The Two Matts

Is America Brexiting from the world? Did we learn anything from Covid? Why isn’t history taught more in school? Have we got a problem with young white males? And was Kevin Bridges right about Trump all along? All this and more in this week’s Q&A with the Two Matts. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past two weeks have been good for Keir Starmer. As Tom Baldwin writes in this week’s New European, he has fallen back on his core qualities; a kind of radical relentlessness. The Matts assess his performance and ask if Starmer is ready to throw off the Labour obsession with appeasing the so-called red wall and instead embrace Labour’s natural audience: Us! In the first part, the Matts discuss the latest news from the ongoing Ukraine sell-out. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts speak with Sam Wetherell, author of the brilliant Liverpool And The Unmaking Of Britain. It’s not only a fascinating dive into the history of Liverpool, a city whose rise and fall impacted the whole world, but it’s also a prism through which we can try to understand our own complex times. How did one man from North Carolina doom the entire Liverpool dock industry? How did a black pastor try to ignite the cause of Pan-Africanism from two knocked-together terrace houses? How did the Beatles go from being practically ignored by the city to being the centre of its renaissance? And what kind of politics do we need in an age of increasing obsolescence? All these questions are answered, and many more, in one of the most absorbing interviews the Matts have done. Enjoy! Buy Liverpool And The Unmaking of Britain through our affiliate link and help support the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781801108881 EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts tackle questions from listeners including should X be banned in the UK? Should we withdraw the offer of a State Visit for Trump? Are we AI friendly? And why the hell are we insulting the dignity of the Two Matts podcast by not wearing suits? Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are transfixed by Trump’s address to Congress. Once they get over the sheer magnetism of his schtick, they unpack how it works and why the right is so good at messaging. In part two, they analyse what might be the greatest speech to date about the horrifying implications Trump holds for Europe. A real reality check, articulated perfectly by a French centre-right politician. If you seek clarity in what Trump means for democracy, then click and listen. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are joined by Trump chronicler supreme, Michael Wolff, whose new book All Or Nothing is a riveting and revelatory telling of Trump’s extraordinary journey back to the White House. What are the characteristics that turned a seemingly irredeemable position into a second term? What do his inner circle really think of him? Why does Melania “hate his f***ing guts?” What triggered such an explosion against Zelensky? What has Putin got over him? And how can Europe deal with a President who thrives on instinct, without a plan or philosophy? All this and more in an interview both entertaining and terrifying. If you want to get inside Trump’s head, for better or worse, this is the place. Enjoy! Buy All Or Nothing by Michael Wolff via our affiliate link and help support the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/13277/9781408713945 EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts grapple with our former Prime Minister's latest outbursts, dig into a deep mailbag of Burnham questions and speculate wildly on the Oscars this evening. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Trump’s real objective? And what do European leaders do now, as the reality that the President of the United States is not simply indifferent to their fate, but actively hostile. Trump hasn’t just abandoned Ukraine - he’s actually switched sides and in siding with Russia over the carve up of its territory and mineral wealth, has sealed the coffin lid on what we grew up knowing as The West. Only one man emerges with integrity and understanding of what Trump wants and how to deal with him - President Zelensky of Ukraine. The Matts assess his role in these most extraordinary and turbulent times. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joins the Matts ahead of this week’s Convention of the North - the annual meeting of minds focussed on the ongoing revival of the UK’s great northern regions and cities. Andy delves deep into the opportunities and challenges facing cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds - emerging from the threat of obsolescence into economic and cultural powerhouses of the 21st Century. Does Westminster really have a clue about the North? How much of a blow was the cancellation of HS2? And how can the north really compete with London and the south east when it comes to driving innovation and economic growth? All this - plus Andy looks forward to his beloved Everton’s move next season to one of the most exciting sporting arenas in Europe - Bramley Moore Dock slap bang on the majestic river Mersey. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should the Matts write the briefing notes for Keir Starmer’s trip to see Trump? What would Mr Kelly do if a populist Government tried to muzzle The New European? And what should we make of Boris Johnson's silence on matters Ukraine these past few weeks? All these questions and more answered on today's Q&A. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are joined by New European columnist Tanit Koch who tells them everything they need to know about the weekend’s federal elections in Germany. What are the consequences of the far right AfD’s growing support? What difference will a conservative Chancellor make on illegal immigration and the economy - the two burning issues at the heart of this vote? And what role can Germany play in a Europe suddenly confronted with the reality of a Donald Trump presidency? It’s a fascinating insight into European politics as Tanit makes sense of an election of enormous consequence. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has pledged British boots on the ground to keep whatever peace Trump and Putin carve up between them over Ukraine. The consequences are staggering and disturbing, as the Matts discover during the course of a tightly argued podcast. Meanwhile, JD Vance openly humiliates European leaders and sends the clearest signal yet that America First is a slogan representing international menace and opportunism and national selfishness. How can divided and US-dependent European nations hope to defend itself in a world where the US is no longer there to pay the bill? Where does Europe fit into a world of strongman spheres? EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Labour's immigration posturing the last straw for those who wanted a progressive Government? Should Eric Schmidt be listened to about anything? And was the last Liverpool derby at Goodison a game for the ages? The Matts ponder all in this Sunday's bonus Q&A episode. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are live at the Media Collective Summit and discuss the extraordinary pace of events in Washington - are we literally watching a coup taking place in the world’s biggest democracy? Who is in charge? Elon Musk or Donald Trump? And what are the consequences for Europe? How should Starmer react? In part two - are politicians getting crapper? The Matts discuss and make an astonishing discovery (for them anyway) about William Gladstone. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are joined by Bloomberg’s Parmy Olson - author of “Supermacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world”. Parmy leads us through the development of Artificial Intelligence; the extraordinary story of the two men leading the race towards AGI (don’t worry, all will be explained); and the enormous opportunities and challenges this new technology brings. If you find yourself wondering what the fuss on AI is all about, and why it should terrify you … or not, then this is the podcast for you. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the leader of the opposition "Bad Enoch" or just "bad enough"? Are there no red lines for the UK when facing Trump? And do journalists pale in comparison to the Black Country Bard himself, Mr Adrian Chiles? Find out in our latest instalment of our weekly Q&A. Enjoy! Get a FREE bottle of tequila when you subscribe to The New European (over 18s only, see ts and cs): theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are dumbfounded by Trump’s plan to take ownership of Gaza and turn it into a Mediterranean riviera - or, more accurately, force the displacement of millions of Palestinians and totally demolish any chance of progress toward a two-state solution. This lunatic approach to international policy is an entirely new and terrifying form of statecraft - how can leaders react? Also - the Matts watch Go Back Where You Came From … the Channel 4 TV show that has caused outrage for sensationalising the migrant crisis. The Matts love it. Tune in to find out why. Enjoy! Get a FREE bottle of tequila when you subscribe to The New European (over 18s only, see ts and cs): theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts are joined by Damian Collins - former Tory minister who launched a national inquiry into fake news and election interference. How can we protect society from online harm? How can government’s hope to contain the whims of a man like Elon Musk? And what does he make of Kemi Badenoch’s first months as leader of the Conservatives? The Matts also explore his fascination with two giants of a bygone era, David Lloyd George and Theodore Roosevelt. What would they make of today’s political carnival? Enjoy! Get a FREE bottle of tequila when you subscribe to The New European (over 18s only, see ts and cs): theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we already lost more cash post-Brexit than the entire time we were in the EU? Should we have been harder on Peter Hyman? Will the UK buy Greenland? These questions and more are answered in today's bonus episode. Plus: is Adrian Chiles the new TS Elliot? Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no doubt about it - Reeves and Starmer are at least trying to switch up from the doom and gloom that characterised their first six months in power. Have they finally got the tone right? Is the strategy right? Is it enough? The Matts discuss. Also … why you’ve got to go and see The Brutalist. The film, set largely in post-WW2 America and starring Adrian Brody and Guy Pierce made a big impression on both Matts… in this podcast they delve into the Brutalist’s themes and find them strangely relevant to today. Enjoy! LAST WEEK: get a free bottle of tequila when you subscribe to The New European (over 18s only, see ts and cs): theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.