Macrodose

This week on The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Kate Aronoff - staff writer at The New Republic - to discuss Zohran Mamdani's resounding victory in the democratic primary for New York City Mayor (0.57).

In the full episode, available to Macrodose patrons, James & Kate also break down:

- Attempts by US republicans to take from the poor and give to the rich via Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, set to cut health insurance for those on lower incomes and hand massive tax cuts to the wealthy.

- Starmer’s Labour government coming a cropper over cuts to disability benefits and facing a backlash from the backbenches.

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James unpacks the big news story of the week: the US’ direct entry into the war in the Middle East, the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, and the potential long term geopolitical and economic fall outs (2:11).

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

This week on The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Laleh Khalili - Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of Sinews of War and Trade and Extractive Capitalism.

Together, James and Laleh discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, with Israel escalating it’s U.S.-backed war on Iran. What are the potential geopolitical and economic consequences of escalating tensions in the region? (1.57)

In the full episode, available to Macrodose patrons, the team also breaks down:

- Trump’s proposed 'Golden Share' deal to control U.S. Steel - and what it could mean for the future of corporate governance and national industrial policy.

- A rare dose of optimism: the New York mayoral primary, where insurgent candidate Zohran Kwame Mamdani is mounting a progressive grassroots challenge to disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo.

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James unpacks:

First, everything you need to know about today's Spending Review from the Labour government. What cuts are coming, and what does this mean for public services? (0:31) Second, the millionaire exodus that never was - new research debunks the myth that higher taxes are driving the rich to flee the UK (7:45).

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

On this week's episode of The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley discuss Rachel Reeves spending review, expected to mark a miserable return to austerity (1:41).

In the full episode, James and Grace discuss Starmer pledging to increase defence spending to put Britain in a state of ‘war-fighting readiness’, and the Autonomy Institute's report on how maximum temperatures limits will be required for workplaces.

The extended version of this show is available to Macrodose Patreon members. Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Autonomy Report: https://www.ier.org.uk/news/autonomy-institute-report-finds-2-3rds-of-uk-labour-force-could-be-working-in-extreme-heatwaves-by-end-of-2020s/

Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk

Last week, Macrodose returned to SPACE4 for another live show, looking at the future of global political economy under the shadow of Trump 2.0.

We explored where the UK fits into this shifting global landscape, what a radical economic programme could look like, and how green politics can rise to meet the moment.

Speakers:

• ​James Meadway
• ​Maria Finnerty (Cafod’s economic lead)
• ​Kojo Koram (Author of Uncommon Wealth)
• ​Nick Dearden (Director, Global Justice Now)

To celebrate the launch of The BREAK—DOWN ISSUE #1, editor Adrienne Buller was joined by Quinn Slobodian and Geoff Mann for a timely conversation on the afterlives of neoliberalism, the climate crisis, and the global rise of the far right.

ISSUE #1

The BREAK—DOWN is dedicated to exploring the political economy of the climate crisis. We bring together personal stories, cultural critique, expert insight and radical imagination to explore the systems driving ecological collapse — and what it might take to confront them.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, our first issue, RIGHT TURN, explores climate politics in an age of rising authoritarianism, asking what happens when the future of the planet is shaped by a hardening new right.

Issue ⁠⁠#1⁠⁠ is available now. Buy a print copy ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: First, the UK avoids recession! Where did recent positive GDP figures come from and are they sustainable? (0:48) Second, more news from "The Uninsurable World", as global losses from natural disasters hit $318 billion in 2024 (3:28). And finally, how the Labour government is responding to historic droughts in the UK (12:07).

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠.

On this week's episode of The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Faiza Shaheen - distinguished policy fellow at the London School of Economics - to discuss the trade deal recently announced between the UK and US (1:49).

In the full episode, James and Faiza investigate the sudden flurry of interest in the term “geoeconomics”, and reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is about to review Cash ISAs.

The extended version of this show is available to Macrodose Patreon members. Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Macrodose LIVE tickets (May 22nd): ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/macrodose-live-green-futures-in-the-age-of-trump-tickets-1325086472309⁠

Pre-order issue one of The Break Down magazine: ⁠https://www.break-down.org/issues/1⁠

Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to ⁠⁠⁠planetbproductions.co.uk

On this week’s MACRODOSE, James Meadway breaks down two big stories. First (0:43), fresh warnings from UK food suppliers about the threat of climate change. Second (3:24), tensions between India and pakistan have seen the dismantling of a key treaty over the supply of water. And finally (10:32), a look at what Reform’s successes in the local elections could mean for England’s flood defences.

🎟 LIVE show tickets! (May 22nd)

Green Futures in the Age of Trump, with James Meadway, Kojo Koram, Adrienne Buller & Nick Dearden:⁠⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/macrodose-live-green-futures-in-the-age-of-trump-tickets-1325086472309⁠⁠

Find the Inside Track memo here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tATFmJG0wOtLDHxionMX0qNEXw49tjRl/view?usp=drivesdk

Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Got a question or comment? Drop us a line at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

Learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions:⁠planetbproductions.co.uk⁠