The Two Matts

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...

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 immigr...

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...

The Matts are joined by Labour insider and New World contributing editor Tom Baldwin - fresh from his in depth interview with the woman of the hour, Chancellor Rachel Reeves.  Tom explains what’s going on in Reeves’ head (lots) and how she faces an unprecedented challenge - calming a febrile electorate while delivering enough visible progress to keep Reform out of government. Is she up to the...

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether we need a public inquiry into the BBC’s remit in British life, if we would all be better informed if we listened to experts and - in the light of allegations about Nigel Farage’s school years - whether leopards ever change their spots. Plus they talk about Mohammed bin Salman - a force for good or evil? - the war i...

The Matts dig into the unfolding drama in Washington as Trump performs the reversal of his career and signs off on the release of the Epstein files. How much trouble is he in? Also - what should we make of Labour’s new crackdown on immigration? The Matts may disagree about the messaging but are fairly aligned about the merits (or otherwise) of the policy. But will this change anything for a govern...

Maybe the best podcast we’ve done to date? You be the judge - but the Matts explore an extraordinary study into how 16 and 17-year-olds are thinking about a wide range of issues, both political and social. It’s important and timely; they will have the vote at the next election and will play a big role in deciding what trajectory Britain takes. And it’s not what you might imagine … so many of this...

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether it is time for the US to repeal its natural-born citizen clause and let talent like Zohran Mamdani run for president and if reducing regulations would allow the Michelle Mones of this world to prosper, and revisit their chat with Jo Bartosch on pornography. Plus they talk about simplifying the tax code, whether the...

The Matts kick off the show discussing The New World’s exclusive by political editor James Ball that Michael Prescott - author of the dossier into the BBC - himself doctored Trump quotes in the report, making his evidence seem more damning. It’s an extraordinary revelation that calls into question Prescott’s journalistic judgement. To read the full story go to thenewworld.co.uk . Also this week -...

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 fin...

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...

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 $1tri...

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 do...

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...

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...

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! OFF...

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 ev...

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! OFF...

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...

In one of the best Q&A’s the Matts have recorded, a question about media coverage of the Middle East ceasefire provokes a heated argument - as each Matt fights his corner with the kind of honesty and conviction you may not always get on other political podcasts! As the dust settles, they answer more questions of Nigel Farage, A-level English … and their most embarrassing moment. It’s a rambunc...

The Matts are joined by political editor James Ball whose cover story this week is an exhaustive investigation into the full extent of Paul Marshall’s bid to influence British society. The man who owns GBNews and The Spectator is also finding a broad array of influential think tanks, policy units and conferences - making him the most influential non-politician in British politics. And it’s working...

The Matts marvel at the extraordinary day that has just passed - first in the Knesset in Jerusalem, then in Sharm Al-Sheik in Egypt - as Donald Trump’s whirlwind victory parade signals the start of what we should all pray is a lasting peace. How do we square the undoubted leap out of the catastrophe of war in Gaza with the president’s ghastly autocratic brutality at home? Should we even care how w...

Matthew d'Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the Gaza peace deal shows that Donald Trump, despite all his manifest failings, is actually the right man at the right time, if you now need a brown paper bag for your New World cover and who Conservative MPs could coalesce around to prevent the next leadership election reaching their members. Plus they talk Britai...

The Matts begin with peace in the Middle East. Is it time to give Trump the Nobel? Then they turn to the outrage over a man being arrested in London for holding up his copy of The New World. Then after the break, a fascinating and troubling conversation with Joe Woof, author of this week’s New World cover story laying bare why addiction rates are soaring across the western world. You might not thi...

Britain has a problem. The presence within what we call our multi-cultural society of abhorrent groups with views that threaten not only our values, but our citizens. Islamists, anti-semites, fascists. What is stopping the government from isolating them and dealing with them? The Matts do what they do best - engage each other in a testing dialogue on a difficult and complicated topic. They also ta...