The Two Matts
By The New European
Join The New European's Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona plus occasional guests for weekly chat on politics and media with a side of cultural stuff. A podcast in the spirit of the award-winning New European newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people.
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Latest episode
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Q&A: why can’t we go to the bleedin’ shop today?
Join the Matts this Easter Sunday as they tackle a wide range of topics: Is it time we abandoned Sunday trading laws? How should we think about assisted dying? Is the death penalty appropriate for people who split infinitives? Why isn’t the minister … -
Supreme sense? The aftermath of the trans rights ruling
WARNING: If easily triggered by rational discussion of complicated social topics, then this episode may not be for you. This week, the Matts react to the Supreme Court ruling defining women by their biological sex. It’s a landmark in a vitriolic, and… -
But what is Britain anyway?
The row over Chinese investment in British Steel opens up a whole can of worms for the Matts. How does an astroturf football pitch in Copenhagen, Argentinian Che Guevara and a steelworks in Scunthorpe all add to the debate? Only one way to find ou… -
Starmer v Chamberlain and The Stones v The Beatles … fight, fight, fight!
This week the Matts answer questions on Keir Starmer’s Keep Calm response to global economic mayhem; what Kim Jong Un is getting from Putin; whether the Beatles are any match for the mighty Rolling Stones; whether Nigel Farage is entirely in comma… -
Trump blinks – but don’t relax yet!
The Assisted Dying Bill gave the Matts plenty to think about a few months ago. Since then much has changed as it made its way through parliament. Has any of it changed the Matts’ minds? The answer is yes - but it’s a nuanced and challenging diffic… -
From the horse’s mouth - Behind the scenes with one of the world’s great diplomats
The Matts are joined by João Vale De Almeida, whose 40 year career as a diplomat has seen him represent the EU in the United States, the United Nations and … thanks to Brexit … as history’s first ever EU ambassador to the UK. João’s new book - -
Q&A: When will Starmer and Reeves wake up to Europe?
The Matts tackle questions from listeners including learned helplessness, a new timezone for Scotland, are the Beatles uniquely great, welfare v warfare (which nearly ends up in a dust-up) and a flood of American refugees into the UK. Enjoy! -
Trump’s tariffs: It’s the end of the world as we know it!
On Liberation Day +1, the Matts take stock of the maniac’s economic shake-up and what it means for the world and the UK in particular. Stripping away the theatre and bullsh*t, they hone in on what is really happening in Trump’s head and ask the la… -
The Ballad of John and Paul … plus The End for Marine Le Pen?
The Matts are joined by Ian Leslie, author of the stupendously good John And Paul - A Love Story In Songs. They explore the freakish nature of an… -
Q&A: Does journalism get any better than Adrian Chiles on toilet rolls?
The Matts tackle listener questions this week on Gareth Southgate’s inspiring BBC lecture, Rachel Reeves’ survival chances, European defence spend, WhatsApp faux pas, the decline of the Democrats … and the big one; how can a couple of mere mortal …
