2025 may have been an absolute skip fire for political progress but it was a cracker for culture. The Matts round off the year with their highlights - but what will be their joint top moment of 2025? Thank you for listening this year - the Matts return early January and wish all listeners a fabulous festive season and happy New Year!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts explore the issues thrown up by the dreadful massacre of Jews at Bondi Beach this week. When is a protest actually an act of violence? Why do we rush to talk of securing synagogues from attack rather than address the root problem of those attacks? How will our politicians get ahead of what is obviously a cycle of anti-Semitic violence against Jewish communities around the world that will be repeated over and over until something fundamental shifts? Also this week - what does Trump’s reaction to the murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner tell us about the state of US politics … and does it, ultimately, open up a possible escape from the madness? Enjoy!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss the Trump administration’s demand for visitors to hand over five years’ worth of social media history, why political manifestos have got so long and whether Piers Morgan was right to give such lengthy exposure to Nick Fuertes.

Plus they talk about whether the UK should be able to exert conditions on a sovereign state like Argentina when it comes to defence procurement, what’s going on with the price of beef and which magazines they subscribe to. Enjoy!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts wonder what we’ve learned since Covid … and if the reaction to the current flu outbreak is anything to go by, the answer is not much. The conversation segways into Zack Polanski and political energy. Then in part two, both Matts are united - for once - in praise for Keir Starmer’s attempt to reinterpret the European Convention on Human Rights to deliver swift action on asylum seekers who break our laws. Enjoy!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy document released this week is an astonishing affront to what many of us believe to be the liberal world order. The Matts are joined by New World contributing editor and columnist Paul Mason to understand just how far reaching its consequences are - and how Europe must find new purpose if it is to resist it. Where is the UK’s place in that new Europe? And sweat must this Labour government do to avoid chronic declinism? It’s an engrossing conversation that sheds light on the predicament we are in - and how to escape it. Enjoy!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matt Kelly and Matt d’Ancona again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Richard Tice is as nasty as he appears to be, and if there is a world where Labour and the Conservatives form a German-style grand coalition to keep Reform from forming the next government. They also talk about whether calling out Brexit could be a winning strategy for the prime minister at the next election and, in the world of media, why the Daily Mail hates Prince Harry so much.

Finally, as Christmas approaches, one listener has a burning question: turkey or beef?

Have a question to stump the two Matts? Email us now at [email protected].

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts examine the conclusion of the Independent Office for Police Conduct 14 YEAR (!) investigation into the Hillsborough disaster and reflect on the ghastly sequence of events that has consumed so many lives, literally and otherwise. And to add insult to the closure of a process that has taken 36 years to produce zero accountability for the 97 lives lost by unlawful killing. Also, in the first half of the pod, the Matts discuss Trump’s latest outrage and how it is opening the door to racism and racists everywhere.

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts discuss the central role journalism has played in fostering racism in Britain over the decades, and which now looks like it is entering a new, more dangerous phase. The chat is based on an article Matt Kelly wrote for The New World - the link is below. But before that - why did Rachel Reeves mislead the public about the state of the nation’s finances and how much trouble is she (and the government in general) now in? Enjoy!

Read Matt Kelly’s article here: https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/matt-kelly-journalisms-race-to-the-bottom

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Nigel Farage’s schoolboy racism should count against him 45 years later and, after The New World’s Kent council cover story, how the media can continue to hold the Reform party to account. They also talk about the best outcome for Ukraine in any peace deal and how to solve the immigration debate. Could a Citizens Assembly be the answer, as one listener suggests?

Finally, the Matts respond to one listener’s request that, please, could we all go back to just celebrating Christmas in December?

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Rachel Reeves turn a corner this week with her Budget … and drive this Labour government straight off a cliff? The Matts reflect on her performance yesterday and how she fared in the media round this morning. It’s not great news for those of us clinging to the hope that Starmer can reinvigorate his government and begin to climb the polls. In fact … it’s enough to convince one of the Matts that there’s now no way back for this underwhelming double act. Also - the Matts delve into this week’s special AI edition of The New World - and focus on the British philosopher who is worshipped (almost literally) by the men who believe that control the future. If you’ve never heard of Nick Land, be prepared to be astonished. Enjoy!

Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.