What does Joe Biden’s move to permit the use of US missiles against Russian territorial targets mean for the war in Ukraine and the security of Europe? Also - what does the interminable Allison Pearson saga tell us about free speech in the UK? Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive cards worth £20: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
Nov 18, 2024•38 min
The Matts tackle Rory Stewart's optimistic predictions and why hope alone isn't a strategy. They delve into Elon Musk's influence on politics and the uniqueness of Trump's second presidency. The discussion then inevitably shifts to Brexit, and then takes a turn into dinner with Bob Geldof. With the Best Sweetcorn Ever. Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive cards worth £20: https://www.th...
Nov 17, 2024•27 min
The full horror of sexualised abuse in the Church of England has claimed the scalp of Archbishop Justin Welby. Was he the victim of a witch hunt; a man forced out of office by unfair pressure as many seem to think? No, say the Matts. And there’s a CONTENT WARNING on this episode: some of the ghastly abuse suffered by victims of John Smyth is discussed, as is the wider issue of child abuse in other churches including the Roman Catholic Church. Also - what difference does the interlude between Tru...
Nov 15, 2024•38 min
The election of Donald Trump poses huge challenges to the UK … but can Keir Starmer act to protect his government from the Trump storm to come? How can a small nation off the coast of the EU best defend its interests in the new global reality? And if Starmer’s challenge is daunting, his predicament is as nothing compared to that of Vlodymyr Zelensky. Is Ukraine’s struggle against Putin now doomed? The Matts discuss. Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe ...
Nov 11, 2024•42 min
YOU join the discussion on the implications of Donald Trump's election victory, the public's perception of political candidates, and the role of right-wing media and dark money. Plus Starmers' advisor problem. Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive cards worth £20: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 10, 2024•25 min
In a moment of clarity, the Matts reflect on what just happened .. and why. And find themselves strangely energised by the thought of what is to come. Enough of the hand-wringing already - yes you Rory! - now is the time for action. Also - Matt D talked about working with the great Michael Caine on his brilliant new biographical journey through life and the lessons he’s learned. Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 F...
Nov 08, 2024•31 min
It’s an earthquake and it changes everything. The Matts take in the scale of Trump’s victory and discuss how it happened and what it means; for the UK, for Labour specifically, for Ukraine, for the Middle East, for the climate. And they start to map out a response for fighting back against the oncoming tide of far right populism - both here and abroad. Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive card...
Nov 06, 2024•49 min
In this edition of The Two Matt's Q&A, the pair take on questions on Reeve's budget, taxes on the rich and lowering the voting age to 16. Also in this episode, where should the line be drawn on slavery reparations and what will the Matts be doing on the 5th of November? Email your questions to [email protected] Subscribe to The New European: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 03, 2024•26 min
Feargal Sharkey has galvanised the nation over the scandalous - and criminal - negligence our water companies and their so-called regulators have displayed for years. Our rivers are flooded with sewage on a daily basis and the privatised water companies have been pillaged. On Sunday he’s leading a march for clean water in London and he tells the Matts why he is so determined to correct this enormous injustice. It’s a brilliant, searing interview. If you’re not already furious about this, you wil...
Nov 01, 2024•51 min
Why are Labour making life so hard for themselves? The Matts assess the ups and downs of the government’s first months in power ahead of what promises to be a defining moment for Keir Starmer - Wednesday’s Budget. Also - what does Jeff Bezos’s interference in Washington Post editorial policy matter? Quite a lot as it turns out. Tune in to find out why! Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 28, 2024•40 min
More on the contentious debate on assisted dying, including a view from Canada. Plus: alternatives to X and NHS reform insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 27, 2024•33 min
Does the fact that Donald Trump now thinks Keir Starmer’s Labour Party are actively interfering in the US election matter? The Matts consider how a story that should be a nothingburger has the potential to upset relations between the UK and the US for years to come. In Part 2, the Matts discuss whether or not Britain should pay reparations to the descendants of the slave trade from which this country profited so much. Also - details of how to see the Matts in the flesh on November 25! Enjoy Get ...
Oct 25, 2024•38 min
The Matts spend some quality time with fellow podcaster Jon Sopel … reflecting on the state of Britain as described in his hit book Strangeland. And they tap into his deep Washington insight for a long view of American politics - and just how scared should we be about the prospect of a second Trump presidency. Also - podcasts! Are they the future of journalism? Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21, 2024•39 min
This week, Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona dive into Kamala Harris's Fox News interview - smart move or not? Plus, why aren't we talking more about the climate crisis?! They also tackle immigration, those cultish Trump/Johnson fans, and the age-old debate: audiobooks vs. real books. Oh, and Matt d'Ancona REALLY hates Halloween. Further reading/watching/listening "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders "Sonny Boy: ...
Oct 20, 2024•25 min
As parliament prepares to debate legalising assisted suicide, the Matts argue their respective corners on its desirability. Also - if they think having a German football manager is bad, wait until they find out about the King’s antecedents. The Matts despair at little England’s bottomless capacity for xenophobia when it comes to Germans. Enjoy! Content warning: strong language, references to suicide, depression In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicid...
Oct 18, 2024•45 min
As Keir Starmer enthuses to merchant banks and global conglomerates about opening up Britain for investment … and tearing down regulatory barriers that get in their way … the Matts wonder who actually runs the country? Not least since one of the shiny new investors are the very same people who ransacked Thames Water. And while we are talking about investment, what about the drastic cuts to local government funding that are damaging some of the most vulnerable in society? Also - Alex Salmond … is...
Oct 14, 2024•50 min
In this Sunday edition of The Two Matts the pair chat about Labour's terrible start, Tory freebies and the US support for Israel. Coming from Berlin this week, the Matts also dip into drumming and whether young people not being able to read long books is a problem. Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 13, 2024•29 min
The Matts are in Berlin, discovering all is not well in the powerhouse of Europe. Is the rise of the far right AfD party inevitable? And how is migration warping the political discourse? Also - Boris Johnson’s worst lie yet? Could be. His mendacious outpouring about Trump’s innocence over the insurrection is a signal of a dark ambition; a return to power alongside his mate in the White House. The Matts weigh up the evidence. Warning! Contains impressions. Enjoy! Subscribe to The New European tod...
Oct 11, 2024•39 min
Sue Gray has been resigned - also known as fired - as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Can she be blamed for Labour’s shaky start or is the problem more deeply-rooted? Also - one year after the Hamas atrocities of October 7, and the subsequent carnage in Gaza, the Matts take stock and explore some plausible outcomes of the raging conflict in the Middle East Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 07, 2024•46 min
Happy Sunday! Today The Two Matt's hear your questions starting with the case of Lucy Letby. Should her case be scrutinised amidst doubts, despite the distress it may cause? Also, are the progressive press more critical of the left than the right and should Labour back proportional representation? The Matt's wrap things up by trying to work if Sue Gray is Gareth or Tim from ' The Office' . Oh, and what about Morgan McSweeney? And who's Keith? It's all very important. Subscribe to The New Europea...
Oct 06, 2024•32 min
We are in the final stretch of what may be the most important election of our lifetimes - and everything is still on a knife edge. The Matts consider the state of play between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and anticipate the consequences of all eventualities. Enjoy! Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 04, 2024•41 min
The Matts pick off the Tory leadership candidates one by one with the nagging doubt in their minds that, whoever wins, it doesn’t really matter. The Tories are in such deep trouble as a party that restoring any sense of relevance and legitimate opposition to Keir Starmer’s monster majority will require Churchillian energy and determination. And sorry to break it to you Kemi, Robert, James and Tom … but you ain’t no Churchill. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 30, 2024•36 min
Come for the impressions but stay for Keir Starmer's ethics in comparison to Boris Johnson's corruption, the Matt's giving Keir a hard time and 'Have I Got News for You,' going stateside. Happy Sunday! Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 29, 2024•24 min
The Matts try to understand just why an already desperate situation in the Middle East is getting worse. What links the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois boxing match in Wembley and the conflict in Lebanon. And who are the silent winners while international diplomacy battles to contain any escalation? Also - did Keir Starmer’s conference speech give any further insight into how he intends to stem the rising tide of right wing nationalism in the UK? And do the freebies matter? The Matts have a view...
Sep 27, 2024•54 min
Something fundamental is missing in the way Labour have set about governing. It’s not just about free dresses, spectacles, Taylor Swift freebies and a box at the Emirates. It’s about an appreciation of what happens next if Keir Starmer doesn’t establish - quickly - a real sense of purpose for this term of office that the nation can understand, get behind… and hold him accountable for. He hasn’t done it yet. The Matts are worried. We should all be worried. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
Sep 23, 2024•42 min
The Matts dive into the Labour Party's promises at their Liverpool conference, get taken to task over Tony Blair's relationship with autocrats and the ethics of promoting his new book, On Leadership. Plus Mossad's tactics against Hezbollah, and more on the intricacies of swearing. All in 30mins! Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 22, 2024•33 min
John Major is scathing about Brexit in his interview with BBC’s Amol Rajan. The Matts find themselves nodding vigorously in agreement - not just on the Referendum … but Ukraine, Rwanda, far-right entryism and Britain as a nation I’ll at ease with itself. Also - is A Very Royal Scandal worth a watch? Yes … but with a few caveats. The Matts can’t agree about whether this version of the Emily Maitlis / Prince Andrew drama is all it should be. Enjoy! Love this? Then you'll love The New European. Sub...
Sep 20, 2024•42 min
Today, why the US election is revealing itself to be an unprecedented cocktail of violence and fiction - and what Kamala Harris needs to do to get back in front of the story. Also - why aren’t the Lib Dem’s more explicit about reversing Brexit and how did Keir Starmer expect the story of Lord Alli’s remarkable benevolence to play out, if not terribly. Enjoy! Love this? Then you'll love The New European. Subscribe today: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Sep 16, 2024•51 min
The Matts rifle through your inbox, covering everything from pensioner pushback to Jenrick's rise from mediocrity to... irrelevance. Also: a non-apology over swearing. Love this? Then you'll love The New European. Subscribe today and get a FREE, SIGNED copy of Tony Blair's new book, On Leadership when you use this link: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 15, 2024•28 min
The Matts speak to Andy Cowper, one of the leading journalists on health policy in the country - so someone who actually knows what he’s talking about. Andy gives a brilliant assessment of why the NHS is so broken today and how Keir Starmer should approach its repair. Also - are you holding your pets just that bit closer these days with the news they are being eaten by immigrants? The Matts consider the fall out from the Harris-Trump debate. Enjoy! Love this? Then you'll love The New European. S...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 6 min
