There’s no doubt about it - Reeves and Starmer are at least trying to switch up from the doom and gloom that characterised their first six months in power. Have they finally got the tone right? Is the strategy right? Is it enough? The Matts discuss. Also … why you’ve got to go and see The Brutalist. The film, set largely in post-WW2 America and starring Adrien Brody and Guy Pearce made a big impression on both Matts… in this podcast they delve into the Brutalist’s themes and find them strangely relevant to today. Enjoy!

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In a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, Peter Hyman - former senior advisor to both Tony Blair and Keir Starmer - discusses his recent New European cover story and the reaction to it. What are the seven deadly sins of progressive centrist politics and its adherents? How can we stem the rising tide of populist nationalism? And how is Keir Starmer’s government doing so far? Peter - who also set up the ground-breaking School 21 in Stratford, London - also discusses what’s wrong with our education system and why radical change is much needed if we are going to prepare our children for the challenges of life in the 21st Century. Enjoy!

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In this Q & A The Two Matt's discuss Hillary Clinton's reactions to Trump, the rise and strategies of populist leaders like Trump, Meloni, Orban, and Le Pen, and the idea of criminalising ecocide. They also discuss the media's handling of figures like Nigel Farage (aka Mr Fridge) and did Elon Musk know what he was doing?

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In the first 48 hours of his presidency, Donald Trump demonstrated all the qualities he’s famous and feared for: absolute lack of inhibition, crassness, provocation .. and, yes, audacity. What do the Matts make of it? Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the atrocities of Southport, Keir Starmer has redefined the term terrorist and promises to get tough on the sale of kitchen knives online. Does his approach make any sense? The Matts have a vigorous exchange of views on a very difficult topic. Enjoy

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The Matts watch the Trump inauguration in real time and give their snap verdict at the beginning of four years of the new world order under President Donald Trump. Is there anything to suggest things won’t be the catastrophe they have feared? Tune in, find out. They also discuss reaction to Peter Hyman’s brilliant essay in The New European on a way forward for progressives versus populists. In the battleground for ideas, the Matts face into some cold, hard home truths. Enjoy.

Further Reading: Dave Chapelle on SNL this weekend

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The Two Matts dive into Biden's farewell address on the new tech oligarchy, compare Trump's Greenland ambition to Russia's Ukraine situation, and tackle left vs. right arguments on the culture wars. They also contemplate the implications of modern monetary theory (MMT), AI's black box nature, and who holds more power between Musk and Trump. And there's just time for the Matts to give their verdict on the BAFTA nominations. Enjoy!

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God willing, the catastrophe that began with Hamas atrocities on October 7 and led to the destruction of Gaza and more than 40,000 dead is at an end. The Matts consider what comes next for the region, and what could motivate Trump’s America to ensuring a lasting peace. Also - as fires continue to rage in Los Angeles - is it time populist leaders like Nigel Farage and Donald Trump acknowledged that the climate crisis is anything but a hoax? The world faces enormous changes in the coming generations and the consequences will be felt by every citizen of the planet. The Matts suggest why some are so resistant to this scientific reality. Enjoy!

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Keir Starmer threw his lot in with a computing revolution today - is his confidence in Artificial Intelligence’s ability to transform the UK economy grounded in reality? The Matts have questions. Meanwhile, and not unrelated to today’s announcement, the economy (you may have noticed this) is proving stubbornly resistant to Starmer’s enthusiasm. As his beleaguered Chancellor defends her recent trip to China, the Matts ask if, and when, it’s the right time for the PM to consider Rachel Reeve’s position. Enjoy!

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Mark Zuckerberg has picked up the baton from Elon Musk as this week’s most depressing social media titan. His announcement to kick out fact-checking and let the community police itself is a significant moment in the rules (or lack of) governing how most of the world gets its news and opinions. The Matts discuss the potential damage, why this has happened now, and what a if anything - can citizens and governments do to resist the erosion of factual information in our times. Enjoy!

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What can we expect in 2025? The Matts take a view on the key issues facing the world in the next twelve months … plus: how to deal with a bully like Elon Musk. What can Keir Starmer do in the face of lies and slander spread across the sewer of X? And how low will Kemi Badenoch sink in her efforts to trump the populism of Nigel Farage’s Reform?

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