

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

Oct 18, 2024 • 45min
To kill or not to kill… is assisted suicide in the UK really a good idea?
As parliament prepares to debate legalising assisted suicide, the Matts argue their respective corners on its desirability. Also - if they think having a German football manager is bad, wait until they find out about the King’s antecedents. The Matts despair at little England’s bottomless capacity for xenophobia when it comes to Germans. Enjoy!Content warning: strong language, references to suicide, depressionIn the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 14, 2024 • 50min
Who really controls Britain?
As Keir Starmer enthuses to merchant banks and global conglomerates about opening up Britain for investment … and tearing down regulatory barriers that get in their way … the Matts wonder who actually runs the country? Not least since one of the shiny new investors are the very same people who ransacked Thames Water. And while we are talking about investment, what about the drastic cuts to local government funding that are damaging some of the most vulnerable in society? Also - Alex Salmond … is it too soon to mention the dark side? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2024 • 29min
Q&A: Disappointing Keir, Tory freebies and a bit of drumming
In this Sunday edition of The Two Matts the pair chat about Labour's terrible start, Tory freebies and the US support for Israel. Coming from Berlin this week, the Matts also dip into drumming and whether young people not being able to read long books is a problem.Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 11, 2024 • 39min
LIVE FROM BERLIN! Germany’s woes and Johnson’s lies
The Matts are in Berlin, discovering all is not well in the powerhouse of Europe. Is the rise of the far right AfD party inevitable? And how is migration warping the political discourse? Also - Boris Johnson’s worst lie yet? Could be. His mendacious outpouring about Trump’s innocence over the insurrection is a signal of a dark ambition; a return to power alongside his mate in the White House. The Matts weigh up the evidence. Warning! Contains impressions. Enjoy!Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 7, 2024 • 46min
An unbelievable year of horror after October 7… is there any hope?
Sue Gray has been resigned - also known as fired - as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Can she be blamed for Labour’s shaky start or is the problem more deeply-rooted? Also - one year after the Hamas atrocities of October 7, and the subsequent carnage in Gaza, the Matts take stock and explore some plausible outcomes of the raging conflict in the Middle EastSubscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2024 • 32min
Q&A: Lucy Letby, Proporational representation and Wernham Hogg
Happy Sunday! Today The Two Matt's hear your questions starting with the case of Lucy Letby. Should her case be scrutinised amidst doubts, despite the distress it may cause? Also, are the progressive press more critical of the left than the right and should Labour back proportional representation? The Matt's wrap things up by trying to work if Sue Gray is Gareth or Tim from 'The Office'. Oh, and what about Morgan McSweeney? And who's Keith? It's all very important.Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 4, 2024 • 41min
One month to doomsday
We are in the final stretch of what may be the most important election of our lifetimes - and everything is still on a knife edge. The Matts consider the state of play between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and anticipate the consequences of all eventualities. Enjoy!Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2024 • 36min
Tearing into the Tories: like shooting fish in a barrel
The Matts pick off the Tory leadership candidates one by one with the nagging doubt in their minds that, whoever wins, it doesn’t really matter. The Tories are in such deep trouble as a party that restoring any sense of relevance and legitimate opposition to Keir Starmer’s monster majority will require Churchillian energy and determination. And sorry to break it to you Kemi, Robert, James and Tom … but you ain’t no Churchill. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2024 • 24min
Q&A: These are the best impressions you'll hear all year
Come for the impressions but stay for Keir Starmer's ethics in comparison to Boris Johnson's corruption, the Matt's giving Keir a hard time and 'Have I Got News for You,' going stateside. Happy Sunday!Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 27, 2024 • 54min
Alarm in Lebanon: Why the conflict in the Middle East is escalating
The Matts try to understand just why an already desperate situation in the Middle East is getting worse. What links the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois boxing match in Wembley and the conflict in Lebanon. And who are the silent winners while international diplomacy battles to contain any escalation? Also - did Keir Starmer’s conference speech give any further insight into how he intends to stem the rising tide of right wing nationalism in the UK? And do the freebies matter? The Matts have a view. You will too! Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.