A World Cup in the age of Trump

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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

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 [https://x.com/sszy?lang=en] 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, [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crickonomics-Anatomy-Cricket-Stefan-Szymanski/dp/1472992717]which was Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards 2023. Stefan is co-host of the Soccernomics podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ukwp1P8FoPurVrNTgDy02], alongside hosted by renowned football author Simon Kuper and Ashish Malhotra.  Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 [https://x.com/NickCohen4] latest Substack column Writing from London [https://nickcohen.substack.com/] on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Mackerfield Byelection

MACKERFIELD SHOWS WHY ANDY BURNHAM MUST LEAD LABOUR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE RADICAL RIGHT Nick 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

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 [https://x.com/jameshawes2] Renaissance man, historian, writer and novelist. James, the author of The Shortest History of England [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shortest-History-England-James-Hawes/dp/1910400998/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R243GNX6KKDY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Nja5eLxr2uihjnetMDhZ3LIOYaICGJ9dXIbdUT_Z_LXNaHKPAIQbC-yMniI8qLtTYLtUDzY99ocnu9s3fXDDXsUoKOnOUG6xZBn0kakSVY8VTC2h1o_EvWLGtB5MRBynouwH8r82rfzvYjcyQ_rhoUGFR6zo3JPWN0HE5oCzCAg8okByHhubcH_xKOSWG_Z_C223UkEeCDoNWaeyf4YgtfpB7--UumDRI0oypGTGH8M.r7TjcVWmtI9PC010wkGDendYwOKiOepuYSXPACIHRwU&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+hawes&qid=1760197365&sprefix=james+hawes%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-2]and The Shortest History of Germany [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shortest-History-Germany-James-Hawes/dp/1910400734/ref=sr_1_4?crid=R243GNX6KKDY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Nja5eLxr2uihjnetMDhZ3LIOYaICGJ9dXIbdUT_Z_LXNaHKPAIQbC-yMniI8qLtTYLtUDzY99ocnu9s3fXDDXsUoKOnOUG6xZBn0kakSVY8VTC2h1o_EvWLGtB5MRBynouwH8r82rfzvYjcyQ_rhoUGFR6zo3JPWN0HE5oCzCAg8okByHhubcH_xKOSWG_Z_C223UkEeCDoNWaeyf4YgtfpB7--UumDRI0oypGTGH8M.r7TjcVWmtI9PC010wkGDendYwOKiOepuYSXPACIHRwU&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+hawes&qid=1760197365&sprefix=james+hawes%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-4]. His latest in the series, The Shortest History of Ireland, [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shortest-History-Ireland-23-Histories/dp/1913083365/ref=asc_df_1913083365?mcid=e8c083fee9853f0994e0eeb0768907a0&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=754500023237&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4288878500378771339&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045907&hvtargid=pla-2432974596658&psc=1&hvocijid=4288878500378771339-1913083365-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1] is out next month. Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 [https://x.com/NickCohen4] latest Substack column Writing from London [https://nickcohen.substack.com/] on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

HS2 - The rail to nowhere

RAIL TO NOWHERE - HS2 - THE POSTER CHILD PROJECT OF A FAILED BRITISH POLITICAL CLASS In this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to author and doyen transport writerChristian Wolmar about the serial UK failed high-speed railway project. HS2 has spiralled to an estimated cost of £87-102 billion pounds due to political fickleness, mismanagement, inefficiency, and excessive environmental requirements. Christian Wolmar, author of "Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail," explains how Treasury interference, lack of coherent government strategy, and environmental concerns (including a notorious £130 million bat tunnel) contributed to the project's catastrophic cost overruns. Nick and Christian compare Britain's failure with successful high-speed rail implementations in Spain, China, and other countries that maintained national strategic vision and better project management. Christian expressed skepticism about current Labour government reforms, noting that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apparently shown little interest in the Euston station project despite being the local MP. READ ALL ABOUT IT! Christian Wolmar Christian Wolmar is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in transport and is the author of a series of books on railway history. He has spent nearly all of his working life as a journalist, and his interest in transport began at The Independent when he was appointed transport correspondent in 1992, a job he did until 1997. Christian's latest book is Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fast-Track-Christian-Wolmar/dp/0241775515/ref=asc_df_0241775515?mcid=d37c6d86f310345d9fe4bc09d1097800&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=788954392054&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10063218045991640619&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045907&hvtargid=pla-2475695265246&psc=1&hvocijid=10063218045991640619-0241775515-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1] Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 [https://x.com/NickCohen4] latest Substack column Writing from London [https://nickcohen.substack.com/] on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.