Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, with a focus on the apparent briefing and counter-briefing war inside No. 10, the softening of policy on winter fuel payments, and the latest ONS migration data.

PLUS guest Arthur Snell explains the significance of the change of stance by the US and Europe towards Israel over Gaza.

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“Conventional wisdom was that local election results had strengthened the hand of the Blue Labour lot. The ‘Island of Strangers’ speech was seen as such an overreach, such...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith discuss Labour's obsession with voters to the right, while haemorrhaging voters to the left, with guest Labour MP Marsha de Cordova. Also, a deep dive into Labour's reform of support for people with disabilities and the worry and hurt it is causing.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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GRIN AND SHARE IT

Read more about the International Museum of Migration.

Our bookshop including many of the books we...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a quick, end-of-the-day reaction to the UK-EU Summit. Light on detail, high on symbolism, does it have the potential to be a turning point? SPOILERS: Absolutely.

Also, why is the media losing its mind over mackerel? The facts on fishing - including quite a lot of stuff you will NOT have heard widely discussed.

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, including the presentation of a huge unconstitutional bribe as a moral and intellectual imperative, the state of the super-wealthy in the UK, the blocking of bonuses for Thames Water bosses, and last minute jitters before the EU-UK Corral.

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith, and Kenny Campbell discuss Starmer's immigration policy, the language employed, the economic and psychological impact. Also a full preview of Monday's UK-EU summit. What to expect and when.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

"I look at Starmer's trajectory and it is immensely difficult not to notice the trail of devastation left behind. Disabled people, Palestinians, trans people, and now immigrants. All I can see is someone who is willing to throw anyone out of his hot air balloon, just so it can...

Alex Andreou talks to trade expert David Henig about the UK-US. Is it a trade deal? Is it a deal? What about hormone beef and chlorinated chicken? What about the tech tax? What about Boeing? What about the EU summit?

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and K...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's political news, This week all the political significance and reaction to the UK-US deal and your potted guide to the new Pontiff and what his election means for the global fight against populism - including a special Wokey Dokey!

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Our bookshop including many of the books we have featured can be found at ⁠⁠⁠uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot⁠⁠⁠

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with special guest Zack Polanski, talk about the Greens performance at the local elections, their agenda going forward, and Zack's bid to be their next leader. Also, the trade deal with India - big fish or small fry?

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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CALLS TO ACTION

Find out more about Zack's campaign here.

GRIN AND SHARE IT

An end to animal testing? R...

Alex Andreou talks to journalist, best-selling author - and former Wallaby - Peter FitzSimons about the results, the campaign, the Trump backlash, the extraordinary phenomenon of The Teals, and the inexportability of American culture wars.

What lessons can Labour in the UK learn?

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”The key transformation was when Donald Trump got elected. The vast majority of Australians looked at Trump aghast. Day after day after day, we have seen chaos on roller-skates. And most said: look, we may not know what w...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith analyse the week's political news, including the results of the local and mayoral elections in England, the by-election in Runcorn, and the general election in Australia.

Is Starmer missing on the anti-Trump dividend?

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“Labour need to start governing. They need to stop triangulating and start running the country. They are wasting the term they have been given, worrying about a second one. They can do a lot of good, if they stop being terrified of losing power in 2029 and start usin...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith opolling guru Peter Kellner, dissect opinions polls on Trump's second, first, 100 Days in the White House, the result of the Canadian election, and preview the local and mayoral elections in England.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

“What Mark Carney did was to come close to monopolising the centre/centre-left vote. Which, of course, might have echoes for what Starmer needs to do here. Labour is losing many more votes to the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the SNP. Labour is suffering, in...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, including the mood music (AARGH) around the upcoming UK/EU summit and Reeves' visit to Washington, the latest IMF economic report, and the Pope's funeral as well as the politics that unfolded around it.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f⁠

AMAZON...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith on a special episode, à trois, with Kenny Campbell discuss the skip fire that is the Trump administration right now - including Pete Hegseth's imminent departure to spend more time with a bottle of Grey Goose, Elon Musk's reversing away from the White House, so fast he should make a beeping noise, and RFK Jr's obsession with jizz.

We also discuss the anti-far-right conference in Scotland and why Reform UK seem to be doing quite well north of the border.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin A...

Naomi Smith gets the behind the scenes skinny on Podyssey from Alex Andreou. Where did the idea come from? What's coming up in Season 2? What is the most surprising fact so far?

Lots of exclusive access, previews, and exclusive announcements.

ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, including the Supreme Court's decision on the protections under the Equality Act, the Trump administration's ultimatum in Ukraine, and rumours of a UK/France returns deal.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest Rafael Behr to talk about the choices facing the Starmer government. Or as Raf put it "the fork on the road that everyone seems to see, but Starmer refuses to acknowledge.

And - why has our right wing media landscape become so Americanised?

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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”I think we should be very glad that we are blessed with quite bad fa...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, including the dramatic recall of Parliament on Saturday to rescue the Scunthorpe Steel Works, the over racism David Lammy gets, and Sunak's resignation dishonours.

Packed and gorgeous and VERY funny.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest Henry Morris to talk - what else? - TRUMP TARIFF MADNESS, as well as the destruction of biodoversity, why it matters, and why we find it difficult to balance it with the need to build.

Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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”Trump wanted the Nobel peace prize, for resolving the situation in Ukraine within 24hours. Having failed… he’s now trying for the economics one. Maybe he’ll do the d...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a Grin And Share It Special, featuring TEN good news stories from politics to the environment and LEGO bricks to beavers.

Read more about Intertrade UK here.

Find out about the Senedd's plans to punish politicians who lie.

Look at the French metro's turnstiles that generate energy!

Read about (and see) the LEGO bricks here.

Why are publishers taking Russell Brand to court?

The loveliest little video rental place in Canada.

Sing up for updates from...

Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's news, with a focus on the fallout from Trump's tariffs, Scottish politics in flux, and the dénouement of the South Korean attempted imposition of martial law last December.

Packed and gorgeous and VERY funny.

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-“So, how do you think they came up with the list of countries and tariffs?”

-“Someone asked ChatGPT to create an episode of Pointless.” 

“Some of these mar...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of the New Economics Foundation and author of "Power to The People", to discuss how to stop the current global backsliding on minority rights, diversity initiatives, and democratic norms. As well as practical advice on how to organise at the grassroots level.

Plus, of course, 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https...

Alex Andreou with special guest top economist Vicky Pryce explores Trump's tariffs and other economic policies on their merit. Is there any logic behind them, however unorthodox? Could they actually work?

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8c996062-ef8d-42...

From presidential hopeful to criminal with an electronic tag, Marine Le Pen's fall from grace has been swift and – at least as far her punishment is concerned – eye-popping.

Quiet Riot producer Kenny Campbell is joined by our favourite Chevalier/French expert, Olivier Morel who, as well as being a partner at Cripps lawyers, holds senior trade positions and is a champion of Anglo-French business links.

How did this all start? What does it mean for France? Is it good or bad news for Le Pen's party, and the ambitious indi...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, with a focus on Labour's welfare cuts, Trump's tariffs, JD Vance's visit to Greenland.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8c996062-ef8d-42e4-9d80-5b407cb6e2...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest Vicky Pryce - former Joint Head of the United Kingdom's Government Economic Service and Chief Economic Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research - to discuss Rachel Reeves Spring Statement.

Plus, of course, 'Wokey Dokey'.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5...

With pollution out of control, infrastructure at breaking point and water companies prioritising the pumping of pounds – many pounds – to shareholders, our water industry has dissolved into a murky mess.

Our seas and rivers are a disgrace, the National Audit Office has warned some areas could run out of water by 2034, and Britain's biggest water company is begging for a Government bailout, after years of loading up with debt to help it pay out juicy dividends.

In this Quiet Riot special, our producer Kenny Campbell takes a deep dive into...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, with a focus on the Labour govt's excellent plans for solar, "unpacking the coalition of the willing", and Lib Dem conference.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8c996062-ef8d-42...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest David Gauke - former Conservative Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Justice, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who had the whip withdrawn over his rebellion against no-deal Brexit, and was recently appointed by Starmer to lead an independent review into prison sentences.

They discuss Liz Kendall's welfare reform proposals, Kemi Badenoch's net zero u-turn, and the future of prisons and justice.

Plus, of course, 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

With a looming election, a troublesome neighbour and a former Bank of England Governor as unelected PM, Canada is living through excruciatingly interesting times.

We thought it was time to cuddle up to our Canuck cousins, and so Naomi Smith is joined for this special episode by Canadian journalist Graham Lanktree.

Graham is Politico's UK trade specialist, and an ideal guide to the ins and outs of Canadian politics.

How do Canadians feel about Mark Carney, a leader who has not been elected as...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, with a focus on the Labour govt's incoherent welfare reforms, and Musk's destruction of his own companies.

PLUS Germany goes shopping!

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“A lack of an ideological basis is leading Labour to some very poor choices. When you’re cutting international aid, you are cutting it for the most vulnerable people in the world. When you are cutting PIP, you are cutting it for the most disadvantaged people in the...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest, veteran journalist, straight-talker, and German sage, Annette Dittert, to discuss the latest in UK and European politics and the effect of instability from across the Atlantic.

Plus, of course, 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy...

'Tis the season of St Patrick and so Naomi Smith is joined by Irish politics specialist Professor Mary C Murphy, to see whether Ireland's political glass is half empty or half full. Questions are there many...

Ireland is one of three neutral EU countries but is that sustainable in the age of Trump and Putin? How do young people on the island differ politically from their parents? Could there be a border poll and why would it be fraught with risk?

And should the Taoiseach be raising a glass...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, with a focus on the astounding implosion within Reform UK and signs of reversal of policies and freezing out of Musk by Trump.

PLUS will changes on how GDP is calculated help or hinder Reeves?

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“Parliaments with a higher number of female leaders are more likely to be more equal, achieve higher economic growth and experience lower levels of corruption.”

“Have Reform peaked too so...

Alex Andreou talks to investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan about the mysterious - and increasingly influential figure - the owner of GB News, Unherd, and The Spectator, Paul Marshall.

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Peter's substack Democracy for Sale. It's free and you should subscribe.

Peter's LRB profile of Paul Marshall.

Our bookshop featuring many of the books we have featured - including Peter Goghegan's - can be found at uk.bookshop.org/shop/quietriot.

Kick your...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest More in Common's Luke Tryl to discuss the latest from Washington and how it is making life very difficult for right wing politicians in the UK, including Nigel Farage, suffering rejection-by-association.

PLUS We take a deep dive into 'Blue Labour'. Is it genuine? Is it attractive? Is it coherent? Why is Steve Bannon and the Trump regime so interested in it?

And of course 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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Naomi Smith is joined by award-winning journalist - and QR regular - Will Hayward for a timely stock-take of political life in a part of the country that we Quiet Rioters love, and a look at the Welsh budget (you will never believe how it got through), how farming complaints are different to the rest of the UK, a very inventive youth mobility scheme, and how Reform UK are using Wales - with Lee Anderson saying the quiet bit out loud.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith with a short debrief at the end of a historic day, on which Starmer has brought Europe (and friends) together, to make a stand for Ukraine.

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ALEX ANDREOU'S PODYSSEY can be found here:

APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-andreous-podyssey/id1798575126

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2x7cD3HjkOyOKTF4YT5Goy?si=e7a86b762431451f

AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8c996062-ef8d-42...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith talk through the week's news, with a focus on the gangsters who have taken over the White House.

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NAOMI: "It's not so much that the world has changed as that the world has finally realized how much the world had already changed. For those for whom the penny hadn't already dropped, it's dropped now. And my overriding feeling is just this renewed anger about the decision to leave the EU."

ALEX: "Deliberation is...

Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith welcome special guest LBC host James O'Brien to discuss Starmer's trip to Washington. What is the best he could come back with? And was raising defence at the expense of aid worth it?

And of course 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'.

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“The idea that history was over, because the Cold War was over, the Berlin Wall had come down, and liberal democracy had prevailed over the extremes of fascism or communism, wa...

Alex Andreou and special guest, London bureau chief for the ARD, the multi-award winning journalist, Annette Dittert with an analysis of Sunday's German federal election results.

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“NATO may have died - in the sense that, if the Article 5 commitment is not longer believable, if it is not something you can bank on, we may already be at a point when we need to start looking at something else, which looks a bit like NATO but doesn’t involve the US.”

“...