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Latest Episodes:

Downstream: Arab Jews, The Hidden History w/ Avi Shlaim Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

A foundational principle of the state of Israel is that it keeps Jews safe. This principle has been profoundly challenged in the last nine or so months. But what if Israel never really had the will or capacity to keep all Jews safe and, in fact, has made them less safe?

Avi Shlaim is a historian and author of “Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew”. He joined Ash to talk about the Israeli right, Mossad’s covert operations in Baghdad and what it means to have hyphenated identities.

Pro Revolution Soccer 2.6: The Misfit Visionaries Who Invented Modern Football Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

It’s part of the national myth: the English invented football and to England it will return (next time!).

But if football is part of what makes England England, it’s equally part of the story of how Europe became Europe.

In this Pro Revolution Soccer season finale, Tom Williams and Juliet Jacques tell this story of oddballs, war, oligarchs, dodgy deals and footballing genius.

Along the way, they discuss how football relates to what is ‘pragmatic’ in politics, why Gareth Southgate is a bit like a good David Cameron, and explain the only certainty in the beautiful game: that there will always be more football.

Music by Matt Huxley.

Downstream: Party Politics is Broken w/ Jeremy Corbyn Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

Jeremy Corbyn was a Labour MP for almost four decades – and led the party at two general elections. This year however, and despite still being a party member, Corbyn was blocked from standing again in his seat of Islington North. As soon as Rishi Sunak declared a snap general election, and the Labour leadership chose a different candidate, Corbyn announced he would stand as an independent. He was consequently expelled as a party member. Defying all the odds Corbyn managed to keep his seat, winning almost fifty percent of the vote.

He sat down with Aaron Bastani to discuss that achievement, Labour’s performance more generally, the success of other independents elsewhere – and what the future holds for party politics in the UK. Are we moving towards a different kind of politics? One rooted in community, local networks and public service?

Novara FM: Macron’s Own Goal w/ Olly Haynes Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

The French left have played a blinder. Or, at least, the centre-right chaos agent and French President Emmanuel Macron has played it for them.

Macron called snap elections, hoping to crush both the left and right. He failed. Instead, the far right briefly surged, coming top in the first round before a newly cohesive French left took the largest share in the second, decisive round.

Is this the end of the Fifth Republic?

Olly Haynes tells Richard Hames about the long crises of French politics, the absurdities of Macronism and whether France is heading for a fascist party in power.

Listen to our previous podcast on the French left, Tout Le Monde Déteste La Police (everyone hates the police)

Pro Revolution Soccer 2.5: Can Football Be Part of Political Resistance? Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Tom and Juliet expose the surprisingly rich history of football as a wing of political resistance, from Algeria to Palestine to the growing power of the grassroots game in Britain.

They also process England’s shock win against Switzerland, TV pundits’ criticism of Southgate, and the silence around Cristiano Ronaldo.

Music by Matt Huxley.

Help us build people-powered media: http://novara.media/support

ACFM Microdose: Election ’24 Vibecheck Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

The ACFM crew offer their first reactions to Labour’s landslide election win. Can Starmer’s government rescue the public sector? Where will the money come from? And can they make it to a second term?

Produced and edited by Matt Huxley and Chal Ravens.

Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

Downstream: Here’s How America Really Runs Britain w/ Angus Hanton Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

The United States’ impact on British culture and foreign policy is obvious. But its influence on our domestic politics, business, and daily lives warrants closer examination.

To discuss this, Aaron is joined by Angus Hanton, author of ‘Vassal State: How America Runs Britain’.

Novara FM: Britain is Broken. Can Anyone Fix It? w/ Dom Davies Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

Asked in a recent poll to summarise Britain in a word, ‘broken’ was the people’s top choice. This brokenness is concrete stuff: crumbling bridges, sewage-filled rivers, failing computer systems, cancelled rail projects. But it’s also bundled with the collective stories we tell about what it means to be a nation, and who belongs in it.

To find out why it feels like nothing works in Britain anymore, Moya Lothian-McLean talks to Dom Davies, author of The Broken Promise of Infrastructure. He explains how democratic ‘public works’ were replaced by neoliberal ‘infrastructure’, why colonial railways linger in our collective imagination, and whether Labour can get Britain running again.

Watch our rolling #ElectionSesh coverage on 4 July from 9.30pm on Novara Media’s YouTube.

Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

Pro Revolution Soccer 2.4: In the Iron Grip of the Big Five Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Tom and Juliet are joined by Keir Milburn to take the long view on the Premier League. Juliet explains how ’80s hooliganism and stadium disasters led to the formation of a new top flight, boosted by Rupert Murdoch’s TV empire and resulting in the iron grip of the Big Five clubs today. Are we stuck like this?

They also discuss the incoming Labour government’s vision for football and take a moment to dwell on England v Slovakia.

Tune in next Wednesday for the final episode in our Euro 2024 miniseries.

Music by Matt Huxley.

Downstream: This Is How Propaganda Actually Works w/ Matt Kennard Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

If you want to understand how power works in our society, you can’t just examine what journalists say – you have to pay attention to what they’re silent about.

To discuss the world of corporate media, secret intelligence services and the problem with liberal think tanks, Ash is joined by Matt Kennard, head of investigations for Declassified UK and author of The Racket: A Rogue Reporter vs The American Empire.

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