Quiet Riot

Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou, and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, covering the nuclear fallout from the war of words between the world's most powerful narcissist and the world's richest sociopath.

Also, does Zia Yusuf's flounce out - and flounce back in - point to dysfunction inside Reform UK?

Plus, we have the closest this podcast has even come to a row, over the result of the Scottish by-election in Hamilton.

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“Trump is now a Tesla owner who hates Musk. Surely this will make him more popular than ever.”

"If there is substance behind Musk's accusations, Team Trump are going to go into full panic lockdown. And if not, Musk's just gifted him the 'look at the unhinged billionaire trying to smear me' defense."

"We're seeing this from an Anglocentric perspective. There is nothing to stop Musk from taking his technology and his business in a direction that brings him closer to the Middle East, let's say. There are plenty of other places. Who knows what China's view on this is, for example."

"A lot of the MAGA crowd, the big influencers, the YouTubers, the podcasters, the blue ticks, are monetizing X. So a lot of them depend on it for reach and actual income. Musk is in quite a powerful position when it comes to them."

"The Authoritarian Right is populated by people who think the harshest possible rules should apply - to everyone else."

"The problem for Labour is that they are losing seven times more votes to the left than they are to the right. With such very small margins, in other parts of the country that could really tip them down into danger territory."

"Labour dodged a bullet. And in that part of Scotland in particular, once upon a time, not too long ago, if Farage and Tice walked into a pub and started spouting, you'd have to say that they'd exit through the window."

“Can you stop saying 'Boris Johnson' please? It might be like Candyman. Like, if you say his name on a podcast three times, he appears as a guest."

"This fragmentation in a first-past-the-post system is difficult for Labour. And it is for that reason that I think they should definitely back PR - and they're not going to. But they will be extremely concerned about pursuing an 'if you don't like Farage, you have to vote for us' strategy. That's clearly not where voters are."

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

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Alex Andreou and Zoe Williams, with special guest, former Home Secretary and author of a new Harold Wilson biography, Alan Johnson, discuss the Strategic Defence Review, the upcoming departmental budgets, whether Starmer's government has a choice, but to spend that money and a choice on where to find it.

Also, taking over a stagnant economy after more than a decade of Tory cuts, a poor start in government, trying to balance a tight fiscal position with demands on public services, pressure from a US President, and facing accusations of being unprincipled. Yet Wilson survived and went on to win election after election. What can his story teach the Starmer government?

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

You can buy Alan's biography of Wilson at our own bookshop. Help a local shop and this podcast.

https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/the-quiet-riot-contributor-bookshop

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“The media’s orientation towards the Labour government is that nothing it can possibly do will be enough and anything it suggests will be too expensive.” 

“On defence, you can’t take chances. You can’t say: oh well, we’ll gamble that when Trump goes it will go back to normal. You have to say: this has happened, we’ve got to react to it.”

"The two Labour Party groups to keep together are not Left and Right, but intellectual progressives and blue collar trade unionists. Both groups contain people from the Left and Right."

CALL TO ACTION

Fill in the government survey on benefits reform here.

GRIN AND SHARE IT

Read about men feeding cubs, dressed as bears here.

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political news, with a focus on the end of Musk's chemical romance with the White House, Trump's well-earned "TACO" moniker, and Harvard's resistance.

Also, we look back at the RBS bail-out and how it continues to be felt in our politics today.

PLUS - Watch out. Robert Jenrick's about. Why has our politics become so small, meand, and petty?

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“The big difference between Trump’s first term and this one is that everyone around him seems resigned to the idea that they can’t make policy, consult, or shape his thinking ahead of time. The whole outfit has swung into hearing his latest brain-fart, same time as we do, then double down and pretend that it is the best plan ever.”

“Jenrick is not a vigilante. He’s not an action man. His defining quality is flaccidity. His reputation is that of a petty, mean, small man, who paints over kids’ murals. So, while the stunt might have worked for someone else, for Jenrick it simply cements his reputation as a petty, mean, small man.”

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss the great socialist Farage camouflage mirage, and the reemergence of Dominic "Team Player" Cummings, with special guest Marcus Brigstocke. Also, a deep dive into the UK's reluctance to protect the intellectual property of creatives from Artificial Intelligence.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

You can find the dates to Marcus Brigstocke's "Vitruvian Mango" tour here.

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“We have a massive election year next year. The challenge between now and next May is to hold to account the ten councils that Reform now run and the mayors they have got.” 

“I’m trying to do this thing, partly for my own health, when Reform are speaking where I listen and try to find things I agree with. Things to which I can say ‘yeah, I hear you’. Otherwise I start from a position of absolute hostility and treating everything as if it’s nonsense.”

“What on earth do we do with young men? Let’s start by saying: look, this isn’t your fault, but as soon as you’re ready, it is going to be your responsibility to help to make this better. That’s difficult stuff. You can’t cheat those conversations.”

“The maddening thing with Nick Clegg is that the trajectory of his shitness is so chartable. He smelled the money, went after it, came back eye-wateringly rich, and in real time, in a way we can observe, he lost any care for the people that this affects.”

“People have rights to their product. It’s astonishing for Nick Clegg to shrug and say: there’s no way of stopping AI from stealing your stuff… If I created a great new drone, that went into Tesco and nicked whatever parts it needed all the time, I promise you I would have a f***ing problem. The system would say: fix your product or it’s dead.”

CALLS TO ACTION

Support BYLINES NETWORK here.

Support HOPE NOT HATE here.

Support DEMOCRACY FOR SALE here.

And find a local refugee charity, if you are in a Reform-run council!

Support ARTS EMERGENCY here.

GRIN AND SHARE IT

Read about the first refugee UK High Commissioner, Kanbar Hossein-Bor, here.

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, with a focus on the apparent briefing and counter-briefing war inside No. 10, the softening of policy on winter fuel payments, and the latest ONS migration data.

PLUS guest Arthur Snell explains the significance of the change of stance by the US and Europe towards Israel over Gaza.

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“Conventional wisdom was that local election results had strengthened the hand of the Blue Labour lot. The ‘Island of Strangers’ speech was seen as such an overreach, such a turnoff by so many that, whatever advantage they had, they overplayed it. It's backfired and backfired badly. So we now have a significant briefing and counter-briefing operation going on.” 

“Some of the usual suspects have offered some hilariously hot takes on the winter fuel payment rethink, even linking it to market turbulence. To look at an environment where you have Trump threatening 50% tariffs on the EU and come to the conclusion that markets are worried about the threshold of the winter fuel payment… I mean, that is deranged.”

“Everybody I speak to, on either side of the Channel, who wants [the UK-EU reset] to succeed is saying the biggest risk we face now is loss of enthusiasm on both sides. Business communities within Europe, within the UK, voter groups that want it, civilian groups, civil society - we have got to keep the pressure up.”

“The one thing that is certain is that this can't go on for four years. You can't have No.10 factions briefing against each other. There needs to be some kind of sanitisation exercise with the widely expected reshuffle in June. Starmer will have to do the thing that Stammer really hates doing most: pick a side.”

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find Arthur's superb "Behind The Lines" podcast here.

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss Labour's obsession with voters to the right, while haemorrhaging voters to the left, with guest Labour MP Marsha de Cordova. Also, a deep dive into Labour's reform of support for people with disabilities and the worry and hurt it is causing.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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GRIN AND SHARE IT

Read more about the International Museum of Migration.

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠***

With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a quick, end-of-the-day reaction to the UK-EU Summit. Light on detail, high on symbolism, does it have the potential to be a turning point? SPOILERS: Absolutely.

Also, why is the media losing its mind over mackerel? The facts on fishing - including quite a lot of stuff you will NOT have heard widely discussed.

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠***

With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, including the presentation of a huge unconstitutional bribe as a moral and intellectual imperative, the state of the super-wealthy in the UK, the blocking of bonuses for Thames Water bosses, and last minute jitters before the EU-UK Corral.

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠***

With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

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Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith, and Kenny Campbell discuss Starmer's immigration policy, the language employed, the economic and psychological impact. Also a full preview of Monday's UK-EU summit. What to expect and when.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

"I look at Starmer's trajectory and it is immensely difficult not to notice the trail of devastation left behind. Disabled people, Palestinians, trans people, and now immigrants. All I can see is someone who is willing to throw anyone out of his hot air balloon, just so it can rise higher."

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CALLS TO ACTION

Help Best for Britain here.

Help Hope not Hate here.

Help The 3 Million here.

Help The Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants here.

GRIN AND SHARE IT

Pair convicted of felling sycamore gap tree.

Vandals questioned in homophobia case.

Gap sycamore sprouts new growth.

Trees of Hope - 49 sycamore saplings to be planted.

Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠***

With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou talks to trade expert David Henig about the UK-US. Is it a trade deal? Is it a deal? What about hormone beef and chlorinated chicken? What about the tech tax? What about Boeing? What about the EU summit?

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠***

With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices