George Parker, political editor for the Financial Times, leads a discussion with Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Anna Gross, and Rachel Reeves. They dive into Elon Musk's controversial statements about the UK government and the implications for social media governance. The panel debates the balance between free speech and online safety, examining the UK's approach amid Musk's ownership of X. They also ponder the financial strategies for growth in the UK and the importance of holidays for politicians in maintaining performance while navigating public scrutiny.

Lucy Fisher assembles the Political Fix team to discuss the surprise snap general election in the UK. They dive into party campaigns, Rishi Sunak's decision, potential TV debates, Labour's readiness, Nigel Farage's non-candidacy impact, and election strategies.

In this engaging discussion, Russian stand-up comedian Olga Koch emphasizes the necessity of a strong political opposition, linking it to democratic health. Financial Times columnist Stephen Bush analyzes tactics for opposition parties to regain influence. They dissect the comedic yet serious dynamics of the Conservative leadership race, touching on how the party's factionalism impacts its credibility. With a lighthearted tone, they explore the implications of recent political shortcomings and the significance of accountability in British politics.

Join Cailee Spaeny, the star of 'Alien: Romulus,' who bravely navigates an abandoned spacecraft, along with FT Weekend's senior editor Horatia Harrod and political columnist Stephen Bush. They dive into the latest installment of the iconic sci-fi franchise, debating its connection to the original series and its shortcomings in character development. The conversation also touches on Disney's influence on creative cinema and the importance of quality children’s programming, highlighting the struggle for genuine storytelling in film and music.

Rachel Reeves, the UK's chancellor, discusses the daunting £20 billion financial shortfall that may lead to tax increases. George Parker, political editor at the Financial Times, along with Stephen Bush and Robert Shrimsley, analyze government options amid this uncertainty. Gill Plimmer highlights the controversial cancellation of the HS2 rail link and its far-reaching implications for transportation and regional economies. The conversation sheds light on the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and public expectations.

FT journalists and political experts dissect Keir Starmer's election victory, Tory collapse, Reform Party's rise, and potential policies including tax increases, education reforms, defense spending, and Brexit deals. Discussions on SNP decline, Liberal Democrats' strategies, and the challenges ahead for the new Labour government.

Katy Balls and Stephen Bush from the Financial Times discuss the 'gamblegate' scandal in politics. They debate the ethical implications of political betting, including a Labour candidate betting on themselves to lose and a cabinet minister's election timing bets. Is 'gamblegate' going too far?

The podcast explores the UK's new extremism definition and its impact on free speech. They discuss the controversy around racist comments by a top Tory donor affecting Rishi Sunak's leadership. Also, Labour's plans post-Brexit and proposals to improve government efficiency are highlighted. The episode delves into party funding dynamics and the challenges of addressing racism in politics.

Discussion on Dune Part Two, exploring Paul's character, power dynamics, and betrayal in a feudal society. Also, insights on sci-fi fantasy genres, potential for Dune III, and preferences for vacation destinations and movie experiences.

This Friday, for our first episode of 2024, we discuss The Boy and The Heron, the latest film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and his team at Studio Ghibli. It is the most expensive Japanese film ever made, and has received widespread critical acclaim. But what, exactly, is it about? Lilah chats through it with political columnist Stephen Bush and Leo Lewis, the FT’s Asia Business editor, who has co-written a book on anime. Is it about his past, or the future of animation? Where does it sit in the Studio Ghibli canon? And is Miyazaki ever really done?-------We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap. You can email her at lilah.raptopoulos@ft.com.-------Links (all FT links get you past the paywall): – The FT’s review of The Boy and the Heron is here: https://on.ft.com/3S47ZNS – Leo’s book on anime, co-authored with Roland Kelts, is called Japanamerica. His exclusive FT interview with Studio Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki is here: https://on.ft.com/3TPuVBQ – Here’s a recent FT interview with Miyazaki’s closest collaborators: https://on.ft.com/47oXc56 – The other films we mentioned are Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky– Stephen wants less expensive video games. He recommends the indie game I Was A Teenage Exocolonist– Lilah recommends the docuseries 10 years with Miyazaki, which is available for free on NHK World Japan, and Italianamerican, which is available on Max– Leo is on X @Urbandirt. Stephen Bush is @stephenkb– You can get a free trial to Stephen’s political newsletter Inside Politics – which includes a daily cultural recommendation – by clicking here-------Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art podcast listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial, are here: http://ft.com/lifeandart-------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco and Simon Panayi.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.