The Two Matts

What does Joe Biden’s move to permit the use of US missiles against Russian territorial targets mean for the war in Ukraine and the security of Europe? Also - what does the interminable Allison Pearson saga tell us about free speech in the UK? Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE!  https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive ca...

The Matts tackle Rory Stewart's optimistic predictions and why hope alone isn't a strategy. They delve into Elon Musk's influence on politics and the uniqueness of Trump's second presidency. The discussion then inevitably shifts to Brexit, and then takes a turn into dinner with Bob Geldof. With the Best Sweetcorn Ever. Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE!  https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattsli...

The full horror of sexualised abuse in the Church of England has claimed the scalp of Archbishop Justin Welby. Was he the victim of a witch hunt; a man forced out of office by unfair pressure as many seem to think? No, say the Matts. And there’s a CONTENT WARNING on this episode: some of the ghastly abuse suffered by victims of John Smyth is discussed, as is the wider issue of child abuse in other...

The election of Donald Trump poses huge challenges to the UK … but can Keir Starmer act to protect his government from the Trump storm to come? How can a small nation off the coast of the EU best defend its interests in the new global reality? And if Starmer’s challenge is daunting, his predicament is as nothing compared to that of Vlodymyr Zelensky. Is Ukraine’s struggle against Putin now doomed?...

YOU join the discussion on the implications of Donald Trump's election victory, the public's perception of political candidates, and the role of right-wing media and dark money. Plus Starmers' advisor problem. Join The Two Matts LIVE!  https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive cards worth £20:  https://www.theneweu...

In a moment of clarity, the Matts reflect on what just happened .. and why. And find themselves strangely energised by the thought of what is to come. Enough of the hand-wringing already - yes you Rory! - now is the time for action. Also - Matt D talked about working with the great Michael Caine on his brilliant new biographical journey through life and the lessons he’s learned. Enjoy! Join T...

It’s an earthquake and it changes everything. The Matts take in the scale of Trump’s victory and discuss how it happened and what it means; for the UK, for Labour specifically, for Ukraine, for the Middle East, for the climate. And they start to map out a response for fighting back against the oncoming tide of far right populism - both here and abroad. Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweu...

In this edition of The Two Matt's Q&A, the pair take on questions on Reeve's budget, taxes on the rich and lowering the voting age to 16. Also in this episode, where should the line be drawn on slavery reparations and what will the Matts be doing on the 5th of November? Email your questions to 2matts@tnepublishing.com Subscribe to The New European: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Host...

Feargal Sharkey has galvanised the nation over the scandalous - and criminal - negligence our water companies and their so-called regulators have displayed for years. Our rivers are flooded with sewage on a daily basis and the privatised water companies have been pillaged. On Sunday he’s leading a march for clean water in London and he tells the Matts why he is so determined to correct this enormo...

Why are Labour making life so hard for themselves? The Matts assess the ups and downs of the government’s first months in power ahead of what promises to be a defining moment for Keir Starmer - Wednesday’s Budget. Also - what does Jeff Bezos’s interference in Washington Post editorial policy matter? Quite a lot as it turns out. Tune in to find out why! Enjoy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

More on the contentious debate on assisted dying, including a view from Canada. Plus: alternatives to X and NHS reform insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the fact that Donald Trump now thinks Keir Starmer’s Labour Party are actively interfering in the US election matter? The Matts consider how a story that should be a nothingburger has the potential to upset relations between the UK and the US for years to come. In Part 2, the Matts discuss whether or not Britain should pay reparations to the descendants of the slave trade from which this coun...

The Matts spend some quality time with fellow podcaster Jon Sopel … reflecting on the state of Britain as described in his hit book Strangeland. And they tap into his deep Washington insight for a long view of American politics - and just how scared should we be about the prospect of a second Trump presidency. Also - podcasts! Are they the future of journalism? Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

This week, Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona dive into Kamala Harris's Fox News interview - smart move or not? Plus, why aren't we talking more about the climate crisis?! They also tackle immigration, those cultish Trump/Johnson fans, and the age-old debate: audiobooks vs. real books. Oh, and Matt d'Ancona REALLY hates Halloween. Further reading/watching/listening "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wal...

As parliament prepares to debate legalising assisted suicide, the Matts argue their respective corners on its desirability. Also - if they think having a German football manager is bad, wait until they find out about the King’s antecedents. The Matts despair at little England’s bottomless capacity for xenophobia when it comes to Germans. Enjoy! Content warning: strong language, references to suici...

As Keir Starmer enthuses to merchant banks and global conglomerates about opening up Britain for investment … and tearing down regulatory barriers that get in their way … the Matts wonder who actually runs the country? Not least since one of the shiny new investors are the very same people who ransacked Thames Water. And while we are talking about investment, what about the drastic cuts to local g...

In this Sunday edition of The Two Matts the pair chat about Labour's terrible start, Tory freebies and the US support for Israel. Coming from Berlin this week, the Matts also dip into drumming and whether young people not being able to read long books is a problem. Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are in Berlin, discovering all is not well in the powerhouse of Europe. Is the rise of the far right AfD party inevitable? And how is migration warping the political discourse? Also - Boris Johnson’s worst lie yet? Could be. His mendacious outpouring about Trump’s innocence over the insurrection is a signal of a dark ambition; a return to power alongside his mate in the White House. The...

Sue Gray has been resigned - also known as fired - as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Can she be blamed for Labour’s shaky start or is the problem more deeply-rooted? Also - one year after the Hamas atrocities of October 7, and the subsequent carnage in Gaza, the Matts take stock and explore some plausible outcomes of the raging conflict in the Middle East Subscribe to The New European today!: then...

Happy Sunday! Today The Two Matt's hear your questions starting with the case of Lucy Letby. Should her case be scrutinised amidst doubts, despite the distress it may cause? Also, are the progressive press more critical of the left than the right and should Labour back proportional representation? The Matt's wrap things up by trying to work if Sue Gray is Gareth or Tim from ' The Office' . Oh, and...

We are in the final stretch of what may be the most important election of our lifetimes - and everything is still on a knife edge. The Matts consider the state of play between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and anticipate the consequences of all eventualities. Enjoy! Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts pick off the Tory leadership candidates one by one with the nagging doubt in their minds that, whoever wins, it doesn’t really matter. The Tories are in such deep trouble as a party that restoring any sense of relevance and legitimate opposition to Keir Starmer’s monster majority will require Churchillian energy and determination. And sorry to break it to you Kemi, Robert, James and Tom...

Come for the impressions but stay for Keir Starmer's ethics in comparison to Boris Johnson's corruption, the Matt's giving Keir a hard time and 'Have I Got News for You,' going stateside. Happy Sunday! Subscribe to The New European today!:  theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts try to understand just why an already desperate situation in the Middle East is getting worse. What links the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois boxing match in Wembley and the conflict in Lebanon. And who are the silent winners while international diplomacy battles to contain any escalation? Also - did Keir Starmer’s conference speech give any further insight into how he intends to stem th...

Something fundamental is missing in the way Labour have set about governing. It’s not just about free dresses, spectacles, Taylor Swift freebies and a box at the Emirates. It’s about an appreciation of what happens next if Keir Starmer doesn’t establish - quickly - a real sense of purpose for this term of office that the nation can understand, get behind… and hold him accountable for. He hasn’t do...