Episodes

  • The war over identity & sex
    Jul 14 2025



    Nick Cohen & Professor Robert Wintemute discuss transgender rights and women's rights, exploring legal, medical, and societal implications of transgender issues. The conversation covered topics such as the evolving demands of the LGBTQ+ movement, challenges faced by transgender individuals in various settings, and the controversy surrounding medical treatments for gender dysphoria in minors.


    Transgender Rights vs. Women's Rights Debate

    Nick talks to Robert, Professor of human rights law at King's College London, about transgender rights and women's rights. They discuss the controversy surrounding transgender issues in liberal media and academia, with Andrew noting that many people are afraid to speak out on the topic. Robert, author of Transgender Rights V. Women's Rights, provides a legal perspective on the debate, highlighting decisions against trans campaigners and the Supreme Court's ruling that trans women are not women for legal purposes.


    Transgender Rights and Societal Tensions

    Robert and Nick discuss the evolving demands of the LGBTQ+ movement, particularly focusing on the differences between LGBTQ+ and transgender rights. Robert highlights how transgender demands have shifted from seeking equal rights to requesting exemptions and changes to legal and medical systems, which he views as problematic.


    Transgender Rights and Social Implications

    Robert and Nick also talk about the implications of removing sex from birth certificates and the challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly in areas such as prisons, sports, and equal pay. Robert emphasised that while the number of transgender individuals may be small, the effects on women in specific situations can be distressing, and he highlights a case where a transgender athlete's participation raised fairness concerns.


    Gender Dysphoria Treatment Bans

    Robert and Nick also tackle the controversial issue of medical treatment for gender dysphoria in minors, particularly focusing on the recent bans in Brazil and Argentina. They expressed concern about the lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of treatments like puberty blockers for young people, noting that many individuals eventually change their minds about their gender identity.


    Transgender Rights and Political Realities

    Robert argues that transgender rights activists need to align with political reality to avoid electing reactionary leaders like Donald Trump. He proposes a "tough love" approach for coexistence, which includes two concessions: transgender individuals should stop expecting others to validate their gender identity, and society should ensure no discrimination against individuals based on their appearance.


    Read all about it!


    Professor Wintermute is a lawyer, a trustee of @AllianceLGB and an author and co-author of books on same sex partnerships and sexual orientation and human rights. His latest book Transgender Rights vs Women's rights, From conflicts to co-existence, is now published


    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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    39 mins
  • The Tory surrender to extremists
    Jul 7 2025


    Nick Cohen and commentator Nick Tyrone discuss the rise of the radicalised right in the UK and ask why the Conservatives won't fight against the extremists in their midst and party. Instead, some Tories are have buckled to the siren voices of intolerance and extremism. They are dragging their party further to the extremes by trying to outflank Nigel Farage & Reform on the right.


    Right wing extremism becomes ever more extreme

    Nick Tyrone says, "We've come so far that Farage is starting to look relatively moderate compared to some of the stuff that's even happening within the conservative party now. That's how scary things have become."


    Nick adds, "I have my doubts that however much money you threw at it, that a sort of a party that was sort of Rupert Lowe shaped like, was sort of that right wing could actually succeed to a huge degree in Britain. ... you could do it in a boiling frog sort of a way. I think you could get a, a government elected that on a much more moderate platform that, so that kept turning up the dial and got more and more right wing and, and if that government was producing, you know, economic growth and was eliminating some of the bigger problems they got the NHS working, they would probably be given leeway to do some fairly terrible right wing stuff."


    Conservatives wont defend conservatism - inevitability of Jenrick leadership

    Nick says, "Robert Jenrick is going to be the conservative leader unless Jenrick jumps to reform, which I don't think he will, but I can't rule that out. Yeah, it's gonna be Jenrick. And again, it's that sort of thing. Well, what do the moderates do? And the answer seems to be not very much. And just sort of go along and hope somewhere along the line everything works out. I think Jenrick could take them further to the right than reform. and what happens when that happens? I don't know. I mean, I can say, well, I don't think that'll work."


    Possible malevolent force could take over the UK

    Nick Tyrone says, "I can't really emphasise enough every time I come on how completely all over the place the Tories are and what a mess they are. So in the end it's totally possible that some real malevolent force could take hold in British politics."




    Read all about it!


    Nick Tyrone is an author, activist, policy advisor and commentator and keen observer of the Tory party whose Substack column as Neoliberal Centrist Dad - nick.tyrone.substack.com - is a must read for those of us desperate for the return of sanity to our national political discourse.


    Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 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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    41 mins
  • Populist poison will break up Britain
    Jun 30 2025



    Nick Cohen and historian James Hawes discuss wide range of political topics, focusing primarily on British politics, Brexit, and the rise of right-wing populism. Discussions included the historical context and current state of the Conservative Party, the challenges faced by Labour and the SNP, and the potential long-term implications of demographic changes on political landscapes. James Hawes argues that only liberal populists can counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform.


    Brexit's Long-Term Consequences and Failures

    James and Nick discusses the long-term implications and failures of Brexit, highlighting how Farage and other Brexit advocates had been promoting the idea for decades. Both criticise the lack of accountability and the continued influence of Brexit supporters despite the project's evident failures. James expressed optimism for a pro-remain populist leader to challenge Brexit advocates directly, rather than relying on complex economic arguments. He also shared a conversation with a top UK insider predicting the UK's collapse by 2029 due to Keir Starmer's inability to address the mess left by the Tories & Brexit


    The Tory Party pickle

    James & Nick discuss the historical and current dire state of the Conservative Party, highlighting its long history of populism and sectarianism. They argue that the party's true nature is being revealed through its alignment with Farage and its anti-migrant stance, which James compares to 19th-century Tory behaviour.


    Farage's Rise and threat to the UK

    The discussion focuses on British politics, particularly Farage's rise and the potential for a shift towards far-right governance. James argues that Farage success in England will re-energise the SNP & inevitably speed up the UK's break-up. Both express concern about the working-class appeal of Farage's populism and discuss the perception of left-wing politicians as communists by some conservatives.


    Demographic Shifts and Political Implications

    The discussion focused on demographic challenges and political implications, with Nick and James exploring how an aging population and ironically more financially secure voters are more likely to vote for Farage and his brand of nut-job populist extremism, while younger generations face difficulties accessing housing and other opportunities. James argues that a more liberal -leftist brand of populism - with policies such as I.D. cards and German-like tests for trades people - might help counter the poison and certain chaos of Farageism.


    Read all about it!


    James Hawes @jameshawes2 is a historian and author of a novel and books such as including The Shortest History of Germany and The Shortest History on England


    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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    42 mins
  • Talking to the small Trump hand
    Jun 23 2025


    Nick Cohen talks to Lowdown regular and Guardian columnist Rafael Behr about Labour's struggle with the new international Trump disorder, its communications crisis, perceived serial bungling by Sir Keir Starmer and the party's perceived drift.



    Starmer struggling with Trump's betrayal of the West

    In anticipation of a possible US strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, Rafael & Nick discuss the growing decay of the so-called US-UK "special relationship". Rafael does not believe that Sir Keir Starmer grasps "the sheer enormity of what is happening." He adds "I think he's ultimately a very small "c" conservative person who thinks you can just fix things by sort of just getting through, making do mending sort of DIY around the status quo and hoping that that process will just see you through."


    Trump's Putin fanboys are nothing new

    Rafael reminds Nick that the American First tradition was "very sympathetic of Hitler or, wanted to keep out of the second World War." He adds, They developed conspiracy theories that Roosevelt was really responsible for Pearl Harbour and all that kind of underworld, which never went away in America, is, is now back, is now back with Trump." Like America First, Trump's MAGA are in a world of where Putin apologists & conspiracy crackpots are now right at the heart of power in Washington.


    Clueless Kemi & her hapless party are all at sea

    Rafael has completely lost her bearings of where votable right ring thinking is current/y, and even Trump was "...not so stupid as to do the sort of Kemi Badenoch trying to out Reform Reform by being in the sort of mad slightly conspiracy theory, tinge, racist, digital silos that reform paddle around in."



    Keir Starmer is an analog prime minister in a digital age

    Rafael is convinced that Starmer doesn't have a fully worked out concept of the British economy. Labour has major communications problems and Raf is picking up murmurings among Party figures of possibly replacing him. "he would've been a great Prime minister in 1968 or 1949, " says Rafael, adding, "he's a fantastically well qualified analog prime minister!"




    Read all about it!


    Rafael's recent book Politics: A Survivor's Guide: How to stay engaged without getting enraged is published by W.F.Howes Ltd and available at Amazon and in all good bookshops.

    Support the show You can also read his wonderful columns in the Guardian. His X handle is @rafaelbehr



    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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    52 mins
  • Trump's tyranny get outta jail free card
    Jun 16 2025

    Authoritarian Tactics in Western Democracies

    Nick Cohen and Ben Cohen discuss the tactics of authoritarian leaders, comparing them to successful torturers who exploit vulnerabilities in Western democracies. Nick emphasises that liberal democracies often turn a blind eye to illegal immigrants due to the logistical challenges of enforcing strict immigration laws, which he argued is a weakness that authoritarian leaders like Trump exploit to consolidate power. Ben agreed with Nick's analysis. They also briefly touched on the importance of avoiding formal conversations by not reviewing questions in advance.


    Immigration Policy and Political Polarisation

    Ben discusses the complex dynamics of immigration policy and its role in American politics, particularly focusing on how Trump's immigration policies and the left's response are contributing to a polarised environment. Ben argues that the left's protests against ICE raids lack strategic direction and may inadvertently play into Trump's hands by validating his claim of a national emergency. He expresses concern that this situation could serve as a dry run for Trump's potential re-election strategy in 2028, where he might use similar tactics to claim the need for extended military involvement to "save the Republic."


    Left's Ineffective Fascism Fight Strategy

    Ben talks about the current political climate in the United States, focusing on the lack of hope for a free and fair election in 2028 due to insufficient reforms on the left and the resistance's inability to address political realities such as immigration. They agreed that calling the government fascist is appropriate, but the left's overuse of the term has made it meaningless. Ben expressed concern that the left's approach to fighting fascism is ineffective, as they have alienated many people by incorrectly labelling others as fascists in the past.


    Trump's Impact on American Democracy

    Ben describes the current state of American democracy under Trump's presidency, expressing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the potential for further authoritarian tendencies. They highlighted the lack of checks and balances, comparing the situation to historical examples of weak democracies, and warned about the dangers of a Trump victory in 2028. They also touched on the role of Trump's base, his control over the Republican Party, and the implications for the future of American democracy.


    Media Polarisation and Political Divide

    Ben and Nick discuss the current state of media and politics, particularly focusing on the challenges posed by the "woke left" and the rise of authoritarianism on the right. They agreed that many journalists and politicians are prioritising audience capture and contrarianism over principles, leading to a lack of meaningful debate and criticism, especially on the right in Britain. Ben expressed concern about the direction of the country under Trump, highlighting immigration raids as a potential indicator of future authoritarian measures, and called for a unified resistance from the left.


    Read all about it!


    Read Ben's The Banter Substacks here and listen to his podcasts here.


    Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 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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    43 mins
  • Droning out Trump & Putin
    Jun 9 2025


    Global Political Challenges and Predictions

    Nick Cohen and John Sweeney discuss the current state of global politics, focusing on the challenges faced by powerful leaders like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. They highlight the recent audacious drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian strategic bomber fleets, which John Sweeney compared to calling out the "Emperor in the Kremlin with no clothes." John expresses caution about predicting the downfall of dictators, citing his past experiences with Mugabe,


    Putin's Downfall and Ukraine's War

    John and Nick discuss the current situation in Russia and Ukraine, focusing on Vladimir Putin's leadership and the potential for his overthrow. Sweeney shares Owen's argument that there are 3 tests before Putin's downfall: the lack of a viable successor, a crashing economy, and a competent government.


    Putin's Influence on Trump

    John also talks about the potential influence of Putin on Trump, referencing the Steele dossier (written by former Mi6 officer Christopher Steele.) They agree that while the dossier's claims about Trump's personal behaviour could not be proven, the allegations about Putin's intervention in the 2016 US election were accurate. John highlights the importance of understanding the geopolitical implications of Ukraine's drone attack on Russia, emphasising the need for a realistic approach to global politics.


    Trump's Waning Influence and Challenges

    John talks about the complex relationship between Trump and Putin, highlighting a potential compromise involving Trump's authoritarian leanings and shared worldview with Putin, despite effective sanctions against Russia that only Congress can repeal. He explained that Trump's chaotic tariff policy and proposed fiscal measures are damaging the real American economy, reducing his political capital to influence events in Ukraine. They also discuss Trump's mini-me Nigel Farage and Reform councils taking down the Ukrainian flag


    Ukraine's War & British Politics

    John discusses the military situation in Ukraine, noting that while Russian drones are causing problems for Ukraine, the country's huge size means it can retreat significantly before the situation becomes catastrophic. He expressed optimism that Ukraine will win the war, citing the support from the West.


    Read all about it!


    John @johnsweeneyroar is a distinguished broadcaster and author. His latest book is Murder in the Gulag the explosive account of how Putin poisoned Alexei Navalny. Another of John's most recent must reads is best-seller on Putin, The Killer in the Kremlin, published by Headline Press.


    Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 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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    45 mins
  • The misogyny industry
    Jun 2 2025



    Manosphere's Political Influence Discussed

    Nick Cohen talks to author James Bloodworth about his new book which explores the toxic so-called "Manosphere", focusing on its origins and influence, particularly in the context of political movements like Donald Trump's campaign. James highlighted his book, "Lost Boys," which explores the manosphere's impact and is set to be released on June 5th.


    Origins of the Manosphere Movement

    James explained the origins of the manosphere, which emerged from pickup artist communities in the early 2000s. He described how pickup artists viewed seduction as a science and gender relations as a power game, attracting both men seeking advice on social interactions and those with darker, manipulative intentions. James noted that the movement often targeted neurodivergent men and sold expensive courses based on essentialist gender ideas, leading to a culture focused on conquest and objectification of women.


    Pickup Culture and Online Extremism

    James discussed his experience with a pickup boot camp, describing it as expensive and objectifying, but noting that some counterintuitive advice, such as being more of a challenge rather than nice, was helpful. He explained how the pickup artist scene evolved into more political and conspiratorial rhetoric, leading to the emergence of the Incel movement and increased misogyny. James also highlighted the role of algorithms in radicalising individuals by funnelling them towards increasingly dark and political content online.


    Manosphere Radicals and Social Influence

    James and Nick discussed the radicalisation process within the manosphere and how figures like Jordan Peterson can unintentionally influence their audience towards extreme right-wing views. James explained that content creators often lean into controversial topics to increase their audience and revenue, which can lead to self-radicalisation. They also touched on the phenomenon of "gamer gaze," where young men online suddenly turn against women, and the role of social media algorithms in promoting extreme content. The conversation highlighted the complex interplay between individual circumstances, cultural messages, and the influence of charismatic figures in shaping political and social views.


    Right-Wing Resurgence in the 2010s

    James discussed the rise of right-wing movements in the 2010s, focusing on how liberal feminism and identity politics created resentment among certain groups. They explored how this resentment was harnessed by right-wing influencers and politicians, including Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, who capitalized on "loser culture" and anti-establishment sentiment. James highlighted the shift in media and journalism towards clickbait and contrarian content, which helped spread right-wing ideologies.


    Read all about it!


    James Bloodworth, @J_Bloodworth, the author of The Lost Boys, A personal journey through the Manosphere published on June 5th by Atlantic Books


    Nick Cohen's regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    44 mins
  • The Stagnation nation
    May 26 2025


    UK Economic Stagnation Analysis

    Nick Cohen @NickCohen4 talks to Simon Nixon @Simon_Nixon discussed the UK's economic stagnation since 2008, highlighting the impact of financial sector reliance, austerity policies, and Brexit. They analysed Keir Starmer's recent EU trade deal, noting modest improvements but emphasising its limited impact on addressing broader economic challenges. Simon suggested that deeper EU integration could yield greater economic benefits, while Andrew questioned whether rejoining the EU would be politically feasible.


    Businesses Navigate Political Party Challenges

    Nick Cohen & Simon Nixon discuss the challenges businesses face in aligning with political parties, particularly the Conservative Party, due to its current opposition to policies beneficial for business, such as the Brexit deal and trade agreements with India. They noted that businesses may seek alternatives to advance their agendas, given the presence of multiple parties in the political landscape. Simon highlighted the economic impact of the recent National Insurance rise, which was implemented to fund social care but has been met with skepticism and uncertainty about its long-term effects on employment and inflation.


    Economic Policy Challenges and Solutions

    Simon and Nick discussed the challenges of economic policy, particularly the reliance on low tax rates and central banks to stimulate growth. They agreed that raising taxes is necessary to reduce debt and ease pressure on central banks, as seen in both the UK and US.



    Economic Challenges in UK and US

    The discussion focused on the economic challenges facing both the UK and the US, with Simon Nixon highlighting how Liz Truss's fiscal policies have left limited room for manoeuver before requiring tax increases or spending cuts. Nixon compared the US situation under Donald Trump, noting that while Trump's tax cuts were temporary, his administration is now pushing through a budget that would increase the deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, primarily to prevent tax rates from rising.


    Global Economic Challenges and Reforms

    Simon discussed the global economic challenges facing various countries, including Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, emphasising that no country has a perfect solution. He highlighted the impact of technology, particularly AI, on employment and the need for bold administrative reforms to improve state management. Simon also touched on the Labour Party's sudden rise to power and the lack of comprehensive plans upon taking office, noting the difficulty of implementing significant reforms while in government.




    Read all about!


    Simon Nixon's Substack column Wealth of Nations is one of the best and most insightful reads on economics and finance. His latest column - Europe's Crippling Risk Aversion - is here.


    Nick Cohen's regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    36 mins