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The Matts pick apart the extraordinary events of this week and make sense* of what they mean for life on planet Earth in the second quarter of the 21st century. What is Trump up to? How can Europe react to a threat from a NATO member state? What is the future of Greenland? How is it connected to a future territorial dispute in Siberia? And what straight line can be drawn from the horrific murder of a 37-year-old woman on the streets of Minnesota and the abduction of the Venezuelan president? 2026 has started off in remarkable fashion … and it looks like continuing this way for the foreseeable. Enjoy.
*Sense isn’t really the right word. It’s more like making a (possibly futile) effort to divine some sort of logic in a wild pattern of behaviour from the most powerful man on the planet. You’ll just have to bear with us.
Produced by Matt Withers
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2025 may have been an absolute skip fire for political progress but it was a cracker for culture. The Matts round off the year with their highlights - but what will be their joint top moment of 2025? Thank you for listening this year - the Matts return early January and wish all listeners a fabulous festive season and happy New Year!
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OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts explore the issues thrown up by the dreadful massacre of Jews at Bondi Beach this week. When is a protest actually an act of violence? Why do we rush to talk of securing synagogues from attack rather than address the root problem of those attacks? How will our politicians get ahead of what is obviously a cycle of anti-Semitic violence against Jewish communities around the world that will be repeated over and over until something fundamental shifts? Also this week - what does Trump’s reaction to the murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner tell us about the state of US politics … and does it, ultimately, open up a possible escape from the madness? Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss the Trump administration’s demand for visitors to hand over five years’ worth of social media history, why political manifestos have got so long and whether Piers Morgan was right to give such lengthy exposure to Nick Fuertes.
Plus they talk about whether the UK should be able to exert conditions on a sovereign state like Argentina when it comes to defence procurement, what’s going on with the price of beef and which magazines they subscribe to. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts wonder what we’ve learned since Covid … and if the reaction to the current flu outbreak is anything to go by, the answer is not much. The conversation segways into Zack Polanski and political energy. Then in part two, both Matts are united - for once - in praise for Keir Starmer’s attempt to reinterpret the European Convention on Human Rights to deliver swift action on asylum seekers who break our laws. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy document released this week is an astonishing affront to what many of us believe to be the liberal world order. The Matts are joined by New World contributing editor and columnist Paul Mason to understand just how far reaching its consequences are - and how Europe must find new purpose if it is to resist it. Where is the UK’s place in that new Europe? And sweat must this Labour government do to avoid chronic declinism? It’s an engrossing conversation that sheds light on the predicament we are in - and how to escape it. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matt Kelly and Matt d’Ancona again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Richard Tice is as nasty as he appears to be, and if there is a world where Labour and the Conservatives form a German-style grand coalition to keep Reform from forming the next government. They also talk about whether calling out Brexit could be a winning strategy for the prime minister at the next election and, in the world of media, why the Daily Mail hates Prince Harry so much.
Finally, as Christmas approaches, one listener has a burning question: turkey or beef?
Have a question to stump the two Matts? Email us now at the2matts@thenewworld.co.uk.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts examine the conclusion of the Independent Office for Police Conduct 14 YEAR (!) investigation into the Hillsborough disaster and reflect on the ghastly sequence of events that has consumed so many lives, literally and otherwise. And to add insult to the closure of a process that has taken 36 years to produce zero accountability for the 97 lives lost by unlawful killing. Also, in the first half of the pod, the Matts discuss Trump’s latest outrage and how it is opening the door to racism and racists everywhere.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts discuss the central role journalism has played in fostering racism in Britain over the decades, and which now looks like it is entering a new, more dangerous phase. The chat is based on an article Matt Kelly wrote for The New World - the link is below. But before that - why did Rachel Reeves mislead the public about the state of the nation’s finances and how much trouble is she (and the government in general) now in? Enjoy!
Read Matt Kelly’s article here: https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/matt-kelly-journalisms-race-to-the-bottom
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Today on The Two Matts podcast, Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether Nigel Farage’s schoolboy racism should count against him 45 years later and, after The New World’s Kent council cover story, how the media can continue to hold the Reform party to account. They also talk about the best outcome for Ukraine in any peace deal and how to solve the immigration debate. Could a Citizens Assembly be the answer, as one listener suggests?
Finally, the Matts respond to one listener’s request that, please, could we all go back to just celebrating Christmas in December?
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Did Rachel Reeves turn a corner this week with her Budget … and drive this Labour government straight off a cliff? The Matts reflect on her performance yesterday and how she fared in the media round this morning. It’s not great news for those of us clinging to the hope that Starmer can reinvigorate his government and begin to climb the polls. In fact … it’s enough to convince one of the Matts that there’s now no way back for this underwhelming double act. Also - the Matts delve into this week’s special AI edition of The New World - and focus on the British philosopher who is worshipped (almost literally) by the men who believe that control the future. If you’ve never heard of Nick Land, be prepared to be astonished. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts are joined by Labour insider and New World contributing editor Tom Baldwin - fresh from his in depth interview with the woman of the hour, Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Tom explains what’s going on in Reeves’ head (lots) and how she faces an unprecedented challenge - calming a febrile electorate while delivering enough visible progress to keep Reform out of government. Is she up to the job? Listen to find out. Then the conversation turns to her boss - Keir Starmer. Can he really beat Farage and if so, how? Tom makes the best case the Matts have yet to hear for why Starmer is precisely the man for the job - but it comes with a massive caveat. Something fundamental has to change about how Number 10 goes about it. It’s a deeply insightful conversation from a man who understands the trials and tribulations of this Labour government as well as anyone. Enjoy.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether we need a public inquiry into the BBC’s remit in British life, if we would all be better informed if we listened to experts and - in the light of allegations about Nigel Farage’s school years - whether leopards ever change their spots. Plus they talk about Mohammed bin Salman - a force for good or evil? - the war in Ukraine entering its fourth winter and whether there has ever been a leader with worse taste in home decor than Donald Trump.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts dig into the unfolding drama in Washington as Trump performs the reversal of his career and signs off on the release of the Epstein files. How much trouble is he in? Also - what should we make of Labour’s new crackdown on immigration? The Matts may disagree about the messaging but are fairly aligned about the merits (or otherwise) of the policy. But will this change anything for a government besieged? Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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Maybe the best podcast we’ve done to date? You be the judge - but the Matts explore an extraordinary study into how 16 and 17-year-olds are thinking about a wide range of issues, both political and social. It’s important and timely; they will have the vote at the next election and will play a big role in deciding what trajectory Britain takes. And it’s not what you might imagine … so many of this report’s findings fly in the face of what many of us oldies believe to be true. Peter and Shuab spoke to hundreds of youngsters to get a deep understanding of how the look at politics and politicians - what motivates them, what scares them, what depresses them and what fixates them. It’s a fascinating discussion. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
Inside the Mind of a 16-year-old full report: https://demos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Inside-the-mind-of-a-16-year-old_2025_report_final-Nov.pdf
Peter Hyman Substack, Changing the Story: https://peterhyman21.substack.com
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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether it is time for the US to repeal its natural-born citizen clause and let talent like Zohran Mamdani run for president and if reducing regulations would allow the Michelle Mones of this world to prosper, and revisit their chat with Jo Bartosch on pornography.
Plus they talk about simplifying the tax code, whether there is a media silence on the new Green leader Zack Polanski and who will be first up against the wall once Nigel Farage enters Downing Street.
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts kick off the show discussing The New World’s exclusive by political editor James Ball that Michael Prescott - author of the dossier into the BBC - himself doctored Trump quotes in the report, making his evidence seem more damning. It’s an extraordinary revelation that calls into question Prescott’s journalistic judgement. To read the full story go to thenewworld.co.uk. Also this week - Labour contrive to make things actually worse for themselves. Quite the challenge but they pull it off with aplomb. And why the Epstein emails are tearing MAGA apart. It’s a lovely pod this week. Enjoy!
Head to nakedwines.co.uk/matts to get a £30 voucher and 6 top-rated wines from our sponsor Naked Wines for £39.99, delivery included.
OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts
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The Matts join the fray on chaos at the BBC … what does it mean for the future of the corporation and why we should all be glad to pay for it. Then they are joined by Jo Bartosch, co-author of Pornocracy, an argument about the evils of pornography in today’s world. How has porn changed in the age of the internet - and how has it changed the human species. You will be astonished at some of Jo’s findings. It goes without saying this podcast contains some adult themes so listening in the car with kids is not a great idea. Enjoy!
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Matthew d’Ancona and Matt Kelly again respond to your queries. They discuss whether the enthusiasm for the new New York mayor Zohran Mamdani shows charisma is now a political party in its own right, if a Reform government would open the racist floodgates and whether a 2p income tax rise is enough to fix Britain’s problems. Plus they talk about whether anyone actually cares about the climate crisis anymore and if the future of AI is actually a lot brighter than we give it credit for.
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The Matts weigh up the success of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and ask how much we should read into a good set of results for Democrats in the US. And will winning the election prove the easy part now Mamdani has to govern a city notoriously impatient with its mayors? Also - as Mamdani sets out to bring clarity to the unprecedented inequality in American society, what does Elon Musk’s $1trillion pay packet tell us about capitalism in the first quarter of the 21st Century? Enjoy!
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