Byline Podcast

Less than three months into his Premiership, Keir Starmer is having to face up to the realities of life inside the pressure cooker of Number 10. How well is he doing? There’s a been a mini rebellion by backbench MPs over the decision to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners; meanwhile the PM is seen to be living the high life at the expense of wealthy donors; and now there's mutiny amongst his senior team, who've leaked that special advisor Sue Gray is paid more than Starmer himself. Adrian Goldberg talks to Byline Times political editor Adam Bienkov and Steve McCabe, a Labour MP for 27 years, before he stepped down at the last election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we approach the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, Adrian Goldberg assess the prospects for peace in the Middle East. His guests are Robin Barnwell, director of ITVX documentary 'Into The Abyss', and former UK diplomat Alex Hall Hall.Produced by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White in Birmingham, for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adrian Goldberg discusses Keir Starmer's NHS reforms with Chris Thomas, who heads up the Commission on Health and Prosperity for the IPPR think tank; Dr John Puntis, co chair of the campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, and Matthew Hulbert from Leicestershire who lost his mum to sepsis in 2022 after she had to wait 11 hours for an ambulance.Produced by Adrian Goldberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adrian Goldberg investigates Russia’s attempts to influence Western democracy using disinformation, covert media campaigns and troll farms, with Pekka Kallioniemi, author of Vatnik Soup - originally a Twitter thread, now a book - and Byline Times executive editor Peter Jukes.The discussion covers Tenet, the Tennessee based company linked to right wing influencers,  which according to the US Justice Department received nearly $10 million dollars from RT to promote pro-Kremlin propaganda. The Justice Department also seized more than 30 website domains which it says were cloning reputable news sites, such as the Washington Post, and diverting readers to fake news sites instead.  Produced for Byline Audio in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final report into the Grenfell Tragedy revealed that all 72 deaths were avoidable. Successive governments ignored warnings about the safety of tower block cladding, while the Department for Communities and Local government had embraced deregulation that weakened protections for residents.This comes after the Hillsborough Tragedy, the infected blood scandal, Windrush, and the the Post Office Horizon fiasco, which all led to official apologies. How can we prevent similar stories in future? Adrian Goldberg talks to Michael Mansfield KC a barrister who represented families at the Grenfell Inquiry and most of the victims of the Hillsborough Inquests.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laila Mickelwait tells Adrian Goldberg how her campaign against sex trafficking and child abuse led to the world's most popular porn site Pornhub taking down more than 80% of its content. Laila's book 'Takedown' is available now.Produced in Birmingham for Byline Audio by Adrian Goldberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adrian Goldberg meets barrister Christian Weaver, the face of 'The Law in 60 Seconds’ on You Tube. Christian has a new book out called ‘Your Right To Protest. Understand It. Use It’, a guide to making your voice heard without breaking the law. Christian was the barrister in the case of Awaab Ishak, the two year old boy who died as the result of a mould infestation at his family’s council flat in Rochdale…a case which led to a change in the law.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adrian Goldberg discusses Sir Keir Starmer's 'Things Can Only Get Worse (In The Short Term)' speech with Byline Times chief reporter Josiah Mortimer and Danisha Kazi, head of economics at Positive Money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Transport Secretary Louse Haigh has announced that local councils will be given back the right to select 20 mph zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, after the previous Conservative government threatened to give that power to the Department for Transport.Adrian Goldberg discusses the implications with Jon Burke, who introduced LTNs in the London borough of Hackney, and Izzy Romilly from the climate action charity Possible.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zarina Zabrisky, an expert commentator on Ukraine's military actions, and journalist Peter Jukes discuss Ukraine's surprising counter-invasion into Russia, which has significantly disrupted Russian supply lines. They explore the implications of Ukraine's long-range weapon capabilities, the role of drone technology, and how the conflict reshapes global politics, particularly in relation to U.S. dynamics. The conversation also touches on the resilience of Odessa's people amidst ongoing struggles, highlighting a shift in national consciousness and emerging hopes for freedom.