Strong Message Here

Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist for The Financial Times, joins the conversation to explore the art of political storytelling. He critiques Labour's narrative coherence and discusses how unclear messaging affects public engagement. The dialogue humorously parallels personal storytelling experiences with political narratives, highlighting the challenges leaders face today. Bush also delves into the implications of austerity on political language and the creative potential in reimagining narratives, offering insights into the future of political discourse.

Dive into the tangled web of political language and welfare reform in the UK. The hosts unveil how terms like 'supporting people into work' mask deeper systemic issues. Discover the evolving perceptions of poverty, from single mothers to housing challenges among immigrants. Mental health's role in the benefit system comes under scrutiny, highlighting the stigma faced by claimants. Plus, enjoy a humorous twist as political blunders are compared to amusing mishaps, showcasing the absurdities of public discourse and campaign strategies.

Join Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis as they hilariously dissect the bizarre world of political language. They explore threats from Musk to astronauts and Trump's tariff talk, questioning if strength in speech truly resonates in politics. The duo delves into the art of writing living obituaries, unpacking how timing and tone shape public narrative. They also analyze the evolving Democratic Party strategies and the complex impacts of personal branding. Plus, a tantalizing tease for supernatural tales awaits in future discussions!

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Hot mics, leaks, tell-all books. We find out a lot about how politicians talk in private. How does it differ from their public pronouncements? And are politicians less careful about how they come across in public these days? Helen and Armando survey the lay of the linguistic land.Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

Dive into the world of political language as Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis unravel why politicians like Farage and Trump paint a picture of widespread misery. They explore the whimsical connections between historical narratives and modern political discourse, discussing the surprising role of AI in echoing human thought. The duo critiques the evolution of political campaigns in the social media era and tackles the challenges of British identity, highlighting contradictions that surface in today's rhetoric.

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, JD Vance sent European leaders into a tailspin with an inflammatory speech at the Munich Security Conference, and Kemi Badenoch made an attention-grabbing speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Looking at them side-by-side, what does it tell us about the language of the right on both sides of the Atlantic?Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

Join Armando and Helen as they hilariously decode political phrases like 'Build, baby, build,' revealing why politicians mimic each other. They explore Ireland's literary legacy and how it contrasts with perceptions of cultural accessibility in London. The duo critiques the oversimplified rhetoric around energy and immigration while examining the Conservative Party's identity challenges. Adding humor, they tackle the absurdity of banning plastic straws and share quirky political anecdotes that keep the conversation lively.

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Why do we know what's going to be in a political speech before it happens? What is 'kiteflying' and 'pitch rolling'? To find out, Helen and Armando are joined by sketch writer for The Critic, Rob Hutton, who has been at more political announcements than he's had hot dinners. What's the best speech he's heard? What's the worst? And who are all those people who turn up to watch the Prime Minister give a speech at a carpet factory in Darlington?Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Trump has truly settled back into the White House, but is it different this time around? Helen and Armando take a look at how this unique politician uses language to get his way. We also look at Trump Derangement Syndrome - a favourite phrase of the new President to describe his detractors - and how other politicians have changed their tune about Trump since his last term.Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando take a deep dive into Mark Zuckerberg's statement which explains the new rules around fact checking and free speech on his Meta platforms. Is free speech really back? Or should we be worried that fact-checkers are a thing of the past? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you got a 'community note' for Helen and Armando? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.