The Left has a new bouncing baby party! Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, with a focus on Your Party - no, not your party; Your Party - the trade deal between the UK and India, and the success story of Baltimore, pointing the opposite way of populism on how to reduce crime. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “If we did an episode about every rich old fart that goes to Scotland to golf, it would be a daily podcast. Although, to be honest, we would probably have richer sponsors." “I think we should be happy to see a serious addition to the political landscape. I think we should be happy that somebody like Corbyn's involved… His base was full of energy and he was getting cut-through. In short. More options are good and a democracy, aren't they?” “Democracy is democracy, and plurality is plurality. We have to live our values. You can’t treat voters as if they belong to you. You can’t get stroppy when someone else decides to set up a party. You can fight them, politically, ideologically, contest those votes ten times harder. But you don’t own them.”  Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Podyssey here on Apple Podcasts and here on Spotify - or just search for "Alex Andreou's Podyssey" on any platform. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith and special guest, CEO of migrant support charity PRAXIS, Minnie Rahman, discuss the protest flashpoint in Epping and ask what does a humane, open, fair immigration policy look like and how we can make the case for it. And in Part II, as Parliament goes into recess, we look at the assortment of Oppositions' Positions and whether they add up. Plus 'Wokey Dokey'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠*** “I dislike the term ‘integration’ applied to immigrants. The people who are not integrated in this country are the politicians and the Eton crowd. They are the ones who need to integrate with the general population.” “The [Johnson] gov't added to the mistrust about immigration, by cynically injecting record numbers of migrants as a counterbalance for a disastrous Brexit. They knew the economy was going to suffer significantly and the easiest way of that not happening was to shove an extra million people's product onto the GDP.”  “Local funding has been cut and cut and cut. And when local authorities cannot afford libraries, or leisure centres, or even a fireworks display, then communities don’t spend time together, they don’t work together, they don’t get to know or understand one-another.” “I don’t think this country is particularly racist. But it is very insular. It is very: We’re in. You’re out. But the crux of the out-group does not seem to be race. It is more: We understand the rules. You don’t know the rules. We hate having to explain the rules. Therefore, we don’t want you.” “We don’t talk enough about class. Class division is ignored and pushed into the conversation about racism. Now, obviously, class and race are integrated and racism does exist in the country. But progressives lack a clear vision. We are missing strong voices on the left that can go out and say: I get it. You’re having a shit time. But this isn’t the solution.”  “We are basically serfs. Doffing our cap and heralding privilege in such a grotesque way that people can’t even see through this bullshit peddler, who went to Dulwich college, became a banker, and now tries to tell you that refugees are the problem and not this entrenched privilege from which he and his ilk have benefited far more than anyone who has arrived on a boat.” ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** CALLS TO ACTION: Support the great work that PRAXIS does here. Buy something from ⁠⁠our bookshop here⁠⁠. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Votes for 16-year-olds incoming, Stephen Colbert's Late Show outgoing. Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell take a peek at the latest moves to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote in general elections – is it a long-overdue resetting of democratic rights or the end of days? And the grim news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has us asking whether this is about politics, profits or a horrible combination of both. Plus, Trump decides to sue Murdoch as we record this episode... so much media drama to cram in. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Our bookshop, including many of the books we have featured, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith and special guest, data scientist Christina Pagel, discuss the Afghan data breach, the confusion over resettlement schemes, misinformation and its role in the rise of the far right. And in Part II, we delve into Christina's project, charting the (at last count 707) anti-democratic actions of the Trump administration. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin and Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** - “Farage is demanding Parliament is recalled to be addressed by Trump. Trump says he’s not that bothered.” - “Of course he’s not bothered. Trump likes Palaces, not Parliaments.”  “I think Trump is betraying the office of the Presidency and there is a massive risk in normalising what he is doing. I am pragmatic about diplomacy, but this is a unique situation, where America is on the precipice of a very dark place, and I don’t think we are doing anyone any favours by pretending it is not.” “Since 2003 the percentage of people living under autocratic regimes has gone from 50% to 72%. Democracy is losing and I don’t think people realise it. So when you have the world’s most famous liberal democracy becoming authoritarian, we have to sound the alarm and we have to shout about it.” “I’m not sure the Trump regime is as chaotic as it seems. An independent organisation tracking Project 2025 says that, six months in, 46% of it has been achieved. There is a plan and they are following it. They may not be doing it perfectly competently, but it is working.” ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠*** GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about a bumper year for vaccine health here. Read more about the HPV vaccine's success over cervical cancer here. Buy something from our bookshop here. CALLS TO ACTION: Use this government portal to the industrial strategy to make sector-specific contributions. Subscribe to and support Christina Pagel's substack here. Email us at ⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and special guest, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan, discuss how dark money is "Americanising" our political debate in areas like women's reproductive health - and how Reform UK represents an opportunity for those who wish to subvert our democracy further. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** “The US State Department’s substack put out a statement recently saying, effectively, we’re going to meddle into other people’s elections. They were criticising the German government for saying Alternative für Deutschland - some of which has roots in a fascist past - for describing them as extremists.”  “The way in which very strong ideas of religiosity, which are not just about personal belief, but are much more about how society should be organised, and which are often - at best - agnostic towards democracy, have become increasingly strengthened.” “Problem is that current proposed electoral law reform is mostly about fighting the last war; tidying up the loopholes that exist. There is nothing about what is coming down the track: dark money flows, crypto, foreign interference, the ability to use AI to make small donations, social media disrupting elections - none of this is being looked at.” CALLS TO ACTION: Subscribe to Peter's substack ⁠⁠Democracy for Sale here⁠⁠. You can buy Peter's book from the Quiet Riot Bookshop here. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou talk through the week's political stories, covering the outcome of Macron's state visit, and the churn on the right of politics, with every splitter starting his own party/movement/grift. Plus, a very special report from our resident Chevalier, Olivier Morel, with behind-the-scenes gossip from Macron's visit. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “He [Macron] went off script and that was the best part of the speech. He got the biggest cheer when he said, in effect, that the EU is poorer for being without the UK.”  “Being loved at home and respected abroad is very rare. I do think most leaders have to choose where they are clapped - Brussels or Blackpool?” “Kemi Badenoch just told the most self-serving group of politicians in the entire country that, if substance matters to them they should stick with her, but if they want to get elected they should go to Reform. How is she so bad at this?” Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith and special guest, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan, discuss the significance of the French President's visit, the Post Office scandal first report, how big money has infected politics, and Woke Superman. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin and Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** “Brexit is still the word that nobody in British politics wants to utter. We’re constantly talking about stagnant growth, but nobody in the Labour Party wants to say: shall we push that big button named Europe?”  “Questions remain over just how far France is willing to go and whether Macron is offering genuine structural cooperation, or just diplomatic flattery. But this is the most substantial UK-French bilateral moment in years and potentially a turning point in the post-Brexit story.” “The UK is a significant asset, as an ally and a strategic partner. And it’s good to see that we have advanced to a place where, instead of just going ‘GRRR! FOREIGNERS! EUGH!’, we can say: What can we offer you and what do you have that we want?” “This should not be just about trade. There is more at stake than just that. The US and Europe are pitching not just different trade blocs, but different versions of what democracy and statehood look like in the 21st century - and we should acknowledge that.” “The way in which influence can be bought and sold is actually hard-wired into our political system. It runs on private money and parties go out there to raise it from, increasingly, a small number of individuals. Over half of the money raised in the last election came from 19 individuals.” “There is a need to properly update electoral law and rationalise it. It is a patchwork of different legislation, some of which is 150 years old. It’s not joined up. It’s full of gaps and confusion, which are easy for bad actors to exploit, while making it difficult for those who want to comply to do so.” GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about the teenager escorted to the prom by 1,500 bikers here. CALLS TO ACTION: Subscribe to Peter's substack ⁠Democracy for Sale here⁠. Support Best for Britain here. Click ⁠here for your Quiet Riot Bluesky Starter Pack⁠. Email us at ⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠. Or visit our website ⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another new party is created, another Reform MP is un-created, another ceasefire is hoped for, and another depressing poll. Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, with a focus on the emerging (possibly Corbyn-led) party on the left of British politics, hopes of respite for Gaza from being pounded, and a new pan-European poll that finds the youth of our continent more disengaged from politics than ever. PLUS news of Reform UK losing another MP reached us LIVE as we were recording. I won't spoil the moment for you. But it is a keeper. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “The last few years are a reminder that equality is a garden that needs constant tending, because the weeds never stop growing." “Maybe this fracturing of politics that we've experienced means that, even with first-past-the-post, we've got a few years of coalitions ahead . People need to start adjusting their psychological stance to that idea. The two dominant parties cannot keep relying on the 'blackmail', if you want, it's either us or them.” Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou, with special guest, security expert Arthur Snell, discuss the first anniversary of Labour's election victory being marked by - probably - it most difficult week. Also, what is next for Ukraine, now that much of the West is fully distracted by the Middle East? Plus, who will actually pay for Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.? And, of course, the latest instalments of 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “My sympathy for the gov’t is limited, because they have boxed themselves needlessly into a corner on so many issues. Whether it is red lines on spending, or taxation, red lines on Europe, or on the fiscal rules - they keep doing this. They keep putting up these artificial barriers that make it difficult to do anything.” “Who would do better in Reeves’ position and how? There seems to be both a lack of guidance coming from No.10 and a weird extra hand on the tiller coming from No.10. So, would a new Chancellor do any better in that environment?” “There has been friction between No.10 and No.11 before, but you could always see what the source of that friction was. What was the difference of opinion. Where it’s difficult to see it now, because it’s difficult to understand what Starmer’s real direction is.” CALL TO ACTION Help Ukraine by supporting the Smart Medical Aid charity here. Medecins Sans Frontier is still operatin in Gaza. Catch Arthur's latest Behind The Lines episode. GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about the Polish delivery driver who turned into an Irish national hero. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou talk through the week's stories, including the government's climbdown on welfare reform and the launch of its trade and industrial policies. Finally, three weeks ago every other news story was about the "riots" in California. What happened? ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou, with special guest, Green Party MP (and co-leadership candidate) Ellie Chowns, discuss the Labour rebellion against welfare cuts and the future of the Green Party as a new home for those looking outside the establishment. And an update on the Iran ceasefire and the NATO Summit/Trump crèche, with security expert Arthur Snell. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** CALL TO ACTION Help MamaSuze here, in honour of Annabel Rook. Find out about Ellie and Adrian's leadership campaign here. GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about that extraordinary Alan Turing Attic Haul here. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

And so it came to pass that the US, in lockstep with Israel, bombed Iran, probably while you were sleeping. For this week's Sunday School, we knew it would be tough to keep up with developments in the Middle East and so we called in our tame geopolitics expert Arthur Snell, he of the wonderful Behind The Lines podcast, for a look at where things stood on the eve of Trump's decision to send in the B-2s. Who knew what and when? What’s it mean for Britain? Should we cancel holidays in Cyprus? And ... are we careering towards regime change here? Closer to home, your presenters Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell also look at the latest data on what Brits REALLY think about getting cozier with the EU, and don their mortar boards to examine a couple of big stories that have shaken the university sector this week. "That’s the thing you've got to remember about populists… as soon as the thing that they think is popular no longer is, then they move on to the next thing" Show notes That YouGov poll on Brits and the EU Our bookshop, featuring many of the books we have mentioned, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With just over a year to go until the 2026 Senedd elections, Welsh politics is anything but quiet. Reform UK is making noise, Plaid is recalibrating, and Labour is battling to stay visible - all as new EU-UK agreements raise questions about the future of flagship Welsh initiatives like the Taith scheme. Award-winning journalist Will Hayward joins Naomi Smith for a deep dive into the political forces shaping the next chapter of Welsh democracy. From Wrexham terraces to Cardiff Bay, it's all in flux and it all matters, and not just for Wales. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** LINKS: Find Will Hayward's ⁠substack here⁠, his ⁠podcast here⁠, and his ⁠YouTube channel here⁠. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠. Or visit our website ⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou, with special guest, economist Vicky Pryce take a detailed look at the Spending Review. Does the ambition match the maths? And in Part II, we ask whether, before we have another inquiry, we need to question whether this slow, expensive model achieves change or actually impedes it. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “Infrastructure matters hugely. If you want to be competitive and have an economy with high productivity you have to put the infrastructure in place.”  “What this new government really should have done is immediately reversed the National Insurance contribution cut that Jeremy Hunt gave just before the election. That twenty billion accounts for most of the black hole they found when they came into power.” “Public inquiries have become a tool for governments to put distance between themselves and the problem. Instead of being an instrument for change, they are a way to take energy out of a push for change.” “Often, the very people screaming about rape gangs are the same people saying, we shouldn't have age-appropriate sex education, the very people denying children agency over their own bodies, denying them education to give them the language to be able to talk to someone who can help.” “It seems utterly bizarre to end up in a situation where the Prime Minister says: ‘Well, I read the report and it convinced me," and everyone's reaction is: ‘What? This is outrageous!’” CALLS TO ACTION Buy Vicky's books - and support a local bookshop - at our online bookstore. Read about the work of Campaign for The Arts here. Find out more about the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) here. GRIN AND SHARE IT Discover more about nano-needle technology! ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou talk through the week's stories, including Israel's escalation towards Iran and where that leaves an already inflamed region. Plus, the Ahmedabad plane crash and the toxicity added to the trauma by social media. Finally, some personal reflections about the riots in Ballymena. CALL TO ACTION Support the charity Migrant Centre NI. http://migrantcentreni.org/ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** "Netanyahu, Khamenei, Erdogan, Putin, Trump - they are on the same wavelength. A bunch of angry men whose only obssession is holding on to power . They may not agree on many things, they may not agree on anything, but - by God - they understand each other." "Putin playing peacemaker is like a pyromaniac volunteering for the fire brigade. He's spent the last three years trying to turn Ukraine into a giant car park and is now trying to position himself as a voice of reason in the Middle East. But who knows? Maybe he will be useful for once in his god damn life." “Social Media is a negative space. You don't exist unless you say something vaguely original or controversial. And controversial is easier. The majority of people lack the capacity to articulate something original. That leaves only one avenue to being noticed - to existing ." "What happened in Ballymena wasn’t panic or collective outrage. It was a crowd eager to act out. The girl at the centre of it was not mentioned once. Not her name. Not a sign. Not a chant. She was not the reason. She was the excuse." Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou, with special guest, Liberal Democrat MP James McCleary, analyse the political landscape, the recent election results, what next for the LibDems, the rise of Reform UK, and react to the Spending Review. And in Part II, we look at the absolute madness in California and ask whether it is retrievable or whether America is heading for full-fat authoritarianism. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “It’s one thing if you lose lots of councillors and they’re sitting there, demotivated, waiting for a new leader to reactivate them. The existential threat is that Conservatives are losing them to another party. Reform UK are hoovering up disillusioned Tories. When that starts to happen it’s very difficult to build back, because people who want to get involved in local politics are rare.”  “We have to get better at doing the quid-pro-quo of providing infrastructure - roads, schools, GPs - together with building houses. We’re just saying to people: take the houses and magically this other stuff will appear. And it’s not appearing.” CALL TO ACTION Here is Jazz Turner's mission to sail around Britain and her fundraising page - as promoted by James. Here are some California and Los Angeles migrant charities you can support: California Immigrant Policy Centre https://caimmigrant.org/ Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project https://www.esperanza-la.org/ The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) https://www.chirla.org/who-we-are/about-us/mission-history/ GRIN AND SHARE IT Learn all about diamond battery technology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgGVt4sUnnw&t=1s Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou, and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, covering the nuclear fallout from the war of words between the world's most powerful narcissist and the world's richest sociopath. Also, does Zia Yusuf's flounce out - and flounce back in - point to dysfunction inside Reform UK? Plus, we have the closest this podcast has even come to a row, over the result of the Scottish by-election in Hamilton. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “Trump is now a Tesla owner who hates Musk. Surely this will make him more popular than ever.” "If there is substance behind Musk's accusations, Team Trump are going to go into full panic lockdown. And if not, Musk's just gifted him the 'look at the unhinged billionaire trying to smear me' defense." "We're seeing this from an Anglocentric perspective. There is nothing to stop Musk from taking his technology and his business in a direction that brings him closer to the Middle East, let's say. There are plenty of other places. Who knows what China's view on this is, for example." "A lot of the MAGA crowd, the big influencers, the YouTubers, the podcasters, the blue ticks, are monetizing X. So a lot of them depend on it for reach and actual income. Musk is in quite a powerful position when it comes to them." "The Authoritarian Right is populated by people who think the harshest possible rules should apply - to everyone else." "The problem for Labour is that they are losing seven times more votes to the left than they are to the right. With such very small margins, in other parts of the country that could really tip them down into danger territory." "Labour dodged a bullet. And in that part of Scotland in particular, once upon a time, not too long ago, if Farage and Tice walked into a pub and started spouting, you'd have to say that they'd exit through the window." “Can you stop saying 'Boris Johnson' please? It might be like Candyman. Like, if you say his name on a podcast three times, he appears as a guest." "This fragmentation in a first-past-the-post system is difficult for Labour. And it is for that reason that I think they should definitely back PR - and they're not going to. But they will be extremely concerned about pursuing an 'if you don't like Farage, you have to vote for us' strategy. That's clearly not where voters are." Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Zoe Williams, with special guest, former Home Secretary and author of a new Harold Wilson biography, Alan Johnson, discuss the Strategic Defence Review, the upcoming departmental budgets, whether Starmer's government has a choice, but to spend that money and a choice on where to find it. Also, taking over a stagnant economy after more than a decade of Tory cuts, a poor start in government, trying to balance a tight fiscal position with demands on public services, pressure from a US President, and facing accusations of being unprincipled. Yet Wilson survived and went on to win election after election. What can his story teach the Starmer government? Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. You can buy Alan's biography of Wilson at our own bookshop. Help a local shop and this podcast. https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/the-quiet-riot-contributor-bookshop ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “The media’s orientation towards the Labour government is that nothing it can possibly do will be enough and anything it suggests will be too expensive.”  “On defence, you can’t take chances. You can’t say: oh well, we’ll gamble that when Trump goes it will go back to normal. You have to say: this has happened, we’ve got to react to it.” "The two Labour Party groups to keep together are not Left and Right, but intellectual progressives and blue collar trade unionists. Both groups contain people from the Left and Right." CALL TO ACTION Fill in the government survey on benefits reform here. GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about men feeding cubs, dressed as bears here. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political news, with a focus on the end of Musk's chemical romance with the White House, Trump's well-earned "TACO" moniker, and Harvard's resistance. Also, we look back at the RBS bail-out and how it continues to be felt in our politics today. PLUS - Watch out. Robert Jenrick's about. Why has our politics become so small, meand, and petty? ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “The big difference between Trump’s first term and this one is that everyone around him seems resigned to the idea that they can’t make policy, consult, or shape his thinking ahead of time. The whole outfit has swung into hearing his latest brain-fart, same time as we do, then double down and pretend that it is the best plan ever.” “Jenrick is not a vigilante. He’s not an action man. His defining quality is flaccidity. His reputation is that of a petty, mean, small man, who paints over kids’ murals. So, while the stunt might have worked for someone else, for Jenrick it simply cements his reputation as a petty, mean, small man.” Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss the great socialist Farage camouflage mirage, and the reemergence of Dominic "Team Player" Cummings, with special guest Marcus Brigstocke. Also, a deep dive into the UK's reluctance to protect the intellectual property of creatives from Artificial Intelligence. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. You can find the dates to Marcus Brigstocke's "Vitruvian Mango" tour here. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “We have a massive election year next year. The challenge between now and next May is to hold to account the ten councils that Reform now run and the mayors they have got.”  “I’m trying to do this thing, partly for my own health, when Reform are speaking where I listen and try to find things I agree with. Things to which I can say ‘yeah, I hear you’. Otherwise I start from a position of absolute hostility and treating everything as if it’s nonsense.” “What on earth do we do with young men? Let’s start by saying: look, this isn’t your fault, but as soon as you’re ready, it is going to be your responsibility to help to make this better. That’s difficult stuff. You can’t cheat those conversations.” “The maddening thing with Nick Clegg is that the trajectory of his shitness is so chartable. He smelled the money, went after it, came back eye-wateringly rich, and in real time, in a way we can observe, he lost any care for the people that this affects.” “People have rights to their product. It’s astonishing for Nick Clegg to shrug and say: there’s no way of stopping AI from stealing your stuff… If I created a great new drone, that went into Tesco and nicked whatever parts it needed all the time, I promise you I would have a f***ing problem. The system would say: fix your product or it’s dead.” CALLS TO ACTION Support BYLINES NETWORK here. Support HOPE NOT HATE here. Support DEMOCRACY FOR SALE here. And find a local refugee charity, if you are in a Reform-run council! Support ARTS EMERGENCY here. GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about the first refugee UK High Commissioner, Kanbar Hossein-Bor, here. Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices