

The Two Matts
The New World
Join The New World's Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona plus occasional guests for weekly chat on politics and media with a side of cultural stuff. A podcast in the spirit of the award-winning New World newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 20, 2025 • 50min
BRACE! BRACE! Trump goes into emergency mode as Epstein crisis gets real
The Matts dig into the unfolding drama in Washington as Trump performs the reversal of his career and signs off on the release of the Epstein files. How much trouble is he in? Also - what should we make of Labour’s new crackdown on immigration? The Matts may disagree about the messaging but are fairly aligned about the merits (or otherwise) of the policy. But will this change anything for a government besieged? Enjoy!Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 18, 2025 • 54min
Inside the mind of a 16-year-old - with Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote
Join Peter Hyman, a former political adviser and educator, and Shuab Gamote, a public policy expert, as they dive into the minds of 16- and 17-year-olds. They reveal surprising insights from speaking to over 700 young people about their political views, emphasizing their desire for authenticity in leadership. Discover how social media shapes their perceptions, the importance of fairness in democracy, and why many feel disillusioned after leaving education. This thought-provoking discussion sheds light on the new generation's values and challenges.

Nov 16, 2025 • 40min
This week's Two Matts Q&A: Is it time to let talent like Mamdani run for president?
Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether it is time for the US to repeal its natural-born citizen clause and let talent like Zohran Mamdani run for president and if reducing regulations would allow the Michelle Mones of this world to prosper, and revisit their chat with Jo Bartosch on pornography.Plus they talk about simplifying the tax code, whether there is a media silence on the new Green leader Zack Polanski and who will be first up against the wall once Nigel Farage enters Downing Street.Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 2025 • 42min
EXCLUSIVE: How the BBC dossier author HIMSELF doctored Trump’s quotes
The Matts kick off the show discussing The New World’s exclusive by political editor James Ball that Michael Prescott - author of the dossier into the BBC - himself doctored Trump quotes in the report, making his evidence seem more damning. It’s an extraordinary revelation that calls into question Prescott’s journalistic judgement. To read the full story go to thenewworld.co.uk. Also this week - Labour contrive to make things actually worse for themselves. Quite the challenge but they pull it off with aplomb. And why the Epstein emails are tearing MAGA apart. It’s a lovely pod this week. Enjoy!Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
A deep dive into the world of porn with Jo Bartosch
The Matts join the fray on chaos at the BBC … what does it mean for the future of the corporation and why we should all be glad to pay for it. Then they are joined by Jo Bartosch, co-author of Pornocracy, an argument about the evils of pornography in today’s world. How has porn changed in the age of the internet - and how has it changed the human species. You will be astonished at some of Jo’s findings. It goes without saying this podcast contains some adult themes so listening in the car with kids is not a great idea. Enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 9, 2025 • 30min
This week's Two Matts Q&A: Is charisma now a political party in its own right?
Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the enthusiasm for the new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani shows charisma is now a political party in its own right, if a Reform government would open the racist floodgates and whether a 2p income tax rise is enough to fix Britain’s problems. Plus they talk about whether anyone actually cares about the climate crisis anymore and if the future of AI is actually a lot brighter than we give it credit for.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2025 • 47min
Is the Mamdani moment as big as it seems?
The Matts weigh up the success of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and ask how much we should read into a good set of results for Democrats in the US. And will winning the election prove the easy part now Mamdani has to govern a city notoriously impatient with its mayors? Also - as Mamdani sets out to bring clarity to the unprecedented inequality in American society, what does Elon Musk’s $1trillion pay packet tell us about capitalism in the first quarter of the 21st Century? Enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4, 2025 • 1h 2min
Reeves flunks it
The chancellor's recent statement left many scratching their heads as the hosts dissect its unclear messaging and the timing of the press conference. They debate the Labour party's tendency to focus on blame rather than policy ownership. A new campaign, Read Against Racism, is introduced, emphasizing how reading can foster empathy and combat bigotry. The discussion highlights the challenges of race reporting in media and calls for clearer communication in addressing societal issues. Heroism in crises and the importance of mental health support are also explored.

Nov 2, 2025 • 36min
This week's Two Matts Q&A: Is it time for Keir Starmer to finally smell the roses?
Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the Caerphilly by-election shows it’s time for Keir Starmer finally to smell the roses on the EU, if opinion polls truly matter and whether Andy Burnham should support Lucy Powell for the Labour leadership. Plus they talk about how the media landscape has changed since the phone-hacking scandal, community tensions over asylum applications and the return of Mr Blobby.OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2025 • 38min
The Autocrats … Trump and Xi kiss and make up (for now)
Donald Trump meets President Xi of China and saves face in his latest about-turn in policy. Is there method in the madness or is this yet more evidence of the capricious randomness at the heart of Trump’s foreign policy? Also … Matt D watches the latest production to emerge from the writing genius that is Mick Herron - the novelist behind the Slow Horses drama series. Does Down Cemetery Road live up to the standards of its impressive antecedent? Only one way to find out! Enjoy!OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


