The Edition: the truth about grooming gangs, 'why I'm voting for the AfD' & exploring YouTube rabbit holes
Jan 9, 2025
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Julie Bindel, a seasoned journalist, discusses the ongoing crisis of grooming gangs in the UK, emphasizing the urgent need for justice for victims. Elisabeth Dampier shares her controversial reasons for supporting Germany's AfD party, linking it to broader political trends. Damian Thompson reveals his obsession with airplane crash videos on YouTube, diving into the educational insights they offer. Together with Petter Hörnfeldt, they navigate the delicate balance between fascination and respect in discussing aviation disasters.
Douglas Murray emphasizes the need for the government to stop discussions and take actionable steps regarding the grooming gang scandal in the UK.
Elizabeth Dampier discusses the rise of the AfD party in Germany, highlighting voter dissatisfaction with the handling of immigration and government issues.
Deep dives
Addressing the Grooming Gang Scandal
The podcast highlights an article by Douglas Murray, discussing the urgent need to confront the grooming gang scandal in the UK. He argues that victims seem to have fewer rights than the perpetrators, particularly focusing on the demographic background of those involved in these crimes. An important insight is the government’s failure to take decisive action, with Murray urging political parties to move beyond mere discussions and implement real solutions. The situation is compounded by a long-standing silence in the media and local authorities, leading to continued victimization of the affected girls.
Julie Bindle on Media's Fear and Victims' Rights
Julie Bindle sheds light on the media's hesitance to report honestly on the demographics of grooming gang perpetrators due to fears of being labeled racist. She recounts her experiences attempting to bring the issue to light, noting that many professionals in journalism were concerned about the potential backlash rather than the reality of the abuse. Bindle also emphasizes the complexity of the issue, indicating that while certain demographics are overrepresented in these crimes, others are involved as well. She argues for a shift in focus toward the rights and voices of the victims rather than silencing their stories.
The Role of Misogyny in Sexual Abuse
Bindle highlights that misogyny is at the core of child sexual abuse, stressing that regardless of the ethnic background of the abusers, systemic attitudes towards women and girls contribute to their victimization. She criticizes narratives that frame the discussion solely around race or ethnicity, arguing that this oversimplifies a far more complex social issue. By calling for better training for law enforcement and judicial systems, she believes this would enable more effective responses to reports of abuse. The need for prioritizing prosecution and addressing societal stigmas surrounding the victims is also emphasized.
The Shift in Political Landscape and AFD's Appeal
Elizabeth Dampier discusses her decision to support Germany's Alternative for Deutschland (AFD) party, citing dissatisfaction with the current government’s handling of various issues, including immigration and infrastructure. She and historian Katja Hoyer reflect on the AFD's rise in popularity, particularly among younger voters who feel overlooked by mainstream parties. The discussion reveals how the AFD has reframed itself from its original libertarian stance to focus primarily on anti-immigration sentiment, sparking debates about its far-right associations. Despite this, Dampier defends the party, arguing that it addresses concerns that resonate deeply with voters seeking change.
This week: what does justice look like for the victims of the grooming gangs?
In the cover piece for the magazine, Douglas Murray writes about the conspiracy of silence on the grooming gangs and offers his view on what justice should look like for the perpetrators. He also encourages the government to take a step back and consider its own failings. He writes: ‘If any government or political party wants to do something about the scandal, they will need to stop reviewing and start acting. Where to begin? One good starting point would be to work out why Pakistani rapists in Britain seem to have more rights than their victims.’ To unpack his piece in a little more detail, we were joined by journalist Julie Bindel, who has been reporting on the grooming gangs for almost 20 years. (03:20)
Next: ‘Why I’m voting for the AfD’
In the magazine, Elisabeth Dampier explains why she will be voting for Germany’s AfD party – Alternative for Deutschland. Support for the hard-right AfD party grew dramatically in 2024 and is often used as an example of a broader trend of support for right-wing politics in the West. But is the key to their success as simple as an unpopular incumbent government and the salience of immigration? And how do they deal with constant comparisons to National Socialism? To discuss, we were joined by Elisabeth and German historian and journalist Katja Hoyer. (17:09)
And finally: Help! I’m addicted to videos of plane crashes
Damian Thompson writes an excellent guest Life column this week on his latest obsession: binge-watching aeroplane crash videos on YouTube. Now, this does sound a little bit morbid but – as he explains – it’s actually very educational, especially when you are being talked through the intricacies of air accidents by Petter Hörnfeldt, who runs the Mentour Pilot YouTube channel. We thought it would be fun to get Damian in conversation with his new hero, Petter. (29:46)
Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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