Novara Media

What role does literature play in revolution? If the question seems bizarre to you and the answer obvious, you’re not alone. Some of the most important revolutionaries in history have turned to literature in times of crisis. Mao Zedong started writing poetry during the Chinese Red Army’s retreat. Leon Trotsky, founder of the Russian Red Army, having just won the Russian Civil War, turned his mind...

Rishi Sunak has urged the House of Commons to pass his Rwanda Bill, warning them not to "frustrate the will of the people". Plus: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said an "empire of evil" is emanating from Tehran as tensions mount in the Middle East; and we ask whether Israel is purposefully killing its own citizens. With Moya Lothian-McLean and Dalia Gebrial.

As Israel’s brutal bombardment of Gaza continues, we speak to British-Palestinian journalist Yousaf Alhelou. Plus: Tories are continuing to tear their party into pieces over their Rwanda legislation; and Labour confirm that they've dropped a key policy to recognise Palestinian statehood. With Michael Walker and  @NoJusticeMTG .

Discussion of climate change mainly focuses on mitigating rising temperatures, de-carbonising and getting to ‘net zero’. Author and broadcaster Gaia Vince argues that we also need to focus on how we’ll deal with with's already happening and about to get much much worse: huge swathes of the planet becoming uninhabitable and 2 billion people needing to find somewhere new to live. She argues the solu...

The first electoral contest of the US Republican primary has taken place in Iowa with Donald Trump coming out on top. Plus: Tory MPs fight over the government's Rwanda Bill. With Aaron Bastani and Joris Lechene.

With tensions escalating in the Red Sea, defence secretary Grant Shapps has defended Britain’s role in fighting the Houthis. Plus: a look at elections that have just taken place in Taiwan and what they mean for relations with China. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.

British and US forces have bombed Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. Plus: Israel have given their defence against accusations of genocide at the international court of justice. With Ash Sarkar and Aaron Bastani.

The International Court of Justice has heard the first day of South Africa’s legal case against Israel. Plus: we speak to consultant surgeon Nick Maynard who has just returned from Gaza; and more on the postmasters scandal as the post office inquiry begins. With Moya Lothian-McLean and Kieran Andrieu.

January is historically the busiest month of the year for holiday bookings. But if you've ever felt uncomfortable with the idea of being a tourist, you're not the first. Back in 1976, anthropologist Dean MacCannell theorised both our drive to see the world and its manipulation by capitalism in his book The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class. Travel has changed almost beyond recognition sin...

As MPs vote through the anti-BDS bill, we speak to the founder of BDS Omar Barghouti. Plus: a deep dive into what has led South Africa to take Israel to the international court of justice; and why the people who covered up the postmasters scandal really should be going to jail. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial.

While Israel's war on Gaza continues, US secretary of state Anthony Blinken has traveled to the region to meet prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus: the absurd situation with student loans and the interest that so many graduates are paying on them; and it's official - 2023 was the hottest year on record. With Aaron Bastani and Michael Walker.

As Israel faces the International Court of Justice later this week, more evidence is emerging of genocide being committed in Gaza. Plus: the scandal that has been described as the largest miscarriage of justice in British history; and Rishi Sunak has a tough time in his first big interview of 2024. With Michael Walker and NoJusticeMTG

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has outlined a plan to control security matters in Gaza after a defeat of Hamas. Plus: the chairman of NatWest says it’s not to difficult to get on the housing ladder; and we look at the Jeffrey Epstein court documents that dropped this week. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.

Rishi Sunak has confirmed the next general election will take place in the second half of the year. Plus: Keir Starmer gives his first speech of 2024; and the latest on how Israel’s war on Gaza is risking wider conflict in the region. With Moya Lothian-McLean and Dalia Gebrial.

Israel have assassinated a Hamas leader in Beirut, risking the spread of the conflict in Gaza spreading to the wider region. Plus: South Africa have brought a case to the international court of justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza; and junior doctors in England have begun six days of strike action. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.

For our end-of-year edition of Downstream, the Novara Media team look back on the biggest stories of the year. Ash Sarkar is joined by Moya Lothian-McLean, Michael Walker and Owen Jones to talk about the Labour Party, the climate crisis, the rise of AI and the war on Gaza. This conversation was recorded live in London on 7th December.

From his radical youth in 1970s Italy to his research as one of the world's leading theoretical physicists, Carlo Rovelli is as comfortable talking politics as he is explaining quantum theory. He sat down with Aaron to talk about the future of Europe, his theory of white holes, and why we're not actually living in a simulation. His book White Holes: Inside The Horizon is available from Penguin. *...

Is football the place for political struggle? Is there a limit to the success of fan-owned clubs? How disappointed should we be when pundits and players turn out not to be comrades? Cultural critic Juliet Jacques and Pro Revolution Soccer host Tom Williams unite for a conversation inspired by Mickaël Correia's book The People's History of Football. They talk about the commodification of football,...

The ACFM gang get together for the last time this year to deliver a Festive 50! Keir, Jem and Nadia select the best bits of culture and politics from 2023, including music, films, books, games, strikes and actions. Unwrap to find sci-fi blaxploitation, comedy history, gobby glam-punk, Judge Dredd, a fresh angle on Silicon Valley billionaires and much more. Thanks for listening to the show and for...

With Israeli's war in Gaza continuing, we speak to 18-year-old Tal Mitnick who is refusing to serve in the IDF. Plus: The two teenagers responsible for the murder of Brianna Ghey have been convicted. With Ash Sarkar and  @NoJusticeMTG .

Released in 1946, Frank Capra's fable of Christmas despair in small town America has become – rather improbably – a staple of festive television. Starring Jimmy Stewart as virtuous everyman George Bailey, It's A Wonderful Life is not just a feelgood tale of moral redemption, but a clue to the shifting social terrain of post-war America. Is it a film about capitalism? Angels? Individual liberty? Th...

A new humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is being negotiated with Israel offering a one-week pause in their attack on Gaza in exchange for the release of more hostages. Plus: Donald Trump has been banned by the Colorado supreme court from appearing on the state’s presidential ballot. With Aaron Bastani and Dalia Gebrial.

The U.S. have launched a taskforce to defend shipping from Houthi militias protesting the Gaza War. Plus: the UK government have released new guidance that affects how transgender children will be treated in British schools. With Michael Walker and Moya Lothian-McLean.

Former defence secretary has criticised Israel’s actions in the war on Gaza, saying that Netanyahu’s strategy is being driven by a “killing rage”. Plus: the PPE scandal around Michelle Mone continues with her pointing fingers at the Tory government, and the fingers being pointed back at her. With Moya Lothian-McLean and Ash Sarkar.

Asset management companies like Blackrock, Vanguard and Macquarie have avoided real scrutiny for decades, but their secretive activities are starting to attract attention from political researchers and academics. What do these companies do, and what risk do they pose to society? Author and academic Brett Christophers sets out to answer this question in his new book, Our Lives in Their Portfolios:...