The Two Matts

The Matts are joined by Alastair Campbell to discuss today’s big news - the rebrand of The New European to The New World. Why are we changing? Who is The New World for? Who will be writing in it... and about what. All will be revealed. Founder and editor-in-chief Matt Kelly and editor-at-large Matthew d’Ancona explain the thinking and ambition behind this new chapter in the publishing success that started life as a 4-week pop-up… and turned into the fastest growing title in the UK. While Alastair Campbell - who, it is rumoured, has a podcast of his own - joins them on the sofa to explain why The New World is his new favourite magazine. 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.

Britain faces an unprecedented litany of threat, at home and abroad. If you want to know just how bad it is, don’t worry - we’ve got the full list. The Matts praise Keir Starmer’s response … and explore the consequences. Also - why Hope Not Hate are the good guys and a humbling encounter with Ed Vaizey. It’s all going on! Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. The pair discuss whether the Trump administration is aping the Tories' Rwanda scheme, why the government is so bad at communications and if Cyril Ramaphosa is really someone to admire. Plus the best way to treat prisoners with mental health or substance issues, the MAGA maniacs sticking their noses into the Polish elections and posh accents in Jane Austen dramas.EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The falling out between Elon Musk and Donald Trump was predictable enough but consequential all the same. The Matts explore what this says about the Trump administration and the personal damage to Musk. Also - as Sadiq Khan calls for the decriminalisation of small amounts of cannabis, the Matts take a deep breath and try to bring some perspective to an issue that has sent all their usual dopes into a frenzy. Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shocking events in Liverpool remain the source of more questions than answers, but one particular area - the disclosure that the suspect is “white British” - speaks volumes about the country we have become. The Matts consider the history of erroneous rushes to judgement - and how this age of social media makes the consequences of those errors so much worse. Also this week - what’s Farage’s plan … and how can Starmer stop him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Keir Starmer really believes the Daily Mail can ever be won over, if there's a case for the study of wisdom in the age of AI and whether they share one reader's nostalgia for the dying days of the last Tory government.Plus there's talk about whether the media panders to Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, the groupthink of the Lobby and the collective madness over Oasis.EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the government’s new plan for dealing with our burgeoning prison population sensible? And is it a vote winner? Two very different questions - the Matts discuss. And did the red top tabloids fall for the oldest trick in the art of political communications? Also this week - what did Trump’s Oval Office ambush of the South African President this week add up to? More than It appears is the Matts verdict. Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are on something of a high. This week’s EU deal suddenly feels much more consequential than they’d expected. Credit (for once) to Starmer … even in his technocratic monotone, he presided over a clear vibe shift in the UK’s relationship with the EU. No, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. No, it’s not rejoin. But yes … it’s a new pathway and it feels like we have, finally, a PM willing to start fixing the mess of the last 9 years. The hard yards start now, but at least we can be confident that we’ve won the argument, Brexit is definitively a dud, and the future beckons. Enjoy.EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts touched a nerve last week with some comments about the desirability of proportional representation… or otherwise! Here they have it out and reach some surprising conclusions about how the UK should choose its MPs. Also - is Labour misdiagnosing its problems? Can there be a surge of Green populism? Will we ever see see the likes of José Mujica again? And is one personal jumbo jet really ever enough? Enjoy!EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s whirlwind Middle East tour leaves the Matts open-mouthed at the sheer audacity of his grift … and helps them form a picture about how he may be planning to rule beyond a second term. Also this week; Matt K recalls his very first week in journalism - covering the trial of Peter Sullivan 38 years ago as he was found guilty of the savage murder of Diane Sindall. Now he’s been proved to be innocent, what can we learn about our justice system? The questions are both profound and troubling.EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.