When Trump told Zelensky he didn't hold any of the cards, what he didn't know was the Zelensky actually had an entire Royal Flush up his sleeve and that he was demonstrating a rather brilliant Poker Face. Last week Ukraine completed its biggest long-range attack which destroyed 40 Russian warplanes, wiping out a large percentage of their military hardware. It was in the planning for at least 18 months so yeah, there were cards. 

In other news, Trump wants to hold an investigation into Biden's cognitive decline and has implemented a travel ban on 12 countries. Only Egypt isn't on the list, which is deeply bizarre because he said the ban was due to the antisemitic attack which happened, which was carried out by.....an Egyptian. 

Then, Jemma and Marina discuss Trump and Musk's very public and very embarrassing and completely inevitable break up and why they personally wouldn't have awarded the billionaire with a 'golden key' for anything he's done. A clip of Professor Scott Galloway talking about him, is the clip of the episode. 

Lastly, in an unusual Trawl twist, Marina and Jemma end by talking about Kris Jenner's face. 

Some wonderful funnies finish the ep off and of course, as ever, pudding is served. 

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

It's all happening. That said, potholes might not be getting fixed, loft extensions might not be getting signed off and bins might not be getting collected - those things may or may not be happening, but Doge has been announced.

Yes, this episode goes into what is happening in various Reform led councils. Firstly, having decided that Musk's Doge has gone 'so well' in the States (spoiler alert, it hasn't, it's failed miserably', Farage has announced the same approach over here. Though they should really be using a different acronym. After all, how can you have a Department of Governmental Efficiency in action when they're not actually in government? Hmm. 

Anyway, they want to slash millions, billions even, the numbers quoted are huge, although when Lewis Goodall challenges Reform Chairman, Zia Yusef, on his wild figures, Yusef cites an unnamed think tank as his source. Seems reasonable. 

Pensions will go - not Farage's EU one to be clear, that's staying, obvs - meetings will be reduced and apparently a hit squad of talented experts will be instigating all of this, for free. 

Meanwhile, the Tories are having a mare. Jenrick is busy doing the media rounds but Marina has found some pretty incredible receipts. And Truss is in Hungary, wanging on about free speech and how she's had to go to Budapest to say what she wants. Each to their own. 

Some great underrated tweets and clips follow, plus the ladies explore the somewhat biased coverage of the man arrested for driving into the crowds of football fans in Liverpool. he lives in a cul de sac and that, apparently, means a lot. 

Pudding is by the phenomenal Larry and Paul 

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

This episode begins with Jemma and Marina explaining why they weren't aligned this week for pretty much the first time in Trawl history, though their disagreement was quickly put to rest once they'd consulted listeners and asked what you think. 

There's a quick goodbye to the MOTD version of Gary Lineker and then, it's straight into what's happening in politics here in the UK. However, before they get round to the newly announced Reform manifesto, they feel it's only fair to check in with Tory HQ. Someone's got to after all. 

There's not a huge amount to report apart from Kemi Badenoch being roasted by Trevor Phillips, Robert Jenrick turning into a London Underground vigilante with more than a dash of Alan Partridge and one very unaware tweet. 

Then it's time to break down some of what Farage had to say, only you'll be pleased to note that one clip of Natasha Devon will blow your mind and give you hope. It certainly had that effect on the Trawl ladies and begs the question why getting do Reform get so much airtime? When Farage starts lecturing women on what they should and shouldn't be able to decide about their own bodies, it's time to look at the kind of people who agree with him. Some hilarious takes follow; 

A bumper under rated clip and tweet section comes next and the clip of Trump being insulted and sulking like a petulant toddler is almost as funny as the one of a regretful Musk who is clearly not allowed to play with the big boys at The White House any more. Leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey, makes a good point about how well that's gone for him. 

Pudding ends the episode where it began with one from the Broken News vaults belonging to brilliant comedians, Larry and Paul. 

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

What can we say... Sadly, this pod isn't a laugh a minute, although Jemma does manage to squeeze in a little humour when discussing Marina's social algorithm which has taking scrolling to another level of doom. 

Jemma landed back from a few days away from the news to the harrowing events in Liverpool and the grim state of affairs that saw Merseyside police rush to declare the ethnicity of the suspect, yet seemingly this wasn't enough to placate the usual suspects who seemingly relish any opportunity to weaponize suffering for their own gain. 

Talk turns to the tragic events in Washington, where two Israelis were gunned down and Netanyahu's response which is a masterclass in gaslighting and responsibility shirking. The ladies discuss how the dehumanisation of Palestinians and devaluing of their lives has become so prevalent and share one powerful explanation by Israeli journalist, Gideon Levy.

And while it was only last week that David Lammy declared suspended trade negotiations with Israel, just wait till you see what our UK trade envoy has been up to. 

Pudding is from a new contributor – Actor, Caitlin O’Ryan who delivered an incredible poem entitled: Questions for my conscience.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

Marina and Jemma were thrilled to talk to one half of Rizzle Kicks, writer and communicator extraordinaire Jordan Stephens.

They discuss connection, love, heartbreak, what’s happening to men right now and whether or not the patriarchy has entirely ‘benefited’ men.

The Trawl ladies find him positive, compelling to listen to and super smart. They hope you do too.

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

It's like 2019 all over again... Yes Trawlers, were debating Brexit all over again following Starmer's EU-UK reset, and as night follows day, all the usual suspects are up in arms crying betrayal. The grift never ends. 

Marina and Jemma play a game of Brexit bingo where Jemma accurately predicts the all-too expected reactions to what is seemingly a very sensible approach from Labour - indeed the ladies would argue one that is perhaps too sensible and doesn't go far enough. 

Both Reform and the Tories are doing a great job of disagreeing with almost all trade bodies and showing they're not the parties of business, but perhaps the parties of work-shy charlatans who are too busy holidaying to make it into the House of Commons chamber for the debate. 

There's some topline discussion of what the reset entails, and a quite incredible response from a prominent Brexiter who proudly announced that actually he likes standing in the longer non-EU queue at passports. Well off you pop then pal, nothing stopping you. 

There's a quick stop-off in the US to check on Trump's lunacy levels, which it appears have reached stage 9 - which incidentally is the same, made-up stage of cancer that Trump claimed Biden was diagnosed with. 

A tariff update that exposes Trump's incompetence follows, before some underrated off-piste tweets and a pudding by Munya Chawawa.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

The UK government have finally condemned Israel for withholding aid, the same week The Guardian has reported that 14,000 babies will die unless food is allowed into the region immediately. 

Jemma and Marina can't help it, they have to ask, what changed? What took so long? They are pleased but aggrieved

In this episode the Trawl ladies share what happened when Marina went onto LBC to confront Nick Ferrari in an exchange which went viral. They discuss the entire Gary Lineker brouhaha that has got the nation talking and share some prose which Jemma particularly found very helpful when struggling to know how to feel. 

In an episode which feels more like collective therapy, Marina and Jemma share incredible clips, heart wrenching clips and some very powerful words. 

This one is for everyone who has chosen to use their voice, their platform, their social media, their time, their energy just to care. 

It's called The Ache of Being Awake

Pudding is by the very talented Martin Kerr

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

This episode begins with some good news - the goons who cut down the beautiful tree in the Sycamore Gap for no reason whatsoever, have gone to prison. So that's one reason to be cheerful. Meanwhile, the Vatican have elected a new Pope, quicker than it takes to hire someone in most normal offices these days and newsflash, the MAGA lot are not fans. Apparently he's a Marxist lefty loon (ie he seems pretty compassionate). 

Meanwhile, there has been much made of the UK US trade deal. A win for Starmer in some regards? And yet what does it really entail and how much of an improvement is it in real terms? 

Then, Trump has accepted a plane worth $400,000, 000 from the Qatari government. Super! Nothing to see here then. Enjoy hearing Trump's defence when questioned by a journalist, and hear about where Trump chose to take a little nap. 

There's plenty of Trump batshittery and then to end the ep, one of the craziest conspiracy theories ever to have gripped the internet before being roundly disproved. 

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

There is no doubt, immigration is a huge point of contention for much of the electorate, but why did Starmer use language that could be compared to language used by Enoch Powell in the 60's, even if it wasn't exactly the same? Given that Farage has taken the opportunity to condemn him for it, has it backfired completely? And, if we all agree that boat crossings aren't safe and that having huge numbers of people living in hotels isn't sustainable, why conflate those situations with all immigration? These are some of the questions Marina and Jemma ponder as they rake over the social media fallout post Starmer's recent speech on immigration. 

They also examine what his proposal's will mean for the already under-staffed care sector, and why so many people feel repulsed by the endless determination to try to win back votes from Reform. Who is advising Starmer? Why go this route? And why are Labour comms so lacking?

Then, guess how many of the new Reform councillors have already resigned? Spoiler - a lot. 

As ever the Trawl ladies wrap up with some under rated tweets and a thought provoking pudding. 

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

This rollercoaster podcast kicks off with showbiz and Royal stories that Marina makes her feelings clear on, before delving into the meat of the episode: Trump and Palestine. 

It's been a wild week of Trawl-gold clips from Trump, so much so the laddies struggled to shortlist them, starting with Trump's admission that he's clueless regarding the oath he swore (TWICE) to protect the constitution - including the Fifth Ammendment, which is funny, given Trump has pleaded the Fifth over 400 times.

Then come more clips evidencing Trump's loss of grip on reality, but the most shocking one of all came when the man with a golden bog told Americans their "baby girls" can only have 2 or 3 dolls and also pay a bit more for them. There's another political system that does that kind of thing...and it ain't capitalism!

Following more Trump chaos, talk turns to Palestine where it appears we are entering the most blatant, brazen stage of ethnic cleansing now broadcast to us live on air while the international community stands idly by. Jemma recounts her view of Louis Theroux's Settlers documentary before the ladies segue (perhaps a little uncomfortably for obvious reasons) onto underrated tweets of the week and pudding by Mr Michael Spicer.

Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey