England and Wales is still - unbelievably - operating under an 1861 law that criminalises abortion access. An unprecedented rise in prosecutions and the rise of an aggressive US-style anti-abortion movement in the UK have triggered calls for change.

Labour MP Stella Creasy joins Nish and Coco to break down her bill to decriminalise abortion and make it a protected human right. 

Over in Scotland - Reform and Labour are battling against the SNP in a crucial by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on the outskirts of Glasgow. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf MSP shares his thoughts on this two-horse race, the Government’s complicity in genocide in Gaza, and what his next career moves might be.

And finally - is Dominic Cummings, former special advisor to Boris Johnson - yes, the one who broke lockdown rules driving to Barnard Castle to “test his eyesight” - worth paying attention to…

Stay tuned after the credits for a trailer for a special crossover with The News Meeting from the Observer, featuring our very own Coco Khan.

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See us live!

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https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/decriminalise-abortion-and-make-it-a-protected-human-right

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Guests:

 Stella Creasy MP

Humza Yousaf MSP

Audio Credits

STV

Piers Morgan Uncensored

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Stay out of wombs Nigel! Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wants us to have more babies - which for new mum Coco feels like being bamboozled into being rightwing. Not only this, Farage is even coming for abortion - saying it’s “utterly ludicrous” to allow abortion up to 24-weeks. Keep your wits about you!

From leaked memos and inner-circle beef to U-turns and rumoured U-turns - Keir Starmer is feeling the pressure. Nish and Coco dive into the Westminster bubble to find out why the Government has become a leaky ship with Politico reporter Bethany Dawson.

Half a decade on from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests that shook the world, only one third of the recommendations of major reports to tackle endemic racism in the UK has actually been implemented and equality initiatives are facing a rightwing backlash on both sides of the Atlantic. So, is the UK backsliding on racial justice? 

Guardian community affairs correspondent and author Aamna Mohdin reflects on the personal and political legacy of the largest anti-racism rallies in the UK since the abolition of slavery.

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Guests:

Bethany Dawson

Aamna Mohdin

Useful Links:

Scattered: The making and unmaking of a refugee by Aamna Mohdin

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/scattered-9781526652591/

Politico’s London Playbook 

https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/page/109/

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Reunited, Coco and Nish are finally back together in the studio to talk U turns, disability benefits, Brexit and… gimp masks? There’s a lot of politics to catch up on including some big shifts from the Labour government. 

First on Gaza - Keir Starmer and David Lammy changed tack with fierce criticism of the Israeli government. But critics argue that without an actual arms embargo talking tough with Israel is inadequate. So is it all too little, too late? 

And in another change of direction, the Prime Minister has been listening to voters and his own disgruntled MPs on benefits. He signalled a rethink on one of Labour's most unpopular moves - cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. But reforms of disability benefits are still on the cards so Nish heads to Westminster where disability activists gathered to lobby their MPs. With a major rebellion on the cards from Labour MPs, can Starmer be steered into a U-turn on this too?

Employment minister Alison McGovern explains how she’s going to get more young people into work and she has a message for Pod Save the UK’s disillusioned Labour voters. 

And did you think Brexit bollocks was in the rearview mirror? Well sorry - this week the Brexit undead returned with nonsense we thought was safely consigned to the dustbin of history. 

Guests:

Alison McGovern MP

Ellie Chowns MP

Nadia Whittome MP

Meg Thomas, Disability Rights Campaigner 

Audio Credits:

Parliament TV

BBC

GB News

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Coco’s back! She’s both sleep and politics deprived, but Nish is ready to fill her in.

The government's shake-up of legal migration laws landed this week - but the news has been dominated by one question. Is Keir Starmer Enoch Powell incarnate? His speech warned that we ‘risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks together’ - a careless comment or a reaction to Reform gains? Nish and Coco dissect and take a deep dive into the government’s plans with Minnie Rahman, CEO of migrants' rights charity Praxis. 

Next up, the Government are jumping for joy about the US-UK trade deal, but Nish struggles to find anything to say… is this just a downgrade portrayed as an upgrade? 

The race for the next leader of the Greens is on, and will Youngblud make a foray into politics? Nish and Coco discuss how to capture the youth vote. And grassroots football teams are fighting back against the FA’s ban on trans women playing football. 

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To find out more about how people will be impacted check out Praxis' socials and ⁠sign up to their emails⁠ for campaign actions.’

https://everpress.com/gdfc-let-the-dolls-play

https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/nish-kumar-nish-dont-kill-my-vibe

Guest: 

Minnie Rahman, CEO of Praxis 

Audio Credits: 

BBC

Parliament TV

Kemi badenoch / X

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There’s no ifs or buts - Reform had a won big in last week’s local elections - but it’s not all bad news. Near-total Tory wipeout, positive signs for the Liberal Democrats and Greens and a lesson for Labour: acquiescing to Nigel Farage will only empower him. 

A slightly jetlagged Nish and a fresh as a daisy Zoë digest the results before diving into demands to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza… Led by, of all people, rebel tories? In the wake of the Netanyahu’s latest actions, why isn't the British Government speaking up more? 

Later, the pair are joined by climate activist Patience Nabukalu, for an injection of hope following her direct action calling for an end to fossil fuel investment from one of the UK’s biggest banks. 

**Comment was sought from HSBC regarding claims of dismissing voices at their AGM but was not received in time for publication. We will update this podcast if we receive a reply**

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Guests

Patience Nabukalu

Audio Credits

Number 10 Downing Street

Zack Polanski

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In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of woman should be based on biological sex, Nish and Zoë speak to LGBTQ+ activist Ellen Jones, author of "Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it" about the implications for trans people . 

They discuss how the campaigning of reactionaries like billionaire author JK Rowling led to the decision that has seen Prime Minister Keir Starmer backflipping on his support for the trans community. Ellen speaks on the dangers of the recent ruling and practical ways to resist and support the trans community.

Then, as the Tories flounder ahead of the local elections, Zoë hedges her bets. And we take a look at two shocking attempts to seize the limelight by Liz Truss and Tony Blair.

Plus, ahead of the Australian election this weekend, Nish speaks to former Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan about how, in the wake of Trump's tariffs and attacks on allies, the commonwealth might be more important than ever and what the US and UK could learn from Australia's compulsory preferential voting system.

CORRECTION: In this episode we at one point refer to the EHCR incorrectly, for clarity, it is the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

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Guests:

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Wayne Swan

Useful links:

Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it by Ellen Jones

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ellen-jones/outrage/9781035030606

The Good Law Project Crowdfunder to legally challenge the Supreme Court Decision

https://goodlawproject.org/crowdfunder/supreme-court-human-rights-for-trans-people/

Compilation of protests against the Supreme Court Decision

https://whatthetrans.com/compilation-of-protests-against-the-supreme-court/ 

Volunteer at your local trans pride - London Trans Pride call for stewards

https://www.instagram.com/londontranspride

Write to your MP

https://transactual.org.uk/change-actions/write-to-your-mp/

Reclaim the framing of UK trans rights

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTWR6sdj_xWKoOGLmwp0JotSL3NBrYSd1Dy3VZOIIKJKy0Ej6cFPt32IIKan3qCq6fG4lpgrw46ewO0/pub?urp=gmail_link

Protect the Dolls T-shirt in support of Trans Lifeline, a US-based charity

https://connerives.com/products/pre-order-protect-the-dolls-t-shirt

Info on voting in the Australian Election abroad:

ALPABROAD.ORG 

Audio Credits

Sky News

ITV News

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As Parliament sits for Easter Recess, Nish and Coco dive into the PSUK mailbag to answer your burning questions. 

There’s the serious political questions - who are the real progressive party? How can we fight Reform? Should we all just leave the UK??

But there’s some curveballs, too - like what’s up with Bob Dylan’s instagram posting? Boxers or briefs? And most importantly… Has Nish Kumar ever eaten a pot noodle in the bath? 

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UPDATE: 10/04/25: President Trump has planned to pause extended tariffs on most countries for 90 days, while pushing ahead on plans to implement a 104% tariff on Chinese goods. A flat 10% tariff remains in place.

Trump’s tariffs continue to cause chaos in the stock markets and the threat of a recession looms. As Rachel Reeves put it in her Spring Statement - the world is changing before our eyes - but is it enough to see her back down on her precious fiscal rules? Co-host Zoë Grünewald joins Nish to make sense of it all.

Can ‘the most dangerous man in Britain’ shed light on this moment of global chaos? Author and education campaigner Melissa Benn, daughter of the late great politician Tony Benn, reflects on her father’s relevance today and the future of the left. 

Plus, Melissa takes a look at what’s in Labour’s new education bill. Kemi Badenoch has labelled it “an act of vandalism” - but are the reforms as revolutionary as critics claim?

And a couple of monumental WTF’s for you this week - Israel has barred two Labour MPs, just as human rights lawyers deliver a landmark report to the Met Police’s War Crimes Team, making accusations of war crimes against 10 Britons, who served in the Israeli military in Gaza. It’s chilling stuff.

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The Most Dangerous Man in Britain?: The Political Writing by Tony Benn

https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3318-the-most-dangerous-man-in-britain?srsltid=AfmBOoqeWPvXcuRrm3zzK1FZ0GZ0JYD7BY6lSBtIpztZdp5gR12u7fmr

Guests

Melissa Benn

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CBS News

Sky

The Guardian

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Warning: this episode contains descriptions of sexually explicit and sexist song lyrics.

While we wait to see if Trump’s tariff juggernaut is going to squash our fragile economy, Nish and Coco count the cost of the “bill-mageddon” we already face. It’s a perfect storm of steep rises in household bills and a bonkers global trade war. 

While we’re staring economic apocalypse in the face, we seem to be losing our rights to protest. If the Quakers get raided, who’s safe from heavy handed policing and draconian laws?

And have you prepared yourself for food shortages? Your stash of beans might not cut it. Professor Tim Lang - author of a major report on food security- has a plan we all need to hear. 

On the bright side, 2025 is the year the Labour Party has decided to embrace social media and podcasts. What can possibly go wrong? 

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Guests

Tim Lang

Zoë Grünewald

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C4

Garys Economics

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First the good news: we might just manage to build a lot of new houses. And the bad news? Millions of people will be worse off and about fifty thousand children will be pushed into poverty by welfare reform.

Nish and Coco unpack Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement with the help of economist James Meadway, former advisor to John McDonnell. It was pretty bleak stuff from Reeves: the world is scary, growth is low, and cuts are coming. All with a strong whiff of austerity 2.0.

The Chancellor says her fiscal rules are “non-negotiable”. But James has an alternative Spring Statement to banish the gloom and challenge the way we think about growth.

Plus, as the great Signal security cock up rumbles on in the US, Nish and Coco wonder why they've never been included in a top-secret military chat. It’s just not fair.

And it’s got the UK talking, but will the Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’ make a difference in the real world?

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Guests:

James Meadway

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Parliament TV

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