Podcasts · News · Government

The Two Matts

The New World

300 episodes

Join The New World'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 World newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people.

More about the show

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Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. The Two Matts Q&A: Is John Healey's big day going to be a nothingburger?

    · 41 min

    The Matts answer listeners' questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A episode, including: should John Healey raise capital gains tax in the Budget? Why are the Lib Dems plotting against Ed Davey? Why did BBC…

  2. What do the riots in France really signal?

    · 54 min

    The Matts consider the violent protests sweeping the continent and try to understand where it is coming from and what it signifies. Could they spread here? What can progressive governments do to stop them? Is Andy…

  3. The Two Matts Q&A: Palestine Action lunacy and made up words

    · 37 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A episode, including: is Marie Le Pen bad news for the UK? Why is Sally Rooney not selling books here any more? Will standing shoulder to…

  4. Putin's the big winner in Trump's betrayal

    · 57 min · Explicit

    The Matts discuss the developments in Ukraine in the past week and Donald Trump's oil deal with Vladimir Putin. Connected much? They think so. It adds up to a ghastly - but all too predictable - betrayal of Ukraine at…

  5. The Two Matts Q&A: The decline of Zack and best ever speeches

    · 36 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A session, including: why is Zack Polanski’s popularity plummeting? How bad are the riots in France? Who would you put in the cabinet? Is Andy…

  6. A disaster for the Green Party

    · 55 min

    The Matts discuss the impact of the Green Party resolution that “Zionism Is Racism”. Will Zack Polanski survive as leader? What does it mean for Jews living in the UK? What does it mean for the party's supposed core…

  7. The Two Matts Q&A: On The New World at 500 and the Burnham bounce

    · 43 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer your questions in this, their regular Sunday morning Q&A episode. Including: what should you do with your collection of New European/New World magazines? What will dominate the next 500 issues? Is Andy…

  8. 48 hours after THAT speech… how many marks out of 10?

    · 57 min · Explicit

    The Matts give a considered analysis of Andy Burnham’s conference speech. So much to talk about and so many obvious strong points - but where will the testing moments come from? They go deep into the policies he…

  9. The Two Matts Q&A: Ketamine epidemic and trouble in Narnia

    · 55 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners' questions in their regular Sunday morning edition, including: How does Andy Burnham take Britain into the EU? Is ketamine the new heroin? Why are CS Lewis fans suddenly furious? What does…

  10. A lot of Andy Burnham and a bit of Hitler

    · 53 min

    The Matts discuss Andy Burnham's speech to the United Nations - and what it tells us about both the opportunities and challenges facing the new PM and Britain as we seek to rediscover our place in the world 10 years…

  11. The Two Matts Q&A: What is it crypto billionaires love so much about Nigel Farage?

    · 43 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions, including: Why do crypto billionaires fall over themselves to give Nigel Farage money? Does Canada joining the EU help or hinder the UK’s return? Why isn’t the UN dealing with AI?…

  12. Is AI really coming to eat us all... and how do we stop it?

    · 54 min · Explicit

    The Matts open with a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Bonnie Greer, who died this week. In the first half they discuss the extraordinary pace of developments and concern around AI, explain exactly what has…

  13. The Two Matts Q&A: Can’t we have welfare AND defence?

    · 56 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions including: why can’t we have decent welfare and a strong defence? Was Reform stung or entrapped? Why is Liz Truss still costing us so much money? Is AI really going to kill me? And…

  14. An historic shift in UK foreign policy towards Israel. Now what?

    · 58 min

    As Ed Miliband announces sanctions against illegal settlements in the West Bank, the Matts take a holistic look at what the government hopes to achieve and at what cost. Does this make British Jews less safe? Are…

  15. The Two Matts Q&A: Is Farage finished? And where are all the women?

    · 51 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning question and answer edition. Including; is Farage finished; what tax pledge should Burnham break; is Michael Gove stupid; how should we think…

  16. REDS - the best political book of the year? With Paul Mason

    · 47 min

    The Matts are joined by The New World contributing editor Paul Mason to discuss his blockbuster book Reds: A Global History Of Communism. We cover a lot of ground - from pre-historic society through the French…

  17. The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books

    · 39 min · Explicit

    The Matts tackle listener questions in their regular Sunday morning Q&A edition, including: Is there a resurgence of homophobia? Should Harry and Meghan be welcomed back to the UK? Are we heartbroken over Dolly Parton?…

  18. Andy Burnham’s first big test is around the corner

    · 44 min

    The Matts think about Andy Burnham’s first month (and a bit) in Downing Street and anticipate a period of difficulty ahead for a PM whose inclination may be to keep people happy in an age when dramatic change is…

  19. The Two Matts Q&A: is the Kelly Plan dead? And TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY SPEAKER PHONE!

    · 45 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions including: Is the Kelly Plan for an early election a non-starter? Is Richard Tice a secret Labour asset? How should we respond to the huge numbers of suicides in the UK each year?…

  20. 2026: the year the climate crisis came home

    · 47 min · Explicit

    The Matts discuss the government’s response to the severe heat this summer in England and Wales (sorry Scotland!)… and whether this year will be a turning point in the public’s perception of urgency around the changing…

  21. The Two Matts Q&A: On the death of Jason Arday

    · 25 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions in their regular Sunday morning episode, including the tragic death of Jason Arday, whether Nigel Farage has lost his touch, what Andy Burnham is trying to do on social media and…

  22. Andy Burnham vs Geoffrey Howe... and a side order of Jason Arday

    · 57 min · Explicit

    The Matts remember an astonishing letter of 45 years ago which provides stark contrast with Andy Burnham’s politics of place. Also - how the Jason Arday saga has shamed not just one academic but an entire university……

  23. The Two Matts Q&A: Is Andy Burnham a hot dad, and eff off Gianni Infantino

    · 46 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners' questions including: when will politicians actually face up to the climate crisis? Is Andy Burnham being creepy on social media? Has Zack Polanski’s bubble burst? Where would you start when…

  24. Burnham’s flying start... but is he also fibbing?

    · 49 min

    The Matts appreciate the velocity of action in Andy Burnham’s first days as PM. And the big intention to fix social care is of enormous consequence. But it also makes them wonder if Burnham is being completely open…

  25. The Two Matts Q&A: Why tell ourselves lies about prison time? And what do we miss about the 70s?

    · 39 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions including: Has Andy Burnham made a mistake appointing so many loyalists? Why aren’t the courts more honest about what time prisoners will actually serve? What do the Matts miss about…

  26. What is it about the prospect of a Reform government they don’t get?

    · 51 min · Explicit

    The Matts dig into the reaction to Andy Burnham’s first few days in government. Obviously the usual suspects - such as the Daily Mail and GB News - have already declared it a failure. But one column by Janan Ganesh in…

  27. The Two Matts Q&A: Will Self on football and audiobook recommendations

    · 45 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners’ questions in their regular Sunday Q&A session, including: Is Will Self right about the impact of football on our national mentality? What is the long term future of the Falklands? What…

  28. It’s not coming home after all

    · 49 min

    The Matts reflect on England’s World Cup tournament (and listeners from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be delighted to know it’s not a sea of self-pitying Anglophilia) and what lessons we can learn from…

  29. The Two Matts Q&A: Does Andy Burnham live rent-free in Farage’s head?

    · 37 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners' questions including: Is the Andy Burnham effect already kicking in? Should Congress give Donald Trump the red card? Who - apart from Count Binface - should take on Nigel Farage? How do we…

  30. Have you been Touching Grass? You should be

    · 45 min · Explicit

    The Matts are joined by James Ball and Lucy Reade, hosts of The New World’s new podcast Touching Grass - the internet culture podcast. If you like The Two Matts, you’ll love this. We’ll let Lucy and James explain all.…

  31. SPECIAL: Farage fighting for his political life

    · 48 min

    The Matts react to the simply extraordinary speech Nigel Farage made today - quitting his Clacton seat in order to fight a by-election to “let the people decide” his political future. What is going on in his head? What…

  32. The Two Matts Q&A: Hydration Break sponsored by Powerade!*

    · 50 min · Explicit

    The Matts get stuck into listener questions including: should England get a new capital city? Is Andy Burnham chippy? Why isn’t Nigel Farage paying tax on his £5 million gift? How do we promote the humanities? How do…

  33. Why place matters so much to Andy Burnham

    · 54 min

    The Matts discuss the founding principles behind Andy Burnham’s emerging strategy for a “circuit break” in how politics works in the UK. Why is he obsessed with the idea of place? Why does it make so much sense as a…

  34. The Two Matts Q&A: Burnham’s to-do list and the shameless Brexit villains

    · 32 min

    The Matts answer listener questions including: What should be on Andy Burnham’s to-do list? How do the Brexit villains get away with it? Is Nigel Farage losing the plot? Should we criminalise climate crisis denial? Has…

  35. Andy Burnham’s first six months

    · 47 min

    The Matts bring listeners up to speed with all the inside info coming their way on what Team Burnham may have in store for Britain. Who are the people behind the scenes preparing the ground for the new government - in…

  36. POD SPECIAL: It’s the end of the Keir show… now what?

    · 42 min · Explicit

    The Matts bring you a special edition after Keir Starmer quit as UK prime minister. These monumentally historic events only occur every 18 months or so on average these days, but all the same - Starmer’s going…

  37. The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?

    · 34 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listener questions in their regular Sunday morning Q&A, including… what will prove to be Andy Burnham’s biggest vulnerability? Has Donald Trump just suffered the biggest US military loss since Vietnam?…

  38. Game on… Burnham wins; now get on with it Labour

    · 40 min · Explicit

    The Matts are in optimistic mood today with news of Andy Burnham’s resounding win in Makerfield. Has the Labour Party got the gumption to seize the momentum and get full square behind the one man we can objectively say…

  39. A history of Brexit in 256 disasters

    · 36 min

    The Matts celebrate the launch of A History of Brexit in 256 Disasters, a book by Jonty Bloom with a foreword by Alastair Campbell and amazing illustrations by Martin Rowson chronicling the disastrous consequences of…

  40. The Two Matts Q&A: Do you really want your country back?

    · 30 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer questions from listener’s including; are we heading for a summer of discontent; do we understand what people mean when they say they want their country back; should pensioners lose the triple lock; is…

  41. Farewell David Hockney … and farewell Keir Starmer too?

    · 25 min · Explicit

    The Matts digest the events from yesterday and the underlying duplicity at the heart of government that resulted in the blistering resignations of John Healey and Al Cairns. How much longer can (or should) Starmer stay…

  42. Britain is in grave danger of disintegrating

    · 58 min · Explicit

    The horrific attack by a Sudanese asylum seeker in Belfast has triggered a wave of disorder. What is underpinning the violence, and what can liberals not afford to dismiss it out of hand? It’s time again to face into…

  43. The Two Matts Q&A: Will Starmer survive, and has the Pope got it right on AI?

    · 40 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners’ questions in their weekly Q&A session, including: Is Kemi Badenoch now the best chance of beating Nigel Farage; can Keir Starmer actually see off this slow-moving coup; should Palantir be…

  44. Nigel Farage gaslights the nation

    · 39 min

    The Matts discuss the dreadful murder of Henry Nowak and the ensuing political reaction. In particular, they examine Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s apparent strategy to leverage the murder for maximum political…

  45. The Two Matts Q&A: What hope for the next generation and how does Farage get away with it?

    · 38 min

    The Matts answer listener questions including: how can we change the system so our young people thrive; has reality TV gone too far; is Elon Musk a legend after all; why does anyone give a damn about bond markets; how…

  46. The Two Matts Q&A: A media scandal and a dementia hero

    · 42 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners' questions including: will the smear against Misan Harriman work; what will it take to get the UK back in the EU; should the Tories defer to Reform in the Makerfield by-election; and why does…

  47. Britain is failing the next generation. With Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote

    · 44 min · Explicit

    The Matts are joined by Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote on the day they launch their incredibly impactful, important and moving report into the plight of one million NEETs in Britain - that’s young people Not in…

  48. SPECIAL with Misan Harriman: Under attack from the UK’s right wing press

    · 34 min

    The Matts speak with Misan Harriman, the chair of Britain’s largest arts and culture institution, the Southbank Centre. Misan has been under persistent attack from much of the UK’s right wing media - all for something…

  49. The Two Matts Q&A: Farage and the five million plus Palestine Action trial scandal

    · 43 min · Explicit

    The Matts answer listeners’ questions including: where is the outrage over Nigel Farage’s ethical void; why do people who think they were sold a pup on Brexit now vote for the puppy salesman; should the entire cabinet…

  50. SPECIAL EDITION: The most consequential by-election ever…

    · 44 min

    The Matts consider just how much is at stake in the Makerfield by-election, assuming Andy Burnham is allowed to stand. Who will Reform put up against him (we have one idea) and what will Zack Polanski’s move be? Take a…

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