The Two Matts

The Matts are joined by Alastair Campbell to discuss today’s big news – the rebrand of The New European to The New World. Why are we changing? Who is The New World for? Who will be writing in it… and about what. All will be revealed. Founder and editor-in-chief Matt Kelly and editor-at-large Matthew d’Ancona […]

Britain faces an unprecedented litany of threat, at home and abroad. If you want to know just how bad it is, don’t worry – we’ve got the full list. The Matts praise Keir Starmer’s response … and explore the consequences. Also – why Hope Not Hate are the good guys and a humbling encounter with […]

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. The pair discuss whether the Trump administration is aping the Tories’ Rwanda scheme, why the government is so bad at communications and if Cyril Ramaphosa is really someone to admire. Plus the best way to treat prisoners with mental health or substance issues, the MAGA […]

The falling out between Elon Musk and Donald Trump was predictable enough but consequential all the same. The Matts explore what this says about the Trump administration and the personal damage to Musk. Also – as Sadiq Khan calls for the decriminalisation of small amounts of cannabis, the Matts take a deep breath and try […]

The shocking events in Liverpool remain the source of more questions than answers, but one particular area – the disclosure that the suspect is “white British” – speaks volumes about the country we have become. The Matts consider the history of erroneous rushes to judgement – and how this age of social media makes the […]

Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Keir Starmer really believes the Daily Mail can ever be won over, if there’s a case for the study of wisdom in the age of AI and whether they share one reader’s nostalgia for the dying days of the last Tory government. […]

Is the government’s new plan for dealing with our burgeoning prison population sensible? And is it a vote winner? Two very different questions – the Matts discuss. And did the red top tabloids fall for the oldest trick in the art of political communications? Also this week – what did Trump’s Oval Office ambush of […]

The Matts are on something of a high. This week’s EU deal suddenly feels much more consequential than they’d expected. Credit (for once) to Starmer … even in his technocratic monotone, he presided over a clear vibe shift in the UK’s relationship with the EU. No, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. No, it’s not […]

The Matts touched a nerve last week with some comments about the desirability of proportional representation… or otherwise! Here they have it out and reach some surprising conclusions about how the UK should choose its MPs. Also – is Labour misdiagnosing its problems? Can there be a surge of Green populism? Will we ever see […]

Donald Trump’s whirlwind Middle East tour leaves the Matts open-mouthed at the sheer audacity of his grift … and helps them form a picture about how he may be planning to rule beyond a second term. Also this week; Matt K recalls his very first week in journalism – covering the trial of Peter Sullivan […]

Join Matt Kelly and Matthew d’Ancona as they try to make sense of Labour’s latest plans for immigration. Are they trying to outflank Farage? What will their core voters think? And does this make their chances of a second term more or less likely? Also – are the Tories finished as a political force? Matt […]

The Matts get their heads around the cost of travelling in the UK by train, wonder if the death of Weightwatchers signifies a stage of human evolution, lament the disgraceful comments of Reform’s Andrea Jenkyns and offer their guiding hand to Downing Street… enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the […]

The Matts are joined by New European political editor James Ball to step back and reflect on why Keir Starmer’s government is conspicuously failing to excite and unite a British public desperate for change after so many years of Tory rule. They have their theories. Is there an easy(-ish) answer? And who should they really […]

The Matts are joined by acclaimed author and FT journalist Edward Luce to talk about his new book Zbig— the definitive biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, Cold War strategist and key architect of U.S. foreign policy. More than just a biography, Zbig offers sharp insights into the nature of power and America’s role in the world. […]

The Matts consider life without electricity, are staggered by the sugar in kids’ milkshakes, wonder who will hold Farage to account, celebrate VE Day and ask why Tony Blair feels the need to undermine net zero. Oh, and they also continue their quest for evidence of Neil Oliver’s past life as a Lindisfarne roadie. Enjoy! […]

The success of Reform in this week’s local elections and at the Runcorn by-election is not so much a wake up call as a fire alarm that should be clanging loud and clear at Labour HQ. But are they listening? If so, do they understand what they hear? The Matts believe a dramatic change is […]

The Matts discuss the tragedy of Virginia Giuffre and what her story tells us about the impunity of the wealthy and famous. Also – 100 days of Donald Trump. On a scale of 1-10, how’s he doing so far? The Matts fill in their scorecards EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for […]

What does Keir Starmer’s flip-flop on the definition of a woman tell you about him? Should MPs be getting a £60k pay rise? Have we had enough TV specials on British injustices? What’s the next big crisis to engulf mankind? And what the actual f*** was that person in a bunny suit doing next to […]

What kind of Pope was Francis? Is it chaos and division he leaves in his wake… or a pathway for a more liberal, hopeful Roman Catholic Church? The Matts discuss his legacy. Also this week – the Matts’ inbox was bursting at the seams with reaction to their recent pod on trans rights and the […]

The Matts are joined by Dutch popular historian and author Rutger Bregman to discuss his new book, Moral Ambition. How does the world change for the better? Why do so many talented people do bullsh*t jobs? And what’s wrong with a life spent worrying about reducing your carbon footprint to zero? Rutger’s a man with […]

Join the Matts this Easter Sunday as they tackle a wide range of topics: Is it time we abandoned Sunday trading laws? How should we think about assisted dying? Is the death penalty appropriate for people who split infinitives? Why isn’t the minister for technology more important? And is there life on Mars? Enjoy!

WARNING: If easily triggered by rational discussion of complicated social topics, then this episode may not be for you. This week, the Matts react to the Supreme Court ruling defining women by their biological sex. It’s a landmark in a vitriolic, and sometimes violent, battle over trans rights. Who should hang their heads in shame […]

The row over Chinese investment in British Steel opens up a whole can of worms for the Matts. How does an astroturf football pitch in Copenhagen, Argentinian Che Guevara and a steelworks in Scunthorpe all add to the debate? Only one way to find out … listen! Also this week – congratulations to Douglas Murray, […]

This week the Matts answer questions on Keir Starmer’s Keep Calm response to global economic mayhem; what Kim Jong Un is getting from Putin; whether the Beatles are any match for the mighty Rolling Stones; whether Nigel Farage is entirely in command of the respect of EU leaders; and do you home in or hone […]

The Assisted Dying Bill gave the Matts plenty to think about a few months ago. Since then much has changed as it made its way through parliament. Has any of it changed the Matts’ minds? The answer is yes – but it’s a nuanced and challenging difficult debate without any easy answers. All the more […]

The Matts are joined by João Vale De Almeida, whose 40 year career as a diplomat has seen him represent the EU in the United States, the United Nations and … thanks to Brexit … as history’s first ever EU ambassador to the UK. João’s new book – The Divorce of Nations – could not […]

The Matts tackle questions from listeners including learned helplessness, a new timezone for Scotland, are the Beatles uniquely great, welfare v warfare (which nearly ends up in a dust-up) and a flood of American refugees into the UK. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 for the first month. Head to theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts

On Liberation Day +1, the Matts take stock of the maniac’s economic shake-up and what it means for the world and the UK in particular. Stripping away the theatre and bullsh*t, they hone in on what is really happening in Trump’s head and ask the late Ronald Reagan for an explainer about why the coming […]

The Matts are joined by Ian Leslie, author of the stupendously good John And Paul – A Love Story In Songs. They explore the freakish nature of an artistic collaboration that shook the world, as Ian brings fresh insight to the intimate relationship between the most influential songwriters in history. It’s a must listen for […]

The Matts tackle listener questions this week on Gareth Southgate’s inspiring BBC lecture, Rachel Reeves’ survival chances, European defence spend, WhatsApp faux pas, the decline of the Democrats … and the big one; how can a couple of mere mortal journalists like us compete with master baker Adrian Chiles? EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European […]

Is Rachel Reeves merely disappointing, or is there a willful denial of reality going on? Since when did Labour become the party of warfare over welfare? And who thought this was a great way to communicate national renewal? The Matts are bemused and worried that the government seems to have entirely misunderstood the new world […]

Unprecedented scenes from Washington as it becomes apparent the US Government leadership has been wargaming on the equivalent of WhatsApp… and accidentally looped in a top journalist. The leaked security information – including specific details of American military missions – is astonishing enough. But what the messages also betray is the sheer loathing of Europe […]

The Two Matts podcast on the extraordinary leak of war messages in Washington – and what it reveals about JD Vance

Should the French take back the Statue of Liberty? Will Canada join the EU? Why do Liverpool FC fans boo the national anthem? How can we control social media from brainwashing us? And why the hell are you two talking so fast? All these and more, answered just for you! Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The […]

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Nigel Farage and his Reform Party – 20% of whose MPs have been expelled and are now threatening to sue him. But beyond that fun, what does the split in the party mean? Should we take any comfort from it or the Farage juggernaut still on track […]

The ceasefire is over. More than 400 Palestinians, including children, are dead after Israeli air bombardments in the middle of the night, with the assent of Donald Trump’s White House. What end is there now, other than the ultimate ethnic-cleansing of Palestine?  Meanwhile, in New York’s Columbia University, a student is threatened with deportation for […]

Is America Brexiting from the world? Did we learn anything from Covid? Why isn’t history taught more in school? Have we got a problem with young white males? And was Kevin Bridges right about Trump all along? All this and more in this week’s Q&A with the Two Matts. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New […]

The past two weeks have been good for Keir Starmer. As Tom Baldwin writes in this week’s New European, he has fallen back on his core qualities; a kind of radical relentlessness. The Matts assess his performance and ask if Starmer is ready to throw off the Labour obsession with appeasing the so-called red wall […]

The Matts speak with Sam Wetherell, author of the brilliant Liverpool And The Unmaking Of Britain. It’s not only a fascinating dive into the history of Liverpool, a city whose rise and fall impacted the whole world, but it’s also a prism through which we can try to understand our own complex times.  How did […]

The Matts tackle questions from listeners including should X be banned in the UK? Should we withdraw the offer of a State Visit for Trump? Are we AI friendly? And why the hell are we insulting the dignity of the Two Matts podcast by not wearing suits? Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for […]

The Matts are transfixed by Trump’s address to Congress. Once they get over the sheer magnetism of his schtick, they unpack how it works and why the right is so good at messaging. In part two, they analyse what might be the greatest speech to date about the horrifying implications Trump holds for Europe. A […]

The Matts are joined by Trump chronicler supreme, Michael Wolff, whose new book All Or Nothing is a riveting and revelatory telling of Trump’s extraordinary journey back to the White House.  What are the characteristics that turned a seemingly irredeemable position into a second term? What do his inner circle really think of him? Why […]

The Matts grapple with our former Prime Minister’s latest outbursts, dig into a deep mailbag of Burnham questions and speculate wildly on the Oscars this evening. Enjoy!

What is Trump’s real objective? And what do European leaders do now, as the reality that the President of the United States is not simply indifferent to their fate, but actively hostile. Trump hasn’t just abandoned Ukraine – he’s actually switched sides and in siding with Russia over the carve up of its territory and […]

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham joins the Matts ahead of this week’s Convention of the North – the annual meeting of minds focussed on the ongoing revival of the UK’s great northern regions and cities. Andy delves deep into the opportunities and challenges facing cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds – emerging from the threat of […]

Should the Matts write the briefing notes for Keir Starmer’s trip to see Trump? What would Mr Kelly do if a populist Government tried to muzzle The New European? And what should we make of Boris Johnson’s silence on matters Ukraine these past few weeks? All these questions and more answered on today’s Q&A. Enjoy! […]

The Matts are joined by New European columnist Tanit Koch who tells them everything they need to know about the weekend’s federal elections in Germany. What are the consequences of the far right AfD’s growing support? What difference will a conservative Chancellor make on illegal immigration and the economy – the two burning issues at […]

Keir Starmer has pledged British boots on the ground to keep whatever peace Trump and Putin carve up between them over Ukraine. The consequences are staggering and disturbing, as the Matts discover during the course of a tightly argued podcast. Meanwhile, JD Vance openly humiliates European leaders and sends the clearest signal yet that America […]

Is Labour’s immigration posturing the last straw for those who wanted a progressive Government? Should Eric Schmidt be listened to about anything? And was the last Liverpool derby at Goodison a game for the ages? The Matts ponder all in this Sunday’s bonus Q&A episode. Enjoy! EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get The New European for just £1 […]

The Matts are live at the Media Collective Summit and discuss the extraordinary pace of events in Washington – are we literally watching a coup taking place in the world’s biggest democracy? Who is in charge? Elon Musk or Donald Trump? And what are the consequences for Europe? How should Starmer react? In part two […]

The Matts are joined by Bloomberg’s Parmy Olson – author of “Supermacy: AI, ChatGPT and the race that will change the world”. Parmy leads us through the development of Artificial Intelligence; the extraordinary story of the two men leading the race towards AGI (don’t worry, all will be explained); and the enormous opportunities and challenges […]

Is the leader of the opposition “Bad Enoch” or just “bad enough”? Are there no red lines for the UK when facing Trump? And do journalists pale in comparison to the Black Country Bard himself, Mr Adrian Chiles? Find out in our latest instalment of our weekly Q&A. Enjoy! Get a FREE bottle of tequila […]

The Matts are dumbfounded by Trump’s plan to take ownership of Gaza and turn it into a Mediterranean riviera – or, more accurately, force the displacement of millions of Palestinians and totally demolish any chance of progress toward a two-state solution. This lunatic approach to international policy is an entirely new and terrifying form of […]

The Matts are joined by Damian Collins – former Tory minister who launched a national inquiry into fake news and election interference. How can we protect society from online harm? How can government’s hope to contain the whims of a man like Elon Musk? And what does he make of Kemi Badenoch’s first months as […]

Have we already lost more cash post-Brexit than the entire time we were in the EU? Should we have been harder on Peter Hyman? Will the UK buy Greenland? These questions and more are answered in today’s bonus episode. Plus: is Adrian Chiles the new TS Elliot? Enjoy!

There’s no doubt about it – Reeves and Starmer are at least trying to switch up from the doom and gloom that characterised their first six months in power. Have they finally got the tone right? Is the strategy right? Is it enough? The Matts discuss. Also … why you’ve got to go and see […]

In a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, Peter Hyman – former senior advisor to both Tony Blair and Keir Starmer – discusses his recent New European cover story and the reaction to it. What are the seven deadly sins of progressive centrist politics and its adherents? How can we stem the rising tide of populist nationalism? […]

In this Q & A The Two Matt’s discuss Hillary Clinton’s reactions to Trump, the rise and strategies of populist leaders like Trump, Meloni, Orban, and Le Pen, and the idea of criminalising ecocide. They also discuss the media’s handling of figures like Nigel Farage (aka Mr Fridge) and did Elon Musk know what he […]

In the first 48 hours of his presidency, Donald Trump demonstrated all the qualities he’s famous and feared for: absolute lack of inhibition, crassness, provocation .. and, yes, audacity. What do the Matts make of it? Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the atrocities of Southport, Keir Starmer has redefined the term terrorist and promises to […]

The Matts watch the Trump inauguration in real time and give their snap verdict at the beginning of four years of the new world order under President Donald Trump. Is there anything to suggest things won’t be the catastrophe they have feared? Tune in, find out. They also discuss reaction to Peter Hyman’s brilliant essay […]

The Two Matts dive into Biden’s farewell address on the new tech oligarchy, compare Trump’s Greenland ambition to Russia’s Ukraine situation, and tackle left vs. right arguments on the culture wars. They also contemplate the implications of modern monetary theory (MMT), AI’s black box nature, and who holds more power between Musk and Trump. And […]

God willing, the catastrophe that began with Hamas atrocities on October 7 and led to the destruction of Gaza and more than 40,000 dead is at an end. The Matts consider what comes next for the region, and what could motivate Trump’s America to ensuring a lasting peace. Also – as fires continue to rage […]

Keir Starmer threw his lot in with a computing revolution today – is his confidence in Artificial Intelligence’s ability to transform the UK economy grounded in reality? The Matts have questions. Meanwhile, and not unrelated to today’s announcement, the economy (you may have noticed this) is proving stubbornly resistant to Starmer’s enthusiasm. As his beleaguered […]

Should there be a national inquiry into grooming gangs, or one about cultural integration in the UK? The Matts also delve into the origins of Elon Musk’s talking points, the economic challenges facing the UK under Rachel Reeves, as well as Labour’s Brexit strategy. Plus: more on Neil Oliver as a Lindisfarne roadie. Enjoy!

Mark Zuckerberg has picked up the baton from Elon Musk as this week’s most depressing social media titan. His announcement to kick out fact-checking and let the community police itself is a significant moment in the rules (or lack of) governing how most of the world gets its news and opinions. The Matts discuss the […]

What can we expect in 2025? The Matts take a view on the key issues facing the world in the next twelve months … plus: how to deal with a bully like Elon Musk. What can Keir Starmer do in the face of lies and slander spread across the sewer of X? And how low […]

More milestone moments from the Matts prompted by some whistful listener questions concerning the idea of voting tests, those we lost in 2024 and what they’re looking forward to in 2025, including Liverpool’s potential league win. We’ll be back on Jan 6th. Until then – have a merry Christmas, and enjoy the last podcast of […]

The Matts reflect on the momentous year that is drawing to a close. Who made them cheer? Who made them boo? Who made them fall about laughing? It’s all here. Some of the names won’t come as a shock .. but there are a plenty of surprises. How does the Matts list of heroes, villains […]

If one had any remaining shred of doubt that Prince Andrew is the biggest idiot in the realm, it was dispelled this week. Not content with being the close chum of a sex-ring monster, Andrew has also tainted the monarchy by becoming besties with a Chinese spy. The Matts discuss the fall out and wonder […]

The Matts are told (not asked) that the EU isn’t working, offer up advice to win discussions over Christmas dinner, and while Starmer is bashing Whitehall… is DOGE actually a good idea? Subscribe to The New European and get Alistair Campbell’s 2024 Diaries: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

Robert Jenrick started demanding Syrian refugees are deported from the UK less than a day after the fall of the tyrant they fled. But who is he really talking to? Who is he trying to impress? The Matts pick him apart. In part two they discuss the extraordinary response to the murder of US heath […]

Al-Assad has fled to Moscow and the Damascus is in the throes of a revolution after decades of autocratic tyranny and the deaths of hundreds of thousands. So we should celebrate, right? Yes … but … the Matts explore the history of Syria, how we got here and how the past will bend the narrative […]

Is there too much needless complexity in the progressive cause? How worried should we be by Musk’s millions? And have The Matts suffered with ‘brain rot?’ Subscribe to The New European and get Alistair Campbell’s 2024 Diaries: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

There’s a problem with Keir Starmer. He is a terrible communicator. His speech on Thursday was a mish-mash word-salad when what this country needs is a clear sense of leadership and direction to counter the rising tide of populism represented by Nigel Farage’s Reform. What we got instead was milestones, missions and foundations. If Britain […]

How much damage has Joe Biden done to his legacy and, more importantly, the credibility of American justice? Granting Hunter Biden a pardon is a kick in the face to anyone clinging onto the idea that the Democrats held the moral high ground in US politics. The Matts discuss the ramifications, and the extraordinary back […]

In this weeks Sunday Q&A, The Two Matt’s are asked why they keep giving Labour a hard time, why some people respect some votes and not others and what on earth is going on with Kamala Harris? All those and more, answered. Subscribe to The New European and get Alistair Campbell’s 2024 Diaries: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

Are the massive immigration numbers all they seem? Is there a better story to tell about immigration? And what do we do about Nigel Farage hijacking the news for the cause of nationalist populism? Also this week – reaction to The New European’s Shit List. Who’s on it? And who took it well (spoiler alert […]

In the first half, the Matts discuss Labour’s chronic struggles since taking power. How did they get it so wrong, so quickly and what can they do to get back on track? Then the Matts take a cold look at the alarming rise of the far right across Europe. No longer a curiosity, it’s now […]

Your questions answered, including why Keir Starmer should stay abroad, Trump’s political maneuvers and whether we should have a referendum on referendums. The Matts share advice on how to maximise your cultural consumption and address how the beloved Barbour jacket, can become politically charged. Tune in for a comprehensive Q&A session analyzing these pressing topics.

The coming Trump administration appointment of Robert F Kennedy Jnr should terrify us all. An oddball conspiracy theorist who has a track record of causing real damage to the health of millions is to be the next Health Secretary of the United States. The Matts are joined by one of the world’s leading authorities on vaccines […]

What does Joe Biden’s move to permit the use of US missiles against Russian territorial targets mean for the war in Ukraine and the security of Europe? Also – what does the interminable Allison Pearson saga tell us about free speech in the UK? Enjoy! Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European […]

The Matts tackle Rory Stewart’s optimistic predictions and why hope alone isn’t a strategy. They delve into Elon Musk’s influence on politics and the uniqueness of Trump’s second presidency. The discussion then inevitably shifts to Brexit, and then takes a turn into dinner with Bob Geldof. With the Best Sweetcorn Ever. Enjoy! Join The Two […]

The full horror of sexualised abuse in the Church of England has claimed the scalp of Archbishop Justin Welby. Was he the victim of a witch hunt; a man forced out of office by unfair pressure as many seem to think? No, say the Matts. And there’s a CONTENT WARNING on this episode: some of […]

The election of Donald Trump poses huge challenges to the UK … but can Keir Starmer act to protect his government from the Trump storm to come? How can a small nation off the coast of the EU best defend its interests in the new global reality? And if Starmer’s challenge is daunting, his predicament […]

You join the discussion on the implications of Donald Trump’s election victory, the public’s perception of political candidates and the role of right-wing media and dark money. Plus Starmer’s advisor problem.

YOU join the discussion on the implications of Donald Trump’s election victory, the public’s perception of political candidates, and the role of right-wing media and dark money. Plus Starmers’ advisor problem. Join The Two Matts LIVE! https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2mattslive/ Subscribe to The New European and get 2 FREE packs of our 2024 festive cards worth £20: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/

In a moment of clarity, the Matts reflect on what just happened .. and why. And find themselves strangely energised by the thought of what is to come. Enough of the hand-wringing already – yes you Rory! – now is the time for action. Also – Matt D talked about working with the great Michael […]

It’s an earthquake and it changes everything. The Matts take in the scale of Trump’s victory and discuss how it happened and what it means; for the UK, for Labour specifically, for Ukraine, for the Middle East, for the climate. And they start to map out a response for fighting back against the oncoming tide […]

In this edition of The Two Matt’s Q&A, the pair take on questions on Reeve’s budget, taxes on the rich and lowering the voting age to 16. Also in this episode, where should the line be drawn on slavery reparations and what will the Matts be doing on the 5th of November? Email your questions […]

Feargal Sharkey has galvanised the nation over the scandalous – and criminal – negligence our water companies and their so-called regulators have displayed for years. Our rivers are flooded with sewage on a daily basis and the privatised water companies have been pillaged. On Sunday he’s leading a march for clean water in London and […]

Why are Labour making life so hard for themselves? The Matts assess the ups and downs of the government’s first months in power ahead of what promises to be a defining moment for Keir Starmer – Wednesday’s Budget. Also – what does Jeff Bezos’s interference in Washington Post editorial policy matter? Quite a lot as […]

More on the contentious debate on assisted dying, including a view from Canada. Plus: alternatives to X and NHS reform insights.

Does the fact that Donald Trump now thinks Keir Starmer’s Labour Party are actively interfering in the US election matter? The Matts consider how a story that should be a nothingburger has the potential to upset relations between the UK and the US for years to come. In Part 2, the Matts discuss whether or […]

The Matts spend some quality time with fellow podcaster Jon Sopel … reflecting on the state of Britain as described in his hit book Strangeland. And they tap into his deep Washington insight for a long view of American politics – and just how scared should we be about the prospect of a second Trump […]

This week, Matt Kelly and Matt d’Ancona dive into Kamala Harris’s Fox News interview – smart move or not? Plus, why aren’t we talking more about the climate crisis?! They also tackle immigration, those cultish Trump/Johnson fans, and the age-old debate: audiobooks vs. real books. Oh, and Matt d’Ancona REALLY hates Halloween. Further reading/watching/listening “The […]

As parliament prepares to debate legalising assisted suicide, the Matts argue their respective corners on its desirability. Also – if they think having a German football manager is bad, wait until they find out about the King’s antecedents. The Matts despair at little England’s bottomless capacity for xenophobia when it comes to Germans. Enjoy! Content […]

As Keir Starmer enthuses to merchant banks and global conglomerates about opening up Britain for investment … and tearing down regulatory barriers that get in their way … the Matts wonder who actually runs the country? Not least since one of the shiny new investors are the very same people who ransacked Thames Water. And […]

In this Sunday edition of The Two Matts the pair chat about Labour’s terrible start, Tory freebies and the US support for Israel. Coming from Berlin this week, the Matts also dip into drumming and whether young people not being able to read long books is a problem. Subscribe to The New European today!: theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts

The Matts are in Berlin, discovering all is not well in the powerhouse of Europe. Is the rise of the far right AfD party inevitable? And how is migration warping the political discourse? Also – Boris Johnson’s worst lie yet? Could be. His mendacious outpouring about Trump’s innocence over the insurrection is a signal of […]

Sue Gray has been resigned – also known as fired – as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Can she be blamed for Labour’s shaky start or is the problem more deeply-rooted? Also – one year after the Hamas atrocities of October 7, and the subsequent carnage in Gaza, the Matts take stock and explore some […]