Armando is under the weather this week, so in true World Cup style, we have called up a super sub.

Matt Forde steps in to host, and Ria Lina joins him to discuss the big news of the week.

Is it a bit rich of the Labour Party to claim they don't want to 'exaggerate small differences'? How does Starmer sell his achievements, and is there anything we can learn about how Burnham uses language?

In the longer version, we also look back at some of Starmer's best bits, and whether Manchesterism is an ideology, or just good branding

Armando will be back next week, but in the meantime, if you have got a strong message for the show, email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Stewart Lee joins Armando to look at the detail, or lack thereof in the US and Iran deal.

What is a memorandum of understanding? Does the language of UFC apply to this deal? And are Shoreditch hipsters running Iran's social media campaign?

It's by-election day, and while broadcast rules prevent us from discussing the events in Makerfield, there's no rule to stop us discussing the broadcasting rules themselves. Outgoing Ofcom chair Michael Grade has been vocal about the state of broadcast journalism in the UK, so we take a close look at his recent language.

Elsewhere, we talk Ghibli Grandads, soiled underpants, and 'the Islington of the Mind'.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Hugo Rifkind joins Armando, fresh from interviewing a highland cow, to discuss the phrase 'fanning the flames'.

Can a politician ever avoid politicising an issue? How is that different from weaponising? And does journalism have a role in fanning the flames, and prolonging political arguments?

Elsewhere, Armando explains the power of the power nap, Pete Hegseth conflates D-Day with immigration, and we ask if Keir's curse is having an eminently rhyme-able name?

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Rich Evans

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Natalie Haynes joins Armando to look at the differing language used when discussing the benefits and risks of the AI revolution.

Is it just 'a thing' which is beyond debate? What does non-zero actually mean? And we examine the language of Tony Blair's argument, by taking it to its logical conclusion.

In the longer version, you will also hear the ramification of shouting at Harold Pinter, Peter Thiel's unimpeachable jury, and whether we're all living in Armando's diving helmet.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Fresh from a trip to America, Munya Chawawa joins Armando to discuss the political art of saying nothing.

Munya recently looked at the parallels between Trump and Wrestling, and talks about how the language and theatre of WWE has inspired Trump's political style.

They then turn to Andy Burnham's tightrope walk, and his desire to be clear and direct, whilst also avoiding the elephant in the room - what effect does that have on his language?

Danny Kruger's defence of Reform's candidate also reveals some tricks of the political language trade, and we ask - can politicians engage on social media without being cringe?

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

A full list of candidates running in the Makerfield by-election is as follows

Jake Austin - Liberal Democrats

Sound editing: Rich Evans

Production Coordinator: Giulia Mazzu

Executive Producer: Richard Morris

Recorded at the Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

How do you capture the atmosphere of the commons? Parliamentary sketch writer for The Times, Tom Peck, joins Armando to discuss his most detested political buzzwords.

We look at why people get so bloodthirsty in politics when 'the herd moves', who 'an anonymous source' might be, and whether Keir Starmer can draw a pig.

In other news, we look at the demise of PearTree Productions, Ed Davey's wetsuit strategy, and a short-lived Reform councillor who may have taken to political language quickly in his political tenure, but was undone by some shocking language he used elsewhere.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu

Executive Producer: James Robinson

Recorded at the Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

This week, we look at the language of embattled leaders, and some triumphant ones.

Joined by Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ayesha Hazarika, we pore over the speech of Starmer's life - the third such event we have covered on this programme. Is rhetoric the right tool in his father's hand-me-down toolbelt for him to deploy in times of crisis?

He says he gets it, but do we believe him? We look at the paralysing effect of message discipline on political figures, and why it's so refreshing to hear a more genuine message.

We also examine Rhun ap Iorwerth's oratory skills (borrowed from the skinny kid with a funny name), screaming penguins and ask: who is the modern "Mondeo man"?

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Production Coordinator: Giulia Mazzu

Executive Producer: Pete Strauss

Recorded at the Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

What is the Technological Republic?

Armando, Stewart and founder of The Nerve, Carole Cadwalladr, discuss the language and posture of the manifesto released by Palantir's Alex Karp last year.

We look at how Tech bros frame those who block their progress, their effusive language about their products, why they might reflect on linguistic parallels with George Orwell's works.

Armando also describes William Shatner's prose, in which he finds, having read his book, Tech War, that his sentences seem to run on, perhaps one or two clauses longer than a sentence should, which interested him, but also made for a challenging read, which in turn made it worthy of discussion on this week's programme.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Production Coordinator: Giulia Mazzu

Executive Producer: Richard Morris

Recorded at the Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Ready Player One?

Natalie Haynes joins Armando once again to talk about the rise of prediction markets, and how they might affect political language. We also look at the respective war memes from the US and Iran, and how they are taking their cues from video games.

Elsewhere, we discuss the Arc de Trump, Armando's bag of filth, and whether a Sphinx might look good on the White House lawn.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Tim Shipman steps out of a busy week in Westminster to talk Armando through the language of political crises.

Whether "time will tell", or "the matter has been dealt with", we decode what these phrases you will hear from politicians this week really mean. Looking at recent examples, from Brexit to Partygate and beyond, what causes these crises, and how does the communication - and indeed the messenger - make it better or worse?

Armando imagines an inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic, Tim clears things up by making things more complicated, and we also hear his sweary sliding scale of scandal, which will make you yearn for a good old-fashioned omnishambles.

We also look at the local elections, and why every party turns these multi-faceted choices into a 'referendum' on a particular subject.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.