The Owen Jones Podcast
Owen Jones
Owen Jones, journalist, author of Chavs and The Establishment, or "that left-wing idiot off the telly", is fed up with the establishment media. After all, it punches down, not up, blames minorities for all the problems in society, and, let's face it, often just parrots the government line. So this podcast is offering something different: speaking truth to power, giving the marginalised a voice, offering hope - and having a laugh along the way. From Michael Sheen to Judith Butler, Prof. Devi Sridhar to Noam Chomsky, Peter Hitchens to Chelsea Manning and Gary Younge to Stewart Lee, the interviewees couldn't be more eclectic. Expect documentaries, too, exposing injustice and going to enemy territory - and discussions with experts on everything from COVID dreams about the pandemic to the history of US-backed coups. We'll learn a lot - but above all else, have our optimism in a better world rebooted. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 29, 2023 • 10min
The BBC's Cosy Relationship With The Tories
One of the big controversies enveloping the Tories - I know, you've probably lost count! - focuses on allegations that the man who became BBC Chair helped secure a loan for Boris Johnson. But this just underlines a much bigger problem - the cosy relationship between the Conservatives and Auntie Beeb.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 29, 2023 • 8min
What Nadhim Zahawi Says About Our Broken Society
Well, Nadhim Zahawi had a defence - that being forced to pay a huge penalty on his tax affairs was just a careless error. Slight hiccup: the head of HMRC has said that "innocent" mistakes aren't penalised. So where does that leave us? But there is a broader point - why we should talk about social harms rather than crimes, because our justice system is rigged in favour of the rich against the poor.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 26, 2023 • 10min
Carol Vorderman Destroys The Tories
I never thought Carol Vorderman would become the de facto Leader of the Opposition, but that's the timeline we're in! Watch her shred the Tories over the Nadhim Zahawi scandal - and look at how she's doing a job which should belong to others, taking on the Tories' gruesome behaviour.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 26, 2023 • 17min
The Kidnapping of 200 Child Asylum Seekers
Why isn't this leading the news bulletins? This news story is so shocking that when you hear the details, you'll find yourself asking why: 200 child asylum seekers are missing from hotels run by the Home Office. What on earth has happened to them? How could this be allowed to happen? And how has government policy made it possible?We speak to the anti-trafficking social worker Lauren Starkey who has all of the details.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 24, 2023 • 19min
Tax Expert Pulls Apart Tory Nadhim Zahawi's Defence
With Nadhim Zahawi embroiled in a storm over his tax affairs, we talk to the tax expert Richard Murphy about the truth, including Zahawi's defence. This exposes a tax system rigged in favour of the rich - at everybody else's expense.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 24, 2023 • 10min
Is This The Worst Tory MP?
It's fair to say I'm not a fan of any Tory MP, but good grief, this one. Lee Anderson's latest contribution is to use his researcher as social media fodder to suggest people who use food banks are simply bad at budgeting. Here's the truth - and what it says about Toryism and the state of the country.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 23, 2023 • 1h 16min
LIVE SHOW: Nadhim Zahawi, trans rights, and kidnapped child asylum seekers
Finally, the truth is coming out: Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi has admitted reaching a tax settlement with HM Revenue and Customs over a supposed 'error' worth million. Even more remarkably, he negotiated the settlement when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. What on earth is going on, what's the truth - and what does it tell us about our broken tax system? Tax expert Richard Murphy joins us to explain all.As the anti-trans moral panic escalates with the showdown over Scotland's reform of the gender recognition process, we're joined by trans writer, vlogger and activist extraordinaire Katy Montgomerie.Plus: with horrific news that dozens of child asylum seekers have been abducted by gangs, we talk to anti-trafficking social worker Lauren Starkey.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 22, 2023 • 12min
Mick Lynch Takes Keir Starmer Apart
This country is a burning skip, and not since the aftermath of World War II has there been a more desperate need for transformative policies. But after Labour leader Keir Starmer abandoned his leadership promises, there is a massive vacuum. RMT leader Mick Lynch has shown courage and determination in fighting the Tories - and without more of that, the danger is of a Labour government which causes mass disappointment and opens the door for very dark political forces.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 22, 2023 • 10min
Tory Nadhim Zahawi's Tax: Why The Silence?
What on earth is going on here? There are allegations that Tory Chair Nadhim Zahawi has been forced to pay millions to HMRC, after allegedly not paying tax by using an offshore trust when he sold off his company. We don't know the truth because Zahawi hasn't answered the questions properly - and there isn't enough media pressure. But this sums up a society where it's one rule for the top - and one rule for everyone else.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 18, 2023 • 26min
End The War On Trans People
Enough. As the Tory government shuts down the democratic decision of the Scottish Parliament to expand trans rights, it's time to wake up to a gruesome reality. One of the most vulnerable minorities is being subjected to the exact same hate campaign gay and bi people faced in the 1980s and 1990s. You either have the courage to be on the right side of history - or you can stand back and allow an oppressed community to suffer unnecessary pain and fear. Here's the argument for trans rights - and why the opponents are going to be judged just as harshly as homophobes were.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-owen-jones-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
