This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at how political actors use language.

Wes Streeting says there is a 'deep disillusionment in this country', and says there is a “growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round". Why is that? And does politicians speaking in that way confound our misery? We look at Sarah Pochin's comments about black and asian people in adverts, and the responses across parliament to that. We also look at how much news is just speculation, and how politicians use speculation to further their arguments.

We also look at how we get our news - is it exhausting to have to keep fact checking things ourselves? Is it preferable to the alternative?

Armando shares his confusion at Immersive experiences, and Stewart invents a new word, and we hear about Starmer's charm offensive.

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

Listen to Strong Message Here at 0945 on Radio 4, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

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

This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Political Editor of The Spectator, Tim Shipman.

We're looking back at looking back. In a week where a scandal-hit Prince renounces his titles and the Chinese spy case continues to pose questions of language for the government, people's previous decisions are being put under the spotlight, we look at how public figures respond to the repercussions of their past. Of course, hindsight is 20:20.

Speaking of 2020, there's also chat about the covid inquiry, and whether we're getting the results we need, or just lurid detail?

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

Sound editing: Chris Maclean

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

One one hand, the world is going to hell, on the other, the age of terror and death has ended, so which is it? Stewart Lee joins Armando to take a look at this maximal approach to political language.

How do you do moderate politics with caps lock on? What's the smart way to diffuse complex arguments about politics? And given the details still to be worked out in the Isreal Gaza peace process, is this week's Peace Summit Trump's 'Mission Accomplished' moment?

Have a message for Armando? Drop us a line on [email protected]

Listen to Strong Message Here at 09:45 on Thursday mornings on Radio 4, or the extended version on BBC Sounds.

Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman

Strong Message Here is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker? Of course you did, because he repeated it every time he was in front a microphone for years.

Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to discuss the use of repetition. How it can be an effective rhetorical technique for the likes of Cicero and Tony Blair, but grates when coming from others? We also look at the language of the recent Tory Party conference, political chocolate bars, and have a debate about the 'debate' politicians often say we need.

Have a strong message for Armando? Drop us a line on [email protected]

Executive producer - James Robinson

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

Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference.

Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their own momentum still make them newsworthy? Looking at conferences past, we look at what makes them an interesting part of the political calendar, and how language comes to the fore.

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45 on Tuesdays, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

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

Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'.

With Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are now getting into 'consequence culture'. We also discuss how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of their new owners, and whether you can pray in your own homes in this country anymore (spoiler alert, you can).

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4, Thursdays at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

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

In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language.

The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria look at the language that defined recent months including Keir Starmer's "Phase 2" and the word "plastic".

Armando’s erstwhile partner in de-baffling political lexicon, Helen Lewis is away working in the United States in the Autumn and so her seat will be kept warm by a rotating cast of co-hosts.

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

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies.

In the last of our summer mini-series, Helen brings a book by Terry Pratchett. To Helen's surprise, this is a blind spot for Armando, who hasn't read any despite being told to do so many times. Where do you start with such an extensive back catalogue? What makes Pratchett's satire so timeless? and has Helen found a new Pratchett super-fan in Armando?

Strong Message Here will return next week. If you have a strong message for Helen and Armando, please email [email protected]

Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls

Strong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Armando has been watch Tehran on Apple TV. This multi-language show about spy agencies in Iran and Israel sheds gives you a glimpse in to life on the ground in these countries that you can't get from headlines alone. Like the Post Office scandal in the UK, why does it sometimes take a dramatisation to mobilise the public, and bring about change?

Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.

Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls

Strong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

If you're interested in fantasy, and fancy taking on a responsibility equivalent to a part-time job, Helen recommends Elden Ring. A wildly popular Japanese video game which allows you to live in a world created by George RR Martin. With place and character names reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, we ask why that is the accepted register of fantasy. Could it be the detail and care which Tolkien gave to his languages, and the sounds of words denoting a sense of place, building a rich landscape? And with companies coming out of Silicon Valley with names like 'Palantir' and 'Mithril', why are the Tech-Right so obsessed with his creations?

Helen also grills Armando on his video-gaming history (whatever the audio equivalent of a 'blink' is, do that, and you'll miss it).

Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.

Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls

Strong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.