After last week’s ACFM on the meaning and morality of personal debt, Keir and Nadia zoom out to the macroeconomics of debt. Joining them to make sense of concepts like sovereign debt, structural adjustment and international ratings agencies is Heidi Chow, executive director of Debt Justice. She explains how and why countries borrow money, why Globa…

After last week’s ACFM on the meaning and morality of personal debt, Keir and Nadia zoom out to the macroeconomics of debt. Joining them to make sense of concepts like sovereign debt, structural adjustment and international ratings agencies is Heidi Chow, executive director of Debt Justice. She explains how and why countries borrow money, why Globa…

Trump has made a tragic plane crash incident into a political battle. Plus: OpenAI accuses DeepSeek of robbery; and Rory Stewart gets into a flame war with JD Vance. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.Novara Media

Hamas and Israel have exchanged more hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement. Plus: Environmental campaigners have claimed a major victory in the Rosebank oilfield battle; and Donald Trump invokes Guantanamo Bay in his war on migrants. With Dalia Gebrial and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

It’s been five long years since the decisive defeat of Corbynism at the ballot box. How, if at all, should the left reconstitute itself? Should everyone join the Greens? Or do we just need Mick Lynch to start a new party? In this episode, Richard Hames is joined by Rachel Godfrey Wood, Joe Todd, and Oliver Eagleton to thrash it all out and arrive a…

It’s been five long years since the decisive defeat of Corbynism at the ballot box. How, if at all, should the left reconstitute itself? Should everyone join the Greens? Or do we just need Mick Lynch to start a new party? In this episode, Richard Hames is joined by Rachel Godfrey Wood, Joe Todd, and Oliver Eagleton to thrash it all out and arrive a…

It’s been five long years since the decisive defeat of Corbynism at the ballot box.How, if at all, should the left reconstitute itself? Should everyone join the Greens? Or do we just need Mick Lynch to start a new party?In this episode, Richard Hames is joined by Rachel Godfrey Wood, Joe Todd, and Oliver Eagleton to thrash it all out and arrive at …

Rachel Reeves has announced backing for a third runway at Heathrow in a bid to drive UK growth. Plus: RFK Junior gets grilled in his confirmation hearing; and Roman Abramovich may owe HMRC £1bn in unpaid tax. With Michael Walker and NoJusticeMTGNovara Media

Donald Trump has signed an executive order freezing nearly all US foreign aid. Plus: A review into Britain’s counter-extremism policy sparks a row; and Chinese AI firm DeepSeek continues to ruffle market feathers. With Aaron Bastani and Michael Walker.Novara Media

Ash and Moya discuss women’s changing faces on screen and the intensifying obsession with ageing. Plus: tough love for a Special One who’s getting in their own way. Email your dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.com Music by Matt Huxley.Novara Media

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have begun their return to the North of the strip following a second exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas. With Michael Walker and NoJusticeMTG.Novara Media

Fourteen years ago Gary Stevenson was one of Citibank’s best performing traders. The bet that brought him success was one few foresaw: that despite record low interest rates, Britain’s economy would stay in the doldrums. He wrote about that, and his time at Citi, in his bestselling memoir ‘The Trading Game’. In this, his third Downstream with Aaron…

Fourteen years ago Gary Stevenson was one of Citibank’s best performing traders. The bet that brought him success was one few foresaw: that despite record low interest rates, Britain’s economy would stay in the doldrums. He wrote about that, and his time at Citi, in his bestselling memoir ‘The Trading Game’. In this, his third Downstream with Aaron…

Ash and Moya discuss women’s changing faces on screen and the intensifying obsession with ageing. Plus: tough love for a Special One who’s getting in their own way.Email your dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.comMusic by Matt Huxley.Novara Media

The concept of debt is as slippery as it is powerful. In this Trip episode, Keir, Nadia and Jem explain why debt is more like a belief than a calculation, and wonder how to imagine a society without it. From credit cards to dowries, they discuss the reality and fantasy of debt, with ideas from David Graeber and Deleuze and music from Crass and Gwen…

The concept of debt is as slippery as it is powerful. In this Trip episode, Keir, Nadia and Jem explain why debt is more like a belief than a calculation, and wonder how to imagine a society without it. From credit cards to dowries, they discuss the reality and fantasy of debt, with ideas from David Graeber and Deleuze and music from Crass and Gwen…

We take a look at Donald Trump’s first week in office. Plus: we discuss whether global institutions should adopt an extreme wealth line. With Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani.Novara Media

The concept of debt is as slippery as it is powerful. In this Trip episode, Keir, Nadia and Jem explain why debt is more like a belief than a calculation, and wonder how to imagine a society without it. From credit cards to dowries, they discuss the reality and fantasy of debt, with ideas from David Graeber and Deleuze and music from Crass and Gwen…

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been jailed for a minimum of 52 years. Plus: Israel’s assault on the West Bank continues to kill Palestinians; and new polling on Labour defections shows why voters are losing faith in Keir Starmer. With Dalia Gebrial and Mike Bankole.Novara Media

Elon Musk is the most symptomatic capitalist of our era: obsessed with publicity, by many accounts a fanatical workaholic, and increasingly in bed with the far right. But how did he go from Obama-era liberal darling to giving a Nazi salute at Trump’s second inauguration? Historian of ideas Quinn Slobodian has traced the relationship between big tec…

Elon Musk is the most symptomatic capitalist of our era: obsessed with publicity, by many accounts a fanatical workaholic, and increasingly in bed with the far right. But how did he go from Obama-era liberal darling to giving a Nazi salute at Trump’s second inauguration? Historian of ideas Quinn Slobodian has traced the relationship between big tec…

Elon Musk is the most symptomatic capitalist of our era: obsessed with publicity, by many accounts a fanatical workaholic, and increasingly in bed with the far right.But how did he go from Obama-era liberal darling to giving a Nazi salute at Trump's second inauguration?Historian of ideas Quinn Slobodian has traced the relationship between big tech …

A settlement has been made between News Group Newspapers and Prince Harry after a years-long legal battle over illegal intrusion into his private life. Plus: Musk takes aim at Wikipedia. With Michael Walker and NoJusticeMTG.Novara Media

Donald Trump has started his presidency with a flurry of executive orders. Plus: Israel has launched a new operation in the West Bank; and Elon Musk appears to have performed a fascist salute on stage. With Michael Walker and Kieran Andrieu. Donate to Gaza Great Minds: https://gazagreatminds.org/donate/…

Prompted by Kendrick’s anthemic Drake diss, Ash claims it's the summer of the hater. But what does it mean to hate so hard? Plus: a listener who feels rejected by her English in-laws.Email your missed connections and dilemmas to ifispeak@novaramedia.comGot your tickets for If I Speak IRL yet? We're at the London Podcast Festival on 15 September. Ti…

The Institute of Economic Affairs is one of the most powerful and secretive think tanks in the UK, known for promoting free-market Thatcherism as a solution to all of our economic woes. Who’s behind it? This week, Kristian Niemietz, a director at the IEA and a long-time Novara Media hater, sits down with Aaron for a debate about trickle-down econom…

The Institute of Economic Affairs is one of the most powerful and secretive think tanks in the UK, known for promoting free-market Thatcherism as a solution to all of our economic woes. Who’s behind it? This week, Kristian Niemietz, a director at the IEA and a long-time Novara Media hater, sits down with Aaron for a debate about trickle-down econom…

Ash and Moya tackle a mailbag full of dilemmas, including a committed couple arguing over money, a daughter considering cutting off her dad, and a student struggling to overcome the trauma of rape. Plus: Ash blushes her way through your emails about gay porn. CW: suicide, rape. Resources: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/support-in-your-area Email you…

The Institute of Economic Affairs is one of the most powerful and secretive think tanks in the UK, known for promoting free-market Thatcherism as a solution to all of our economic woes. Who's behind it?This week, Kristian Niemietz, a director at the IEA and a long-time Novara Media hater, sits down with Aaron for a debate about trickle-down economi…

Donald Trump is the next president. Meta, Walmart and McDonald’s have forsaken their diversity policies. Elon Musk has demanded that Keir Starmer be removed as PM. Why is this all happening at the same time? And why do progressives have so little to offer when it comes to the economy and people’s material conditions?Brett Christophers is a geograph…

When the Taliban retook all of Afghanistan in 2021, it came as a shock to much of the west. The day after the last American soldier left, journalist and filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at flew into Kabul to spend a year filming with the Taliban's senior military leadership. What he found was a regime drunk on power, in control of far more territory, and wit…

Trump begins his second term in office with an angry indictment of the liberal establishment. Plus: The ceasefire begins in Gaza, and the organisers are arrested at a Palestine solidarity march. With Michael Walker and Ash Sarkar.Novara Media

Israel’s security cabinet has agreed to a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Plus: The police have attempted to ban a Palestinian Solidarity Campaign march in London. With Michael Walker and Aaron BastaniNovara Media

Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed a cabinet vote on the ceasefire, accusing Hamas of reneging on aspects of the deal. Plus: Yvette Cooper announces new local inquiries into the grooming gangs scandal. With Dalia Gebrial and NoJusticeMTG.Novara Media

Donald Trump is the next president. Meta, Walmart and McDonald’s have forsaken their diversity policies. Elon Musk is demanding that Keir Starmer be removed as PM. Why is this all happening at the same time? And why do progressives have so little to offer when it comes to the economy and people’s everyday lives? Brett Christophers is a geographer, …