
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot, the politics podcast with more passion, less shouting and lots of laughter
Latest episodes

May 22, 2025 • 1h 7min
Lost in Triangulation
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss Labour's obsession with voters to the right, while haemorrhaging voters to the left, with guest Labour MP Marsha de Cordova. Also, a deep dive into Labour's reform of support for people with disabilities and the worry and hurt it is causing.
Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
GRIN AND SHARE IT
Read more about the International Museum of Migration.
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***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

May 20, 2025 • 38min
EMERGENCY POD - Midnight Mass: Nothing has changed. Everything has changed.
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a quick, end-of-the-day reaction to the UK-EU Summit. Light on detail, high on symbolism, does it have the potential to be a turning point? SPOILERS: Absolutely.
Also, why is the media losing its mind over mackerel? The facts on fishing - including quite a lot of stuff you will NOT have heard widely discussed.
***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

May 18, 2025 • 53min
Sunday School: Qatarred And Feathered
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, including the presentation of a huge unconstitutional bribe as a moral and intellectual imperative, the state of the super-wealthy in the UK, the blocking of bonuses for Thames Water bosses, and last minute jitters before the EU-UK Corral.
***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

May 15, 2025 • 1h 6min
The Unkindness of Strangers
Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith, and Kenny Campbell discuss Starmer's immigration policy, the language employed, the economic and psychological impact. Also a full preview of Monday's UK-EU summit. What to expect and when.
Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.
"I look at Starmer's trajectory and it is immensely difficult not to notice the trail of devastation left behind. Disabled people, Palestinians, trans people, and now immigrants. All I can see is someone who is willing to throw anyone out of his hot air balloon, just so it can rise higher."
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
CALLS TO ACTION
Help Best for Britain here.
Help Hope not Hate here.
Help The 3 Million here.
Help The Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants here.
GRIN AND SHARE IT
Pair convicted of felling sycamore gap tree.
Vandals questioned in homophobia case.
Gap sycamore sprouts new growth.
Trees of Hope - 49 sycamore saplings to be planted.
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***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

May 13, 2025 • 37min
UK-US DEAL SPECIAL: Bluffer's Guide to a Bluffer's Deal
Alex Andreou talks to trade expert David Henig about the UK-US. Is it a trade deal? Is it a deal? What about hormone beef and chlorinated chicken? What about the tech tax? What about Boeing? What about the EU summit?
***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

May 11, 2025 • 59min
Sunday School: Habemus Trade Deals
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, This week all the political significance and reaction to the UK-US deal and your potted guide to the new Pontiff and what his election means for the global fight against populism - including a special Wokey Dokey!
***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

May 8, 2025 • 1h 11min
It's Not Easy Being Greens
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with special guest Zack Polanski, talk about the Greens performance at the local elections, their agenda going forward, and Zack's bid to be their next leader. Also, the trade deal with India - big fish or small fry?
Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
CALLS TO ACTION
Find out more about Zack's campaign here.
GRIN AND SHARE IT
An end to animal testing? Read all about it here.
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***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

May 6, 2025 • 50min
AUSTRALIAN ELECTION SPECIAL - How The Democracy Sausage Is Made
Alex Andreou talks to journalist, best-selling author - and former Wallaby - Peter FitzSimons about the results, the campaign, the Trump backlash, the extraordinary phenomenon of The Teals, and the inexportability of American culture wars.
What lessons can Labour in the UK learn?
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
”The key transformation was when Donald Trump got elected. The vast majority of Australians looked at Trump aghast. Day after day after day, we have seen chaos on roller-skates. And most said: look, we may not know what we’re doing, but we’re not doing THAT.”
“The Liberals have been wiped out. The problem is that I don’t see any potential leader among them who can say what needs to be said. And what needs to be said is: All you old white blokes who oppose marriage equality, out! All the people who deny the science of climate change, out! You are stinking up the place.”
“Trumpian politics is about activating your base. So you get every nutter you can to vote for you. In Australia , everyone has to vote, so it’s not about activating any base. It’s about appealing to the largest number of people.”
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – 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

May 4, 2025 • 57min
Sunday School - Division of Labour
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith analyse the week's political news, including the results of the local and mayoral elections in England, the by-election in Runcorn, and the general election in Australia.
Is Starmer missing on the anti-Trump dividend?
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
“Labour need to start governing. They need to stop triangulating and start running the country. They are wasting the term they have been given, worrying about a second one. They can do a lot of good, if they stop being terrified of losing power in 2029 and start using the power they have in 2025.”
“Every single time I speak to officials in Brussels, they ask: ‘What does your government want, Naomi? We’re very open about what we would like to see from the reset. We still don’t know what you guys want.’ And if they don’t know, then British voters sure-as-hell don’t know.”
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – 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

May 1, 2025 • 1h 17min
100 Days of Sod'em
Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith opolling guru Peter Kellner, dissect opinions polls on Trump's second, first, 100 Days in the White House, the result of the Canadian election, and preview the local and mayoral elections in England.
Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.
“What Mark Carney did was to come close to monopolising the centre/centre-left vote. Which, of course, might have echoes for what Starmer needs to do here. Labour is losing many more votes to the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the SNP. Labour is suffering, in large measure, because the progressive vote is fragmenting.”
“Businesses live in an uncertain world, but it’s what I would call ‘ordered uncertainty’. We don’t know whether interest rates will be half a point up or down in a year, but we know how the decision will be taken, the forces at work. There is a rational basis for the array of possibilities. With Trump, there is irrational uncertainty.”
“We may, in some local and mayoral contests, which are four- or five-way splits, see very strange results; people elected on a quarter of the vote. In 48 hours, when we know all the figures, they may be the greatest argument that electoral reformers have ever had.”
“Brexit trade barriers were going to defy the laws of economics. And didn't. And in a surprise to precisely no one, except maybe Navarro, the same is happening in the US.”
“If I were to try and find a silver lining to Trump’s first 100 days, it is this: Our time on this Earth is limited, so we should all be thankful to someone that makes it feel SO. MUCH. LONGER.”
***SPONSOR US AT KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD***
CALLS TO ACTION
VOTE!
Also, subscribe to Peter Kellner's substack here.
Also, sign up for the Europe Day lunchtime zoom here - 9 May at 12:30.
GRIN AND SHARE IT
An new home for an old olive tree - read about it here.
Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot
***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