Vladimir Putin has threatened to use Russia’s new hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine. Plus: The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is creaking at the seams; and the Met Police have arrested several Kurdish activists. With Aaron Bastani and Kieran Andrieu.Novara Media

Imagine a person arrested for keeping a brothel. Who are they? An abusive pimp? Such people exist, no doubt, but the law isn’t set up just to catch abusers: it also targets sex workers working together to stay safe. With Labour in power, big changes could be afoot, but legalising sex work could harm sex workers as well. That’s the view of the Engli…

Imagine a person arrested for keeping a brothel. Who are they? An abusive pimp? Such people exist, no doubt, but the law isn’t set up just to catch abusers: it also targets sex workers working together to stay safe. With Labour in power, big changes could be afoot, but legalising sex work could harm sex workers as well. That’s the view of the Engli…

Imagine a person arrested for keeping a brothel. Who are they? An abusive pimp? Such people exist, no doubt, but the law isn't set up just to catch abusers: it also targets sex workers working together to stay safe.With Labour in power, big changes could be afoot, but legalising sex work could harm sex workers as well.That's the view of the English…

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has come into effect. Plus: we speak to Jamie Hale about the assisted dying bill. With Steven Methven and Helena No Justice MTG.Novara Media

Israel has ramped up its bombardment of Lebanon. We ask Trita Parsi whether the next ceasefire can hold. Plus: Drink spiking is set to become a specific criminal offence in the UK; and we discuss the new assisted dying bill. With Michael Walker and Mike Bankole.Novara Media

Moya has a big theory for Ash about aesthetic trends as a harbinger of the US election results, which prompts a very adult discussion (read: argument) about the purpose of the podcast. Plus a bundle of your Missed Connections, including hotties spotted in Glasgow, Manchester, at the Palestine protest and – where else! – an NTS street party. Moya’s …

A petition calling for a general election backed by Elon Musk has amassed over two million signatures. Plus: The huge climate deal at COP29 pitting poorer nations against richer ones. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

While the first modern trains were built in the early 19th century – more people travel by rail today than ever before. Not only have passenger numbers risen in the UK but the likes of China, Iran and Uzbekistan now have high-speed networks. On this episode of Downstream, Aaron Bastani is joined by author and railway engineer Gareth Dennis. They di…

While the first modern trains were built in the early 19th century – more people travel by rail today than ever before. Not only have passenger numbers risen in the UK but the likes of China, Iran and Uzbekistan now have high-speed networks. On this episode of Downstream, Aaron Bastani is joined by author and railway engineer Gareth Dennis. They di…

Moya has a big theory for Ash about aesthetic trends as a harbinger of the US election results, which prompts a very adult discussion (read: argument) about the purpose of the podcast. Plus a bundle of your Missed Connections, including hotties spotted in Glasgow, Manchester, at the Palestine protest and – where else! – an NTS street party.Moya’s f…

With an arrest warrant issued for Benjamin Netanyahu, the government say they would uphold international law but stop short of saying they would arrest the Israeli PM. Plus: Keir Starmer causes a stir by appearing to court asset management firm BlackRock. With Michael Walker and Kieran Andrieu. Watch Brett Christopher on Downstream: https://youtu.b…

In October 2024, SpaceX caught a rocket. An astonishing feat of engineering, it took humanity one giant leap closer to the era of everyday space travel – and possibly one small step closer to its own obliteration. Despite a long list of treaties attempting to prevent it, space is now a militarised zone. Nuclear-laden ICBMs and weapons systems on sa…

In October 2024, SpaceX caught a rocket. An astonishing feat of engineering, it took humanity one giant leap closer to the era of everyday space travel – and possibly one small step closer to its own obliteration. Despite a long list of treaties attempting to prevent it, space is now a militarised zone. Nuclear-laden ICBMs and weapons systems on sa…

In October 2024, SpaceX caught a rocket. An astonishing feat of engineering, it took humanity one giant leap closer to the era of everyday space travel – and possibly one small step closer to its own obliteration.Despite a long list of treaties attempting to prevent it, space is now a militarised zone. Nuclear-laden ICBMs and weapons systems on sat…

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. With Steven Methven, @NoJusticeMTG & Francesca Fiorentini.Novara Media

Ukraine has fired British-made long range missiles into Russian territory. Plus: Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill to suspend U.S. military support for Israel. With Michael Walker and Dalia Gebrial. Netanyahu Vows to Continue War in Gaza After Death of Sinwar The UK’s Landowning Elite Are Destroying the Countryside…

Michael Walker speaks to Ana Kasparian about Donald Trump’s return to the White House and where the Democrats went wrong. Plus: Ash Sarkar reports from the Westminster farmers’ protests. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

Ash and Moya tackle another bumper crop of your dilemmas, including a special one who wants to stop mothering her friends, a burned-out student struggling to get back on track, a self-confessed slacker looking for a meaningful career, and an expat looking for laughs. Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Ma…

Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles in Russia. Plus: Brazil’s President Lula proposes a wealth tax for billionaires; and a right-wing columnist receives a visit from the police. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

Global heating is a serious problem, but the question of just how urgently to fight it is a fraught one. Should 2C or 1.5C of warming be our limit? Or can we blow past these limits now, and come back down to them later, using technology to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere? There’s only one problem: those technologies don’t yet exist. In th…

Global heating is a serious problem, but the question of just how urgently to fight it is a fraught one. Should 2C or 1.5C of warming be our limit? Or can we blow past these limits now, and come back down to them later, using technology to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere? There’s only one problem: those technologies don’t yet exist. In th…

Ash and Moya tackle another bumper crop of your dilemmas, including a special one who wants to stop mothering her friends, a burned-out student struggling to get back on track, a self-confessed slacker looking for a meaningful career, and an expat looking for laughs.Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.comMusic by Matt…

Disruption is a byword for success in the tech industry, but when it affects people’s daily routines – say, when JSO activists are slow-marching down a road – it becomes nothing short of criminal. On this Trip, Jem, Nadia and Keir unpack the political uses and abuses of disruption and the ‘creative destruction’ inherent to capitalism. Featuring mus…

Disruption is a byword for success in the tech industry, but when it affects people’s daily routines – say, when JSO activists are slow-marching down a road – it becomes nothing short of criminal. On this Trip, Jem, Nadia and Keir unpack the political uses and abuses of disruption and the ‘creative destruction’ inherent to capitalism. Featuring mus…

Donald Trump has put an anti-vaxxer in charge of American healthcare. Plus: Leading climate experts warn that COP is not fit for purpose. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

In 2016, the alt-right seemed to come from the internet and infest politics. In 2024, the internet and politics have become identical. Are we swimming in the world the alt-right built for us? Perhaps no one knows the world of online politics better than Joshua Citarella, an artist and political theorist whose 2018 book Politigram and the Post-Left …

In 2016, the alt-right seemed to come from the internet and infest politics. In 2024, the internet and politics have become identical. Are we swimming in the world the alt-right built for us? Perhaps no one knows the world of online politics better than Joshua Citarella, an artist and political theorist whose 2018 book Politigram and the Post-Left …

Disruption is a byword for success in the tech industry, but when it affects our daily routines – say, because Just Stop Oil are slow-marching down the high street – disruption becomes nothing short of criminal.In this Trip, Jem, Nadia and Keir try to make sense of the harsh sentences handed down to climate activists this year while unpacking the p…

Donald Trump’s cabinet gets even weirder with the appointment of Matt Gaetz Tulsi Gabbard. Plus: The US trade war with China; and how the media failed Palestine. With Steven Methven and @NoJusticeMTGNovara Media

Elon Musk is poised to take a wrecking ball to US government spending as ‘government efficiency’ tsar. Plus: Wes Streeting announces new NHS reforms; and we speak to Dr Feroze Sidwha about his time in Gaza. With Steven Methven and Dalia Gebrial.Novara Media

Everyone knows that the Roman Empire rose, then fell. Historians don’t all agree on the reasons for the collapse, but their misunderstandings can shed plenty of light on the current state of the world, according to the authors of How Empires Fall: Rome, America and the Future of the West. Peter Heather, a historian of antiquity, and John Rapley, a …

Everyone knows that the Roman Empire rose, then fell. Historians don’t all agree on the reasons for the collapse, but their misunderstandings can shed plenty of light on the current state of the world, according to the authors of How Empires Fall: Rome, America and the Future of the West. Peter Heather, a historian of antiquity, and John Rapley, a …

Keir Starmer has set out a new climate goal for the UK at COP29. Plus: The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned; and Trump starts choosing his cabinet. With Steven Methven and Mike Bankole.Novara Media