Starmer Resigns! Listen up, Labour: Lessons learned from the Trump trap w/ Ben Rhodes
About this episode
Ben Rhodes discusses the state of UK and US politics and lessons for progressives, alongside Tom McTague's analysis of Keir Starmer's leadership.
As Ben Rhodes says on this week’s episode, “we’re in a revolutionary moment globally”. Joining Nish and Coco from sister show Pod Save the World, Ben shares (and despairs) about the state of UK and US politics, and tells us what we can take from the Democrats’ disaster of 2024. Isn’t it time that progressives got their own populist? Plus, we hear about Ben’s new book, ‘All We Say’, tracing American history through some of its most famous–and infamous–speeches. We talk to him about the similarities between Britain and America both losing their way when it comes to national identity, and how our leaders need to tell it like it is. We can handle the truth! Also on the show: New Statesman Editor Tom McTague dissects Starmer’s swan song, explains his last minute decision not to challenge Burnham for leadership, and sets out why it all went wrong for a man who won a landslide victory less than two years ago. USEFUL LINKS Grab a copy of Ben’s new book, All We Say: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/470622/all-we-say-by-rhodes-ben/9781847928887 Ailbhe Rea’s recent piece in the New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2026/06/what-happens-now Tom McTague’s interview with…
People in this episode
Hosts: Nish, Coco
Guests: Ben Rhodes, Tom McTague
Topics covered
- UK politics
- US politics
- Labour party
- populism
- national identity
- political commentary
Sponsors
SAILY, HRF Power Plays, VANTA
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Pod Save the World, New Statesman, Labour
Books & works: All We Say
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