Quiet Riot

All about contested spaces: physical statehood and online safety. Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell discuss the impending recognition of Palestine by Britain (and France). Why now? And as the Online Safety Act begins to impact our internet use, we ask whether it fixes anything or just creates a whole new range of problems. Plus regular features 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “Netanyahu has behaved in a way that demonstrates exactly the characteristics of a politician who is running out of time. There is only so long he can avoid an election. As the pressure builds towards it, maybe what we are seeing is part of an emboldened international community speaking directly to the Israeli people.” “A two-state solution depends on there being power brokers on both sides who can sit down and talk meaningfully to move things forward. That's not Hamas and, increasingly clearly, that’s not Netanyahu either. Whatever solutions eventually come to pass, key to them is gonna be getting those problematic parties out of the picture.”  “Trump is transactional and being transactional, he doesn't really understand ideological constraints. Having offered transactions that he thinks Netanyahu and Putin would take, he just cannot fathom why they didn't. So he's beginning to see them as people he can't do business with. A bad position to be in with Trump.” “As the law comes into effect, there is no public register of approved age verification providers, no duty on those providers to meet any specific privacy or security standards, above data protection alone, and no requirement for platforms to choose trusted or certified providers.” “The Online Safety Act is like saying: We love the sea. The sea is a fabulous place. We spent many happy years playing in the sea. But the sea is now full of sewage and horrible things. And we're going to solve that problem by making it harder to get into the sea. It doesn't actually deal with any of the causes at all.” “I keep coming up against this conundrum, this circle that cannot be squared: the same anonymity that makes the internet exceptionally useful to some, is also what makes it a risk to others… For it to become a space within which the law applies, it cannot be anonymous. Otherwise we accept it is incapable of being regulated and belongs, in part, to bad actors.” “What happens if you shut down direct access to a thing for the group of people who are most likely to use it? Especially young people. They will go round the side.” ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** CALLS TO ACTION: Complain to Sky News about disproportionate Reform UK coverage. Find out more about the UNICEF Gaza appeal for children in crisis. Sign the Open Rights Group letter to gov't about online safety. GRIN AND SHARE IT: Watch the report about the discovery of the Denver Parkingsaurus. 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

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