Strong Message Here

Armando is joined by Stewart Lee to look at the newly rebranded 'Super Intelligence'.

To get into the linguistic weeds, they are also joined by founding member of The Nerve, Carole Cadwalladr.

The tech bros are coming up with new terminology all over the shop, so we take a whistle stop tour through phrases that grind our gears. Rogue agents, warfighters and bootloaders all come under scrutiny.

Elsewhere, we discuss Armando's visit to Jeffrey Archer's house, Burnham's short honeymoon and why Superman is a rubbish superhero.

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

Armando is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie this week, and they’re going to have an honest conversation about political capital.

Looking at some of the phrases and language being used around Burnham’s decision to spend his political capital, we look at some of the announcements trailed in the speech, and whether the politics of ‘saying’ now trumps the politics of ‘doing’.

Elsewhere, Armando and Pierre work out the difference between a ‘legitimate concern’ and an ‘understandable concern’, examine Peter Thiel’s defense of evil, and find the most unfortunately named politician in the world.

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

Sound editing: Rich Evans

Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter

Executive Producer: Pete Strauss

Recorded at The Sound Company

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

Stewart Lee returns to the show after a summer judging dog shows with Charlotte Church.

He and Armando look at the Lib Dem conference, and why the 'word cloud' is not Ed Davey's friend. They also have some helpful and serious suggestions for how Ed can improve his messaging, which I'm sure he'll take on board.

Elsewhere, we look at how Trump's media ban might play out, and if the Democrats in the US have finally landed on a decent attack line on 'The Trump Crime Family'.

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.

Armando is back from a summer break to look at the use and abuse of political language.

Joined by friend of the show, Natalie Haynes, they mournfully fell the Keir Starmer Metaphor tree, and find a suitable replacement for the Andy Burnham era.

Elsewhere, they discuss the undercover operation on Reform, and the language of the fallout, 'perv glasses' and a corbyn-eqsue 'Strong Message Here' for the modern era.

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.

This week, Phil Wang steps in for Armando, and is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie to discuss 'doing politics differently'.

Digging into the language of Burnham's speech, we examine what he means by 'place', and whether we will see an end to 'punch and judy politics'.

Elsewhere, we look at Badenoch's attack mode, America's 250th celebrations and why politicians struggle to p-p-p-pick a favourite biscuit.

Stay tuned to the end to hear from Armando, and find out what they 'Putin' the chicken over in Georgia.

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.

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.