The Two Matts

The Matts join the fray on chaos at the BBC … what does it mean for the future of the corporation and why we should all be glad to pay for it. Then they are joined by Jo Bartosch, co-author of Pornocracy, an argument about the evils of pornography in today’s world. How has porn changed in the age of the internet - and how has it changed the human species. You will be astonished at some of Jo’s findings. It goes without saying this podcast contains some adult themes so listening in the car with kids is not a great idea. Enjoy!

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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the enthusiasm for the new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani shows charisma is now a political party in its own right, if a Reform government would open the racist floodgates and whether a 2p income tax rise is enough to fix Britain’s problems. Plus they talk about whether anyone actually cares about the climate crisis anymore and if the future of AI is actually a lot brighter than we give it credit for.

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The Matts weigh up the success of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and ask how much we should read into a good set of results for Democrats in the US. And will winning the election prove the easy part now Mamdani has to govern a city notoriously impatient with its mayors? Also - as Mamdani sets out to bring clarity to the unprecedented inequality in American society, what does Elon Musk’s $1trillion pay packet tell us about capitalism in the first quarter of the 21st Century? Enjoy!

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The Matts are bewildered at the chancellor’s performance this morning - who was she talking to? What was she trying to achieve? Why can’t anyone in government seem to speak plain English? Also this week - as The New World launches a long-term campaign Read Against Racism, the Matts analyse how it is that the UK has gone backwards on hard-won progress against hatred and bigotry - and what can be done to fix it. Enjoy!

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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the Caerphilly by-election shows it’s time for Keir Starmer finally to smell the roses on the EU, if opinion polls truly matter and whether Andy Burnham should support Lucy Powell for the Labour leadership. Plus they talk about how the media landscape has changed since the phone-hacking scandal, community tensions over asylum applications and the return of Mr Blobby.

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Donald Trump meets President Xi of China and saves face in his latest about-turn in policy. Is there method in the madness or is this yet more evidence of the capricious randomness at the heart of Trump’s foreign policy? Also … Matt D watches the latest production to emerge from the writing genius that is Mick Herron - the novelist behind the Slow Horses drama series. Does Down Cemetery Road live up to the standards of its impressive antecedent? Only one way to find out! Enjoy!

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As Keir Starmer becomes the MPs unpopular PM in history, the Matts ask what on earth he can do to turn his premiership around. Has he got it within him to become the radical agent of change he promised, especially now there seems nothing much to lose in terms of winning an election that seems beyond him. Also - what does Sarah Pochin’s racism tell us about what’s going on within Reform? Enjoy!

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Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the pod is giving Nigel Farage too much airtime, why nobody is talking about the fundamental realities of the UK economy and the government’s twin responses to Prince Andrew and the grooming gangs scandal. Plus they talk about whether Piers Morgan is right that woke is dead, and who the biggest charlatan they’ve ever met is.

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The Matts rail against the weaponisation of the law against people who are merely grossly offensive. Where is the line? Who decides what is illegal and what is not? And have we all drifted into a society that can’t shrug off an insult? Also - Michael Wolff takes on Melania Trump; the best horror movies for Halloween; and the Boss is back in a new Springsteen documentary… is it any good? Enjoy!

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The Matts see a parallel between two outrages; the disgusting conduct of Prince Andrew; a man shielded from consequences of his depravity by power and wealth - and the national grooming gang scandals; men shielded from consequences of their depravity by a failure of the liberal establishment to confront reality. Both cases touch on what we perceive British values to mean and how, in both cases, it seems we are still ill-equipped to right their wrongs. Be aware; it’s a tough listen in parts.

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