The Trawl

Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

A weekly summary of the most damning and funny goings on in the political Twittersphere.

  • 33 minutes 20 seconds
    What are Ofcom Doing? A Great British Shrug

    In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina coin a new state of being (“fucktioning”) before diving headfirst into a world that feels increasingly unhinged.


    From a tribute to Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling, to the unbearable reality of injustice in Gaza and a horrific story about a little baby boy who was tortured by members of the IDF, the emotional whiplash is real. There’s rage, grief and a necessary pause to cling onto moments of good, because honestly, what’s the alternative?


    Meanwhile, in The New World, Alan Rusbridger dissects how Ofcom has become slow, cautious and dangerously easy to outmanoeuvre while broadcasters push further into partisan territory without consequence. Jemma and Marina wonder, if the rules exist but no one enforces them… are they rules at all?


    Add in political grifters, media double standards, and a system that increasingly looks like it’s shrugging rather than safeguarding and you’re left with a question.


    Is this incompetence… or quiet permission?


    To sign the petition relating to the Media Sovereignty act, click here: https://mediasovereignty.org/petition/

    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 39 minutes 21 seconds
    TACO Trump & the 48 Hour Countdown.

    BS, Bluster & Backlash


    Jemma and Marina return with a properly unhinged dispatch from a world that seems to be teetering somewhere between “carry on as normal” and “is this how it all ends?”


    As tensions with Iran escalate (then de-escalate… then escalate again), they unpack the latest chaos surrounding Donald Trump from threats on Truth Social to mysterious “talks” that may or may not exist, and the market moves that have raised some very big questions.


    They dive into the surreal reality of working, parenting and doing Teams calls while wondering if WW3 is about to kick off, why global alliances are shifting and the increasingly bizarre decision-making at the top of US politics.


    Plus: AI Trump as Ayatollah, Marco Rubio potentially running the Strait of Hormuz, and why medieval peasant snacks might be the only sane coping strategy left.


    It’s chaotic, it’s dark, it’s occasionally ridiculous but hopefully it helps make sense of a moment that doesn’t make much sense at all.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 March 2026, 8:33 am
  • 42 minutes 15 seconds
    Tice's Tax, Mandy's Money: War, Grift & Palantir Unmasked

    Trump’s regretting a war he can’t explain, his own counter terrorism chief has walked, and even his podcast fanboys are starting to wobble. Meanwhile, here in Blighty, Starmer’s juggling Mandelson fallout and the Trawl ladies are horrified by the creeping Palantir influence, as tech billionaires get a little too comfortable playing politics. Marina and Jemma can't believe what one Palantir boss is admitting out loud.


    Then, Richard Tice talks patriotism while taking full advantage of perfectly legal tax structures which means he can shave 600K off his bill. Lucky him! And so interesting given what he had to say about Angela Rayner's 40K discrepancy. Hypocritical much? Meanwhile, Reform’s finest are busy monetising outrage on Cameo. 


    It’s chaos, hypocrisy and a hefty dose of buyer’s remorse. 


    A Saturday Night Live pudding takes the edge off.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    The Trawl Meets Alastair Campbell

    From the realities of political life today to looking back on the Blair years, Campbell is open, considered and surprisingly candid about the pressures, the mistakes, and why he thinks Starmer is getting it right, even if the public don't. Marina and Jemma cover everything from global politics to The Rest Is Politics.


    There are thoughtful moments, a few laughs, and glimpses of the personal side you don’t always hear from family dynamics to podcast partnerships.


    A fascinating deep dive but don't worry, no bagpipes



    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast


    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 45 minutes 58 seconds
    Anyone Seen Trump’s Marbles? Presidential Ramblings & Clown Shoes

    There's nothing remotely funny about war and yet the latest utterings from The White House are so batshit, Jemma and Marina have to laugh. Because if you don't....etc. Tune in for global chaos with a side of clownery. Trump declares victory… then immediately begs the world for help. The Strait of Hormuz turns into a geopolitical panic button, NATO says “absolutely not,” and the internet says “we told you so.”

    Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth appears to be auditioning for Dr Seuss Does War Crimes, Marco Rubio’s shoes are having their own crisis, and somehow somehow this might all be distracting from the Epstein files.


    As ever, the Trawl ladies trawl so you don’t have to bringing you the absurd, the infuriating, and the bits that make it all just about bearable.


    Pudding is served up Jimmy Kimmel style - enjoy. 


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast



    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 45 minutes 27 seconds
    Theroux’s Manosphere AKA Bunch of Wet Wipes

    Off the back of Louis Theroux’s latest documentary, Marina and Jemma unpack the men building huge online audiences by selling a version of masculinity that feels equal parts contradictory and deeply revealing. From the obsession with status, money and 'high value' women, to the glaring emotional vulnerability sitting just beneath the surface it’s a conversation about what’s really going on here, and why it’s resonating.


    They dig into the damage, the loneliness, and the logic (or lack of it) behind it all, including the men who seem so close to self-awareness, yet never quite get there. There’s also a look at the role other men play in challenging (or enabling) this behaviour, and why calling it out still feels so rare. They also lose it laughing at points because as ever the internet has delivered...


    When they're not laughing there are reminders too that, actually, confidence, kindness and emotional intelligence remain infinitely more attractive than whatever’s being peddled online.


    A brilliant pudding from Russell Kane rounds it off. 


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast


    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast


    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl


    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 37 minutes 43 seconds
    Farage a Lago: The Clacton to Florida Express

    Jemma and Marina begin with story that feels like a nod to 'ye olde Trawl days' when 'Lord of the Week' was a regular thing. Then there’s an equally vintage blast from Penny Mordaunt, whose greatest hits include carrying a sword and standing up to fight. She's had an unfortunate encounter with comedian Vittorio Angelone on The Last Leg.


    Inevitably however, no matter how much the Traw ladies try to hang around in the lighter past, they are pulled back into the big story that's dominating the news cycle.


    There’s Nigel Farage’s 4,000-mile pointless trip to Mar-a-Lago and a reminder that Reform’s war-chat seems about as stable as Farage’s geopolitical opinions and his parties promises to reduce council tax. 


    Plus: the ghost of Iraq hovering awkwardly as Tony Blair pops up again, and why fossil-fuel wars do a lot more to your energy bill than Net Zero ever did.


    And because this is The Trawl, there’s also a brief detour via The Sound of Music, some unexpected trivia, and, for pudding, Larry and Paul with Broken News.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast


    The news cycle might be a washing machine full of bricks… but Marina and Jemma are here to fish out the funniest bits.

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 48 minutes 20 seconds
    Schrödinger’s (Expensive) War & Chalamet Backlash

    Oil prices soar, the global economy wobbles, and the media politely wonders whether there might still be a master plan inside Trump's helium-filled skull. Marina and Jemma sift through the chaos: Fox News telling the truth, Russia helping Iran and Trump being OK with that and Trump casually flirting with admitting war crimes.


    But first: a brief cultural detour as Timothy Chalamet manages to annoy a surprising number of people, Doja Cat weighs in, Darcy Bussell keeps it classy, and one conductor delivers the most operatic “get in the bin” you’ll ever hear.


    Then it’s back to the geopolitics: a war that’s somehow “very complete” and yet “just beginning' and the small matter of what Trump might really be trying to distract everyone from.


    Then it's Under-Rated's which includes an incredible clip from the wonderful George Monbiot and a wonderful pudding from Cody Dahler.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 41 minutes 7 seconds
    War Lies & Excuses & Patriarchy Pick-Mes

    Oops… he did it again. This week on The Trawl, Jemma and Marina are trying to keep up with a news cycle that’s moving faster than the White House can change its story about why it just started another war. Is it about nuclear weapons? Oil? Israel? Distraction? Take your pick, the explanation seems to change by the hour.


    But first, after a weekend of International Women’s Day posts (and the faint whiff of matriarchy trending), the pair look at the women who’ve decided the best career move is enthusiastically propping up the patriarchy. Turns out, it hasn't worked out that well for Kristi Noem. Mr Apprentice himself has fired her. 


    Plus: George Monbiot not missing a beat, Fox News beating the drums for war, and Americans discovering that foreign policy decisions have a funny way of showing up at the petrol pump.


    Strap in Trawlers, this one comes with geopolitical whiplash.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast


    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast


    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl


    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 March 2026, 2:05 pm
  • 47 minutes 35 seconds
    ‘Illegal War’ to ‘Use Our Bases’ - Starmer’s Dilemma. Iran Part 2

    Marina and Jemma dive back into the escalating crisis in Iran as Trump and Netanyahu continue bombing, apparently without checking if that’s a good idea with… anyone.

    As oil prices surge and the world edges closer to something that looks suspiciously like a wider war, the Trawl ladies compare the responses from the leaders of the main UK political parties. Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister shows what an actual spine looks like. As one tweeter put it Spain is now Spine.


    Along the way there’s Candace Owens mangling names, Jimmy Fallon doing late-night diplomacy, and political commentator Ana Kasparian dropping truth bombs.


    There's some vintage Tony Benn reminding everyone how Parliament should sound, and a pudding that proves the internet is still capable of producing comedy gold.

    War, hypocrisy, distractions and the odd moment of sanity — just another week on The Trawl.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 39 minutes 18 seconds
    Epic Fury, Tiny Brains: Old Men With Missiles - Iran Part 1

    Join Jemma and Marina who are trying to process the latest news cycle.


    At time of record, Donald Trump has bombed seven countries in twelve months. Super - really earning that peace prize he's after. Diplomacy with Iran was reportedly within reach just 24 hours before US–Israeli strikes began yet here we are. Still, ignorance is bliss because some Dubai influencers are mainly worried about missing meetings or a flight. 


    The Trawl ladies look at the legality of the attacks under the US Constitution and the UN Charter, the collapse of negotiations, and the human cost, including, tragically the bombing of a girls’ school and a hospital hit in Tehran. Why does the language shift depending on who the victims are? And why does nuance suddenly disappear when it comes to condemning both authoritarian regimes and reckless military escalation?


    They discuss the euphoria felt by some Iranians at the death of the Ayatollah and the worry about what comes next. They examine Trump’s call for Iranians to “rise up” against a heavily armed regime, the historical precedent of abandoned uprisings, and the now-familiar promise that the “worst bombing is still to come.”


    There’s nuclear hypocrisy, oil politics, Operation “Epic Fury,” and a Medal of Honor ceremony detour into ballroom interiors.


    If this is liberation, it’s a strange way of showing it.


    It’s chaos. It’s escalation. It’s The Trawl.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

     

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

     

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast



    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 March 2026, 12:00 am
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