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Estimated from 13 chart positions in 13 markets.
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- 🇬🇧GB · News Commentary#7030K to 100K
- 🇮🇹IT · News Commentary#1451K to 10K
- 🇪🇸ES · News Commentary#1871K to 10K
- 🇵🇪PE · News Commentary#2030K to 100K
- 🇮🇸IS · News Commentary#3710K to 30K
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Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
43K to 151K🎙 ~2x weekly·113 episodes·Last published 2d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
86K to 302K🇬🇧33%🇵🇪33%🇮🇸10%+10 more - Active Followers
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34K to 121K
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On the show
From 16 epsHost
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Keir Starmer resigns
Jun 22, 2026
Unknown duration
A World Cup in the age of Trump
Jun 22, 2026
Unknown duration
The Mackerfield Byelection
Jun 19, 2026
Unknown duration
The death of conservatism
Jun 15, 2026
Unknown duration
HS2 - The rail to nowhere
Jun 8, 2026
32m 41s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/22/26 | ![]() Keir Starmer resigns | Keir Starmer resigns - can Andy Burnham save the country from the disaster of a Reform government?Nick Cohen talks about Keir Starmer's resignation as Britain's sixth Prime Minister in ten years, reflecting on the implications for the country and the wider West. Nick explores concerns about Britain's political stability, comparing the situation to historical examples of governments collapsing, and talks about how nationalist parties are gaining power across the UK. Nick defends Starmer's leadership, highlighting his handling of Trump's presidency and his efforts on Ukraine, while acknowledging his political shortcomings. Nick expresses optimism about Andy Burnham becoming the next Prime Minister and emphasises the need for the centre-left to unite to counter the growing influence of the radical right, led by figures like Farage who has successfully split the right-wing vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/22/26 | ![]() A World Cup in the age of Trump | The World Cup - the goals, the corruption and the colonialism!In this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Professor Stefan Szymanski, Professor of the Economics of Sports at Michigan University, about the World Cup and the evolution of global football. They explore how the tournament has shifted from being hosted by nation-states to being controlled by oligarchical interests, with Stefan explaining how FIFA's corruption stems from colonialism's legacy and the post-colonial power struggle within the organisation. The conversation covered dramatic price increases in World Cup tickets from 1994 to the present, with final match tickets rising from $475 (inflation-adjusted) to $10,000 calculated for this year's final! Stefan argues the problem isn't the high prices themselves but where the money is being directed. They discuss the tension between FIFA and UEFA, the flow of talent from developing to developed nations, and the political challenges facing future World Cup hosts including the current tournament in the United States and Canada. The interview concludes with a discussion about whether the World Cup could eventually unravel due to political tensions and boycotts, similar to what happened with the Olympics.Read all about it! Stefan Szymanski @sszy is Professor of the Economics of Sports at Michigan University, a leading sports historian, academic and podcaster - author of Crickonomics: The Anatomy of Modern Cricket, which was Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards 2023. Stefan is co-host of the Soccernomics podcast, alongside hosted by renowned football author Simon Kuper and Ashish Malhotra. Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/19/26 | ![]() The Mackerfield Byelection | Mackerfield shows why Andy Burnham must lead Labour in the fight against the Radical RightNick Cohen gives a comprehensive analysis of the Makerfield by-election results from early Friday morning, where Andy Burnham emphatically defeated Nigel Farage's Reform Party, arguing this victory represents both an opportunity and a significant challenge for the Labour Party.Nick criticises the unprecedented propaganda campaign against Keir Starmer, including claims about a racist police incident and allegations of abuse, which Nick attributes to foreign interference led by Donald Trump's administration and supported by figures like Elon Musk and J.D. Vance.Nick criticises the Labour government's failure to properly deal wth far right propaganda, or even enforce the Ofcom rules that are constantly flouted by GB News, little more than a voice for Reform. Nick warns that Burnham would face steep learning curves on foreign policy issues, particularly regarding defence spending and relations with America, and emphasises the need for Labour to develop a clear "theory of victory" to address why Starmer became so unpopular despite relatively successful policy outcomes on inflation and immigration control. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/15/26 | ![]() The death of conservatism | UK needs a a strong liberal voice in the south to counter the predictable catastrophe of Farage and Reform In his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to historian and author James Hawes about parallels between current political developments and fascist movements in the 1930s and 1970s. James compares Elon Musk's influence to that of Alfred Hugenberg in 1930s Germany, noting how both used media control to promote extreme right-wing parties. Nick and James discuss conservative establishment figures like Michael Grade at Ofcom were failing to enforce impartiality laws, how the government was unwilling to act against platforms promoting insurrection, and how the right-wing media landscape had shifted dramatically since the days when Enoch Powell was rejected by the Conservative Party. Hawes emphasises the need for a united liberal democratic front to oppose far-right parties like Farage's, warning that the first-past-the-post electoral system could allow Nigel Farage to become Prime Minister with less than a third of the vote if the left remained split. They conclude with calls for a "popular front" similar to those that successfully opposed fascists in the past, with both hosts expressing optimism that such a coalition could still be formed. The UK desperately needs a strong Liberal voice in the south to prevent Farage inflicting his second catastrophe on the UK after Brexit - a Reform government with the inevitable division, economic misery and national failure that would guarantee.Read all about it! James Hawes @jameshawes2 Renaissance man, historian, writer and novelist. James, the author of The Shortest History of England and The Shortest History of Germany. His latest in the series, The Shortest History of Ireland, is out next month.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/8/26 | ![]() HS2 - The rail to nowhere✨ | HS2high-speed rail+4 | Christian Wolmar | Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail | UKSpain+2 | HS2high-speed railway+5 | — | 32m 41s | |
| 6/1/26 | ![]() All we have comes by sea✨ | merchant marinersglobal trade+4 | Horatio Clare | Robert SaundersYes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum & Seventies Britain | IranStrait of Hormuz+2 | merchant marinersglobal trade+6 | — | 37m 01s | |
| 5/25/26 | ![]() Britain's broken politics✨ | political instabilityBrexit+4 | Robert Saunders | — | UK | politicsinstability+7 | — | 49m 06s | |
| 5/18/26 | ![]() Why we think what we think!✨ | belief formationpolitical preferences+4 | Turi Munthe | Why We Think What We Think | — | beliefspolitics+5 | — | 54m 22s | |
| 5/11/26 | ![]() Brexit Britons - away with the fairies!✨ | BrexitUK politics+5 | Rafael Behr | The GuardianGreen Party+2 | WalesScotland+1 | BrexitLabour Party+5 | — | 1h 05m 25s | |
| 5/4/26 | ![]() The "Special Relationship" is dead✨ | foreign policymilitary developments+5 | Phillips O'Brien | St. Andrews University | United StatesUK+5 | Trumpforeign policy+8 | — | 45m 46s | |
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| 4/27/26 | ![]() The UK is the no-can-do nation✨ | political culturelong-term challenges+5 | John Kampfner | Brave a New World | BritainJapan+1 | Brave a New WorldJohn Kampfner+8 | — | 42m 46s | |
| 4/20/26 | ![]() The death of the book means trouble✨ | literacyautocracy+4 | James Marriott | The TimesTikTok+2 | — | literacyautocracy+5 | — | 49m 29s | |
| 4/13/26 | ![]() America - The decline & fall✨ | geopolitical situationAmerica's war with Iran+4 | Andrew Gawthorpe | America Explained | United StatesIran+3 | geopoliticsTrump+5 | — | 46m 37s | |
| 4/6/26 | ![]() Centrists of the world unite!✨ | liberalismpolitical commentary+4 | Adrian Wooldridge | Bloomberg OpinionCentrists of the World Unite: The Lost Genius of Liberalism | — | liberalismcentrism+6 | — | 43m 57s | |
| 3/30/26 | ![]() Can the U.S. be saved from itself?✨ | U.S. politicsTrump administration+5 | Charlie Sykes | Trump-MAGA regimeSave America Act | United StatesUkraine+1 | TrumpMAGA+8 | — | 44m 14s | |
| 3/23/26 | ![]() Humiliating America & threatening the world✨ | Trump crisismilitary strikes+4 | Claire Berlinski | The Cosmopolitan Globalist | IranIsrael+2 | TrumpIran+5 | — | 40m 03s | |
| 3/15/26 | ![]() Antisemitism on the march!✨ | antisemitismcomedy+3 | Howard Jacobson | SubstackhoWL | — | antisemitismHoward Jacobson+5 | — | 39m 30s | |
| 3/9/26 | ![]() Will Dictator Orban fall?✨ | Hungarian politicsauthoritarianism+4 | Zsuzsanna Szelényi | FideszTizsa+3 | HungaryUkraine | Viktor OrbánHungarian election+6 | — | 47m 02s | |
| 3/2/26 | ![]() Trump won't give up power✨ | Trump presidencyDemocratic Party challenges+4 | Ben Cohen | Democratic Party | AmericaBritain+1 | TrumpDemocratic Party+5 | — | 43m 30s | |
| 2/23/26 | ![]() Will France fall to the far right?✨ | far-right politicsFrance+5 | Victor Mallet | Financial TimesFar-Right France: Le Pen, Bardella, and the Future of Europe | FranceEurope+2 | far-rightMarine Le Pen+8 | — | 46m 20s | |
| 2/16/26 | ![]() A united Ireland is on the way | English nationalism will destroy the UKNick Cohen talks with Lowdown regular, author and historian James Hawes, about the on-going damage wrought on the UK by English nationalists and their failed Brexit project. Now current polls indicate that the same nationalist charlatans look likely to take power at the next general election. James said a Whitehall mandarin's prediction of the future break-up of the UK after the next election is looking increasingly likely: Labour has failed to solve the insoluble shitshow of Brexit - making it ever more likely that a radical right party reform UK led by Nigel Farage - will take power at the next election. This new resurgence of extreme English nationalism along with its loony unworkable policies will be rejected by the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland - and possibly even Wales - and calls for secession from the UK by constituent nations could soon become deafening.Northern Ireland will be the first to leave a failing United Kingdom to escape Farage & coBoth Nick and James agree - Brexit has become like the mad relative squirrelled away in the attic by the embarrassed Victorian family. James predicts Northern Ireland/Ulster will want soon want to unite with the now much richer Republic of Ireland rather than face an increasingly impoverished and culture war-wracked future at the hands of incompetent English and divisive nationalists. Scotland will likely follow suit- dumping Labour for the Scottish nationalists. The future of the United Kingdom has never looked so bleak.Read all about it! James Hawes @jameshawes2 Renaissance man, historian, writer and novelist. James, the author of The Shortest History of England and The Shortest History of Germany. His latest in the series, The Shortest History of Ireland, is out next month.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/9/26 | ![]() The love Labour's lost! | Mandelson crisis engulfs an already embattled Starmer Nick Cohen talks to John McTernan about the Labour Party's deep political crisis in the wake of the struggles, leadership challenges, and ideological direction. They explore athe implications of the Peter Mandelson scandal, the factionalism within the Labour Party, and the broader context of the collapse of Christian democracy, which has created opportunities and challenges for the centre-left. John McTernan emphasise the need for Labour to reconnect with its ideological roots and address key issues like housing and AI, while Nick highlights the importance of strong leadership and communication. They also discuss potential leadership candidates like Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, and the broader political landscape, including the rise of Reform and the Greens. They discuss the urgency for Labour to define a clear purpose and coherent political economy to address the challenges of the modern era.Labour's struggles under StarmerJohn McTernan and Nick discuss the current dire state of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer's leadership, now plunged into dee crisis over the Peter Mandelson crisis. They criticise Starmer's administration for being overly factional and ostracising lmore eft-wing members like Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband. John suggest that the Labour Party needs to engage with more left of centre ideas to create a more balanced and effective political strategy. They emphasise the importance of owning the future and fairness in politics, which the Labour Party currently lacks. Nick and John agree that Starmer's government lacks a clear purpose and direction, leading to internal conflicts and ineffective governance.Read all about it! John McTernan @Johnmcternan is a political strategist and commentator, and a former senior advisor to the Labour Party. John was Tony Blair's Director of Political Operations from 2005-2007 before acting as special advisor to two cabinet ministers under Blair's Number 10 successor - Gordon Brown. Other roles since then has been as a columnist at The Scotsman and as Director of Communications for Australia's Labor party prime minister Julia Gillard.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/2/26 | ![]() A lonely UK's defence dilemma | Nick Cohen talks to Mark Urban about the UK's deep defence crisisNick Cohen & Mark Urban discuss changing dynamics of the American-British alliance and its huge implications for British defence strategy.Mark Urban and Nick discuss how recent actions by Donald Trump have created uncertainty about America's role as a traditional ally, particularly regarding NATO and European security. They explored how Brexit has weakened Britain's position in Europe at a time when European cooperation is needed more than ever, and criticise the current Labour government's lack of leadership in addressing defence needs.They talk about how Britain's nuclear deterrent remains dependent on American cooperation, though Mark notes that Britain could maintain its deterrent for about 10 years even if American support was withdrawn. They also discuss how the British military has become increasingly vulnerable and underfunded, with defence spending at just 2.5% of GDP compared to 7% in 1961 when Mark was born.Mark and Nick discuss the changing dynamics of the British-American alliance, with Mark highlighting that the decline in their relative military and economic power began during World War II. They also discuss how the special relationship has evolved over time, with Mark referencing his book "The Edge" from 2015, which warned about the increasing defence spending by China and Russia and the need for European self-reliance. They agree that the current situation with Donald Trump's administration represents a significant inflection point in this long-term decline, though they acknowledge that the underlying changes have been gradual rather than sudden.Real all about it!Mark Urban was for many years a defence correspondent for BBC Newsnight and later its Diplomatic Editor. He has hosted the Crisis Room podcast @crisisroompod. He also writes for tHE Sunday Times. He's also a historian and author with books including Big Boys Rules, Rifles, TF Black, Tank War, Skripal Files, Red Devils.Mark's latest book Tank is out as a paperback later this year. Mark is also a Trustee for The Imperial War Museum @I_W_M . Mark's Susbtack is called War and Peace.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/26/26 | ![]() Trump's madness threatens us all | Donald Trump is increasingly insane - period!Nick Cohen talks with U.S commentator and author Claire Berlinski about the increasingly dangerous and insane presidency of Donald Trump which Claire sees as a pattern of national sabotage rather than mere incompetence, impulsiveness, or corruption, highlighting the destructive impact of his policies on US global power and alliances.The last week has shocked the U.S's one-time allies with his reckless threats against Denmark and Greenland, his abandonment of NATO, the filthy gang of tyrants and international gangsters he's corralled into his absurd and corrupt "Board of Peace", the stupid and offensive insults he's levelled against the allied war dead and his ridiculous and insane rants.They explore recent events and developments in both the United States and Europe, including Trump's isolationist approach, Britain's response to US actions, and the implications of Trump's statements and actions on American power and credibility. Claire expresses deep concern about the dangers posed by Trump's presidency, particularly regarding nuclear weapons, and explored the potential for Europe to assert its power by reducing its economic and military dependence on the U.S.Reckless Republicans fail to act against the Mad King of the U.S.Claire says, "This isn't just one madman. This is a significant segment of the American public and they don't show much sign of understanding what they've done. Having seen that this can happen, how does anyone put the faith in the United States that was granted to the United States, almost unthinkingly by many nations to the point that Britain completely united its defence and security with American institutions?Claire adds "I can't explain how an entire political party could be hostage to this madman in the way that they are, even to the point that they are forfeiting their own children's security and futures."Donald Trump represents an existential threat to every human beingClairs says, "It's overwhelmingly obvious that this is. An existential danger to every living human being. Donald Trump has the power to launch as many as 4,000 nuclear weapons unilaterally. He requires no one's permission, and if he gives the order, should do it. His, his subordinates are, are, the law says they have to execute it."Read all about it!Claire Berlinski @Claire Berlinski is an American author and commentator based in Paris. Claire's regular Substack column The Cosmopolitan Globalist - is a must read for anyone looking for keen analysis of insight into the continuing Trump Trauma in the U.S. - a crisis which has serious implications for all of us and the current world order. Claire also co-hosts a podcast - Critical Conditions - with Dan PerryNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 1/19/26 | ![]() Comparing Trump & Putin | Trump & Putin - the despots at war with our worldIn this week's Lowdown, Nick Cohen talks to Professor Sam Greene - the Director of the Russia Institute at King's College London about Vladamir Putin and Donald Trump, and how about how much longer Russia can endure the continuing carnage and humiliation of its seemingly never ending aggression against Ukraine.What Putin intended to be a few days of Blitzkrieg in February 2022 will soon enter its fifth gruesome year and has already lasted longer than the so-called "Great Patriotic War" - which is how the Russians describe World War 2. That war led to more than 20 million Soviet Union deaths. The current slaughter is sending 1,000 Russian soldiers a week to the cemetery or the casualty ward.How much longer can Putin last? Sam Greene and Nick Cohen examine the resilience of Putin's corrupt authoritarian regime despite current challenges, analysing how the system maintains stability through widespread compliance and fear among citizens while retaining imperial assumptions about Russian dominance. They also discuss Russia's political future after Putin, considering the potential for authoritarian systems to evolve while maintaining control, and compare this to similar dynamics in the United States. Sam reveals that Putin has now equalled the number of political prisoners incarcerated by Cold War era Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.Putin and Trump - Parallels in Russia and USSam and Nick discuss the parallels between authoritarianism in Russia and the United States, focusing on how both regimes exert control through fear and compliance rather than direct force. Sam highlights the complacency of elites and institutions in the US noting how they accommodate the current administration's demands, similar to the Russian system where power is concentrated and opposition is silenced. They also touch on the effectiveness of Western sanctions against Russian oligarchs, which initially aimed to encourage a shift towards rule of law but ultimately failed as the oligarchs prioritised profit over safety. Their chat concludes with a reflection on the potential for political change, emphasising that authoritarian systems often change only after they have already begun to unravel.Read all about it!Professor Sam Greene @samagreene is Director of the Russia Institute @KingsRussia of King's College London. Sam has authored or co-authored two main books: "Moscow in Movement: Power & Opposition in Putin's Russia" (2014) and "Putin v. the People: The Perilous Politics of a Divided Russia" (2019, co-authored with Graeme Robertson). Sam's Substack - TL;DRussia - is a must read for anyone wanting to keep up with events in Putin's Russia.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
13 placements across 13 markets.
Chart Positions
13 placements across 13 markets.
