Épisodes

  • Sunday School: Smells like teen spirit

    Sunday School: Smells like teen spirit
    Jul 20 2025
    Votes for 16-year-olds incoming, Stephen Colbert's Late Show outgoing. Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell take a peek at the latest moves to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote in general elections – is it a long-overdue resetting of democratic rights or the end of days? And the grim news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has us asking whether this is about politics, profits or a horrible combination of both. Plus, Trump decides to sue Murdoch as we record this episode... so much media drama to cram in. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** 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. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 min
  • Palaces or Parliaments? Keeping score of Democracy's losses.

    Palaces or Parliaments? Keeping score of Democracy's losses.
    Jul 17 2025
    Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith and special guest, data scientist Christina Pagel, discuss the Afghan data breach, the confusion over resettlement schemes, misinformation and its role in the rise of the far right. And in Part II, we delve into Christina's project, charting the (at last count 707) anti-democratic actions of the Trump administration. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin and Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** - “Farage is demanding Parliament is recalled to be addressed by Trump. Trump says he’s not that bothered.” - “Of course he’s not bothered. Trump likes Palaces, not Parliaments.” “I think Trump is betraying the office of the Presidency and there is a massive risk in normalising what he is doing. I am pragmatic about diplomacy, but this is a unique situation, where America is on the precipice of a very dark place, and I don’t think we are doing anyone any favours by pretending it is not.” “Since 2003 the percentage of people living under autocratic regimes has gone from 50% to 72%. Democracy is losing and I don’t think people realise it. So when you have the world’s most famous liberal democracy becoming authoritarian, we have to sound the alarm and we have to shout about it.” “I’m not sure the Trump regime is as chaotic as it seems. An independent organisation tracking Project 2025 says that, six months in, 46% of it has been achieved. There is a plan and they are following it. They may not be doing it perfectly competently, but it is working.” ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠*** GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about a bumper year for vaccine health here. Read more about the HPV vaccine's success over cervical cancer here. Buy something from our bookshop here. CALLS TO ACTION: Use this government portal to the industrial strategy to make sector-specific contributions. Subscribe to and support Christina Pagel's substack here. Email us at ⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 15 min
  • How dark money is taking our politics backwards

    How dark money is taking our politics backwards
    Jul 15 2025
    Alex Andreou and special guest, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan, discuss how dark money is "Americanising" our political debate in areas like women's reproductive health - and how Reform UK represents an opportunity for those who wish to subvert our democracy further. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** “The US State Department’s substack put out a statement recently saying, effectively, we’re going to meddle into other people’s elections. They were criticising the German government for saying Alternative für Deutschland - some of which has roots in a fascist past - for describing them as extremists.” “The way in which very strong ideas of religiosity, which are not just about personal belief, but are much more about how society should be organised, and which are often - at best - agnostic towards democracy, have become increasingly strengthened.” “Problem is that current proposed electoral law reform is mostly about fighting the last war; tidying up the loopholes that exist. There is nothing about what is coming down the track: dark money flows, crypto, foreign interference, the ability to use AI to make small donations, social media disrupting elections - none of this is being looked at.” CALLS TO ACTION: Subscribe to Peter's substack ⁠⁠Democracy for Sale here⁠⁠. You can buy Peter's book from the Quiet Riot Bookshop here. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 min
  • Sunday School: A Very Clever Cat

    Sunday School: A Very Clever Cat
    Jul 13 2025
    Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou talk through the week's political stories, covering the outcome of Macron's state visit, and the churn on the right of politics, with every splitter starting his own party/movement/grift. Plus, a very special report from our resident Chevalier, Olivier Morel, with behind-the-scenes gossip from Macron's visit. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “He [Macron] went off script and that was the best part of the speech. He got the biggest cheer when he said, in effect, that the EU is poorer for being without the UK.” “Being loved at home and respected abroad is very rare. I do think most leaders have to choose where they are clapped - Brussels or Blackpool?” “Kemi Badenoch just told the most self-serving group of politicians in the entire country that, if substance matters to them they should stick with her, but if they want to get elected they should go to Reform. How is she so bad at this?” 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. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • Manu Best Friend - Macron's visit may be a turning point

    Manu Best Friend - Macron's visit may be a turning point
    Jul 10 2025
    Alex Andreou, Naomi Smith and special guest, investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan, discuss the significance of the French President's visit, the Post Office scandal first report, how big money has infected politics, and Woke Superman. Plus 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin and Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** “Brexit is still the word that nobody in British politics wants to utter. We’re constantly talking about stagnant growth, but nobody in the Labour Party wants to say: shall we push that big button named Europe?” “Questions remain over just how far France is willing to go and whether Macron is offering genuine structural cooperation, or just diplomatic flattery. But this is the most substantial UK-French bilateral moment in years and potentially a turning point in the post-Brexit story.” “The UK is a significant asset, as an ally and a strategic partner. And it’s good to see that we have advanced to a place where, instead of just going ‘GRRR! FOREIGNERS! EUGH!’, we can say: What can we offer you and what do you have that we want?” “This should not be just about trade. There is more at stake than just that. The US and Europe are pitching not just different trade blocs, but different versions of what democracy and statehood look like in the 21st century - and we should acknowledge that.” “The way in which influence can be bought and sold is actually hard-wired into our political system. It runs on private money and parties go out there to raise it from, increasingly, a small number of individuals. Over half of the money raised in the last election came from 19 individuals.” “There is a need to properly update electoral law and rationalise it. It is a patchwork of different legislation, some of which is 150 years old. It’s not joined up. It’s full of gaps and confusion, which are easy for bad actors to exploit, while making it difficult for those who want to comply to do so.” GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about the teenager escorted to the prom by 1,500 bikers here. CALLS TO ACTION: Subscribe to Peter's substack ⁠Democracy for Sale here⁠. Support Best for Britain here. Click ⁠here for your Quiet Riot Bluesky Starter Pack⁠. Email us at ⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠. Or visit our website ⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 8 min
  • Sunday School: Not Another One!

    Sunday School: Not Another One!
    Jul 7 2025
    Another new party is created, another Reform MP is un-created, another ceasefire is hoped for, and another depressing poll. Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell talk through the week's political stories, with a focus on the emerging (possibly Corbyn-led) party on the left of British politics, hopes of respite for Gaza from being pounded, and a new pan-European poll that finds the youth of our continent more disengaged from politics than ever. PLUS news of Reform UK losing another MP reached us LIVE as we were recording. I won't spoil the moment for you. But it is a keeper. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “The last few years are a reminder that equality is a garden that needs constant tending, because the weeds never stop growing." “Maybe this fracturing of politics that we've experienced means that, even with first-past-the-post, we've got a few years of coalitions ahead . People need to start adjusting their psychological stance to that idea. The two dominant parties cannot keep relying on the 'blackmail', if you want, it's either us or them.” 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. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    56 min
  • The Sum of All Tears

    The Sum of All Tears
    Jul 3 2025
    Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou, with special guest, security expert Arthur Snell, discuss the first anniversary of Labour's election victory being marked by - probably - it most difficult week. Also, what is next for Ukraine, now that much of the West is fully distracted by the Middle East? Plus, who will actually pay for Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.? And, of course, the latest instalments of 'Wokey Dokey' and 'Grin And Share It'. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** “My sympathy for the gov’t is limited, because they have boxed themselves needlessly into a corner on so many issues. Whether it is red lines on spending, or taxation, red lines on Europe, or on the fiscal rules - they keep doing this. They keep putting up these artificial barriers that make it difficult to do anything.” “Who would do better in Reeves’ position and how? There seems to be both a lack of guidance coming from No.10 and a weird extra hand on the tiller coming from No.10. So, would a new Chancellor do any better in that environment?” “There has been friction between No.10 and No.11 before, but you could always see what the source of that friction was. What was the difference of opinion. Where it’s difficult to see it now, because it’s difficult to understand what Starmer’s real direction is.” CALL TO ACTION Help Ukraine by supporting the Smart Medical Aid charity here. Medecins Sans Frontier is still operatin in Gaza. Catch Arthur's latest Behind The Lines episode. GRIN AND SHARE IT Read about the Polish delivery driver who turned into an Irish national hero. ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell. A Cooler Heads production, in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quietriotpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.quietriotpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 6 min
  • Sunday School: PIP of the iceberg

    Sunday School: PIP of the iceberg
    Jun 29 2025
    ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou talk through the week's stories, including the government's climbdown on welfare reform and the launch of its trade and industrial policies. Finally, three weeks ago every other news story was about the "riots" in California. What happened? ***SPONSOR US AT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KO-FI.COM/QUIETRIOTPOD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** 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. With Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou and Kenny Campbell – in cahoots with Sandstone Global. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 min