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This week, Ellen and Alona talk to investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan. Peter is the former editor-in-chief of the award-winning website openDemocracy and is the author of Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics.Public faith in democracy has been undermined by hidden influence and undisclosed donations—but how susceptible is the new government to this?In an entertaining conversation, spanning from Mongolian wrestling to Keir Starmer’s glasses, Peter shares his journey doing investigative work, the corrosive impact of what he calls “dark money”, and what Labour is getting wrong.To watch this interview and others—including with Baroness Warsi and Jon Sopel—search for ‘Prospect Magazine’ on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, our columnists are busy with new difficult tasks. Sarah Collins, our Mindful life columnist, boards the emotional rollercoaster that comes with preparing to live abroad, while Anglican Priest Alice Goodman composes her first carol. Farmer Tom tries to rescue seven baby pheasants, while Alice Garnett is moving out of her shared house and navigating London’s rental hellscape.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Baroness Warsi, former Conservative cabinet minister and lawyer, joins Ellen and Alona to talk about her new book Muslims Don’t Matter, about “the silencing, stereotyping and stigmatising of Muslims by the British press and political parties.”Politicians, media outlets, think tanks and even the entertainment industry have poisoned public discourse about Muslims, culminating in this summer’s riots. She describes how Islamophobia, which she calls “Britain's bigotry blind spot”, not only passes the “dinner table test”, but has been enacted into policy.In a moving conversation about her journey in the public eye, she talks about her lifelong effort to challenge racism and why she’s finally resigned the whip.Muslims Don’t Matter is out now: https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/sayeeda-warsi/muslims-dont-matter/9780349136486/Her podcast with David Baddiel ‘A Muslim and a Jew go there’ is available to stream: https://shows.acast.com/a-muslim-a-jew-go-there Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f

This week, Prospect’s commissioning editor Emily Lawford joins Ellen and Alona to discuss a dark side of the internet: the “manosphere”.Emily spent months reporting “The incel trap” for this month’s issue of the magazine, meeting with self-proclaimed misogynists in real life. On the podcast, Emily shares what she learned about why young men are radicalised—including the role of mental health—and how online hatred is connected to violence against women in the "real world".Plus, silent discos and maternity pay gaffes—is the Tory party conference a “banger” or a “dud”?To read Emily's piece, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/philosophy/gender/67935/the-incel-trap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon Sopel, co-host of the News Agents podcast and a former BBC North America editor, joins Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber to discuss his new book, Strangeland: How Britain Stopped Making Sense. He reflects on his time covering the Trump administration—including what he saw unfold on 6th January—and on the upcoming US election.Jon also shares his view on the problems with Robbie Gibb and how editorial standards are overseen at the BBC. Some at the BBC think Robbie Gibb’s stewardship of editorial standards at the broadcaster is “absolutely monstrous”, he says. “It really doesn't bear scrutiny, and then it still going on, strikes me as unbelievable”.Plus, Alona dials in from rainy Liverpool to decide whether the Labour conference has been a “banger” or a “dud” for Starmer’s party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, journalist and author Oliver Burkeman joins Prospect’s Ellen Halliday and Mindful life columnist Sarah Collins to talk mental health and building a meaningful life—and why his new book, Meditations for Mortals, really isn’t self-help. Plus, freelance political journalist Jonn Elledge dials in from the Lib Dem conference in Brighton to help us decide whether Ed Davey's party is a “banger” or a “dud”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber discuss a vital question: what is the reality of life under occupation for Palestinians? And how much longer can the world ignore it? They are joined by Nathan Thrall, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy, which follows the life of a Palestinian man whose son Milad died in a 2012 road accident in the West Bank.Thrall, who is based in Jerusalem, discusses how Salama’s story provides a window into the wider tragedy of Israel Palestine.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 2022, invading Russian forces on their way to Kyiv also occupied the site of Europe’s biggest nuclear disaster—Chernobyl. The response of the Ukrainians running the site, and of the International Atomic Energy Agency, would prove decisive. But who would be honoured as a hero, and who would be branded a traitor? In this episode of the Prospect Podcast, deputy editor Ellen Halliday is joined by Baillie Gifford award-winning author and historian Serhii Plokhy to discuss his new book Chernobyl Roulette, which tells the gripping story of the occupation of the former nuclear site by Russian forces following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Plokhy recounts the experiences of Ukrainian workers who were forced to manage the plant under dangerous conditions, revealing the complicated power dynamics between them and the invading Russian forces, as well as the implications of this event for global nuclear safety. The conversation delves into how this occupation fits into the larger context of the

In a brand-new season of the Prospect Podcast, Ellen Halliday welcomes aboard her new co-host Alona Ferber. They are then joined by leading print and broadcast journalist Paul Mason—an expert on the far-right—to tackle this week's big question: what is the new face of fascism? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This months Gen Z-er Alice Garnett and former England cricket Captain Mike Brearley are exploring the value of imitating one's idols, while farmer Tom Martin returns from Rugen in Germany, where he learns from local farmers on the island. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special partnered podcast, RCEM President Dr Adrian Boyle and Mary Watkins, a crossbench peer, discuss one of the most problematic areas in the NHS: urgent care. Labour has promised an NHS "fit for the future" and “to get a grip on the record waiting list” of 7.6 million people that is blighting the health service. But aside from long waits for GP appointments, referrals and treatment of non-urgent health conditions, A&E waiting times are at record highs. Long waits and overcrowding have caused the deaths of people seeking urgent care. How can the new Health Secretary Wes Streeting make a dent in this crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a rare conversation about what happens once the fighting in Gaza is over—and how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could end—Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister from 2006-2009, and Dr. Nasser Alkidwa, who was Palestinian foreign affairs minister from 2005-2006 join Alona Ferber.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Home Office housing contracts have turned Clearsprings founder Graham King into one of the UK’s richest men. Meanwhile, the asylum seekers living in his business empire of taxpayer-funded hotels have compared living in them to being in prison, with reports of physical assault, racist abuse and confiscated belongings. Mark Wilding from Liberty Investigates joins Ellen Halliday to discuss what the Asylum King story can tell us about how the state treats vulnerable people in its care.Read Wilding’s investigation here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the post-Brexit years, Britain has become increasingly irrelevant on the global stage. After Thursday's historic election, what can Keir Starmer and David Lammy do to put it back on the map? Senior Editor Alona Ferber is joined by international affairs expert, and Prospect contributing editor, Isabel Hilton to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, the lives writers feel compelled—in their own different ways—to take action in challenging circumstances. Tom Martin has to make the most difficult decision any farmer could face when one of his ewes experiences pain during labour.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the country heading to the polls this week, legendary pollster and former president of YouGov Peter Kellner gives his predictions for what the split of seats will look like, while contributing editor Tom Clark explains the six trip hazards he thinks Starmer might face in his first term.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of the Prospect podcast, Emily Lawford quizzes Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, on the gambling scandal, election culture wars and who, out of all the candidates, has had the best campaign so far.  After the break—is Britain ready to for Putin? Ellen Halliday speaks with Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general of the defence and security think tank Rusi about the nuclear threat, and what the next government might do to ensure a secure future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Westminster editor at The Lead UK, Zoë Grünewald, joins the podcast to dissect the Reform party's new “contract with the people”, while Prospect’s editorial fellow Imaan Irfan takes us on a deep dive into The Muslim Vote campaign, a volunteer collective mobilising Muslim voters to elect pro-Palestine third-party and independent candidates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assistant editor Emily Lawford introduces Prospect’s election panel—the ultimate group chat of politics nerds from across the spectrum. One of the team, former Number 10 speechwriter Phil Collins, joins to give his take on the Tory manifesto and much more. After, Ellen unpacks the crisis in universities with professor of academic history Glen O’Hara, who explains why they are in such trouble and what it means for students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the election campaign whirrs on—media circus in tow—Prospect’s senior editor Alona Ferber is joined by Guardian columnist and author Rafael Behr to look beyond the Westminster bubble and ask: what does the Punch-and-Judy nature of our politics mean for the country, and our democracy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.