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Pod Save the UK

ByCrooked Media
114 episodes

Podcast Summary

Pod Save the UK is your weekly fix of political news, big ideas and a shot of inspiration. Each week hosts, comedian Nish Kumar and journalist Coco Khan are joined by politicians, experts, and famous friends to unpick the latest news, look for solutions, and inspire action. From Crooked Media – the creators of Pod Save America – in partnership with Reduced Listening, tune in to new episodes of Pod Save the UK every Thursday wherever you pod.

#1

Babies, Benefits and Black Lives Matter

Stay out of wombs Nigel! Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wants us to have more babies - which for new mum Coco feels like being bamboozled into being rightwing. Not only this, Farage is even coming for abortion - saying it’s “utterly ludicrous” to allow abortion up to 24-weeks. Keep your wits about you! From leaked memos and inner-circle beef to U-turns and rumoured U-turns - Keir Starmer is feeling the pressure. Nish and Coco dive into the Westminster bubble to find out why the Government has become a leaky ship with Politico reporter Bethany Dawson. Half a decade on from the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests that shook the world, only one third of the recommendations of major reports to tackle endemic racism in the UK has actually been implemented and equality initiatives are facing a rightwing backlash on both sides of the Atlantic. So, is the UK backsliding on racial justice? Guardian community affairs correspondent and author Aamna Mohdin reflects on the personal and political legacy of the largest anti-racism rallies in the UK since the abolition of slavery. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY: Guests: Bethany Dawson Aamna Mohdin Useful Links: Scattered: The making and unmaking of a refugee by Aamna Mohdin Politico’s London Playbook Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] BlueSky: Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-05-29•54mins
#2

Gaza and Benefits: is Starmer changing course?

Reunited, Coco and Nish are finally back together in the studio to talk U turns, disability benefits, Brexit and… gimp masks? There’s a lot of politics to catch up on including some big shifts from the Labour government. First on Gaza - Keir Starmer and David Lammy changed tack with fierce criticism of the Israeli government. But critics argue that without an actual arms embargo talking tough with Israel is inadequate. So is it all too little, too late? And in another change of direction, the Prime Minister has been listening to voters and his own disgruntled MPs on benefits. He signalled a rethink on one of Labour's most unpopular moves - cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners. But reforms of disability benefits are still on the cards so Nish heads to Westminster where disability activists gathered to lobby their MPs. With a major rebellion on the cards from Labour MPs, can Starmer be steered into a U-turn on this too? Employment minister Alison McGovern explains how she’s going to get more young people into work and she has a message for Pod Save the UK’s disillusioned Labour voters. And did you think Brexit bollocks was in the rearview mirror? Well sorry - this week the Brexit undead returned with nonsense we thought was safely consigned to the dustbin of history. Guests: Alison McGovern MP Ellie Chowns MP Nadia Whittome MP Meg Thomas, Disability Rights Campaigner Audio Credits: Parliament TV BBC GB News Useful Links: Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] BlueSky: Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-05-22•48mins
#3

Pod Save an Island of Strangers

Coco’s back! She’s both sleep and politics deprived, but Nish is ready to fill her in. The government's shake-up of legal migration laws landed this week - but the news has been dominated by one question. Is Keir Starmer Enoch Powell incarnate? His speech warned that we ‘risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks together’ - a careless comment or a reaction to Reform gains? Nish and Coco dissect and take a deep dive into the government’s plans with Minnie Rahman, CEO of migrants' rights charity Praxis. Next up, the Government are jumping for joy about the US-UK trade deal, but Nish struggles to find anything to say… is this just a downgrade portrayed as an upgrade? The race for the next leader of the Greens is on, and will Youngblud make a foray into politics? Nish and Coco discuss how to capture the youth vote. And grassroots football teams are fighting back against the FA’s ban on trans women playing football. CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR Shopify: Useful Links: To find out more about how people will be impacted check out Praxis' socials and ⁠sign up to their emails⁠ for campaign actions.’ Guest: Minnie Rahman, CEO of Praxis Audio Credits: BBC Parliament TV Kemi badenoch / X Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] BlueSky: Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-05-15•52mins
#4

How Labour should (but probably won’t) reset after Reform’s big win

There’s no ifs or buts - Reform had a won big in last week’s local elections - but it’s not all bad news. Near-total Tory wipeout, positive signs for the Liberal Democrats and Greens and a lesson for Labour: acquiescing to Nigel Farage will only empower him. A slightly jetlagged Nish and a fresh as a daisy Zoë digest the results before diving into demands to end Israel’s occupation of Gaza… Led by, of all people, rebel tories? In the wake of the Netanyahu’s latest actions, why isn't the British Government speaking up more? Later, the pair are joined by climate activist Patience Nabukalu, for an injection of hope following her direct action calling for an end to fossil fuel investment from one of the UK’s biggest banks. **Comment was sought from HSBC regarding claims of dismissing voices at their AGM but was not received in time for publication. We will update this podcast if we receive a reply** CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY SKY SPORTS F1 Useful Links Guests Patience Nabukalu Audio Credits Number 10 Downing Street Zack Polanski Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] BlueSky: Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-05-08•52mins
#5

The UK Supreme Court ruling and the fight for trans rights

In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of woman should be based on biological sex, Nish and Zoë speak to LGBTQ+ activist Ellen Jones, author of "Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it" about the implications for trans people . They discuss how the campaigning of reactionaries like billionaire author JK Rowling led to the decision that has seen Prime Minister Keir Starmer backflipping on his support for the trans community. Ellen speaks on the dangers of the recent ruling and practical ways to resist and support the trans community. Then, as the Tories flounder ahead of the local elections, Zoë hedges her bets. And we take a look at two shocking attempts to seize the limelight by Liz Truss and Tony Blair. Plus, ahead of the Australian election this weekend, Nish speaks to former Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan about how, in the wake of Trump's tariffs and attacks on allies, the commonwealth might be more important than ever and what the US and UK could learn from Australia's compulsory preferential voting system. CORRECTION: In this episode we at one point refer to the EHCR incorrectly, for clarity, it is the Equality and Human Rights Commission. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS AURA FRAMES CODE: PSUK SHOPIFY Guests: Ellen Jones Wayne Swan Useful links: Outrage: Why the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not yet won and what we can do about it by Ellen Jones The Good Law Project Crowdfunder to legally challenge the Supreme Court Decision Compilation of protests against the Supreme Court Decision Volunteer at your local trans pride - London Trans Pride call for stewards Write to your MP Reclaim the framing of UK trans rights Protect the Dolls T-shirt in support of Trans Lifeline, a US-based charity Info on voting in the Australian Election abroad: ALPABROAD.ORG Audio Credits Sky News ITV News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@...

2025-05-01•56mins
#6

Nish and Coco spill the tea: your questions answered

As Parliament sits for Easter Recess, Nish and Coco dive into the PSUK mailbag to answer your burning questions. There’s the serious political questions - who are the real progressive party? How can we fight Reform? Should we all just leave the UK?? But there’s some curveballs, too - like what’s up with Bob Dylan’s instagram posting? Boxers or briefs? And most importantly… Has Nish Kumar ever eaten a pot noodle in the bath? CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY: Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-04-17•43mins
#7

Trump’s Tariffs: are you feeling liberated?

UPDATE: 10/04/25: President Trump has planned to pause extended tariffs on most countries for 90 days, while pushing ahead on plans to implement a 104% tariff on Chinese goods. A flat 10% tariff remains in place. Trump’s tariffs continue to cause chaos in the stock markets and the threat of a recession looms. As Rachel Reeves put it in her Spring Statement - the world is changing before our eyes - but is it enough to see her back down on her precious fiscal rules? Co-host Zoë Grünewald joins Nish to make sense of it all. Can ‘the most dangerous man in Britain’ shed light on this moment of global chaos? Author and education campaigner Melissa Benn, daughter of the late great politician Tony Benn, reflects on her father’s relevance today and the future of the left. Plus, Melissa takes a look at what’s in Labour’s new education bill. Kemi Badenoch has labelled it “an act of vandalism” - but are the reforms as revolutionary as critics claim? And a couple of monumental WTF’s for you this week - Israel has barred two Labour MPs, just as human rights lawyers deliver a landmark report to the Met Police’s War Crimes Team, making accusations of war crimes against 10 Britons, who served in the Israeli military in Gaza. It’s chilling stuff. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS Shopify VOY Useful Links The Most Dangerous Man in Britain?: The Political Writing by Tony Benn Guests Melissa Benn Audio Credits CBS News Sky The Guardian Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-04-10•49mins
#8

Waiting For The Apocalypse: tariffs, food security and the right to protest

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of sexually explicit and sexist song lyrics. While we wait to see if Trump’s tariff juggernaut is going to squash our fragile economy, Nish and Coco count the cost of the “bill-mageddon” we already face. It’s a perfect storm of steep rises in household bills and a bonkers global trade war. While we’re staring economic apocalypse in the face, we seem to be losing our rights to protest. If the Quakers get raided, who’s safe from heavy handed policing and draconian laws? And have you prepared yourself for food shortages? Your stash of beans might not cut it. Professor Tim Lang - author of a major report on food security- has a plan we all need to hear. On the bright side, 2025 is the year the Labour Party has decided to embrace social media and podcasts. What can possibly go wrong? CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS VOY Guests Tim Lang Zoë Grünewald Audio Credits C4 Garys Economics Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-04-03•58mins

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#9

Austerity 2.0: can Reeves cut her way to growth?

First the good news: we might just manage to build a lot of new houses. And the bad news? Millions of people will be worse off and about fifty thousand children will be pushed into poverty by welfare reform. Nish and Coco unpack Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement with the help of economist James Meadway, former advisor to John McDonnell. It was pretty bleak stuff from Reeves: the world is scary, growth is low, and cuts are coming. All with a strong whiff of austerity 2.0. The Chancellor says her fiscal rules are “non-negotiable”. But James has an alternative Spring Statement to banish the gloom and challenge the way we think about growth. Plus, as the great Signal security cock up rumbles on in the US, Nish and Coco wonder why they've never been included in a top-secret military chat. It’s just not fair. And it’s got the UK talking, but will the Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’ make a difference in the real world? CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SKY SPORTS F1 Guests: James Meadway Audio Credits Parliament TV Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-03-27•53mins
#10

Welfare cuts: are Labour copying Tory homework?

After weeks of speculation, Liz Kendall has confirmed what benefits are to be axed in order to save £5 billion from the welfare bill - but at what cost for sick and disabled people? Keir Starmer says the rising benefit bill is “devastating for public finances” and has “wreaked a terrible human cost”. But many of his own Labour MPs have accused him of selling cuts as compassion and in the words of Clive Lewis “causing pain for millions”. Zoë Grünewald steps in for Nish to survey the fallout with Coco. And the cuts don’t stop there - NHS England’s abolition and unprecedented cost-cutting could see up to 30,000 jobs lost. Zoë and Coco discuss the “high-stakes” move, which the Institute of Fiscal Studies has said is “not fully thought through”. Next up, the Tories and Reform are trying to seize the news-agenda with a pair of not-so special special announcements. And Coco has one of her own… CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS VOY SHOPIFY Guests Mikey Erhardt Zoë Grünewald Audio Credits Sky News BBC Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Bluesky: Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-03-20•46mins
#11

A true story of money, Mafia & the Vatican (Shadow Kingdom Episode 1)

Today we're excited to bring you the first episode of Shadow Kingdom: God's Banker. In the summer of 1982, the Vatican’s top money man was found dead. Roberto Calvi was at the center of a prolific money laundering scheme that put him in the crosshairs of the Sicilian mafia, a secret far-right chapter of the Freemasons, and the Catholic Church. Forty years after his death was ruled a suicide, Shadow Kingdom host Nicolo Majnoni got a tip that there was more to the story. So who killed God’s banker? Shadow Kingdom is a new series from Crooked Media and Campside Media. Each season starts with a crime, and as the layers are peeled back to find out who or what is at the center of it, a larger system at play is revealed. Subscribe to Shadow Kingdom: God’s Banker wherever you get your podcasts or join Crooked's Friends Of The Pod subscription community to hear the full season right now. Join Friends Of The Pod at crooked.com/friends or subscribe through the Shadow Kingdom Apple feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-03-17•28mins
#12

Welfare, Warehouses and Playlist Diplomacy

We’ll start with the good news - Reform UK appears to be imploding. Nigel Farage has had a wildly public fallout with (now former) Reform MP Rupert Lowe, who was stripped of his whip and investigated by the police over alleged workplace bullying and “verbal threats” against the party chairman. As Reform flounders, the Government is busy making itself even more unpopular - if that’s possible - by trailing a series of public sector cuts ahead of the Spring Budget. There are plans to cut half of the staff in NHS England and thousands of jobs in the civil service, not to mention impending benefit cuts. Keir Starmer is expected to announce £5 billion of cuts to personal independence payments - commonly known as PIPs - the main disability benefit. Mikey Erhardt from Disability Rights UK speaks to Nish and Coco about the devastating impact this could have on 3.6 million claimants across the UK. Next up, over the past few years we’ve seen waves of strikes by warehouse workers for the likes of Amazon, Tesco, Argos and others - but what exactly is it like to work in this algorithm-driven gig economy? Coco speaks to Laura Carreira, the director of a new film about the hidden lives of warehouse workers in the UK. Finally, here’s something nobody wants to hear. King Charles has launched a personal playlist to mark this year’s Commonwealth Day. Nish and Coco strike back with their own playlist. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SKY SPORTS F1 SHOPIFY Useful Links PSUK Alternative King's Playlist Apple Music: Spotify: Guests Mikey Erhardt Laura Carreira Audio Credits BBC Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-03-13•52mins
#13

Keir Starmer - the unlikely leader of the free world?

A shouting match in the Oval Office probably should have been on everyone’s Trump 25 bingo card - but the extraordinary breakdown in relations between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy shocked the world. Keir Starmer rolled up his sleeves and spent the weekend in full-blown diplomacy mode - leading to Politico calling him the “unlikely leader of the free world”. But with Trump pulling the plug on military aid to Ukraine, leaving the UK and Europe scrambling to increase defence spending - will Starmer’s peace plan work? And what does it all mean for the future of the war? Coco and Nish discuss. With International Women’s Day this week, Political Editor at PoliticsJoe Ava-Santina Evans calls in to discuss what the government has achieved when it comes to women’s equality. And with less than one in five young women identifying as a feminist and self-described feminists like Kemi Badenoch calling maternity pay ‘excessive’ - Coco wants to know if changing labels and groups would make a difference. Author Sophie Lewis digs into the true heart of feminism and how we can reclaim it. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS SHOPIFY SKY SPORTS F1 Useful Links Sophie Lewis - Enemy Feminisms: TERFs, Policewomen and Girlbosses against Liberation Guests Ava-Santina EvansSophie Lewis Audio Credits BBC Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected]: Twitter: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-03-06•59mins
#14

Dear Donald: Can Starmer Tame Trump? w/ Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey

War - what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. But this week we found out that defending the UK from it is going to cost us a lot of money. And the losers will be the world's poorest people - the money for Britain's boosted defence budget will come from foreign aid. Sir Ed Davey - leader of the Lib Dems - tells Coco he has an alternative: bigger taxes on big tech (and some other ideas). And Coco goes a bit Yoko Ono, wondering how we give peace a chance. Zoe Grunewald steps in for Nish as the pod asks what Macron can teach Starmer about Trump wrangling. And we send out a search for Kemi Badenoch… Has anyone seen her? As Ed Davey presents a credible opposition voice to the Government - the Tory leader is missing in action: last seen in a right wing podcast vortex. While Kemi Badenoch struggles to cut through, the Climate Change Commission has thought of an ingenious way to get us to act on net zero. The humble kebab. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORSVOY: FRAMES: Code: PSTUK GuestsEd Davey Zoë Grünewald Audio CreditsUK GovPBS News ABC News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Bluesky: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-02-27•50mins
#15

Trump’s plan for “Peace” in Ukraine only pleases Putin + The Politics of Modern Love

As Europe looks on in disbelief, Donald Trump has been throwing his geopolitical weight around. A monumental meeting with Russia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine was held without Ukraine or Europe.Trump then branded Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” and accused Ukraine of starting the conflict. Keir Starmer has said he is “ready and willing” to put UK troops on the ground in Ukraine. But is this the answer? And as shares in major arms manufacturers soar, who’s profiting? Nish and Coco chew it over. And from war to love - loneliness is on the rise but according to journalist and author Shon Faye, the problem isn’t us, it’s capitalism. Phew! She joins Nish and Coco to discuss the highly politicised terrain of modern romance - and why it eludes us. Later, Tortoise tech reporter Patricia Clarke calls in to discuss what the government can do about our unhealthy social media habits and if the Online Safety Bill holds up. And Starmer has been ambushed by tractor-driving farmers blasting out… “Sandstorm” by Darude. Yes, Darude. CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR Shopify: Useful LinksLove in Exile by Shon Faye GuestsShon FayePatricia Clarke Audio CreditsThe Guardian The White HouseUK Government Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Bluesky: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-02-20•52mins
#16

Adventures in the Culture War w/ Ash Sarkar

The government has spent the week trying to out-Reform Reform by stirring up yet another moral panic about immigration. The Home Office has been boasting about its crackdown on “foreign criminals and illegal immigrants” and filming immigration raids and deportations. At the same time, it has toughened up rules to make it almost impossible for refugees who arrive in the UK via illegal routes to become British citizens. Contributing editor of Novara Media Ash Sarkar joins Nish and Coco to discuss her new book ‘Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War’ - highlighting how a minority elite are profiting from the chaos they create and how the “i” in identity politics can distract and divide progressive movements. And Health Minister Andrew Gwynne and Burnley MP Oliver Ryan - along with 11 Labour councillors - have been suspended from the Labour Party after it was alleged that they’d sent offensive messages to a whatsapp group chat lovingly entitled, “trigger me timbers”. Correction: A previous version of this episode included a statement that Sheffield's recycling bins were not collected from the roadside whilst discussing an ongoing workers strike. Recycling bins continue to be collected amidst the strike. We regret the error. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS Shopify: Useful Links Write to your MP about the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill www.fighttheantirefugeelaw/org Guests Ash Sarkar Nathan Phillips Audio Credits Sky Channel 5 GB News ITV Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Youtube: Insta: TikTok: Bluesky: Twitter: Facebook: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-02-13•48mins
#17

Trump’s Gaza madness ft Lewis Goodall

Donald Trump has left the world reeling with a plan to turn Gaza into *checks notes* “the Riviera of the Middle East”. He vowed that the US will “take over” and “own” the Gaza strip, effectively endorsing the ethnic cleansing of 1.8 million Palestinians who would have “no alternative” but to leave. With rumours circling that his inner-circle are calling him an “HR manager” rather than a leader, in classic style, Keir Starmer has pushed back but avoided directly criticising Trump. News Agents co-host Lewis Goodall joins Nish and Coco to discuss this latest tidal wave of horror and whether Starmer has it in him to stand for something. On a more hopeful note, the decision to greenlight the giant new Rosebank oilfield off Shetland has been ruled unlawful by the courts. At the forefront of the fight has been Uplift Director Tessa Khan, who calls in to celebrate this major win for climate action and let us know how we can stop this oilfield for good. Later, Coco sinks her teeth into our household waste, after Green-led Bristol Council unleashes the wrath of local residents. CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS Shopify: Aura Frames: Code: PSTUK Useful Links Get involved with the Stop Rosebank Campaign Guests Lewis Goodall Tessa Khan Audio Credits The Guardian Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-02-06•48mins
#18

Masculinity and Misinformation: How JimmyTheGiant Escaped The Alt-Right Pipeline

Warning: this episode contains strong language and a term of racist abuse. Nish and Coco dig into some scary data about Gen Z. A poll of 13-27 year olds this week suggested nearly half of them favour authoritarian government. And nearly half of young men think women have been given too many rights. Youtuber JimmyTheGiant joins the pod to tell us about this mindset and how he disappeared into the right wing wormhole, and came out the other side. And newts v planes: Nish and Coco check out Rachel Reeves plans for growth. Is she pinning her hopes on the tech bros and Heathrow while sticking two fingers up to net Zero? Useful Links Guests JimmytheGiant Clare Farrell Audio Credits Today Programme, BBC Radio 4 Clare Farrell Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-01-30•48mins
#19

Trump 2.0: Fear and Loathing in DC

A trigger warning for progressives: this episode contains explicit Trump content. Nish and Coco’s nightmare begins with inauguration Trump meme coins, grinning tech bros and disputed Nazi salutes. Then comes the blizzard of executive orders targeting migrants and freeing rioters. But this is not just a bad dream for our liberal hosts. This is the reality of Trump world. The groundwork of MAGA 2.0 has been laid. How should Britain react? The UK’s very own “basket of deplorables” including Farage, Truss and Braverman donned their MAGA caps and descended on the US. But they didn’t even scrape an invitation to the main event. Back home Keir Starmer and David Lammy opted for love-bombing the new President. But there is an alternative to a sucking up strategy. Pod Save the UK has spotted some green shoots of resistance. While Trump has thrown the Paris Climate Agreement out the window - again - the UK has an opportunity to lead the way on the environment. Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer joins the pod to explain how clever cross party collaboration and campaigning could push through the new Climate and Nature Bill. And Jon Favreau, host of ‘Pod Save America’ and ‘Offline’, joins Nish and Coco from across the pond to find out what’s in store for the US, UK and the world. Useful Links Write to your MP about the Climate and Nature Bill Guests Jon Favreau Carla Denyer MP Audio Credits X / Lawrence Fox Channel 4 News Sky News BBC Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-01-23•49mins
#20

Facts versus F-wits: how to fight the Alt Reich

Artificial intelligence will be “mainlined into the veins” of the nation, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared, with a multibillion-pound investment and huge public rollout. Amid bond market chaos and a falling pound, the Government is pinning its hopes for growth on the AI revolution - what could possibly go wrong? To unpick the technogobledigook with Nish and Coco is technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker. They drill into the Government's AI action plan and the potential pitfalls of this silver bullet for society, jobs and the environment. With the far right surging across the world - it’s important to know when you can call a fascist a fascist. No one knows this better than Nafeez Ahmed, investigative journalist and author of “Alt Reich: The Network War to Destroy the West from Within”. He breaks down the scale of the threat we are facing and how we can fight it. And with so much Billionaire BS flying about, we debut “Facts versus Fuckwits”, debunking some prime fuckwittery from a painfully out-of-touch Tony Blair. Useful Links “Alt-Reich: The Network War to Destroy the West from Within” by Nafeez Ahmed Mental Health Services: Guests Chris Stokel-Walker Nafeez Ahmed Audio Credits Sky News Jimmy’s Jobs for the Future Podcast Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-01-16•52mins
#21

Billionaire BS: How can Britain Stop Musk’s Disinformation?

Happy New Year - is 2025 going to be the year of disinformation? Elon Musk started in attack mode with a flood of vitriolic and false tweets about UK grooming gangs. In Musk’s crosshairs: Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. He accused them both of cover ups. Can Nish and Coco survive a year of Musk madness - the man who already makes Nish want to “eat his own anus”? We’re joined by political journalist Zoë Grünewald to discuss how to fight the disinformation invasion and what else might be in store in 2025 - from Reform eating the Tories to Labour delivering some much-needed change. And just when we thought we were done with billionaire BS - Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta is scrapping its fact-checking service and Andrew Tate launched a new political party. And poor Nish is under fire from GB News for “unnecessary political swipes”on the BBC. A word to GB News - unnecessary political swipes is what Nish does! Brace yourselves - it’s a wild first show back. Guests: Zoë Grünewald Audio credits: The GuardianBBC Sky NewsMark Zuckerberg Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025-01-09•49mins
#22

Just Stop Politics - 2024 Wrapped! w/ Desiree Burch and Liz Bates

What a year! While Rishi Sunak held true to his January commitment to hold the election in the second half of the year - the spectacle that followed couldn't have been predicted as 2024 dawned. Nish and Coco are joined by Sky News’ political correspondent Liz Bates and comedian Desiree Burch to chew over the gristle of the year that was. From racist Tory donors, to milkshaked MPs, creative political stunts and Rishi Sunak’s D-Day disaster - the first half of the year had plenty to keep us entertained. But once Labour took power - optimism quickly turned to gloom. The seven week garm-drama saga took the sheen off Keir Starmer’s newly minted cabinet, while the endless don't-call-it-austerity chat has jaded people across the country. As 2024 draws to a close - there’s still plenty to laugh about - including the best of the worst political pop songs of the year. Prepare to cringe. Useful Links: - make a donation now! Ed Davey and the Bath Philharmonic Carer’s Choir - Love is Enough Guests: Liz Bates Desiree Burch Audio credits: Sky News BBC ITV Channel 4 Tiktok / Dawn Butler Liberal Democrats Talk TV Fox News Via Channel 10 Australia Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-12-19•53mins
#23

FIFA World Cup: Trade Deals 1, Human Rights Nil

In the same week FIFA decided an appalling human rights record is no obstacle to Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup, Keir Starmer was schmoozing the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. What lengths will our former human rights lawyer PM go to in his pursuit of growth? Joey Shea from Human Rights Watch takes us through what went down during the visit. Back home, the government is talking up its plans to build 1.5 million new homes. Housing journalist Vicky Spratt joins Nish and Coco to assess whether Labour can pull off the biggest home building initiative since the second world war. And Pod Save The UK has found the perfect job for the royal family: Trump whisperers. Prince William was hastily wheeled out in Paris to charm the President and Nish and Coco explore why Trump has a weird soft spot for the Windsors. Guests: Vicky Spratt Joey Shea Audio Credits: Sky News UK Government Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-12-12•52mins

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#24

Toxic men and toxic politics: the problem with Gregg Wallace and Nigel Farage

As Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace faces a stream of allegations about inappropriate behaviour at work, Nish and Coco take on the entertainment industry’s toxic culture. Nish gives an insider’s view of why change is long overdue in an industry that enables massive egos, bad behaviour, even abuse. And Coco argues that to take women’s safety seriously we need to start with zero tolerance on bullying banter. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer’s reset this week promises to focus on working people’s priorities but is this going to deliver results. And is Labour missing a trick? Journalist Zoë Grünewald on why the government needs a big vision for young people. And with Reform UK support on the rise and soaring youth unemployment, is the left in danger of losing young voters to the right? Jacob Diggle of UK Youth joins us with solutions to get young people into work or study. Guests: Zoë Grünewald Jacob Diggle Useful Links: UK Youth Audio Credits: Sky News BBC Radio 4 Parliament TV Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-12-05•54mins
#25

Who gets to decide how we die? w/ Rosena Allin-Khan MP

This Friday, MPs are challenged with an enormous question of conscience - should we allow people with six months left to live the right to die at a time of their choosing? Joining Nish and Coco is Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting and A&E Doctor, to help us understand the strong feelings on both sides of the debate, the difficult decision that MPs are grappling with and how she decided which way she will vote. As the UK reels in the wake of Storm Bert, climate change lawyer Tessa Khan celebrates a victory in the legal fight against fossil fuels and tells us why the UK could lead the world on the environment. A petition calling for a General Election only months after the last one makes Nish’s blood boil. And have you ever wondered what Keir Starmer likes to cook? A clue: it involves pasta, and it’s not very exciting. ** We have a special competition for listeners to win tickets to a special preview screening of the film Rumours, starring Cate Blanchett, next Thursday 05/12/24. To win up to two tickets, we’re asking what your political highlight was this year - they can be funny, sad, insightful or inspiring. To enter, fill in this form: ** Guests: Rosena Allin-Khan Tessa Khan Useful Links: Stop Rosebank - Audio Credits: ITV News LBC BBC Sky News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Youtube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-11-28•51mins
#26

How to avoid World War 3 + why won’t Elon Musk Leave the UK alone? W/ Jamie Bartlett & Stephen Bush

Russia’s war with Ukraine is escalating dramatically - as we record reports have begun to emerge about Ukraine firing British long-range “Storm Shadow” missiles into Russia. Nish and Coco are joined on the couch by Stephen Bush, associate editor at the Financial Times, to discuss the chance of...World War Three? Meanwhile - closer to home - we find out why farmers are descending on Westminster. How big a blow is the Government’s budget for farmers and will Labour face a wipe out of rural supporters? And as Elon Musk is summoned to testify about X’s role in the UK summer riots, we’ll be speaking to Jamie Bartlett misinformation expert and host of hit podcasts “The Missing Cryptoqueen” and “The Gatekeepers” about Musk’s influence in politics and if we should all be quitting X. Guests: Stephen Bush Jamie Bartlett Useful Links: Jamie Bartlett’s Substack - How to Survive the Internet Jamie Bartlett's BBC Radio 4 podcast on the rise of social media's power - The Gatekeepers Audio Credits: Sky News BBC Instagram / Rebecca Wilson ITV News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-11-21•58mins
#27

How is Trump already infecting UK politics? w/ Beth Rigby + the university crisis

President-elect Donald Trump has a strong stance on many issues, from isolationism to border control, not to mention he’s an open climate change denier. Is his political platform already shaping UK party politics? Nish and Coco chat to Sky News Political Editor and host of Electoral Dysfunction Beth Rigby about what his looming second-term means for the UK. And with changes to university tuition fees in England for the first time in eight years - we dissect the crisis in higher education with President of the National Union of Students Amira Campbell and General Secretary of the University and College Union Jo Grady. Nish and Coco also dig into the mailbag to find out what you think. Plus - some essential listening - does Coco not understand what a mullet is? Guests: Beth Rigby Amira Campbell Jo Grady Useful Links: Christmas Comedy in aid of Women and Children First ft. Nish Kumar Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-11-14•52mins
#28

Trump wins: where the hell do we go from here? w/ Katy Balls + Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

It’s a dark, dark day for the world. Donald Trump - a convicted criminal no less - has been elected 47th US president in a shocking political resurrection. Nish and Coco are joined by the Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls to discuss just how ready the UK Government is for Trump’s comeback and Kemi Badenoch’s leadership win. Later, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, calls in to discuss her dismay at the US news and to Foreign Secretary David Lammy ruling out cash-based reparations for countries blighted by slavery. And with the Government announcing the first hike in tuition fees since 2017 - we want to hear from you. Are the increased fees or maintenance loans affecting you? Are you sick of paying off student loan repayments? How can we fix the crisis in higher education? Email us at [email protected] as we’ll be chewing this over with some special guests next week. Guests: Katy Balls Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Audio Credits: BBC Sky News GB News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-11-07•53mins
#29

Halloween budget: trick or treat? w/ Torsten Bell MP, Grace Blakeley & Katie Schmuecker

Double, Double, toil and trouble…the Government’s first budget has been unveiled on the eve of Halloween, and Nish and Coco are peering into chancellor Rachel Reeve’s cauldron. It’s a spooky episode, so buckle up, we find out if the Halloween budget is the horror show it’s been predicted to be. A seance with economic and political journalist Grace Blakeley helps us break down the raft of tax rises, loosened borrowing restrictions, and investment in public services. But what about the skeletons in the closet? Principal policy advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Katie Schmuecker drops in to chat about reforms to benefits for sick and disabled people, as well as private renters on low incomes. And finally Torsten Bell, Labour MP and former head of the Resolution Foundation, reveals if he’s going to sleep easy or if he’s worried about any market monsters emerging overnight… Guests: Grace Blakeley Katie Schmuecker Torsten Bell MP Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-10-31•49mins
#30

How f***ed are we if Trump wins? + Is Jeremy Corbyn MP forming a new party?

The Government’s rallying cry to the nation to help fix the NHS via a public consultation has not disappointed. In what is fast becoming the National Health Service’s very own Boaty McBoatface moment, Nish and Coco dissect the wild and weird policy suggestions flooding the website. Then Jeremy Corbyn, former Labour Party leader and Independent MP for Islington North, joins to tell us how the left can make their voices heard in Parliament and whether a new leftwing political party could be on the horizon. Later, with the US elections looming, co-host of our sister show Pod Save the World Tommy Vietor calls in to discuss why the Labour party is under fire for sending hundreds of staffers to canvas for the Democrats and what the result next month might mean for US-UK relations. Finally, Nish and Coco discuss a protest from an Australian Senator who shouted directly into the ears of King Charles, which comes as the Government resists paying reparations - or even apologising for - slavery and the actions of the British Empire. Useful links: Guests: Jeremy Corbyn MP Tommy Vietor Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-10-24•48mins
#31

How ruthless is Keir Starmer willing to be? w/ Anushka Asthana and Josh Babarinde MP

With just two weeks to go until the Autumn budget, the Labour government is preparing to make some huge reforms. But just how ruthless is Keir Starmer willing to be in reshaping the UK? Coco and Nish dig into it with Anushka Asthana, ITV’s political editor and author of “Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party”. Later, in the wake of the Tories latest round of madness, Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde calls in from parliament to discuss how the Government can be held to account in the absence of a sane opposition. And speaking of political ruthlessness, we find out why Labour are demanding a police investigation into the Monster Raving Loony Party’s role in unseating Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South. Useful links: Taken as Red: How Labour won big and the Tories crashed the party. Guests: Anushka Asthana Josh Babarinde MP Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-10-17•55mins
#32

The Tories lose their minds (again) - can Starmer hold against the far right?

The Tory party have once again chosen violence against themselves, as Keir Starmer’s Labour party are languishing in the polls after 90-something days of a lack of action. Nish and Coco burst the bubble on the news that Starmer’s Chief of Staff has been replaced by his election guru, joined by political journalist Ian Dunt to find out just how big a deal this backroom reshuffle is for the machinations of government. Ian also unravels the ideology of centrism - explaining why it was a huge part of the Labour Party’s success at the general election and why it might not be enough to keep the electorate happy without some actual policy to back it up. Later, Labour MP Nadia Whittome calls in from Portcullis House to talk about why she’s still hopeful for what the new government can deliver, before the biggest WTF moment since Rishi Sunak walked out in the rain - the Tory Party eliminating centrist candidate James Cleverly from the leadership. Guests: Ian Dunt Nadia Whittome MP Audio Credits: LBC Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-10-10•1hr 0mins
#33

Is Britain’s benefits system broken? w/ Caroline Selman and John Pring

The new Labour government has promised bold action to fix Britain’s benefit system. Last week, Keir Starmer announced a crackdown on benefit fraud and said people on long-term sickness benefits should look for work. But is this the answer? To chew over the Government’s plans, Coco and Nish are joined by Caroline Selman, senior research fellow at the Public Law Project, and John Pring, the founder and editor of Disability News Service and author of “The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence”. With some help from our listeners, they tell us how broken the benefit system is and how we can fix it. Then, to mark the Conservative party conference, we have the return of the section we like to call WTF. Some absolute shockers from the Tory leadership hopefuls remind us why they are no longer in power. Useful Links: For advice on benefits Contacting your MP Guests: John Pring Caroline Selman Video Credits: Times Radio Sky BBC Daily Express Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-10-03•51mins
#34

Can Starmer’s upbeat note drown out the donation scandal? w/ Zoë Grünewald and Simon Kuper

Exclusive INCOGNI Deal ➼ go to to get 60% off your annual plan! Keir Starmer gave his first Labour Conference speech as Prime Minister this week - but his message of “national renewal” was slightly spoiled by a backdrop of poor polling, infighting and their never ending “garm drama”. Journalist Zoë Grünewald joins Nish and Coco on the couch to search for the “light at the end of the tunnel” promised by the new government. Later, Simon Kuper, Financial Times journalist and author of Good Chaps: How corrupt politicians broke our law and institutions - and what we can do about it, joins the show to delve into the government’s first scandal-not-scandal. They discuss how donations have infected our politics and why there’s no such thing as a free box at the Arsenal game. Guests: Simon Kuper Grünewald Audio Credits: ITV News Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-09-26•55mins
#35

Starmer’s Garm Drama + the Government looks right on immigration w/ Zoe Gardner

Exclusive INCOGNI Deal ➼ go to to get 60% off your annual plan! Keir Starmer promised a Labour government would “turn the page” on scandal - but he’s already under fire after a late declaration of thousands of pounds of gifts. As the Tories clamour for an investigation, Nish and Coco take to the PSUK couch to weigh in on the row. Later, they’re joined by independent researcher on migration policy Zoe Gardner to discuss why Starmer is seeking immigration lessons from Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni. Zoe tells us about Italy’s controversial migration deals with North African countries and Albania, as well as what a migration system with a degree of humanity might look like. Next we open the mailbag to hear your unpopular policy suggestions - ranging from taxes on second homes to a maximum wage cap. Useful Links: Tickets for Nish Kumar: “Nish, don’t kill my vibe” Guests: Zoe Gardner Audio credits: The Telegraph Times Radio X / Ed Miliband Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-09-19•53mins
#36

Inside out: How to fix the UK’s prison system + Labour embraces unpopularity

Exclusive INCOGNI Deal ➼ go to to get 60% off your annual plan! The government has won a vote in the commons over its controversial winter fuel payments - but Keir Starmer knows he’s not winning over the public. Unpopular decisions are the theme of the day as Nish returns to join Coco on the PSUK couch. Later, our hosts are joined by former inmate turned podcaster and TV host David Navarro, alongside CEO of the Prison Reform Trust Pia Sinha to discuss the disastrous state of the UK’s prisons. It’s an eye opening chat - through David’s lived experience and Pia’s knowledge of the system we gain a better understanding of where our justice system is going wrong and how we can begin to fix it. Nish fights sleep as we’re brought up to speed with the Tory leadership latest, before firing up in disappointment at misguided comments on the Grenfell disaster from two former Prime Ministers. Coco lightens the mood with the unexpected love story between two of Westminster’s best known MPs. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Useful Links: David’s Channel 4 Documentary Prison Reform Trust Guests: Pia Sinha, CEO Prison Reform Trust David Navarro, Host, Delinquent Nation Audio credits: Sky News BBC Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-09-12•51mins
#37

Time to nationalise Ticketmaster? “Cigarettes & Alcohol”, the Grenfell Inquiry concludes

Parliament is back in session and so is Pod Save the UK! Coco is joined by Zoë Grünewald, filling in for Nish, to discuss Keir Starmer’s gloomy new lines trailing what’s shaping up to be a miserable Autumn budget. Free political point scoring around the Oasis/Ticketmaster fiasco probably isn’t going to be enough to offset the grim energy emanating from the Government’s plan to means test the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners, despite some glints of hope in other policy areas. Coco and Zoë also discuss Jeremy Corbyn’s new political alliance, restrictions on arms sales licences to Israel and Labour’s mooted outdoor smoking ban. Later, they’re joined by James Riding, Chief Reporter at Inside Housing, to discuss the final report from the Grenfell Inquiry, exploring the “Decades of failure” and “systematic dishonesty” behind the disaster. Finally, they check in on the Tory leadership race, where the five remaining candidates are struggling for recognition within the public eye. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Zoë Grünewald, Political Journalist James Riding, chief reporter at Inside Housing Audio credits: Sky News Number 10 Downing Street Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-09-05•49mins
#38

Live! How comedy can bring hope in dark times - with Adam Hills and Kemah Bob

In this special live episode from the Edinburgh Fringe, recorded on 07/08/24, Nish and Coco are joined by comedians Adam Hills and Kemah Bob to talk about how political comedy offers relief in dark times, while still holding power to account. The gang reflect on political flashpoints and what they learned from it, from dropping a spoonful of sugar to the unique lens that comedy can lend while reporting devastating events. Once again, Nish is confounded by Brat Summer. Later, in a special Q&A session with our live audience, we resurrect Pod Shag the UK and hear about some of the things bringing hope to our listeners, with a special appearance from Nish’s mum. Guests: Adam Hills - Comedian Kemah Bob - Comedian Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-08-15•47mins
#39

Live! Finding hope in the wake of Britain's racist riots - with Ahir Shah & Tom Ballard

In this special live episode from the Edinburgh Fringe, Nish and Coco bring two special guests to talk about the racist riots tearing Britain apart. **CORRECTION** This episode incorrectly states that the Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out" has a sexist subtext, when it is in fact a song criticising misogyny. We regret the error. Nish, Coco and Ahir reflect on their personal feelings and experiences of racism in the UK in the wake of the violence, while sharing some advice for anyone feeling disturbed. Later, Tom Ballard jumps on stage to share how the UK took some of the worst possible inspiration from his home country of Australia. The gang turn to the audience - while sharing advice for wearing sunscreen… And burrito-based magic. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Ahir Shah - Comedian Tom Ballard - Comedian Useful Links: ahirshah.com tomballard.com.au Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-08-08•58mins
#40

How Can We Fix The British Economy? With Paul Johnson From The IFS

It’s been a tough few weeks for new Chancellor Rachel Reeves. In a speech to the House of Commons on Monday, Reeves declared that despite going in to government with gloomy prospects, the financial inheritance was much worse than she had expected. Naturally, this didn’t go down particularly well with the now Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as the two traded barbs whilst invoking the opinions of THE name in British economics - Paul Johnson. Nish and Coco sit down with the man himself, Paul, to talk about how deep the budgetary black hole goes and solutions for how the Government might tax their way out of it, whilst still meeting the difficult manifesto commitment of “no new taxes on working people”. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guest; Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Useful links: Pod Save the UK, Live! PSUK YouTube: Audio clips: Parliament.TV Instagram / James Cleveley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-08-01•52mins
#41

Red Rebellion, Just Stop Locking Up Activists And How To Fix Our Broken NHS With Clare Farrell And Victor Adebowale

Three weeks haven’t yet passed since the election, but Keir Starmer’s Government has faced its first rebellion. The response to seven Labour MPs breaking rank over the Government’s stance on the two child benefit cap was swift and fierce, leading to the whip being removed and anger inside and outside the party. Nish and Coco ask if Starmer has only stoked further division within the party. Clare Farrell drops in to discuss the landmark sentencing of five Just Stop Oil protesters and how the previous government’s draconian anti-protest legislation led to this moment. Later, chair of the NHS Federation Victor Adebowale joins Nish and Coco to discuss the National Audit Office’s recent findings into the state of NHS finances and what can be done to fix the service, while taking the pressure off of near-breaking point staff. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Clare Farrell, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation Useful Links: Open Letter: Just Stop Oil petition: Pod Save the UK: live! Audio credits: BBC Radio 4 Today Department of Health and Social Care parliamentlive.tv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-07-25•1hr 5mins
#42

The Kings Speech, Knives Out for Vaughan Gething and An Education on Schools Policy with Liz Bates

As parliamentarians were ironing their robes in preparation for the King’s Speech, Trump’s new running mate JD Vance shocked the UK with flippant remarks that have sent a shiver down the spine of the New Government. Nish and Coco are joined by Liz Bates to discuss Vance’s comments, the themes behind the surprise-free King’s Speech and two shock resignations - those of Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething and England manager Gareth Southgate. Later, Nish and Coco catch up with two young people with lived experience of our crumbling education system and check in with Janeen Hayat, Director of Collective Action at the Fair Education Alliance. Education is one of the new government’s top five priorities - where the few short-term wins to be had are balanced out by some prickly policy problems. Later, Liz returns to unveil an MP’s (not-so) shameful secret, the neverending Tory psychodrama and the reality TV show nobody was asking for. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Liz Bates Janeen Hayat Useful Links: Find us on Youtube - Buy Tickets to see Pod Save the UK live - Audio Credits: Parliament.TV ITV Good Morning Britain The Guardian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-07-18•54mins
#43

Are Labour the party to finally fix housing? w/ Kwajo Tweneboa, Toby Lloyd and Sam Freedman

It’s week one in government and Labour have hit the ground running. We’ve got a new cabinet and big moves on planning reform and international relations are underway. But what about the opposition? Nish and Coco check in with Substack superstar Sam Freedman to uncover some of the challenges the new government faces over the course of the parliament and hear who might lead a new-look Conservative Party. Later, Kwajo Tweneboa and Toby Lloyd drop in to chew over one of the prickliest issues the UK needs to deal with - housing. From social housing, to affordability, to no-fault evictions, we cover off the biggest challenges the government faces. Finally, things get weird when Coco declares a “Red Ed Summer” as TikTokers thirst over the new energy secretary. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Sam Freedman, political analyst Kwajo Tweneboa, housing campaigner Toby Lloyd, housing consultant Useful links: Audio clips: parliamentlive.tv The Telegraph Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-07-11•49mins
#44

Labour Landslide - will things get better? With Torsten Bell MP and Femi Oluwole

It’s official. The election results are in and we are in the era of a Labour government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stepped up the 10 Downing Street - but one of the key questions for Nish and Coco is will things concretely improve under his leadership? What can we hope for in this new era? The results of this election has shown massive changes in all directions and with all the parties. Joining Nish and Coco to analyse all the seismic shifts is political journalist, Zoe Grünewald. She discusses whether the Conservatives and the SNP are on the brink of collapse, and the implications of Reform getting seats in parliament. We also hear from newly elected Labour MP for Swansea West, Torsten Bell, and Femi Oluwole looks at the early stats around tactical voting. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Zoe Grünewald, political journalist Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West Femi Oluwole, journalist and campaigner Useful links: Audio clips: Channel 4 Sky News BBC Femi Oluwole LBC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-07-05•55mins
#45

Would a Labour supermajority really be bad for democracy? Rory Stewart on why opposition is vital

Counting down the last five days until the election results come flooding in, the Conservative Party is still blowing themselves apart from the inside. Why has the Tory campaign been such a clusterfuck and should we care if they implode? Would a Labour supermajority be good or bad for democracy as a whole? To discuss these points, Nish and Coco are joined by Rory Stewart - hearing what he thinks on both the future of the Conservative party, and the future of British democracy. Now known for hosting the “The Rest is Politics” podcast with former Labour spin-doctor Alastair Campbell, Rory explains why he might return to politics - even going for the top job. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guest: Rory Stewart Useful links: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-30•29mins
#46

Will “gamblegate” scandal obliterate the Tories Forever? Plus last few days of the election with Liz Bates

With just one week to go until the election, Rishi Sunak’s chances of avoiding a landslide defeat might have just got slimmer - all thanks to “gamble-gate”. Nish and Coco are joined by political correspondent Liz Bates to discuss the betting scandal plaguing the government. Sunak vowed to lead the world in “standards of decency” but has been very slow to act. Might this mean a complete wipeout for them? But that’s not all the scandals this week. Education secretary Gillian Keegan has repeatedly used a claim about children being taught there are “72 genders” to back up government plans to ban schools from talking about gender identity. Nish, Coco and Liz investigate her so-called sources. And from politicians playing minecraft to the Reform UK Party singing the Spice Girls, the WTF moments are multiplying. Nish, Coco and Liz dissect their favourites from the week. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guest: Liz Bates, Political Correspondent, Sky News Useful links: Audio clips: BBC ITV Reform UK TrophyTime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-27•43mins
#47

Chris Packham Vs Taylor Swift: Will People or Politics Save Our Planet?

The major parties have failed to pledge to make the radical changes needed to save our planet from climate catastrophe - but people power may well save us yet. Nish and Coco are joined by conservationist Chris Packham to find out what more our politicians need to do and how citizens can get involved. Chris also questions the wisdom of Taylor Swift’s private jet usage and brings a suggestion of how she could help create change. Later, Adrienne Buller drops by to explore GB Energy - Labour’s signature manifesto pledge that they’ve claimed to be the most radical climate policy ever. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Chris Packham - Conservationist Adrienne Buller - Author Useful links: The Break Down Restore Nature Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-23•43mins
#48

Who gets the power? Devolution and the General Election.

It’s been a horrendous campaign for the Conservatives so far, careening from disaster to catastrophe, but the Tories don't have the exclusive on political drama. This week Nish and Coco focus on the action in the devolved nations, with a particular focus on Wales and Northern Ireland. First, we check in with Welsh Journalist Will Hayward to learn about the recent vote of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething and Labour’s manifesto pledge to tune up the current devolution agreements. Then, Coco chats to Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, to learn more about Plaid’s ambitions for Wales and their plans to turn up the heat on Labour. Later, we check in to Northern Ireland, speaking to journalist Amanda Ferguson about the stakes of the next election and whether allegations about former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will have any bearing on the election. Finally, the gang break out some of Coco’s recently rebranded charming and quizzical moments. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Rhun ap Iorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru Will Hayward, Welsh Affairs Editor at Wales Online Amanda Ferguson, freelance journalist Audio credits: Sky News Blue Sky.mp3 by Sergmusic -- -- License: Creative Commons 0 TikTok/ Suella Braverman Useful links: Jo Stevens interview with S4C Constituencies and candidates: Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr: Ynys Mon: Dudley: Fareham: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-20•54mins
#49

Manifesto deep-dive: Is Labour’s at all progressive?

Following a week of political manifestoes dropping from UK parties - Nish & Coco take a deep-dive investigation to see how they hold up against one another. With a focus on manifestoes that have left-wing approaches - they discuss what policies are the most realistic and which hold up the best under scrutiny. Joined by political journalist Zoe Grünewald, Nish & Coco look closely at welfare policies, the NHS, taxes and social care. Special guests Rebekah Pierre (author and social worker) and Helen Barnard (of the Trussell Trust) send the hosts their thoughts on which policies have the most potential for hope. And there’s a return of WTF moments featuring an iconic UK hit song and Starmer’s comeback to a surprise protest. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Zoe Grünewald, political journalist Audio Clips: BBC Institute for Fiscal Studies Times Radio Sky News Dawn Butler/Elson Useful links: Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-16•45mins
#50

How to make your vote count: is Tactical Voting a necessary evil? With Femi Oluwole

The polls are indicating a landslide victory for Labour come the election on July 4th. But that hasn’t stopped the calls - from both the left and the right - for citizens to vote tactically. But what does that really mean in Britain’s broken electoral system? Joining Nish and Coco on the PSUK sofa is Femi Oluwole, activist and campaigner, and Joe Twyman, a seasoned pollster covering his 9th election. Together they discuss whether this is an election for people to vote with their heart or if being “strategic” is more important and whether our new parliament has any hope of delivering long overdue reform to our electoral system. We also hear from Jessica Garland from the Electoral Reform Society. Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally) Insta: Twitter: TikTok: Facebook: YouTube: Guests: Femi Oluwole, YouTube Campaigner, Tactical Voting activist Joe Twyman, Co-founder and director of Deltapoll Audio Clips: Sky News BBC ITV Channel 5 PoliticsJoe Useful links: Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024-06-13•45mins

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