Time to Shrink the State?

The Why? Curve

#Society #Business #News #Phil Dobbie #Economics #Technology #Geopolitics

14:42

Is your health and wellness podcast optimized for success, or are crucial oversights holding back your potential? I audited a doctor’s podcast recently and was shocked at what I found. This podcast had over 100 episodes—pretty impressive. However, the whole setup of the podcast had some brutal mistakes that I’m sure were holding this doctor back from seeing bigger results. How can optimizing your podcast's website links transform your show's reach? Are you missing out on SEO benefits that could elevate your visibility? Curious about the impact of professional collaboration on your podcast? Don't let simple mistakes hold you back. Tune in to find out how to turn your podcast into a lead-generating powerhouse! Today’s episode includes: How minor mistakes hinder podcast growth and engagement. Why directing podcast episode links on Apple, Spotify, etc to your own website is ideal. Why collaborating with professional teams can elevate your podcast impact and revenue. How maintaining high production standards enhances credibility, especially in the health and wellness space. How omitting crucial subscription links will limit your audience growth. Why owning a proper domain ensures long-term SEO benefits and authority with search engines. How missing social media links in your show notes makes it difficult for listeners to connect with you. Why understanding and avoiding common mistakes ensures maximum ROI from podcasting efforts. Are you pouring your heart into your podcast but still not seeing the growth you deserve? Download our free guide to unlock your podcast’s full potential and expand your impact: https://eastcoaststudio.com/5mistakes Our LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eastcoaststudio/ Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecpodcaststudio/…

about a year ago 44:43

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Is the state too big? As Rachel Reeves announces cuts in welfare and civil servants, is it a recognition that the administration of the UK needs to slim down? Is there inefficiency and capacity we can’t afford? Does the UK need a US-style purge of government jobs? Or does that risk harm to those who depend on state-support for genuine need? Phil and Roger ask Patrick Diamond, Professor in Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London

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

156 episodes

Time to Shrink the State?

The Why? Curve

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published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

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

156 episodes

#Society #Business #News #Phil Dobbie #Economics #Technology #Geopolitics

All episodes

The Why? Curve

1
Migrants - Not The Issue They Think It Is 36:52

2 hours ago36:52

36:52

Keir Starmer has launched his bid to claim back migration policy from the right - talking about the UK becoming an “island of strangers” unless the number of incomers is slashed. But is he correct that this is at the top of voters’ list of concerns? Is tackling this what will win back the Red Wall? Do most Britons really want big cuts in the number of immigrants? Claire Kumar, senior researcher at ODI Global, tells Phil and Roger about her findings suggesting attitudes towards migration across the UK very different from those in snap opinion polls and tabloid headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
India-Pakistan: Endless Enmity? 30:59

7 days ago30:59

30:59

The confrontation between the two south Asian neighbours this month seems to have been resolved into a ceasefire. It is almost certainly only a pause of conflict, in a toxic relationship that has lasted since 1947. And the stakes have risen - both nations now have their finger on the nuclear trigger. That’s why the world shudders when New Delhi and Islamabad launch a new session of vituperation or actual violence. So can the nations find a way to live together harmoniously? Phil and Roger ask Kate Sullivan de Estrada, Associate Professor in the International Relations of South Asia at Oxford University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Ukraine - Does The US Now Have Skin In The Game? 40:56

14 days ago40:56

40:56

The minerals deal between Washington and Kyiv is pretty opaque, but does it at least give the Trump administration a reason to stick with Ukraine? Or will the president just walk away from the whole crisis, as he has threatened? And can Kyiv keep the war going with just help from the Western European nations? Plus - why is Putin so opposed to a long ceasefire, when it could give him the chance to rearm and reset his forces? Phil and Roger put all this to Dr Stephen Hall, assistant professor of Russians and Post-Soviet Politics at the University of Bath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Conclave Consensus - Choosing A New Pope 41:18

21 days ago41:18

41:18

The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics is about to be decided by 132 men in red hats, locked away in a renaissance chapel beneath one of the greatest artworks in human history. The conclave of cardinals is supposed to be guided in its choice by the Holy Spirit, it will there also be some very secular political concerns dictating their votes? Do they want to continue Pope Francis’ progressive agenda, or, in the light of the conservative mood across the Atlantic, revert to more traditional positions on immigration, the plight of the poor and inclusion of minorities? Dr Sara Silvestri, senior lecturer in religion and international politics at City St George’s, tells Phil and Roger the church needs a conciliator as the new pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Reform Revolution? 35:30

27 days ago35:30

35:30

Local elections are usually a yawn, but the results next week could overturn the political geography of the UK. Will Reform, riding high in the polls, cause a Tory meltdown, unseating Kemi Badenoch? Will it suggest it’s more than just a protest party, and one that could be a contender for government? And what will happen when it leads councils and has to make actual policy decisions? Rohan McWilliam, senior lecturer in History at Anglia Ruskin University, and author of Popular Politics, lays out the prospects for Phil and Roger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Show me where to put the money 32:33

5 weeks ago32:33

32:33

Anyone with money faces a dilemma right now. Where do you invest it? Historically it’s been quite simple. If you are prepared to take risks, buy shares. If you want to play it safe, buy government bonds because, although the returns can be quite slim, you know major economies, like the US, will always repay their debt. But now bonds aren’t such a safe choice. Last week Donald Trump did a u-turn on his highest tariff levels because US government bonds were being sold off, pushing up the interest the government has to pay to attract buyers. In short, the cost of servicing debt was sky-rocketing for the US government. It was a pivotal moment. Simon French, Chief Economist and Head of Research at Panmure Liberu, describes how there’s less confidence in US net now and investors are looking to Europe as a safer place to see a return on their investments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The White House Ruled by Pathocracy 36:33

6 weeks ago36:33

36:33

The most powerful man in the world doesn't listen to advice, makes up facts, changes his mind on a whim, thinks he was sent by God to save the USA, and loves nothing better than flattery - is he a classic malignant narcissist? Does the man with his finger on the nuclear trigger also have a personality disorder? Dr Steve Taylor, senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University and author of "Disconnected: The Roots of Human Cruelty", tells Phil and Roger that the US may now be subject to a "pathocracy" and what that might mean for those trying to deal with Donald Trump's America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The Return of Toxic Masculinity 45:07

7 weeks ago45:07

45:07

Is the pendulum swinging back against gender equality, with aggression and misogyny encouraged by influencers and populist leaders championing traditional roles and behaviour? Is the rise in attacks on women a symptom of this? Is there a risk of young men being drawn to a masculinity that glorifies violence, and gives them a role and purpose they lack? Phil and Roger explore all this with Dr Elizabeth Pearson of Royal Holloway University of London, author of “Extreme Britain: Gender, Masculinity and Radicalisation in Britain.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Time to Shrink the State? 44:43

8 weeks ago44:43

44:43

The Why? Curve

1
Aid Emergency 42:23

9 weeks ago42:23

42:23

The aid tap is being turned off. USAID has suspended all its programmes and the UK is diverting much of the budget for overseas development to buying tanks and bombs. Projects to vaccinate, medicate and educate have been suspended for millions of the world’s poorest people. So what will happen? Will China step in to fill the gap? Will societies already in crisis collapse altogether? Michael Jennings, Professor of Global Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, tells Phil and Roger some people will die as a direct result, and the prospects of others finding a way out of poverty will be drastically set back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Ukraine - Peace In Our Time? 40:03

10 weeks ago40:03

40:03

Is the ceasefire going to happen? Will Moscow sign up? And where will it leave Ukraine - the country that was subject to the largest land war in Europe since 1945? Donald Trump has forced through Kyiv’s cooperation. Can he do the same with Russia? Does he even want to? David Galbreath, Professor of War and Technology at the University of Bath, sets out to Phil and Roger the likely next steps, as the chaotic diplomacy of President Trump careers onward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Closing Credits? 32:39

11 weeks ago32:39

32:39

Is cinema dying? The Oscars were the usual triumphant mix of glamour, glitz and terrible speeches, but is the film industry what it was? Streaming, video games, Covid and the cost of living have led to a downturn in audience figures in the US and the UK, although there are faint signs of a revival. Do we still want to sit passively in a big dark room to be entertained, or would we rather be in our own homes, interacting with the characters and stories? Does the old model of cinema still work? Sarah Atkinson, Professor of Screen Media at King’s College London, tells Phil and Roger it will survive but it needs to change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
How To Handle The Donald 42:27

12 weeks ago42:27

42:27

Taking over Greenland, turning Gaza into a US resort, switching sides over Ukraine - the world has faced a whirlwind of Trump initiatives in the opening weeks of his presidency, some madcap, some sinister. How are foreign leaders and diplomats supposed to deal with this? Is he serious? Or is he just trolling the international liberal establishment? Or a bit of both? Is it best to flatter the man in the White House and hope he can be persuaded to change his mind? Or should we write America off as a reliable ally, and rush to build our own defences? After the last 4 weeks, what will still be standing at the end of four years? Dr Maria Ryan, Associate Professor of American History at Nottingham University not to assume anything is off the table with Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
New Towns - Old Ideas? 38:27

13 weeks ago38:27

38:27

Labour is promising 12 new New Towns across England, to spur growth and provide housing. But those who know Telford, Milton Keynes, Welwyn Garden City and the rest might question the model - concrete social engineering hasn’t always been successful in bringing prosperity, especially if there aren’t enough jobs in the area where they’re built. But is there a case for New towns as regeneration in the country’s forgotten and neglected parts? Can we build better and more effectively than we did in the 50s and 60s? Phil and Roger hear from Amrita Kulka, Associate Professor of Political Economy and Public Economics at the University of Warwick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Winning The Trade War 41:50

14 weeks ago41:50

41:50

Donald Trump wants big tariffs on US imports, and the countries affected are threatening retaliation - it’s the beginning of a trade war, with China, Canada, Mexico, the EU and others weighing in. So how does Britain ride this out? Can Keir Starmer’s government find ways not to get caught in the crossfire, and maybe even benefit from not being high on Donald Trump’s target list? Or do we need to get onside with the non-US nations in this fight for the future of global commerce? Simon French, chief economist and head of research at Panmure Liberum, takes Phil and Roger through the UK’s options Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Deeply Seeking - China’s AI Challenge 36:31

15 weeks ago36:31

36:31

Have you tried DeepSeek? China’s new, cheap artificial intelligence app has startled Sillicon Valley. It’s wiped billions from the worth of some of big tech’s biggest names - Nvidia, Microsoft, Google - because it seems to be able to do what they can’t, quicker and better. So is this the wake-up call western tech needed, or a threat to our assumptions about AI leadership, or even a fraud engineered by the government in Beijing? Dr Daniele D’Alvia, lecturer in Banking and Finance Law at Queen Mary University of London - he takes Phil and Roger through the technical and financial implications of DeepSeek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
WFH No More? 35:24

16 weeks ago35:24

35:24

Emails on the beach - we all left the office in 2020, and some of us never went back. But is business calling time now on working from home? Is it part of the problem for UK productivity? Are we working as hard when we can Zoom in from the sofa? Or is hybrid working, Tuesday to Thursday in the office, the new normal? Abigail Marks, Professor of the Future of Work at Newcastle University speaks to Roger and Phil… from her living room Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Trump - How Crazy Will It Get? 37:42

17 weeks ago37:42

37:42

The 47th president of the United States has begun his administration with a rush of executive orders intended to change the direction of the US. Some seem destructive but predictable - moving against undocumented migrants and re-leaving the Paris Climate Accord. Others just MAGA crowd-pleasers - declaring there are only two genders and renaming the Gulf of Mexico. But what does freeing the people who assaulted police officers in the Capitol on January 6 suggest about justice under Trump? What does leaving the World Health Organisation say about America's place in the world? Will the US become a very different sort of country in the next four years, or will it all be reversed with a disillusioned electorate and a Democrat victory in 2028? Phil and Roger get the picture from Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL, and founding Director of the UCL Centre on US Politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The Sick Men of Europe 36:24

18 weeks ago36:24

36:24

France and Germany are the pillars of the EU, the strongest economies and most stable democracies - except they’re not: Paris and Berlin are caught in crisis, with their political systems failing to produce effective leadership, and their economic models generating debt and recession. Can the EU and its key members find a way to unite nd prosper, as Russia presses on its eastern flank? Dr Simon Toubeau, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Nottingham University sets out to Phil and Roger how Europe’s major players can turn the corner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Starmer Stuck - Labour’s Poor Start 38:15

19 weeks ago38:15

38:15

Labour’s first six months in office has been something of a disappointment, with rows about pensioners’ energy payments, farmers’ inheritance tax and a budget that satisfied nobody. So is it unreasonable expectations from a party in government for the first time in 14 years, or a weakness of leadership in a time of crisis? Phil and Roger ask Rohan McWilliam, Professor of Modern British History at Anglia Ruskin University what Keir Starmer can do to make it all work in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
What May Kill You in 2025 39:25

20 weeks ago39:25

39:25

Alien invasion? AI takeover? A new pandemic? Nuclear war? The list of dangers to mankind is long, so what could ACTUALLY bring the curtain down on planet Earth this year, and what is the likelihood? Are we more at risk from our own folly, or from natural disasters about which we can do little? Haydn Belfield of the Cambridge University Centre for the Study of Existential risk takes Phil and Roger through the chances of global cataclysm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
An Epidemic of Loneliness? 35:41

21 weeks ago35:41

35:41

More people living on their own, fewer social connections - is the UK facing an epidemic of loneliness? And not just among the elderly. Young people are reporting higher levels of social isolation, too. And there’s evidence loneliness can damage your health. So is it down to social media replacing face-to-face interactions? Or are people happier now to admit the problems we have always had? Phil and Roger get the latest research on loneliness from Louise Arseneault, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Kings College London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
A New Age In Syria 41:30

22 weeks ago41:30

41:30

A sudden change in Syria. The men with beards and guns, labelled terrorists by the West, have seized power from a murderous dictator. Is this a recipe for peace in a war-blighted land? Can the US and Europe do business with the new rulers in Damascus? Will Russia have to withdraw? And could the redrawn map of the region lead to the end of a seemingly endless cycle of violence? Phil and Roger discuss all this with Michele Groppi, senior lecturer in defence studies at King’s College London, and president of the ITSS think tank in Verona Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Workplace Abuse 38:34

23 weeks ago38:34

38:34

Rape, sexual assault, bullying - the list of allegations of abuse by powerful men in some of Britain’s most important institutions keeps growing. Many of the claims go back decades, with victims scared to bring complaints because they could lose their jobs. And many allegations were ignored or buried by the organisations. So why did the Church of England, the BBC, Harrods and the others fail to act? What needs to change in corporate culture to allow bosses and stars to be challenged? David Collinson, Professor of Leadership & Organisation at the University of Lancaster Business School tells Phil and Roger what can and should be done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Why Is Africa Left Behind? 42:05

24 weeks ago42:05

42:05

40 years since Band Aid - the lyrics and attitudes have dated badly, but the problem is still there. Africa remains desperate and underdeveloped and the only part of the world regularly threatened by famine, civil war and military coups d’etat. Why is this continent not thriving despite its vast natural resources and talent? Why do so many of its best and brightest choose to emigrate? Phil and Roger explore the question of Africa’s failure to move to the levels of development and wealth seen in Asia and the Middle East, speaking to Dr Emmanuel Mensah, assistant professor at the Utrecht University School of Economics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Tractors in Whitehall 36:29

25 weeks ago36:29

36:29

Who’d be a farmer? You have tiny profit margins. You’re held to high environmental and welfare standards against cheaper less-scrupulous foreign imports, and now you’re facing unaffordable inheritance taxes….. Is it worth working the soil in modern Britain? Is the job more custodianship of the land than running a profitable business? Peter Gittins is a lecturer at Leeds University Business School, and he help run his family-owned livestock farm in West Yorkshire - he gives Phil and Roger a picture of what its like to be a farmer now, and the challenges they face. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
A Matter Of Life And Death 36:17

26 weeks ago36:17

36:17

Should we be allowed to take our own lives? Should doctors or friends be allowed to help us? For the first time in a decade, MPs have a bill to consider on assisted dying. Parliament and the cabinet is split, and there are vigorous campaigns on both sides. Will it open the door to euthanasia for convenience, with old people and the disabled pressured not to be a burden? Or is it a measure of compassion for the suffering and the desperate? Phil and Roger talk through the new bill and its limitations with Dr Sam Carr of the Centre for Death and Society at Bath University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Getting Ready For The Storm 34:58

27 weeks ago34:58

34:58

How ready are we for the results of climate change? While leaders talk at COP29 about lessening global warming, some of the extreme weather predicted by scientists is already here. The hundreds dead in the Valencia floods suggest governments need to do more to keep us safe. Do we need to build differently, or live in more secure places? Can we be adequately protected from the increasing numbers of wildfires or hurricanes? Phil and Roger get the latest research from Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The Sum of All Fears 43:01

28 weeks ago43:01

43:01

The Donald is back. Another Trump presidency - with a Republican-dominated congress. So how will a world that looks back on 2016-2020 and shudders, deal with a volatile, unpredictable narcissist, who is now also convicted felon, in the White House? What will it mean for Ukraine, for Gaza, for China, for Europe? Paul Whiteley, Emeritus Professor of Government at the University of Essex, walks Phil and Roger through the likely challenges of Trump 2.0 for a world he says is now in a much more dangerous place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The US Election - An American Horror Story? 37:19

29 weeks ago37:19

37:19

Just days from one of the most divisive and consequential elections in US history, what are the chances of a second Trump presidency, or the first woman being installed in the White House? And how true are the alarming predictions of what it might mean for America and for the world? Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL and founding director of its Centre on American Politics, tells Phil and Roger the vote is too close to call, with unpredictable changes of allegiance from traditional allies on both sides of the political divide. And Dr Gift has personal experience of what’s happening in the most important swing state - Pennsylvania. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Not Budging on the Budget 40:25

30 weeks ago40:25

40:25

Hard times and hard choices, but the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, seems determined to inflict pain on consumers, taxpayers and businesses in the short term, to plug what she says is a £40bn hole in the nation's finances. But does she need to? And is she going to hit the right targets, given that she has boxed herself in by committing not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance on employees? And is recalculating national debt by taking into account assets a sensible way of allowing her to borrow more - without spooking lenders? Simon French, Chief Economist and Head or Research at Panmure Liberum, tells Phil and Roger what she could and should do in Labour's first budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Nips and Tucks 37:14

31 weeks ago37:14

37:14

Why do so many of us opt to go under the knife to change our appearance? Cosmetic surgery is having a boom, with injections as well as scalpels and offering cheaper and barely-regulated treatments. It can be dangerous as well as pricey, and often ineffective, so why do it? Is it down to a distorted perception of beauty, conditioned by social media and reality TV? Does it need more regulation, as well as a push to ease social pressures? Phil and Roger ask Ruth Holliday, Professor of Gender and Culture at Leeds University, and co-author of the book "Kitsch! Cultural Politics and Taste" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Middle East On The Brink 40:19

32 weeks ago40:19

40:19

A year after October 7 and the landscape shaped over decades is irrevocably changed - Palestinians and Israelis killed in unprecedented numbers, Hezbollah and Hamas decapitated, Iran humiliated. And no end in sight to the bloodshed and destruction. So where have the pieces fallen? What chance of any kind of ceasefire on any front?What hope for the remaining Israeli hostages? Will things change further after the election hiatus in the US - Israel's biggest backer? Can Prime Minister Netanyahu cling to power indefinitely? Simon Mabon, Professor of International Politics at Lancaster University, tells Phil and Roger what the next year might bring Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Blue Funk 35:26

33 weeks ago35:26

35:26

The Tory ship seems rudderless, and the vote for a new captain less than enthralling. After their underwhelming Birmingham conference, what hope is there for the Conservatives - hitherto the most successful political organisation in Europe? With the fewest MPs in its history, and missing many of the former big beasts of Toryism, does the party’s salvation lie in lurching further to the right to win back supporters from Reform? Or is the safe ground in the centre where the Lib Dems have drained their vote? Phil and Roger get the views of Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London, and Thor of “The Conservative Party After Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
The Love Labour’s Lost 39:41

34 weeks ago39:41

39:41

The Labour Party in government for the first time in 14 years, but this week’s party conference seemed an exercise in damage control rather than celebration - delegates voting against the cabinet on winter fuel payments, and cabinet ministers having to announce they won’t accept any more free clothes or glasses. How did the honeymoon end so soon? Or is the scale of the problems they have inherited so daunting it requires harsh medicine that will never make them popular? With such a huge parliamentary majority, do they, in any case, need to care? Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield, tells Phil and Roger their biggest problem is the lack of an overall strategic vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Just Grow Up - The Infantilisation Of Our World 42:21

35 weeks ago42:21

42:21

Are we all failing to become adults? Does the world treat us as if we need to be told to carry a water bottle on a train, or hold onto a handrail, or that a bag of nuts may contain…. nuts? The way our politics and culture like simple messages and avoid challenge or risk or complexity suggests to some that we are becoming an infantile society, incapable of understanding nuance or facing the world of adults. Phil and Roger talk about all this with Keith Hayward, Professor of Criminology at the University of Copenhagen, and author of the book ”Infantilised: How Our Culture Killed Adulthood”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Exit X? Curbing Social Media 43:58

36 weeks ago43:58

43:58

X banned in Brazil. The boss of Telegram detained in France. Is state power finally moving to curb the big social media sites? There’s been a lot of talk about reining-in X, TikTok, Instagram, Snap and the rest, but have governments now decided make the sites accountable for the harm they cause - misinformation, child abuse and societal division? Or are the Elon Musks still beyond control and regulation? Robin Mansell, Professor of New Media and the Internet at the London School of Economics, tells Roger and Phil the economic pressure from advertisers will probably be a more effective curb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
UK/EU - A Closer Disunion? 39:37

37 weeks ago39:37

39:37

Keir Starmer is pushing for a reset of relations with the European Union, but has ruled out rejoining in his lifetime. So how close can or should the UK get? How welcome is Britain in Brussels after all the Brexit grief? And does the changing tone of public opinion here mean he can easily get past the toxicity of Brexit for both the Labour Party and the country? David Henig, Director of the UK Trade Project at the European Centre For International Political Economy, tells Phil and Roger how the path back to the EU might begin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Central Banks - Power Without Reponsibility? 35:55

38 weeks ago35:55

35:55

Interest rates, inflation, monetary control. What is it that central bankers actually do - and are they the right people to be doing it? The last decades have seen huge turbulence in the global economy - the Great Recession, then post-Covid inflation, so is the system working? Is it right that a political decision - balancing price-rises against the cost of borrowing - should be in the hands of unelected bankers? Dominic Caddick of the New Economics Foundation takes Phil and Roger through what the central bankers can do, and how their job could be made more effective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Kamala’s Coronation 39:20

39 weeks ago39:20

39:20

Happy days are here again for the Democrats, as their new candidates gear up for the US presidential election. But does the razzmatazz conceal a weakness on the ticket that will be exposed once Harris and Walz have to face hostile interviewers? Dr Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL and founding director of the Centre on US Politics tells Phil and Roger why he still thinks there could still be a Trump victory in November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Getting It Right On The Far Right 39:03

40 weeks ago39:03

39:03

Riots and disorder on a scale Britain hadn’t seen in a decade, but then the streets re-taken by anti-racist crowds - what to make of what happened after the Southport stabbings? Keir Starmer said the white men throwing rocks and setting fire to hotels were “far right”. Was he correct? And what does “far right” mean? Is it a coherent political force in the UK, or just a bunch of drunken yobs? Phil and Roger look at the evidence with Aurelien Mondon of Bath University and the Reactionary Politics Research Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Universities In Crisis 38:14

41 weeks ago38:14

38:14

As students get ready to see if their A levels match up to their offers, how sure can they be the universities will still be there to award their eventual degrees? Higher education is in something of a financial crisis - not enough money from fees, not enough foreign students to make up the shortfall, and the best academics heading abroad for higher pay. Is the whole model of young people building up huge debts for sometimes questionable courses sustainable? Will some universities have to close or merge in order to survive? Chris Millward, Professor Practice In Education Policy at the University of Birmingham, gives Phil and Roger the prospects for Britain’s higher education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Olympic Winners? 38:36

42 weeks ago38:36

38:36

Paris, after a damp start, is sprinting through the games - but at what cost? Closed bars and cafes behind security barriers, fewer visitors in the run-up to the Olympics, and a massive bill for all the building-work and administration. The money from the tickets and broadcast rights goes to the International Olympic Committee, so will the city benefit at all? Many venues are turning down the chance of staging big sports events like this because the costs - social as well as financial - outweigh the gains, and can land cities with huge debts. So what is the answer? Leave it to the money-no-object venues like Qatar and Saudi Arabia? Or spread a games over several countries? Or have one permanent venue, funded by all? Professor Simon Chadwick of SKEMA Business School in Lille tells Phil and Roger how hosting the Olympics needs an overhaul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Harris v Trump - What To Expect 35:50

43 weeks ago35:50

35:50

The US presidential election has been upended by the replacement of one candidate, and the attempted assassination of the other. Can Karmala Harris unite the Democrats and compete effectively with Donald Trump? Has a near-death experience changed The Donald, or just made more of his supporters sure he is God’s chosen leader? And why did Joe Biden wait so long to acknowledge his obvious incapacity? Phil and Roger get the picture from Dr Thomas Gift , Associate Professor in Political Science at University College London, and Director of the Centre on US Politics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Why? Curve

1
Making Stuff 37:05

44 weeks ago37:05