The Matts get philosophical about smoking and what a ban means for Britain. Whisper it… but has Rishi Sunak done something not completely crap for once? Or is his proposed age-related ban on smoking the start of slippery slope towards big government invading the rights of its citizens? Also … the magnificence of Salman Rushdie’s response to 27 seconds of madness which saw him lose and eye and almost die less than two years ago. This week he is back with a Knife of his own - the title of his book centred on that awful attack. It’s not just a triumph of the will to live, says Matt D’Ancona; it’s ..read more

In this Q&A episode, Matt and Matt take on questions from you on poverty in the media, Trumps stance on abortion and Harold Wilson's love life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

How did we get to the point where troubled children have been damaged by a health system that should have protected them? How did the dogma of trans activists subsume standard medical practices? And how do those who cynically cheered them on from the sidelines sleep at night? The Two Matts discuss the Cass Report, released this week, and what it says about media, activism and the right to have an open discourse without fear of censure. Also - how movie portrayals of Amy Winehouse and Emily Maitlis both fell short. Get a FREE signed copy of James O’Briens hardback book – How they broke Britain ..read more

How time flies when the world is on fire… a quarter of 2024 has already passed and the Matts check global progress against their expectations at New Year. It’s a grind reality check as Gaza and Ukraine go from bad to worse and Trump appears to be gaining ground on the White House. On the upside, there’ve been a bunch of cultural highlights to provide welcome distraction - not least the publication this week of Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. “It’s like Bonfire Of the Vanities… but better” says Matt d’Ancona. Enjoy! Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Br ..read more

Have the Tories hit rock bottom.. or could things get even worse? The Matts gameplay their options with outcomes ranging from disastrous to cataclysmic. In the second half, they examine the role of satire in society and ask the question: Have we all lost our sense of humour? Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Brien's hardback book, How They Broke Britain (worth £20!) when you use this link >> https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Rachel Reeves speech on the future of the economy is dense with ideas that will affect all our futures under a Labour government. What did she mean and why does it matter? The Two Matts do the deep dive into one of the most interesting and important speeches from Labour since they lost power. Also - the time Steve Harley gave Matt K the death stare … and George Lucas sent Matt D into a world of journalistic anxiety. Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Brien's hardback book, How They Broke Britain (worth £20!) when you use this link. Hosted on Acast. See a ..read more

Did Deggsy do well for Liverpool? Why is no one intervening in Gaza? Can you ban “extremism”? And is Fargo better than the Big Lebowski? The Two Matts take the big questions of our times head on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

The inside track on how Princess Kate and the Royal press offices messed up so badly … and how some of the most famous photographs ever were faked. But first … another week of shambolic governance courtesy of the Conservative Party. Racism, misogyny, dodgy contract relationships and abject failure of leadership. In other words, just another week in Tory land. The Two Matts offer their inimitable perspective on Sunak’s house of chaos. Further Reading: Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva How To Tell Someone They ..read more

Are ultra-processed foods the new cigarettes? Is there a solution to rough-sleeping? And should the fact GBNews lost £75m last year cheer us up .. or scare us even more? All this and more on the Two Matts regular Q&A episode. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more

Join us for our first transatlantic podcast as Matt D’Ancona in Manhattan and Matt Kelly in London dissect the extraordinary events of this week’s Super Tuesday and what it all means for the seemingly inevitable Presidential showdown between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And we get Matt D’Ancona’s verdict on the big Broadway production An Enemy Of The People. Subscribe to The New European: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information ..read more