec 14, 2020
TyskySour: London Into Tier 3
As cases surge, London is entering a Tier 3 lockdown. But with schools staying open, is time running out to prevent carnage this Christmas? #TyskySour with Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. London Into Tier 3 Lockdown
Dec 11, 2020
TyskySour: Deal Or No Deal
Boris Johnson has said a no-deal Brexit is now “very, very likely.” Is the prime minister just bluffing or is Britain about to go over the Brexit cliff-edge? With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Deal or No-Deal
Dec 11, 2020
#NovaraFM: The Bodies on the Gears: How to Blow Up a Pipeline
What would it mean to take climate change as seriously as it demands to be taken? What kinds of political action are adequate to the climate crisis? Why are states acting so slowly, and so inadequately? And why is the climate movement so wedded to a near-absolute pacifism? Andreas Malm, author of one of the […]
Dec 9, 2020
TyskySour: Brexit’s Last Chance Saloon
As they meet for dinner in Brussels, can Ursula Von Der Leyen and Boris Johnson break the deadlock on a Brexit deal? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Dec 9, 2020
Downstream: Can Lab Grown Meat Save The World?
After Singapore became the first country in the world to legislate for cultured meat, it’s time to ask whether cellular agriculture, and meat without animals, is the future of food. Is it really possible that lab grown beef, chicken and fish could replace the ‘real’ thing? And could cellular agriculture be a major weapon in […]
Dec 7, 2020
TyskySour: Brexit End Game
Michel Barnier has set Wednesday as the deadline for any UK-EU agreement, but the same sticking points remain. Are we hurtling towards a no deal Brexit? Plus: Millwall fans booed their own players as they took the knee on Saturday. Minister and right-wing pundits have suggested this was only opposition to the demands of the […]
Dec 4, 2020
TyskySour: The Vaccine Rush
The UK will start administering a coronavirus vaccine next week. But how did Britain manage to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine quicker than its peers, and should we worry that speed came at the expense of certainty? We speak to Professor Deenan Pillay of Independent SAGE. Plus: Aidan Harper on a 4 day week; UK government […]
Dec 4, 2020
#NovaraFM: Only Pleasure Can Save the Planet
What is it to live a good life? Does it mean endless consumption? More air travel to farther places, fast food and faster fashion, and an endlessly expanding market? And if so, doesn’t climate change mean an end to anything like a good life? The philosopher Kate Soper doesn’t think so. She joins Clare Hymer […]
Dec 2, 2020
TyskySour: The Beginning Of The End
As Britain becomes the first Western country to approve a covid vaccine, ministers are desperate to claim credit for a German/US invention. But politics aside, does this mean the end of the pandemic is in sight? Plus: the first batch of lab grown chicken goes on sale in Singapore; Debenhams has followed Arcadia into administration; […]
Dec 2, 2020
Can You Change The Police From Within? Ash Sarkar Meets Leroy Logan
20 years after the Macpherson Report, the Metropolitan Police is still dogged by accusations of institutional racism, while the Black Lives Matter movement has forced a reckoning with police brutality and inequalities in the criminal justice system. But should Black and Asian people protest from the outside to force change, or join the ranks of […]
Nov 30, 2020
TyskySour: Whipping Boy
Keir Starmer was once a leading figure in Labour’s shift to backing a second referendum. However, now he’s in charge of the party, he looks set to whip MPs to back a Tory Brexit deal. Does this dramatic shift show Starmer has acted dishonestly over the past four years, or is he just adapting Labour […]
Nov 27, 2020
TyskySour: An Empire Rises, An Empire Falls
While COVID-19 has killed Arcadia, it has cemented Amazon as the world’s dominant retail firm. David Adler joins the show to discuss what does the rise of Bezos’s empire, and the fall of Green’s, mean for both the planet and for workers? Plus, with local CLPs banned from discussing Jeremy Corbyn we speak to CLP […]
Nov 27, 2020
#NovaraFM: Nightmarch: The Inner World of the Naxalites
In the jungles of Jharkhand and Bihar, armed Maoists continue their decades-long insurgency against the Indian state. Sparked off by a rebellion in Naxalbari in 1967, after taking to the jungles, the Naxalites encountered and recruited from Adivasi populations, often living in resource-rich areas eyed by mining and extraction companies. Alpa Shah, who teaches anthropology […]
Nov 26, 2020
Can Britain Become an ‘Innovation Superpower’ After Brexit? Aaron Bastani Meets David Edgerton
For Brexiteers, Britain’s departure from the EU offers a shot at national renewal, with the country once more becoming a free trade and innovation superpower. But how likely is that? And are the Tories really serious about a break with the politics of the last 40 years? Aaron Bastani interviews Professor David Edgerton, author of […]
Nov 25, 2020
TyskySour: Sunak’s Spending Review
With a public sector pay freeze and cuts to foreign aid, has Rishi Sunak’s spending review shown him to be a typical Tory class warrior? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar and James Meadway.
Nov 24, 2020
Every Nihilist Is Really An Optimist: Ash Sarkar meets Frankie Boyle
Ash Sarkar speaks to comedian Frankie Boyle about his new book, The Future of British Politics, and his thoughts on class, humour, Scottish nationalism, and why he’s not a nihilist anymore.
Nov 23, 2020
TyskySour: Covid For Christmas?
With a vaccine ready for the new year, why is Boris Johnson risking giving Britain’s grandparents covid for Christmas? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Nov 20, 2020
TyskySour: May The Farce Be With You
Keir Starmer has given himself three months to find a rule Corbyn might have broken that justifies him losing the whip. Meanwhile, Johnson has decided that, when it comes to his allies, rules don’t apply at all. Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial discuss Priti Patel keeping her job after breaking the ‘ministerial code’ and Corbyn […]
Nov 20, 2020
#NovaraFM: Red Flag, South Bank
London is red. In both 2017 and 2019, the capital city went overwhelmingly red – a story repeated in other English cities, but especially pronounced in London. Yet the left has rarely had much interest in London’s socialist story, preferring to deride the capital as a decadent seat of power or a parasitical drain on […]
Nov 18, 2020
TyskySour: Starmer Gets Whiplash
Labour have re-admitted Corbyn, but now Starmer’s suspended the whip. What’s the real story behind the chaos of the last 24 hours? And what happens next? Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the reinstatement of Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour party.
Nov 17, 2020
TyskySour: Corbyn Reinstated
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the reinstatment of Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour party.
Nov 16, 2020
TyskySour: Life After Cummings
Love him or loathe him, Dominic Cummings was the driving force of Johnson’s government. It was Cummings that masterminded the election campaign that pitched the people vs politicians and won Johnson his majority. Then, by combining culture wars with promises to ‘level up’ the country he transformed the Tories too. So, now he’s gone what […]
Nov 14, 2020
TyskySour: Cummings Has Gone
In April, Boris Johnson’s government trashed Britain’s lockdown strategy, and the popularity of the Prime Minister to save Dominic Cummings. Less than six months later and he’s announced he’s resigning anyway. What will Johnson’s chief advisor mean for the direction of this government? Will the fall of Cummings mean a softer Brexit and an end […]
Nov 13, 2020
#NovaraFM: Maelstrom: Politics in the Post-Truth World
You’re probably tired of hearing about ‘fake news.’ You probably think everything that needs to be said about it has been said. What if you were wrong? What if those arguments had barely scratched the surface? James Butler is joined by Marcus Gilroy-Ware to delve behind the facade of fake news and uncover what lies […]
Nov 13, 2020
TyskySour: Who Gets The Vaccine?
The world is rightly celebrating the arrival of a coronavirus vaccine. But with big pharma in the driving seat, will it really get to those in need? Plus: New cross-party report on anti-black racism; Former Australian PM takes on Murdoch; and Millbank – Ten Years on.
Nov 12, 2020
Welcome to the Intersectional Empire: Ash Sarkar meets Naomi Klein
Ash Sarkar is joined by Naomi Klein to discuss what Biden in the White House means for the world, whether Trumpism has a future, and what next for the left.
Nov 10, 2020
TyskySour: Trump Is Over
Progressives are celebrating the end of Trump. What changes now? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar, and Nelini Stamp, Anand Menon and David Wearing. Trump Is Over
Nov 8, 2020
TyskySour: Trump Dumped, Biden Wins
Biden is President-elect. Trump has been dumped. But will Trump now accept the inevitable, and what will a Biden White House mean for America? With Michael Walker, Dalia Gebrial, Waleed Shahid and Micah Uetricht. Trump Dumped, Biden Wins
Nov 8, 2020
TyskySour: America On A Knife Edge
The ‘blue wave’ hasn’t materialised, and the US election will go down to the wire. Tonight we speak to Nomiki Konst for analysis of the race, plus Sarah Jaffe live from swing-state Pennsylvania. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. https://novaramedia.com/2020/11/04/america-on-a-knife-edge/
Nov 6, 2020
#NovaraFM: After Trump
The votes are still being counted, but it now looks certain that Joe Biden will be the next president of the USA. Despite the predictions of liberal pundits, though, the Biden landslide didn’t emerge. Why? What does the US look like after four years of Trump? Has American political culture changed – and is it […]
Nov 4, 2020
The Brutish Museums With Dan Hicks
Britain’s museums are filled with objects from around the world which were stolen. Should they be given back? And what would a ‘decolonised’ museum actually look like? Aaron Bastani is joined by Professor Dan Hicks to discuss his new book “The Brutish Museums”.
Nov 3, 2020
TyskySour: Lockdown – The Sequel
The Tories have been trashing the idea of a second English lockdown for weeks. They’ve finally implemented one in. But is it a month too late? With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.
Nov 1, 2020
TyskySour: The Fallout
A day after Keir Starmer threw a grenade into the Labour Party by suspending Corbyn, what do we now know about how MPs, unions and members will respond? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. The Fallout
Oct 30, 2020
TyskySour: Corbyn Suspended
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the party. What the hell happens now?! With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Rivkah Brown. https://novaramedia.com/2020/10/29/corbyn-suspended/
Oct 30, 2020
TyskySour: The Deadliest Wave?
Boris Johnson has been advised the second Covid wave could be deadlier than the first. Across Europe, will winter be grimmer than anyone predicted? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. The Deadliest Wave?
Oct 27, 2020
TyskySour: Meal Snatcher
Removing free school meals in the middle of a pandemic is arbitrary and cruel. Has Marcus Rashford revealed the true nature of Tory Britain? Plus: the leader of Islington Council, Richard Watts, on why school meals should be free for all; Deputy in the Chilean Congress, Giorgio Jackson, on the referendum that overturned Pinochet’s constitution; […]
Oct 24, 2020
TyskySour: Trump vs Biden – Round 2
With 10 days left to the US presidential election, last night’s debate was Trump’s final chance to shift the dial. Did Biden manage to close the deal? Ryan Grim joins Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar to discuss.
Oct 23, 2020
Why Labour Lost – Interview With James Schneider
In 2017 Labour, under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, achieved 40% of the vote in a general election – increasing their share of the vote by 10%. Two years later, in December 2019, that fell to 32% – as the party slumped to its lowest number of seats since 1935. What explains the difference between […]
Oct 23, 2020
TyskySour: Northern Revolt
A tier 3 lockdown has been imposed on Greater Manchester. But will Andy Burnham’s stand against the Tories have longer term effects? We ask the mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett. Plus: Rashford Vs Johnson; Kojo Karam on Critical Race Theory; Rivkah Brown on student rent strikes; and The Sky History contestant with neo-nazi tattoos. […]
Oct 23, 2020
#NovaraFM: Taking the Red Pill With Hari Kunzru
What is it to face reality as it really is? The alt-right claim that means seeing through democracy, equality and human rights as cons, and exploit the crumbling foundations of liberalism’s worldview. Hari Kunzru‘s new novel, Red Pill, explores the crisis-upon-crisis cataclysm of the contemporary world, as it tells the story of a writer’s catastrophic […]
Oct 20, 2020
TyskySour: Two Left Landslides
In New Zealand and Bolivia, this weekend saw landslide victories for the left. We speak to Max Harris, Author of NZ project, on Jacinda Ardern, and David Adler live from from La Paz on the Bolivian election. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Two Left Landslides
Oct 17, 2020
TyskySour: Fighting On Two Fronts
As the coronavirus spirals out of control, Johnson is distracted by two wars of his own making: One with the north of England, the other with the EU. Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial discuss a chaotic 48 hours in British politics, and speak to the Leader of Preston Council, which has just been put into […]
Oct 16, 2020
#NovaraFM: After Barbarism: Rosa Luxemburg’s Revolutionary Life
‘Freedom is always and everywhere the freedom of dissenters.’ So said Rosa Luxemburg, champion of revolutionary democracy and icon of socialist struggle. Since her murder in 1919, she has been discovered anew: as a champion of freedom of thought, a socialist martyr, a pioneer in ecological awareness, a brilliant economic thinker, an icon for feminists […]
Oct 15, 2020
TyskySour: Circuit Breaker
Labour and SAGE are pushing for a circuit breaker lockdown to curtail the spread of Covid-19. But what would a “circuit breaker” really achieve? We ask Professor Karl Friston of Independent SAGE. Plus: Everything that’s wrong with the test and trace system, Micah Uetricht on Trump returning to the campaign trail, and a correction from […]
Oct 14, 2020
The End of Free Market Capitalism? | Interview with Grace Blakeley
While it has already led to more than one million deaths, the consequences of Covid-19 go beyond just public health with 2020 experiencing the sharpest economic downturn in history. Of course much of that was intentional, with demobilisation seen as necessary to control the virus, but what are the longer term economic impacts? Will some […]
Oct 13, 2020
TyskySour: One Virus, Two Englands
After a weekend of wrangling, Johnson has announced a three tier lockdown. Does this pandemic policy punish the North for Westminster failures? Plus, John Ashton on whether Merseyside was right to accept the highest lockdown restrictions and former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell on why he believes it’s time for the prime minister to be replaced. […]
Oct 11, 2020
TyskySour: Sunak’s Screetching U-Turn
Rishi Sunak has annnounced an extension to the furlough and, once again, the realities of covid have forced the government into another screeching U-turn. Do the Tories still lack a strategy for dealing with the virus? Plus: Trump’s bizarre twitter vids and Number 10’s new spokesperson. With Michael Walker, Dalia Gebrial and James Meadway. Sunak’s […]
Oct 9, 2020
#NovaraFM: ‘Tired From the Heart’: Voices From the Care Sector
There are few sectors as broad and diffuse as the care sector, and there are few forms of work that have to struggle so hard for recognition – leaving some workers “tired from the heart”. We ask: why do political responses to care work seem to fall short? How should the needs of support workers […]
Oct 8, 2020
TyskySour: Scotland Goes Dry
Sturgeon has announced scottish pubs will close for two weeks. With local lockdowns failing, Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss whether the rest of the UK will soon follow suit? Plus, The growing backlash against 10pm curfew Unite slashes Labour funding UK’s booming arms trade. https://novaramedia.com/2020/10/07/scotland-goes-dry/ arms sale bits
Oct 7, 2020
The Rise And Fall Of The Corbyn Movement | An Interview With Owen Jones
After nearly five years of political upset, parliamentary dysfunction and media blitzkrieg, the Corbyn project met it’s end with defeat at the ballot box and the rise of Keir Starmer. But was Corbynism always doomed to meet this sticky end? That’s the question posed by Owen Jones in his new book This Land. Ash Sarkar […]
Oct 5, 2020
TyskySour: The Deadly Excel Error
Thousands were missed by test-and-trace because of an excel error. Will incompetence condemn Britain to a Second Covid Wave? Plus: Trump won’t isolate; Labour abstain on #SpyCops bill; and. Tory Party Conference. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar. The Deadly Excel Error
Oct 2, 2020
TyskySour: Trump Gets Corona
Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial discuss the bombshell news that Trump has coronavirus. Plus, pressure mounts on Margaret Perrier after breaking covid rules, the Julian Assange extradition hearing closes, the elites driving migrant prison ship plans. Trump Gets Corona
Oct 2, 2020
#NovaraFM: Power to the People? Lessons From Ancient Democracy
Democracy has triumphed: even authoritarians and dictators now clothe themselves in the rhetoric of democracy. And our basic vocabulary for politics – including the word itself – is derived from ancient Greek. But to ancient eyes, what we call ‘democracy’ would look very odd indeed. And to many of the thinkers of the ancient world, […]
Oct 1, 2020
TyskySour: Failed State Debate
Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar are joined by New York Magazine’s Eric Levitz to analyse a dire presidential debate, and an ongoing American nightmare. Plus, the day’s Downing St press briefing and home secretary Patel’s plan to ship asylum seekers to the South Atlantic. Failed State Debate
Oct 1, 2020
Work All Day, Work All Night: ‘Sacrificing Your Life’ for the Food Supply Chain
There is no more fundamental form of work than work that provides us with food. Yet most of us have only a vague sense of the round-the-clock work done to put food on our plates – which some workers say is like ‘sacrificing your life’ to feed the rest of society. Can that last? As […]
Sep 29, 2020
TyskySour: Locked In
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the wave of lockdowns at British universities. Plus, anti-capitalism banned in English schools, Paul Dacre and Charles Moore tipped for top BBC jobs, Lawfare in Ecuador (w/ Guillaume Long) and Labour seeks to woo back rich donors. Locked In
Sep 28, 2020
David Graeber: A Celebration Of His Life with Jeremy Corbyn, Debbie Bookchin and more.
David Graeber’s life and work leaves an indelible mark on thinkers and activists from London through New York, from Rojava to Quebec. To celebrate his life and work Novara Media are hosting a live stream with academics, activists, and politicians who have been influenced by, and who were an influence on, his intellectual endeavours and […]
Sep 26, 2020
TyskySour: Where’s The Support, Sunak?
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss Sunak’s lacklustre Job Support Scheme. Plus, COVID chaos on UK campuses. why casual sex is still banned, Whittome sacked for opposing Torture. Where’s the Support, Sunak?
Sep 24, 2020
TyskySour: Starmer’s Address To The Nation
Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial Respond to Keir Starmer’s Address to the Nation on Covid-19. Plus, top scientists say Johnson’s new restrictions aren’t good enough, China commits to carbon neutrality by 2060 and RLB’s replacement gets Labour in trouble. Starmer’s Address to the Nation
Sep 23, 2020
The Bastani Factor: Interview with Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow’s latest book, ‘Attack Surface’, examines themes of surveillance, resistance and ethics in a world of technological control. In this interview with Aaron Bastani and Doctorow discuss all that and more, examining the role of the digital giants in the 21st century, how social movements fight back and whether Facebook should be banned.
Sep 23, 2020
TyskySour: Johnson’s Address To The Nation
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani react to Johnson’s address to the nation and Keir Starmer’s first speech to party conference as Labour leader. Johnson’s Address to the Nation
Sep 22, 2020
TyskySour: Second Wave Incoming
Coronavirus cases are doubling every week. Hospital admissions are rising. And – if Britain doesn’t change course – more deaths are on the way. That was the message from the UK’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor in a live public broadcast this morning. Is it time to panic?? Plus, Labour’s online conference, the […]
Sep 18, 2020
TyskySour: Lockdown Reloaded
10 million people in the UK now live under local restrictions, and a nationwide lockdown looks to be incoming. Will the government come to regret bullying us into our offices, and giving us all discounts in pubs? Plus: why no-one understands government testing figures (including Matt Hancock); Priti Patel’s War on Cocaine; Joe Biden’s Beef […]
Sep 18, 2020
#NovaraFM: A Progressive Elitism?
Elitism? Surely that’s a dirty word? Just about every side of the political spectrum claims to hate the elite – though no-one can agree exactly who they are. But is the left just playing by the right’s rules? Could there ever be such a thing as a ‘good elitism’? Haven’t elitists hated democracy since its […]
Sep 17, 2020
TyskySour: Incompetence In Overdrive
The government promised that by the time schools re-opened the UK would have a world beating test-and-trace system. However, just as our economy is re-opening, Britain’s testing system has collapsed. Does Britain’s testing chaos make a second wave inevitable? Incompetence in Overdrive
Sep 15, 2020
The Bastani Factor: Left Out: the Inside Story of Labour Under Corbyn
After the 2017 general election Labour under Jeremy Corbyn seemingly stood on the brink of power. From nowhere they had enjoyed the biggest increase in vote share of any party since 1945, depriving the Tories of their majority. But from there it was a story of Glastonbury to catastrophe and, last December, Labour gained their […]
Sep 15, 2020
TyskySour: Born Again Brexiteer
Since becoming Labour leader Keir Starmer has avoided taking concrete positions on matters of policy. However, on one issue he’s been crystal clear: It’s time to get brexit done. It is in direct contrast to the position he took as Brexit secretary under Jeremy Corbyn. How did Starmer go from being Labour’s remainer-in-chief, to a […]
Sep 12, 2020
TyskySour: Apocalyptic Skies
The US West Coast is suffering from record breaking forest fires. Will the disaster jolt the country into climate action? Plus, Alan Sugar wants you back in the office, Labour Friends of Israel celebrates an influx of MPs, and thousands complain after ITV airs homage to Black Lives Matter. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani. […]
Sep 10, 2020
TyskySour: The Rule Of Six
From Sunday it will be illegal to meet up with a group of more than 6 people, unless your boss has told you so. Does the need for a tightening of lockdown rules show the government has lost control of covid 19? Is it sustainable to tell people they’re morally obliged to traipse into packed […]
Sep 8, 2020
TyskySour: Bust-Up Or Bluster?
Boris Johnson won last year’s general election promising to implement his oven ready deal. However, less than 12 months later he’s planning to break The Withdrawal Agreement. Are the government really willing to unilaterally break a legally binding international treaty? Or is this just typical bluster from the Prime Minister? Plus, Extinction Rebellion take on […]
Sep 7, 2020
TyskySour: Homophobe For Hire
Nothing says Global Britain more than hiring an ex-Australian PM to be a trade envoy. But what about if he’s a noted misogynist, homophobe and climate sceptic? Plus, Corbyn-Coyle WhatsApp leaks and Gary Lineker enrages xenophobes; We also remember and discuss the life and work of world-renowned anthropologist David Graeber.
Sep 3, 2020
TyskySour: Socialism Or Extinction
Extinction Rebellion are back on the streets protesting government inaction on the climate. But it’s leadership have angered left wingers by renouncing a banner members made in support of socialism. Is their anti-political stance a dead end? Plus, as schools open the government blackmail workers back into offices and Fox News comes to the UK.
Aug 24, 2020
The World According To The Economist w/ Alexander Zevin
Since 1843, The Economist has been the single most devoted and influential champion of liberalism anywhere in the world. But what exactly is liberalism, and what does the output of the Economist tell us about it? To discuss this, Aaron Bastani spoke to Alexander Zevin, author of Liberalism at Large: The World According to the […]
Aug 20, 2020
TyskySour: Barbed Wire Britain
Michael Walker is joined by Minnie Rahman from Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants to discuss the human cost of the trumped up ‘migrant crisis.’Plus, UK cronyism the evictions ban coming to an end and record support for Scottish independence.
Aug 18, 2020
TyskySour: U Grades To U-Turns
The government have been forced into a screeching U-Turn on exam results. It’s a victory for students and teachers, and an embarrassment for Gavin Williamson. How did zoomers force the climbdown? Plus, Greece abandon migrants at sea after shipping them to Turkish border and record-breaking protests in Belarus threaten Lukashenko’s 26 year rule.
Aug 16, 2020
#ACFM Trip 12: The Cosmic Right
Nadia Idle, Keir Milburn and Jeremy Gilbert are back to discuss the recent rise of conspiratorial thinking within New Age, spiritual and ‘wellness’ communities, and what implications this has for the Left, with music by David Bowie, Mark Stewart and Coki. Edited and produced by Olivia Humphreys and Matt Huxley. PRS LICENCE NUMBER: LE-0016481 Music: […]
Aug 15, 2020
TyskySour: Classroom Warfare
Dishing out A-level results in the midst of a pandemic was always going to be hard. That doesn’t excuse a process which has turned into an unprecedented disaster, thrown up arbitrary grades, and dashed the hopes of thousands of young people. But with the poorest hit hardest, is this a case of government incompetence, or of […]
Aug 13, 2020
TyskySour: Kamala Calling (Nomiki Konst)
Nomiki Konst joins Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial to discuss Kamala Harris being picked as Joe Biden’s running mate. Plus, Professor Simon Lewis on climate change heatwaves and Commonwealth Director Mathew Lawrence on Britain’s record breaking recession.
Aug 13, 2020
#ACFM Microdose: Erik Davis on the Cosmic Right
Jeremy Gilbert talks to Erik Davis, scholar of weird culture, mysticism, and the fertile crossover between esoterica and politics. From gnostic revivals to conspiracy theories, the JFK assassination to QAnon – why does there seem to be a sudden resurgence in conspiracy theories, sometimes in the most unexpected corners? Is there a connection between conspiracy […]
Aug 11, 2020
TyskySour: Driving While Black (with Dawn Butler)
We speak to Labour MP Dawn Butler about institutional racism in Britain’s police. Plus, BBC breakfast go on a ‘migrant safari’, Andrew Neil is reportedly in the running as the next chair of the BBC, and David Miliband brands Corbyn and the Labour left ‘wreckers’.
Aug 8, 2020
TyskySour: Right Wing Migrant Freakout
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani debunk the latest right-wing freakout about migration. Plus, Government corruption on PPE, submissions close for the Labour Leaks inquiry and why we all need Joe Biden to stop talking.
Aug 6, 2020
TyskySour: The Beirut Explosion
Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial speak to Dr Hicham Safieddine on the Beirut explosion and Harvard Epidemiologist Bill Hanage on COVID-19.
Aug 4, 2020
TyskySour: Accused, Convicted, Protected?
Over the last five days a former Tory MP has been convicted of sexual assault, an unnamed ex-Tory Minister has been arrested, and Prince Andrew faces a wave of new allegations of his involvement in sexual abuse. All the men involved have one thing in common. They have been protected by our establishment. Plus, we speak […]
Jul 31, 2020
TyskySour: Hands, Face, Space… SPIKE?
A coronavirus spike means a tightening of Britain’s lockdown and a Tory MP blames ethnic minorities. Plus, Evgeny Lebdev, Claire Fox, John Woodcock and Boris Johnson’s brother get seats in the House of Lords. And Jane Heybroek’s legal battle with Tracy-Ann Oberman and Rachel Riley.
Jul 30, 2020
TyskySour: Still A Keir-liever?
After sacking Rebecca Long Bailey, apologising to antisemitism ‘whistleblowers’ and dropping numerous campaign pledges, much of Labour’s left is in despair about Keir Starmer. However, Paul Mason is still on board with the new Labour leader. We ask him why. Plus, Europe’s second coronavirus wave, and Newsweek’s Basit Mahmood on the EHRC’s poor record on […]
Jul 29, 2020
Downfall of the Donald? With Ana Kasparian
Aaron Bastani is joined by Ana Kasparian of The Young Turks as they discuss the latest events across the Atlantic. Will Pelosi be successfully primaried? Is the US economy about to collapse? And what are the actual chances Donald Trump will lose this November?
Jul 28, 2020
TyskySour: Wiley & The Twitter Boycott
After Wiley’s antisemitic Twitter rant was left up for 48 hours, celebrities and campaigners are boycotting the platform. But, does the dodgy record on racism of those who instigated the action mean progressives should avoid the #NoSafeSpaceForJewHate movement? We’re joined by Rivkah Brown to discuss. Plus, Labour Right Blackmail Keir Starmer, and Elon Musk Backs […]
Jul 25, 2020
TyskySour: Ghislaine’s Secrets (with TrueAnon)
With Ghislaine Maxwell behind bars, the world’s press are once again focusing on the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein. But the hosts of TrueAnon believe the mainstream media have no interest in exposing the underlying power plays that exist beneath the Epstein scandal. Plus, Corbyn’s legal fund raises £170k in under 2 days, and we speak […]
Jul 23, 2020
TyskySour: The Russia Report Debate
Peter Jukes and Matt Kennard debate if the claims made in the Russia Report are a threat to our democracy, or a reach by remainers with an axe to grind. Plus, Niamh Eastwood on Rosie Duffield’s call for a laughing gas ban and Justin Schlosberg on Labour’s apology to antisemitism “whistleblowers”.
Jul 22, 2020
Britain. The Secret State? (w/ Ian Cobain)
While we often hear how Britain must remember its history, the British state goes to great lengths to do the very opposite. This week’s ‘The Bastani Factor’ sees Aaron joined by author & journalist Ian Cobain as they discuss the secrecy of the British state.
Jul 21, 2020
TyskySour: Stand Off
Dr Lee Jones speaks to Michael Walker about the stand-off between UK and China. Plus, Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar on a new coronavirus vaccine, the gagged chief nurse, and Dua Lipa’s advocacy of Albanian nationalism.
Jul 18, 2020
TyskySour: Dumping The Science
Boris Johnson has dumped the science to save Britain’s sandwich shops. Will the bet pay off? Plus, the Tory’s plant a Russian dead cat and Ex-Labour MPs sell out to the highest bidder. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Jul 16, 2020
TyskySour: Idiots Unmasked
The government have finally made masks mandatory in shops and Britain’s right-wingers are freaking out. Plus: Will the Tories beat Labour to a wealth tax? The UK ban Huawei and the BBC axe The Andrew Neil Show. With Michael Walker, Dalia Gebrial and James Meadway.
Jul 14, 2020
TyskySour: Workers Getting Screwed
Coronavirus has shone a light on hyper-exploitation in Britain’s cities. The Tories are blaming, yes you guessed it…. PC culture and immigration. Plus, Labour flip flops on tax, and Starmer scolds Russell-Moyle for criticising zionism. With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar and Aaron Bastani.
Jul 11, 2020
TyskySour: Cancel Culture, Cancelled?
Are censorious lefties on twitter undermining free speech, and putting at risk the foundations of a liberal society. Or – are wealthy celebrities annoyed they are, for once, being held to account for their ill-thought out and prejudiced opinions? Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar discuss.
Jul 9, 2020
TyskySour: Rishi Sunak’s Meal Deal
Rishi Sunak claims his mini-budget will save your job and save the high street, but is a bonus for employers and a half-price meal voucher enough to save Britain from a virus-induced depression? With Michael Walker, Faiza Shaheen and Owen Jones.
Jul 7, 2020
TyskySour: Keiro Tolerance
Does Keir Starmer keeping Steve Reed make a mockery of his ‘zero tolerance’ commitment? Does it show Rebecca Long-Bailey’s sacking was political all along? With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Jul 4, 2020
TykySour: Sweating Yet?
Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest puts the spotlight back on our perverted and abusive elites. Plus, China’s clampdown in Hong Kong, the fallout from David Starkey’s racist outburst, and Britain goes back to the pub. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Jul 2, 2020
TyskySour: Coronavirus Whack-A-Mole
The Leicester lockdown shows everything wrong with the government’s whack-a-mole coronavirus strategy. Jeremy Hunt’s hypocrisy, Johnson’s ‘New Deal’, Starmer’s NEC power-grab, and Forward Momentum’s triumph. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.
Jul 1, 2020
The Hundred Years War on Palestine with Rashid Khalidi
The imminent annexation of parts of the West Bank represents the latest episode in a century long war against the Palestinian people. Aaron Bastani is joined by author and academic, Rashid Khalidi, to discuss 100 years of settlement, occupation and struggle.
Jun 30, 2020
TyskySour: Culture Wars, Cancelled?
On Black Lives Matter and GRA reform Keir Starmer wants to avoid a culture war. But by sidestepping such issues, is Labour just surrendering to the forces of reaction? With Michael Walker, Ash Sarkar and Aaron Bastani.
Jun 27, 2020
TyskySour: Starmergeddon
Starmer’s dumped RLB and has so far got away with it. Can the Labour left avoid Armageddon? Plus, Tories open up about cash for access and fights on the beaches in the post-lockdown heatwave. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
Jun 26, 2020
TyskySour: RLB Sacked
Keir Starmer has sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey for a retweet and declared war on the Left. Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani convene to ask what the hell progressives do now.
Jun 26, 2020
#ACFM Trip 11: Friendship
Keir Milburn, Nadia Idle and Jeremy Gilbert discuss the history and theory of friendship, from Aristotle to Elland Road, while reflecting on how the podcast has impacted their relationship as a group, with music by Minutemen and Carole King. Edited and produced by Olivia Humphreys, Matt Huxley and Matt Phull. PRS LICENCE NUMBER: LE-0016481 Music: […]
Jun 25, 2020
TyskySour: The Big Ease
By lifting the lockdown is Boris Johnson playing with fire? We speak to Independent SAGE member Gabriel Scally to find out. Plus, Meagan Day on the new AOC and Anand Menon whether ruling out a brexit extension means we’ll end up with no deal.
Jun 24, 2020
The Bastani Factor: Insurgent Empire (w/ Priya Gopal)
While anti-colonialism was driven by those in the global south, it was often in conversation with the imperial core. Aaron Bastani talks to Priya Gopal about her book ‘Insurgent Empire’ and the relationship between anti-colonial resistance and British dissent.
Jun 23, 2020
TyskySour: Terror In Reading
A terror attack in Reading spawns a bizarre conspiracy about Ash. Plus, the far-right exodus from twitter, zoomers make and impact on Trump’s re-election and plans to sign in to your local pub.
Jun 20, 2020
TyskySour: Losing Together
Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani dive into Labour Together’s report into the election defeat. Plus, Boris Johnson finds new fuel for a culture war, and Alan Sugar’s advice on COVID-19.
Jun 20, 2020
What is Black Radicalism? w/ Kehinde Andrews
In the era of #BlackLivesMatter questions of how race relates to power, the state and capitalism have become mainstream for the first time in decades. On this show Aaron Bastani is joined by Kehinde Andrews, author of ‘Back to Black’, to discuss what a renewed politics of Black radicalism looks like in the 21st century.
Jun 18, 2020
TyskySour: Racism Review – Spiked
Munira Mirza is to lead the government’s racism review. Are the Tories trolling anti-racism campaigners? Plus, Joshua Virasami on the police crackdown on BLM protestors, Laura Pidcock on shielding, and Matt Hancock claims Marcus Rashford’s victory as his own.
Jun 16, 2020
TyskySour: White Riot
Ash Sarkar and Aaron Bastani discuss the far-right’s commitment to restoring law and order by punching cops. Plus Shon Faye on why Britain’s political class are so keen to make the lives of transgender people miserable.
Jun 13, 2020
TyskySour: The Phoney (Culture) War
BLM protestors want racial justice. The establishment want to debate 70s sitcoms. Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the phoney (culture) war. Plus, Miatta Fahnbulleh on the UK’s record-breaking recession.
Jun 12, 2020
Victims of Anti-Communism W/ Vincent Bevins
The historic sins of communism and fascism are well documented. Often ignored, however, is murder and violence done in the name of anti-communism, and how this underpinned new forms of empire during the Cold War. Aaron Bastani interviews author of ‘Jakarta Method’, Vincent Bevins, to examine the historic legacy of anti-communism, and the murder programs […]
Jun 11, 2020
TyskySour: The Domino Effect
After the toppling of Edward Colston Britain is finally debating its colonial legacy, where will it end? Plus, the corporations saying ‘Black Lives Matter’, the government gives in on school re-opening, and a preview of Momentum’s upcoming elections.
Jun 9, 2020
TyskySour: Colston Has Fallen
Edward Colston Has Fallen. Now, can the #BlackLivesMatter movement force Britain to face up to its colonial past and the racism that exists to this day?
Jun 6, 2020
TyskySour: Incompetence UNMASKED
The Tories have announced masks will now be mandatory on public transport. What took so long? Plus, Howard Beckett on British Airways vs Unite, Labour’s shift on welfare, and Juliet Jacques on the media’s coverage of trans rights.
Jun 5, 2020
THE BURNER 246: The Writing On The Wall
After ten weeks of lockdown, James Butler asks: what have we learned? Plus, a little announcement on the future of this show.
Jun 4, 2020
TyskySour: Military Rule
Trump threatens to call in the army. Are pandemic protests safe? And the UK government censor a report on BAME deaths. With Michael Walker, Dalia Gebrial, Sarah Jaffe and Timesh Pillay
Jun 4, 2020
THE BURNER 245: Two Pandemics
Ash Sarkar goes to the Black Lives Matter protest in London, and talks to the protestors on the new front line of antiracist struggle in the UK.
Jun 3, 2020
The End of Policing with Alex Vitale
The killing of George Floyd has catalysed a wave of protest across the United States, with police violence central to the message of the powerful #BlackLivesMatter movement. Aaron Bastani interviews author of ‘The End of Policing’, Alex Vitale, to ask just how bad law enforcement is in the United States, and what can be done […]
Jun 3, 2020
THE BURNER 244: Who Counts?
As the UK death toll passes 50,000 and Black Lives Matter protests continue in the US, James Butler asks: who gets to matter in politics?
Jun 2, 2020
TyskySour: America In Flames (w/ Nelini Stamp)
The US is being rocked by its biggest uprising since the 1960s. We are joined by National Organizing Director at the Working Families Party Nelini Stamp, live from New York, to discuss racist policing and anti-racist strategy. Plus, is Britain easing the lockdown too soon?
Jun 1, 2020
THE BURNER 243: Ease Off, Second Wave + Talking Teachers
James Butler asks what the government ease-off in regulations is really about – should we expect a second wave? Plus, as teachers are pressed back to work, we hear from one teacher and trade unionist – Nik from the Requires Improvement podcast – about what’s really going on in schools.
May 30, 2020
TyskySour: Furloughing The Science
Rishi Sunak adjusts furlough scheme, the government ignores the science to ease the lockdown, and a CNN reporter arrested at the Minneapolis protests. With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Tia Oso
May 29, 2020
THE BURNER 242: ‘And You Have To Do It All The Time’
Cummings survives: but what’s the wreckage? Lockdown eases, but R is high: so why? Plus, James Butler wonders about political hope in difficult times. James Butler on Dominic Cummings: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/28/dominic-cummings-democracy-laws-truth-consequences Huw Lemmey on hecklers: https://huw.substack.com/p/what-have-you-got-to-say-to-that Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate
May 28, 2020
TyskySour: Herd Impunity
Boris Johnson’s blind defence of Cummings is undermining the lockdown, but will it seriously undermine his government? Michael Walker is joined by Owen Jones and Dalia Gebrial to discuss.
May 28, 2020
THE BURNER 241: Dangerous Liaisons
As we enter day six of The Dominic Cummings Scandal, Ash Sarkar examines the evidence and breaks down Boris Johnson’s first appearance at the Commons liaison committee. Plus the dangers of false negatives.
May 27, 2020
Humankind: A Hopeful History w/ Rutger Bregman
Last year Davos viral sensation Rutger Bregman toured the tv studios of Britain finding that “on average, British journalists are the least curious of all.” He found just one exception to this rule, his interview with Aaron Bastani for Novara Media. Rutger is back, this time promoting his new book Humankind which argues that altruism […]
May 26, 2020
TyskySour: RULE BREAKER
No new information. No apology. Dominic Cummings has made it clear it’s one rule for him and another for the rest of us.
May 26, 2020
THE BURNER 240: Squid Ink + Prison Viruses
Cummings splashes round the squid ink: will it be enough to escape the consequences? Gary McQuiggin takes a deep dive into the impact of the virus in the prison system – from solitary confinement to family visits – in conversation with Oonagh Ryder, host of The Lockdown, Novara Media’s prison and criminal justice podcast.
May 25, 2020
THE BURNER 239: The Cummings Gambit
Cummings bets that he can cling on – and Johnson backs him. Has he miscalculated? Will it matter? What does the Cummings crisis reveal about our politics – and the Tory attitude to law? James Butler on Cummings and the dark world of advisers: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/23/dominic-cummings-reign-shadowy-world-spads
May 23, 2020
TyskySour: Johnson In Retreat
Boris Johnson has been forced to make two U-turns this week. Is he a prime minister in retreat? Plus, James Meadway on whether Britain’s record debt will ever have to be paid back. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
May 20, 2020
TyskySour: When Will They Learn?
Former Public Health Chief John Ashton was one of the first experts to sound the alarm on the government’s coronavirus strategy. Does he believe they have learnt from their mistakes? Plus, CLASS Director Faiza Shaheen on new unemployment figures and the depths of the covid-19 economic crisis.
May 19, 2020
TyskySour: A Turning Point In Trust?
For the first time since this crisis began polls are showing the public dissatisfied with the government’s handling of Covid-19. Could this be a turning point in the politics of coronavirus?
May 16, 2020
TyskySour: For The Landlords, Not The Many?
Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister has called rent cancellation “un-Labour”. Are we back to the bad old days Blairism? Plus, why the Tory press have gone to war with teachers and how the government are ending the lockdown BEFORE they’ve introduced test-and-trace.
May 15, 2020
THE BURNER 238: Emergency Brakes
Eight weeks in, James Butler asks what the crisis has revealed. Does sudden global stoppage let us see what real change might look like? Plus, a special announcement on the future of The Burner.
May 14, 2020
TyskySour: A Tough Act To Furlough
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joins Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial to discuss Rishi Sunak’s furlough scheme.
May 14, 2020
THE BURNER 337: Remembering Emanuel Gomes
🔥Ash Sarkar on class and coronavirus risk. 🔥Plus, is lockdown unfair on the young?
May 13, 2020
THE BURNER 236: Tick, Tick, Tick – and Technocracy
Sunak softens his economic instincts: so what does that say about what’s coming? Is organised labour really in a position of strength? Plus – what does the pandemic mean for the future of technocracy? Charlotte Bence on trade unions, organising and workplace safety — https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/05/if-your-boss-is-putting-your-life-at-risk-read-this
May 12, 2020
TyskySour: Clear As Mud
The government’s new slogan to tackle to the coronavirus pandemic might be clear as mud, but its consequences are clear. The lockdown is over if you’re working class. Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar discuss the Tories’ shifting message, and the consequences of a loosening of the lockdown.
May 11, 2020
THE BURNER 235: Your Fault
Boris Johnson changes the lockdown rules – but is he also trying to shift the blame? TUC Join a Union page: https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union
May 10, 2020
#ACFM Trip 10: How It Feels to Be Free
Nadia, Jeremy and Keir search for the feeling of freedom, moving from Nina Simone to Buddhist House via Jeremy Clarkson. Edited and produced by Olivia Humphreys, Matt Huxley and Matt Phull. Texts: Isaiah Berlin – Two Concepts of Liberty / Simone de Beauvoir – Second Sex / Wendy Brown – Undoing the Demos / Adam […]
May 9, 2020
TyskySour: Lifting The Lockdown (w/ Owen Jones)
Owen Jones joins Michael Walker for this episode to talk about the Tories mixed up lockdown messaging, VE Day and Keir Starmer getting smeared. Plus, Allyson Pollock on why we need an independent SAGE.
May 8, 2020
THE BURNER 234: On Victory
James Butler considers the 75th anniversary of VE Day: what are the politics of memory? Plus, Georgia Anderson catches us up on the story of the Nightingale hospitals.
May 7, 2020
THE BURNER 233: The Totem and The Cipher
🔥 Ash Sarkar asks whether the long shadow of Corbyn stops us seeing Keir Starmer clearly. 🔥 Plus, the government fears we’ve become “addicted” to income support. James Meadway breaks it down.
May 6, 2020
TyskySour: Dead Cats and Death Tolls
The UK’s coronavirus death-toll has overtaken Italy to be the highest in Europe, but the press are more concerned with a scientists sex-life. Plus, Government scientists tie themselves in knots, furloughed workers labelled ‘addicts’, and Guardian technology editor Alex Hern on the NHS contact tracing app.
May 6, 2020
THE BURNER 232: Get Free?
Papers are awash with stories of the ‘bonking boffin’: but with the highest death toll in Europe, is that what matters? Plus, James Butler asks: what does the pandemic reveal about the nature of the state. And what might it really mean to be free?
May 5, 2020
TyskySour: Back To Work
The government’s leaked “back-to-work” plans, the resignation of Labour’s General Secretary, and whether we should be concerned about Michael Gove’s bookshelf, discussed by Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar.
May 5, 2020
THE BURNER 231: Lessons in Winning: Right-Wing Leninism?
As the left wonders how to make a better world out of the crisis, Aaron Bastani asks: are there lessons we can learn from how the right does politics? Plus, James Butler on the politics of freedom. Edelman trust barometer: https://www.edelman.com/research/trust-2020-spring-update
May 4, 2020
THE BURNER 230: Enemies, Foreign and Domestic
How will the lockdown end? James Butler asks: why is the US so intent on blaming China? Do states need ‘official enemies’? Constantin Cavafy, ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51294/waiting-for-the-barbarians Bruce Schneier, ’On COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps’:https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/05/me_on_covad-19_.html
May 2, 2020
TyskySour: Biden In The Dock (w/ Ana Kasparian)
Ana Kasparian joins Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani to discuss allegations against potential Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Plus, the Johnson government fix testing numbers & Yara Hawari on coronavirus in Palestine.
May 1, 2020
TyskySour: Bolsonaro, Brazil and COVID19 (w/ Vincent Bevins)
A look at Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic with Sao Paulo-based journalist Vincent Bevins joining Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.
May 1, 2020
THE BURNER 229: The Cause of Labour is the Hope of the World
Happy May Day! James Butler delves into the strike wave prompted by the coronavirus: might the pandemic mean a stronger position for workers? We hear from a participant in Oxford’s vaccine trial. And James wishes a happy birthday to Resonance FM.
Apr 30, 2020
TyskySour: The Coronavirus Climate (w/ George Monbiot)
George Monbiot joins Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani to discuss government bailouts and the impact of coronavirus on the politics of climate change. Plus, Boris Johnson has his sixth or seventh baby, and why festival companies are running pop-up morgues.
Apr 30, 2020
THE BURNER 228: Boris Johnson’s Two Bodies
🔥 Ash Sarkar ponders whether the media’s elevation of Boris Johnson to symbol of the nation’s health is a sign of something rotten in the state of politics 🔥 Plus, Matt Hancock’s testing pledge comes a cropper as South Korea’s test, trace and isolate strategy bears fruit.
Apr 29, 2020
TyskySour: Failure To Protect
Last night’s Panorama revealed deep, long-term failures by government to ensure NHS staff were as safe possible from Coronavirus. But what will be the consequences?
Apr 29, 2020
THE BURNER 227: Behemoth Pulls The Peasant’s Plough?
‘Stare long enough at a bean, or a grain, or an ear of corn, and you’ll begin to see everything – the whole world – inside it.’ James Butler dives into pandemic food shocks and the deep links between capitalist farming and viral outbreaks.
Apr 28, 2020
THE BURNER 226: Labour Pains + Glorious Food?
Aaron Bastani asks: where on earth is Labour going on economic policy? Can it avoid fighting the last war? Plus, James Butler asks: are we facing a food crisis? Why? James Meadway: https://novaramedia.com/2020/04/27/dont-fight-the-last-war-why-the-left-needs-to-look-beyond-austerity/ Raj Patel: https://novaramedia.com/2018/05/18/raj-patel-a-history-of-the-world-in-seven-cheap-things/
Apr 27, 2020
TyskySour: Boris Is BACK
After weeks off with Coronavirus, Boris Johnson is back at work and the press are already fawning. Plus, the right-wingers pushing to end the lockdown; the revolving door between press and government; and Priti Patel’s pathetic press briefings. With Michael Walker, Aaron Bastani and Ash Sarkar.
Apr 27, 2020
THE BURNER 225: Disasters, Natural and Man-made
Why are Tory politicians speaking about the pandemic as if it’s just a natural disaster? Will the borders close for good – and what happens where they’re already locked shut? Plus, Dominic Cummings in the room: does it matter?
Apr 25, 2020
TyskySour: Hook It To My Veins (w/ Sarah Jaffe)
Trump is promoting the injection of bleach and backing protests against the lockdown. Could Covid-19 lose him the presidency? Plus: The UK aren’t controlling international travel. Why?
Apr 24, 2020
TyskySour: When Will This End
Nicola Sturgeon has said social distancing will continue until 2021. Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss the social and political implications. Plus Lara McNeil on the #LabourLeaks NEC meeting.
Apr 24, 2020
THE BURNER 224: Covid Conspiracy Theory
From 5G to bioweapons to “globalism”, the pandemic provides ample material for conspiracy theorists. James Butler asks: why? And does it tell us anything about the nature of politics?
Apr 23, 2020
THE BURNER 223: Comrade Keir Steps Up?
Keir Starmer took on his first PMQs yesterday: Ash Sarkar asks what we learned about his strategy. What’s changed since Corbyn? Plus, experts and NHS workers ask you to #ChantforPPE
Apr 22, 2020
TyskySour: After The Lockdown (w/ Bill Hanage)
Dr Bill Hanage, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard University, joins Michael Walker to discuss global responses to Covid-19, and when and how we can exit coronavirus lockdown.
Apr 22, 2020
TyskySour: Petro-Geddon (w/ James Meadway)
As the price of oil plummets what do ‘negative prices’ really mean? And what do they tell us about what next for the global economy? Also, how high is Britain’s real coronavirus death toll? Economist James Meadway joins Aaron Bastani and Michael Walker.
Apr 22, 2020
THE BURNER 222: One Time A Great Nation
Aaron Bastani asks: what does the pandemic reveal about Britain’s real position in the world? Plus, James Butler takes a look at the European tussle over how to pay for the recovery.
Apr 21, 2020
THE BURNER 221: Of Cows and Coffee
How bad could the economic crisis get? Who will it touch? What hope of recovery – and what shape will it take? And does political leadership really matter?
Apr 20, 2020
TyskySour: John McDonnell on the #LabourLeaks and COVID-19
An exclusive interview with former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell on COVID-19, the #LabourLeaks, and the future of the left under Keir Starmer.
Apr 20, 2020
THE BURNER 220: We Knew.
An explosive story over the weekend exposed exposed just some of the government’s failures in dealing with the pandemic. James Butler asks: what did they know? And what do we know? Pasolini: ‘I know’ (tr. Giovanni Tiso): https://overland.org.au/2012/03/what-is-this-coup-detat-i-know/
Apr 19, 2020
#ACFM Trip 9: Utopia
Nadia Idle, Jeremy Gilbert and Keir Milburn discuss Utopias, including the Paris Commune, analogue dreamlands and kettle logic. Edited and produced by Olivia Humphreys, Matt Huxley and Matt Phull. PRS LICENCE NUMBER: LE-0016481 Tracklist: Goldfrapp – Utopia / John Lennon – Imagine / Nairobi Sisters – Promised Land / Harry McClintock – Big Rock Candy […]
Apr 18, 2020
TyskySour: Unequal Burden
Dr Sonia Adesara joins Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani to discuss why BAME communities are hardest hit by coronavirus. Plus the latest on the #LabourLeaks
Apr 17, 2020
#NovaraFM: The Economy Goes on Holiday
The pandemic has brought a sudden stop to some of the fundamentals not just of neoliberalism, but economic activity itself. What might this ‘holiday of exchange value’ tell us about the system we live in? Can economics be a ‘moral science’? And what next for the world system? James Butler is joined by Will Davies, […]
Apr 17, 2020
THE BURNER 219: Steer Calmer With Keir Starmer? + Kiwi News
The lockdown is set to continue for three weeks more: but what does the new Labour leader think we should do about it? And is he right? Plus we hear from the lockdown in New Zealand.
Apr 16, 2020
TyskySour: Bigger Than Bernie (w/ Meagan Day and Micah Uetricht)
Jacobin’s Meagan Day and Micah Uetricht join Michael Walker to talk about their new book “Bigger than Bernie: How We Go from the Sanders Campaign to Democratic Socialism”
Apr 16, 2020
TyskySour: Forensic Opposition
Why is Keir Starmer focused on an “exit strategy”, and how will he respond to the #LabourLeaks? Plus, COVID-19 and Donald Trump defunding the World Health Organisation.