CommonSpace Podcasts

Beyond the Noise is a Source news podcast, looking at the issues beyond the headlines

This week, David Jamieson speaks to Willie Sullivan of the Electoral Reform Society Scotland, and how to improve Scotland's democracy beyond polling day.

Beyond the Noise is a Source podcast where David Jamieson gets beyond the headlines to look at issues in more depth.

He is joined in this episode by Chris Nineham, vice chair of Stop the War Coalition, to discuss the UK Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill, and the ways social movements can resist attacks on the right to protest.

They discuss:

1:00 -What new anti-protest powers would the bill introduce?

5:00 – What the combination of the crackdown on protest and the new bill tells us about the future of Conservative rule.

14:30 – How did the anti-war movement deal with attempts to restrict the right to protest?

Beyond the Noise is a Source podcast with David Jamieson where he gets beyond the headlines and likes at events in the new in more depth.

This week he speaks to Madison based political sociologist Michael Billeaux about dynamics on the right of US politics in the wake of the Washington DC riot and the inauguration of Joe Biden.

1:30 – How has the Capital Hill riot impacted the Republican party and exposed schisms on the US right?

13:50 – In the 2020 election Trumpism expanded and diversified its social base. Can it build on these gains?

20:04 – What happens to the hardcore of Trump’s supporters after the events in Washington DC?

Beyond the Noise is a Source news podcast where David Jamieson looks at issues in the news in more depth.

This week Jamieson speaks to Neil Mackay, national organiser for All Under One Banner, about Yes Alba - an attempt to bring together a unified, activist led and organised.

They discuss:

1:30 – What are the latest moves to create a broad pro-independence organisation?

8:15 – Has the Scottish independence movement suffered for not having such an organisation?

12:15 – Are these preparations being made with an eye to a coming referendum?

18:15 – Should the future independence campaign be led by grass-roots activists?

Beyond the Noise is a Source news podcast where David Jamieson goes deeper into the issues behind the headlines.

This week Jamieson speaks to Pete Cannell and Willie Black of Scot E3, a group drawing together trade unionists and climate activists for a 'Just Transition' from fossil fuel.

They discuss:

2:43 – Does the idea of a ‘Just Transition’ exist beyond mere rhetoric at the current time?

11:15 – Is there a lack of a ‘big picture’ for a major industrial strategy around green economic renewal?

22:30 – Is there a danger that a vicious cycle develops, where government inaction informs fears of de-industrialisation.

3:30 – How should trade unionists and climate activists respond to COP26 in 2021?

Beyond the Noise is a Source News podcast looking at the issues behind the headlines.

This weak David Jamieson spoke to Nathalia Urban, a Scotland based Brazilian journalist who covers events in South America, about the coup in Bolivia which was overturned in elections last week.

They discuss:

0:55 – What’s the background to the movement in Bolivia, and the significance of the this election victory?

7:17 – How the international community turned its back on democracy in Bolivia.

18:18 – What’s the future of the movement in Bolivia?

Beyond the Noise is a Source podcast that gets beyond the headlines and looks at issues in the news in more depth.

This week David Jamieson is joined by Richie Venton, a trade unionist sacked by Ikea in Glasgow for informing his members of plans to cut sick pay.

They discuss:

1:00 – What is the background to the campaign? Why was Venton sacked?

6:53 – What are Ikea trying to achieve with these moves?

11:54 – What does this mean for trade unionists and workers across the country?

Beyond the Noise is a Source News podcast where David Jamieson gets behind the headlines and looks at issues in the news in more depth.

This week he is joined by Scottish National Union of Students President Matt Crilly, to discuss a university intake like no other, in a year like no other.

The discuss:

2:25 – Why SNUS are calling for increased funding for the new student intake.

5:15 – What scale of new provision is required from the Scottish Government to cover the new intake?

8:25 – What will be the impact on already limited and expensive student housing?

15:50 – What are the prospects for a new student movement, given all these problems?

Beyond the Noise is a Source podcast with David Jamieson, looking at issues in the news in more depth.

For this edition he is joined by sociology lecturer Dr Tom Mills to discuss the place of the BBC and the wider media in the Covid-19 crisis.

They discuss:

3:30 – How should we understand the BBC? What is it? What is its social purpose?

10:00 – How do we understand BBC’s claim to neutrality?

12:45 – How has the pandemic upset the BBC’s balancing act?

21:45 – Has the pandemic and the BBC’s importance in relaying official information reduced the desire of some in elite circles to shrink the BBC’s influence?

27:30 – How does the BBC decide what its news agenda looks like? What is its relationship to the wider news environment and particularly the papers?

Beyond the Noise is a Source news podcast with David Jamieson that explores issues in the headlines in more depth.

This week Jamieson is joined by Jonathon Shafi, a Scottish activist who recently criticised the Scottish Government commissioned Economic Recovery Group (ERG) Report in an article for the Herald.

They discuss:

00: 45 – What is the context against which the ERG’s report has been published?

6:15 – Does the report keep pace with the changes in economic policy we’ve seen around the world in response to the lockdown?

15:30 – Who are the people behind the report and what does the make up of the ERG tell us about its political character.

21:40 – How does the report impact the constitutional question?