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Strong Message Here

Strong Message Here

By: BBC Radio 4
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About this listen

In this new series, Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe.

Each week Helen and Armando will crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to decode the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried?

You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political language from two people both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight.

Warning: this podcast features strong political language that some listeners may find nonsensical.

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

(C) BBC 2025
Episodes
  • Yes or No?

    Yes or No?
    May 15 2025

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.

    This week, Helen and Armando take a step back and look at whether we're seeing the death of nuance in political debate. Is everything boiled down to 'yes or no' questions? What are the shibboleths of modern politics, and does the language you use, or decline to use, put you firmly on one side of a debate?

    Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.

    Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

    Sound Editing by Kate Mac Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss

    Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • I Want My Country Back (with Phil Wang)

    I Want My Country Back (with Phil Wang)
    May 8 2025

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.

    This week, following Reform's announcement they will remove all flags from all council buildings under their jurisdiction - other than the Union Flag and the St George's Cross - Helen and Armando are joined by Phil Wang to discuss Britishness, Englishness, Scottishness, Irishness, Welshness and Malaysianess.

    Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.

    Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

    Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Katie Baum & Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss

    Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.
    Show more Show less
    34 mins
  • The Official Language of the United States

    The Official Language of the United States
    May 1 2025

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.

    This week, a look over the pond at Trump's first 100 days. How have his administration used language to further their agenda? From the Gulf of America, to Making Showers Great Again, Helen and Armando examine how the US government is finding linguistic tricks to set the terms of debate.

    Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.

    Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

    Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Katie Baum & Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss

    Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
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