The Trawl
The Trawl is a podcast that dives into political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity each week. Hosted by broadcasters and political commentators Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss, it offers sharp analysis, dark humor, and unfiltered commentary. Each episode trawls through viral tweets, headlines, and soundbites, calling out hypocrisy and amplifying truth.
Episodes
England Out, Burnham Speaks on Gaza & Starmer's Final PMQs
England's World Cup dream is over, Burnham's is just beginning. Yes, England are out of the tournament but not before Argentina gave them one final dose of argy-bargy and an ill-judged Falklands banner. Marina and Jemma unpack the match and discuss why a rare moment of warmth between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch left them strangely emotional.Elsewhere, Reform UK descend into full panic
Ann Widdecombe, Binface and Farage's Five Million
Jemma and Marina try to make sense of another week that somehow outdid even their most chaotic bingo card. They discuss the shocking murder of Ann Widdecombe, why some reactions online were seriously misjudged, and how Nigel Farage's response was caught on camera in 3...2...1.... They also look at the latest twists in Reform UK's funding saga, Count Binface's increasingly hilarious Clacton campaig
The Trawl Meets Anthony Scaramucci
From the White House to Wall Street, podcast studios to political pile-ons, Anthony Scaramucci has lived several public lives and he's got the stories to prove it. In this candid conversation with The Trawl, "The Mooch" reflects on the 11 days that made him infamous, what he really thinks of Donald Trump now, the state of American politics, and why reinvention is his greatest skill. Expect sharp o
Trump vs the Beautiful Game
Marina and Jemma have found the one thing Trump hasn't ruined yet...oh wait, no, he's got to football too. This week the pair unpick his reverse Midas touch: one US player gets a red card, Trump gets on the blower to his snivelling little ring-kisser Infantino, and hey presto, the suspension vanishes. Then our hosts turn to the double standard that'll make your adrenal gland overwork: a maske
Farage Hits the Panic Button... as Football Brings the Joy ⭐
Farage detonates the internet with a surprise by-election announcement just as questions over undeclared gifts and crypto cash refuse to go away. Marina and Jemma dissect the latest twist, wonder whether it's political genius or pure theatre, and ask who really benefits from dragging Clacton back to the polls.Elsewhere, England's late-night triumph sparks celebrations (and an unfortunate Jordan He
Perv Glasses & An Empty Fairground: The Great American Flop
In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina dig into Andy Burnham's big speech, ask whether he really could be Britain's next Prime Minister, and examine why parts of the left, right and media all have something to argue about.They also celebrate Elon Musk slipping back from trillionaire status, question the ever-growing wealth of the Royal Family, laugh at Donald Trump's sparsely attended "Great American Sta
Heatwaves, Hot Air Takes & Farage's £5 Million Problem
Last week, politics wasn't the only thing making Jemma and Marina hot under the collar - the weather was and they were melting. Literally.Britain has sweltered through record-breaking temperatures, so the Trawl ladies look at the growing mountain of evidence that climate change is no longer a future problem because it's happening right now. So why are so many TV pundits still insisting it's "just
Trump's Worst Week: Defeated by Iran, Italy & Algae - Then Humiliated at Versailles
Trump's having quite the week... He's been defeated by algae (sabotage, obviously), couldn't do up a medal ribbon, got blanked by every world leader at the G7, and then signed what experts are calling a catastrophic Iran deal — in the actual room in Versailles where Germany surrendered after WWI. The pure poetry of it all!Meanwhile Meloni delivers the clapback of the century ("neither I nor Italy
You're Barred Katie Hopkins: The Pub That Got It Right and the Politicians Who Didn't
A pub in Bethnal Green looked up, clocked who'd walked in, and collectively decided: not here, love. Katie Hopkins was shown the door. She did not go gracefully. Marina and Jemma are delighted - but one pub doing the right thing doesn't mean the country is...This week they unpick what feels like a genuine shift: Elon Musk platforming Tommy Robinson, Lord Hannan's baffling racist football tweet, Ru
Keir We Go Again : Starmer Exits, Footy and Farage
Nigel Farage gets caught recycling an old England supporter photo, proving once again that authenticity isn't really his game. The Trawl ladies revel in a glorious montage of his Question Time appearances, hear James O'Brien's disbelief and ask why politicians always seem to own a fancy-dress box full of high-vis jackets and football shirts.Elsewhere, the political landscape shifts dramatically as
Makerfield Said No - Burnham, Bell Ends & Boarding School
For one glorious moment, Makerfield became the centre of the political universe, and what a moment it was.Jemma and Marina rewind the clock to relive Andy Burnham's emphatic by-election win, celebrate Robert Kenyon's spectacular defeat and ask whether Reform UK's momentum has finally hit a few inconvenient speed bumps. They also marvel at the increasingly surreal Sarah Pochin, wonder what Nigel Fa
Kids' Social Media Ban & Starmer's Defence Revolt
Starmer's government is facing another defence row after senior figures quit over military spending, reigniting questions about Britain's preparedness, Russia's growing threat and whether billions more should be poured into defence while public services struggle.Meanwhile, Labour's proposed ban on social media for under-16s has sparked a fierce debate. Will it protect young people from online harm
UFC White House, Tragic Trillionaire and The Art of The Deal 😏
Marina and Jemma try to wrap their heads around the arrival of the world's first trillionaire. Just how much money is a trillion dollars, and what does it say about modern society that one man can accumulate that level of wealth while millions struggle?They also dive into Gwyneth Paltrow's eyebrow-raising appearance in a luxury Israeli property campaign, Trump's increasingly bizarre White House UF
The Belfast Pogroms & the People Excusing Them
Marina and Jemma have been away for a short break, unfortunately Britain hasn't exactly held itself together while they've been away.In this Trawl, they tackle the racist violence that erupted in Belfast, why calling it a "riot" doesn't come close to describing what happened, and the politicians, pundits and social media moguls helping to fan the flames.They look at the shocking media takes that f
Ivanka's Island, Trump's Pool & a Very Angry Albania
Marina and Jemma dive into Trump's increasingly chaotic behaviour, the World Cup visa fiasco, and the extraordinary protests sweeping Albania, where thousands are taking on billionaire land grabs in what protesters are calling the Flamingo Revolution. Meanwhile, Trump is sleeping through basketball games, storming out of interviews and comparing the size of his beloved reflecting pool to skys
Question Time Carnage, Vance Comes for Britain & Pride Fights Back
In this episode Jemma and Marina are trawling through a week so full of weapons-grade stupidity they barely know where to start. But first first, they take the opportunity to say Happy Pride Month, Trawlers. Comedian James Barr absolutely dismantles conservative commentator Michael Knowles live on Piers Morgan Uncensored, and it is glorious. Reform's candidate for Makerfield, Robert
The Cost of Being Young, Job Hunting & Katie Price
Marina and Jemma dive into the growing crisis facing young people in Britain.With more than a million young people now classed as NEETs (not in education, employment or training), they explore why finding work has become so difficult, why endless application processes are leaving candidates exhausted and demoralised, and why many feel the social contract has broken down completely.Featuring clips
Farage Crawls Out, Riots Break Out & Bartlett's Three Glasses of Wine
Marina and Jemma kick things off with a spirited takedown of "optimisation culture" - sparked by a viral clip of Diary of a CEO's Stephen Bartlett dramatically declaring that three glasses of wine ruined his life (his Whoop watch told him so). Marina and Jemma are not having it. Yes, sleep matters, yes, balance is key - but why are we KPI-ing ourselves into misery? As Marina puts it: you don'
Blair & Murrell : Chopsticks, Kettles & Net Zero
Marina and Jemma wade into the internet frenzy surrounding Donald Trump’s extremely strange White House pillar moment, the increasingly odd questions around his health, and why he apparently skipped his own son’s wedding.Then it’s over to Scotland, where the pair unpack Peter Murrell’s extraordinary £400k spending spree involving luxury pens, kettles, chopsticks and enough bizarre purchases to acc
Heatwave Britain & Reform's Sexist Summer
In this Trawl, Marina and Jemma survive Britain’s latest heatwave, the London Underground sauna experience, and yet another deeply questionable Reform candidate.They dive into the climate conversation nobody seems to want to have anymore and discuss whether “doom fatigue” has pushed climate change down the political agenda.Plus: the latest Reform UK chaos, misogynistic comments from would-be polit
The Trawl Meets Tessa Dunlop
Historian and Broadcaster, Tessa Dunlop, joins Jemma and Marina for a gloriously wide-ranging conversation about monarchy, British identity and the fury of being an outspoken woman in public life. From her PhD on Romanian royalty to why she believes King Charles still gives Britain “soft power” on the world stage, Tessa brings nuance, history and plenty of passion to some of the most divisive
The Kentucky Primary That Broke America
In this Trawl, Marina and Jemma dive headfirst into what might be the most jaw-dropping week of Trump 2.0 so far.From claims of billion-dollar “slush funds” and eye-watering stock trades to the political takedown of Republican congressman Thomas Massie after he pushed for the Epstein files release, the corruption alarms are deafening. The pair unpack the terrifying power of MAGA loyalty, the growi
Flags, Far Right Fury & Terrible Singing
Marina and Jemma dive into the chaos surrounding Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally, from the anti-Muslim rhetoric and media silence to the genuinely astonishing musical performances that may qualify as crimes against audio.They unpack why anger and misinformation spread so easily online, question where the press coverage disappeared to, and look at what happens when algorithms replace sha
The Makerfield Gamble & Wes Side Story
Marina and Jemma are spiralling over Labour’s risky civil war.With Andy Burnham heading into the hugely consequential Makerfield by-election, Wes Streeting apparently eyeing the top job, and Reform circling like sharks, the pair ask: how the hell did we end up here already?There’s fury over Brexit being dragged back from the dead, despair at the state of political discourse, confusion over Eurovis
Welcome to Loserville: Musk's Midnight Musings & Trump's Oval Office Nap
Jemma and Marina take a break from UK political chaos to zoom out and survey the wider world... and it's not pretty.From Trump's increasingly hard-to-deny Oval Office napping to unravelling ceasefire negotiations in the Middle East, the Trawl ladies serve up their trademark mix of righteous fury and sharp humour. Marina's been deep in Italian passport paperwork (backup plan activated should Farage
Absolute Scenes in Labour HQ: It's Not Ideal Trawlers
Marina and Jemma wade through the chaos engulfing Labour after the bruising local election results, cabinet resignations, media pile-ons and growing calls for Starmer to go. Is this sensible political pressure… or another self-destructive Westminster psychodrama?They discuss:whether Labour is repeating the Tories’ revolving-door mistakesAndy Burnham, Wes Streeting and possible leadership contender
Reform Gains: Just Take the Bloody Bins Out
The local election results are in and… bloody hell.In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina dig into Reform UK’s huge gains, Labour’s mounting panic, and the increasingly chaotic state of British politics. Was this a genuine political realignment, a protest vote, or something much darker bubbling away underneath?From viral clips and media narratives to Nigel Farage, culture wars, dodgy campaign tactics, an
Met Gala Hunger Games & Trumpy Bedtime Stories
Jemma and Marina dive headfirst into the Met Gala circus from impossible outfits and billionaires playing dress-up, to the growing backlash against celebrity excess in a world on fire.They also tackle Trump casually floating a third term, Nigel Farage mysteriously dodging scrutiny over Reform’s mega-money backers, and why parts of the media seem determined to ignore some scandals while amplifying
Polanski, Protests & A Very Heated Week
It’s been one of those weeks where the temperature of public discourse didn’t just rise, it boiled over.Marina and Jemma both appeared on daytime TV in the immediate aftermath of the Golders Green attacks. Emotions were already running high, details were still emerging, and the pressure to say the “right” thing while not saying the “wrong” thing was intense. They talk about the subsequent soc
Royal Bants in DC & A Gifted Bell
Jemma and Marina are back in full chaotic form, slightly sleep-deprived, deeply opinionated, and absolutely not holding back.They unpack the horror of a North London stabbing and the questions it raises, before diving headfirst into the surreal spectacle of Donald Trump hosting King Charles III, a meeting that somehow involved Magna Carta shade, a gifted bell, and a lot of very
Botox Bollox, Boozy MPs & a Five Million Pound 'Gift'
In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina take on everything from outdated beauty standards to the increasingly surreal state of UK politics.There’s fury over a jaw-dropping tabloid takedown of Cameron Diaz, a debate about whether Westminster has a drinking problem, and a deep dive into political messaging that raises more questions than it answers.Plus: claims, counterclaims and confusion around campa
Shots Fired at The White House & Marathon Heroes
Jemma and Marina start with the emotional highs of the London Marathon: stories of resilience, community and the kind of humanity that restores your faith in people. Then they take a sharp hand brake turn into the chaos of global politics.From a dramatic incident at a White House event to the online reaction that followed, Jemma and Marina wade through fact, speculation and the sheer pace of moder
Bias, Bombings & Batshit Takes
Jemma and Marina are back in the scroll, picking apart the stories, headlines and takes that have everyone talking, pondering and shouting.They get into growing frustration with the way global events are framed, and why some stories seem to get all the attention while others barely register. There’s a look at how international law is being talked about (and sometimes ignored), plus the narratives
The Pope, Pulp Fiction & Wild Presidential Claims
In this Trawl, we're heading Stateside because, frankly, you can’t look away.From Pentagon prayer sessions to a defence secretary apparently quoting Pulp Fiction as scripture, Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte try (and fail) to make sense of the latest chaos unfolding in US politics. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is back making sweeping claims about Iran, the Pope, and global diplomacy many of which don’t
Starmer Drama & A Website From Hell
Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte wade through the latest Westminster psychodrama involving Keir Starmer, Peter Mandelson, and a row that refuses to die. Is it a genuine scandal or just political noise drowning out far more urgent stories?Because while the media obsesses over Whitehall intrigue, and there is TRIGGER WARNING for this part of the episode, something far darker is barely being cover
The Trawl Meets Sir Bill Browder
The Trawl sits down with Sir Bill Browder, the man Vladimir Putin would very much prefer stayed quiet. From exposing corruption at the heart of the Kremlin to spearheading the global Magnitsky sanctions, Browder’s story is part financial thriller, part political crusade. He joins The Trawl to talk oligarchs, accountability, and why the fight against kleptocracy is far from
Reform Raffle, Tory Receipts & Starmer Confusion
Marina and Jemma are back in the trenches, sifting through the chaos so you don’t have to.In this episode, why Keir Starmer can be both competent and deeply frustrating, a baffling “free energy bills” stunt linked to Nigel Farage, and yet more questions swirling around Reform’s candidates and Tice's company tax affairs.There’s also a diplomatic cringe moment featuring 
Trump vs Pope, AI Jesus & What the Melania?!
This Trawl begins, as you do, with Melania Trump making a deeply strange, entirely unprompted statement insisting she has “nothing to do with Epstein”, a denial so out of nowhere it immediately raises more questions than it answers.And somehow, that’s just the start.Because this week also brings Donald Trump recasting himself as Jesus in a social media post that’s as revealing as it
Orbán Out & Trump Blocks Blockade
Marina and Jemma dive into Hungarian celebrations. After 16 years of authoritarian rule, Viktor Orbán is gone and the scenes coming out of Budapest were unreal. Thousands took to the streets to celebrate Péter Magyar's win. But what does it actually mean for Europe, Ukraine, and the wider populist movement?From there, it’s straight into the latest Trump madness, including
100 Bombs in 10 Minutes & Still No Backbone: Plus Hegseth & Bondi
It’s been one of those weeks where, every time you think it can’t escalate further… it absolutely does.Jemma and Marina mull over the ceasefire which lasted all of five minutes due to Israel bombing Lebanon and vent their frustration at Starmer and Cooper who haven't yet condemned the atrocities. Plus: firings, firings, more firings. Pam Bondi has gone and so have some of the most senior gene
Reform Freefall & Marmalade Madness
In this Trawl, Marina and Jemma take on one of the dumbest outrage cycles in recent memory. Yes, it's the “EU marmalade scandal” (completely made up, obviously) and some politicians and papers have swallowed it whole and are extremely incensed about it all.While the right scrambles to get furious about citrus, the pair dig into what’s actually going on: Reform wobbling in the polls,
PHEW! A Whole Civilisation Wasn’t Nuked
It was one of those nights where going to bed felt… uncertain.After a late-night post from Donald Trump sent the internet into meltdown, the world briefly found itself holding its breath, doom-scrolling, spiralling, and wondering what might come next. From rumours of escalation to very real geopolitical tension, the Trawl ladies try to make sense of a news cycle that felt anything but no
Easter Basket Case: Dark Side of the Moon, Darker Side of Earth
It’s been a weekend of extremes. Marina and Jemma start with a rare moment of awe as they consider the Artemis mission and those breath-taking images of Earth before crashing straight back down into a news cycle that feels increasingly chaotic and surreal. From horrific, sweary 5am presidential posts to rising global tensions and questions over leadership, they unpack the moments that left everyon
Joy, Noise & People Power: Wot No Coverage?
A very Friday feeling Trawl. Jemma and Marina are back on the scroll, cutting through the chaos with equal parts rage, wit, and ridiculousness.They begin with the utter farce of daylight saving time and a Question Timebooking that raises serious questions. Mainly, why?Then the Trawl ladies discuss the powerful, joyful anti–far right march that the mainstream somehow managed to side-line They
Cognitive Decline Meet Geopolitics: Confidently Clueless
Trump’s back on the mic and it’s… Sharpies, sex, and 'aced' dementia tests while the world edges closer to chaos.Marina and Jemma wade through the surreal: from Trump confusing cognitive screenings with IQ tests, to casually musing about seizing Iran’s oil like it’s on a tapas menu. Meanwhile, his administration openly flirts with war crimes, hands out awards for sycophancy, and somehow
Stop The World, We Want To Get Off (When Allies Face No Consequences)
It’s one of those episodes.Marina and Jemma try (and occasionally fail) to keep it together as they wade through a week of escalating horror: war rhetoric, media apathy, and leaders who seem either missing in action or actively making things worse. From the sheer scale of the US “No Kings” protests to the deeply disturbing reality unfolding across Iran, Israel and Lebanon, this is a conv
What are Ofcom Doing? A Great British Shrug
In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina coin a new state of being (“fucktioning”) before diving headfirst into a world that feels increasingly unhinged.From a tribute to Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling, to the unbearable reality of injustice in Gaza and a horrific story about a little baby boy who was tortured by members of the IDF, the emotional whiplash is real. There’s rage,
TACO Trump & the 48 Hour Countdown.
BS, Bluster & BacklashJemma and Marina return with a properly unhinged dispatch from a world that seems to be teetering somewhere between “carry on as normal” and “is this how it all ends?”As tensions with Iran escalate (then de-escalate… then escalate again), they unpack the latest chaos surrounding Donald Trump from threats on Truth Social to mysterious “talks” that may or may not
Tice's Tax, Mandy's Money: War, Grift & Palantir Unmasked
Trump’s regretting a war he can’t explain, his own counter terrorism chief has walked, and even his podcast fanboys are starting to wobble. Meanwhile, here in Blighty, Starmer’s juggling Mandelson fallout and the Trawl ladies are horrified by the creeping Palantir influence, as tech billionaires get a little too comfortable playing politics. Marina and Jemma can't believe what one Palantir boss is
The Trawl Meets Alastair Campbell
From the realities of political life today to looking back on the Blair years, Campbell is open, considered and surprisingly candid about the pressures, the mistakes, and why he thinks Starmer is getting it right, even if the public don't. Marina and Jemma cover everything from global politics to The Rest Is Politics.There are thoughtful moments, a few laughs, and glimpses of the personal sid
Anyone Seen Trump’s Marbles? Presidential Ramblings & Clown Shoes
There's nothing remotely funny about war and yet the latest utterings from The White House are so batshit, Jemma and Marina have to laugh. Because if you don't....etc. Tune in for global chaos with a side of clownery. Trump declares victory… then immediately begs the world for help. The Strait of Hormuz turns into a geopolitical panic button, NATO says “absolutely not,” and the internet says “we t
Theroux’s Manosphere AKA Bunch of Wet Wipes
Off the back of Louis Theroux’s latest documentary, Marina and Jemma unpack the men building huge online audiences by selling a version of masculinity that feels equal parts contradictory and deeply revealing. From the obsession with status, money and 'high value' women, to the glaring emotional vulnerability sitting just beneath the surface it’s a conversation about what’s really going
Farage a Lago: The Clacton to Florida Express
Jemma and Marina begin with story that feels like a nod to 'ye olde Trawl days' when 'Lord of the Week' was a regular thing. Then there’s an equally vintage blast from Penny Mordaunt, whose greatest hits include carrying a sword and standing up to fight. She's had an unfortunate encounter
Schrödinger’s (Expensive) War & Chalamet Backlash
Oil prices soar, the global economy wobbles, and the media politely wonders whether there might still be a master plan inside Trump's helium-filled skull. Marina and Jemma sift through the chaos: Fox News telling the truth, Russia helping Iran and Trump being OK with that and Trump casually flirting with admitting war crimes.But first: a brief cultural detour as Timothy Chalamet manages to annoy a
War Lies & Excuses & Patriarchy Pick-Mes
Oops… he did it again. This week on The Trawl, Jemma and Marina are trying to keep up with a news cycle that’s moving faster than the White House can change its story about why it just started another war. Is it about nuclear weapons? Oil? Israel? Distraction? Take your pick, the explanation seems to change by the hour.But first, after a weekend of International Women’s Day posts (and th
‘Illegal War’ to ‘Use Our Bases’ - Starmer’s Dilemma. Iran Part 2
Marina and Jemma dive back into the escalating crisis in Iran as Trump and Netanyahu continue bombing, apparently without checking if that’s a good idea with… anyone.As oil prices surge and the world edges closer to something that looks suspiciously like a wider war, the Trawl ladies compare the responses from the leaders of the main UK political parties. Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister shows wh
Epic Fury, Tiny Brains: Old Men With Missiles - Iran Part 1
Join Jemma and Marina who are trying to process the latest news cycle.At time of record, Donald Trump has bombed seven countries in twelve months. Super - really earning that peace prize he's after. Diplomacy with Iran was reportedly within reach just 24 hours before US–Israeli strikes began yet here we are. Still, ignorance is bliss because some Dubai influencers are mainly worried about missing
Green joy & Farage ‘Clutching at More Straws Than a Masturbating Scarecrow’. 💚
This week on The Trawl, Marina and Jemma enjoy one of life’s small but deeply satisfying pleasures: Nigel Farage losing an election and immediately blaming everyone except himself.Instead of the predicted triumph, Reform got absolutely walloped by a Green candidate who is, among other things, a plumber. Which is awkward when your entire campaign strategy revolves around telling everyone you’r
Vanishing Files, BBC Blunders, Tariff Tantrums, and the Hockey Winners Who Became Losers
This week on The Trawl, Marina and Jemma sift through a news cycle that feels less like global politics and more like a lads’ WhatsApp group with state power.In the US, the Epstein saga takes another disturbing turn as fresh reporting suggests dozens of pages have vanished from the public database — including material relating to allegations against Donald Trump. As questions swirl around the
Torching Equality & The Battle for Gorton and Denton
In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina survey the political carnage and ask: what's Reform's problem with equality?While America wrestles with peak what-the-fuckery, back home “Trump Lite” is workshopping his strongman routine and Reform are busy torching the Equality Act, apparently “for the boys.” Because nothing says protecting young men like removing the legislation that protects them.Then, the Trawl
A Right Royal Arrest: Busted On His Birthday
ALL CAPS were exchanged. Cushions were screamed into. Andrew has been arrested.Jemma and Marina dive headfirst into the breaking news that Prince Andrew was arrested at his Sandringham residence on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The internet did not disappoint. The memes were memeing. The birthday irony was exquisite. The startled-wombat visuals were unavoidable.But amid the satire and
The Trawl Meets Misan Harriman
Jemma and Marina first 'met' Misan on Instagram having been struck by his incredibly powerful photographs of people protesting against what they were witnessing in Palestine. Misan is a Nigerian-born British photographer, entrepreneur and social activist. As well as being one of the most widely-shared photographers of the Black Lives Matter movement, Harriman is also the first Black man to sh
Reform’s Womb Agenda: Handmaid’s Politics & Olympic Confessions
This Trawl starts with a confession that absolutely nobody asked for. A Norwegian Olympic medallist wins bronze… then goes live on TV to admit he cheated, not in sport, but on his girlfriend. Gold medal in biathlon, emotional own goal in life. Marina and Jemma unpack public guilt, performative remorse, and why the Winter Olympics still feels like a collection of sports invented during a long weeke
Ratcliffe’s ‘Colonising’ Claim & Labour’s Reverse Ferret
Marina and Jemma pour the champagne, light the cauldron and gather the coven because honestly, what in the hallucinogenic hell is going on?First up: America’s Health Secretary says something truly eye-watering. Then, from villainy to heroism via a brilliant moment highlighted by Vic Derbyshire the Trawl ladies celebrate a woman calmly, powerfully doing the right thing (even if their GCSE
WFH Hypocrisy & Bondi's Binder - A Disgraceful Display
Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte dive headfirst into the political absurdity of the past seven days and honestly? You couldn’t script it.First up: the US Congress hearing that left jaws on the floor. Attorney General Pam Bondi arrived armed with a massive binder and a promise of transparency and delivered… evasions. With Epstein survivors present in the room, the exchanges were tense, emotional, and
Labour Meltdown, Out‑of‑Touch Madness & Wes Streeting Admitted What?!
This week, we start with cursed Valentine’s poetry from...Greg Wallace and a rogue “dangler", before plunging straight into the political sewer. Rory Stewart decides that £94k counts as “low income”, Trump posts a racist video in the middle of the night and then immediately blows up his own press office’s cover story, and Labour descends into full‑blown chaos as Morgan McSweeney finally exits stag
Sport Triggers MAGA, Mandelson's Makeover, and the Epstein Blackout
Olympians dare to distance themselves from Trump, Bad Bunny turns the Super Bowl halftime show into a love-soaked middle finger, and Kid Rock delivers what may be the worst miming incident in broadcast history.Then it gets darker. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network run a Super Bowl PSA demanding the truth while the US government, British media and political class continue to redact
Cheaper Pints, Poorer Children, the Student Loan Stitch‑Up & Trump’s Misogyny
Marina and Jemma wade through the moral swamp of Reform UK’s latest masterplan: cutting beer duty by keeping children in poverty - because according to them the nation’s biggest crisis is Dave paying £4.80 instead of £4.75 for his pint. Labour doesn’t escape the drag either, with Rachel Reeves floating the idea that only graduates should pay for their degrees - a policy so anti‑youth it might
Melania Flop, Epstein Drop & Marina vs Reform
January nearly finished us off, and February hasn’t exactly come in with flowers. Marina is abandoned in the news‑cycle trenches while Jemma wafts around on a boat, and together they pick through the week’s mess: Marina’s run‑in with Reform, her viral roasting of Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the spectacular failure of the Melania documentary, Bezos’ suspiciously sculpted torso, and the grim, sprawling, st
The Trawl Meets Stewart Lee
For many, comedian and writer, Stewart Lee, is the GOAT so Jemma and Marina were thrilled to sit down with him to chat about the state of the world, how to deal with mad relatives, Brexit, Trump, how he fills his spare time and everything in between. Lee is described on Wikipedia as having an onstage persona that alternates between 'that of an outspoken left-wing hero and that of a depressed
FASCISM VS THE ARTS: A TRAWL SPECIAL
Why does Trump obsess over comedians?Why do authoritarian regimes always come for artists first?And why is laughing at fascists one of the oldest forms of resistance we’ve got?In this special edition of The Trawl, Marina and Jemma trace the dangerous present moment back through history from Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich to Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel and the journalists refusing to blink. Thi
Chaos: ICE Murder, Burnham, and Insults
Marina and Jemma are trying very hard not to lose the actual plot while the world insists on setting it on fire.Trump U-turns on tariffs. He insults British troops. ICE kill an innocent man in the street and continue abducting children in broad daylight.Suella Braverman defects to Reform (yes, really).Andy Burnham makes his move.And democracy continues to wobble like a shopping trolley with one br
Trump’s Greenland Meltdown: Europe Pushes Back
Trump wants Greenland and he's going to stamp his feet until he gets it. Jemma and Marina look back over a week which has included a lot of tariff threats, 'no comment' on military force, and a President who expects the rest of the world to just… nod along while he makes demands.Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte wade through a truly unhinged news cycle: from Trump’s Greenland obsession and the fallou
Reform is a Tory Bin & Beckham-Gate
In this episode, Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte are rifling through the internet’s sock drawer - separating facts from absolute tat, pairing up what still makes sense, and binning the stray underpants.Talking of stray underpants, Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell are the latest Tories to defect to Reform. Before that however, the ladies start with the social media trend that is dragging us
Greenland and Iran: Two Crises, One Familiar Pattern
In this Trawl the world lurches from crisis to farce and back again at breakneck speed.Trump is turning Greenland into his latest imperial fixation, NATO's scrambling to respond, while here in the UK we're quietly realising the ole 'special relationship' may be less special than advertised. Meanwhile, the BBC is perfecting its long-standing talent for underreacting to events that could fracture gl
Bartlett and Grok : Bad Takes And Deep Fakes
This Trawl starts with some actual good news before Marina and Jemma get it into the latest dyed in the wool Tory to join Reform. Nadhim Zahawi has defected declaring “nothing works”, despite having personally had several goes at running the place. Reform continue to collect disgraced millionaires like badly laminated Pokémon cards, and the Trawl ladies are armed with some very amus
Shot Dead, Justified, Defended: America’s ICE Age
History's repeating itself …loudly.In this Trawl, Marina and Jemma struggle to keep things light as America spirals deeper into terrifyingly authoritarian territory.They discuss the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, the disturbing footage that followed, and the speed with which Trump’s administration moved to justify, sanitise and defend her death. From the tripling of ICE’s budget to th
Art Gets Cancelled. Aid Gets Banned: Where are the Consequences?
Trump tries to slap his name on the Kennedy Center and the internet responds with satire, cancelled shows and an all-time zinger of a legal reply: “Confusion is a legal requirement, not a feeling.”Beautiful work 🫡Then the mood shifts, hard. Marina and Jemma confront the unbearable disconnect of cosy Christmases in the West while Gaza freezes and floods. From Netanyahu’s Mar-a-Lago sleepover w
Tip of the Epstein Iceberg & Trump’s Midterm Nerves
The Christmas break is barely a memory, Venezuela is threatening to become “the Greenland situation”, and Trump has kicked off January by delivering one of the most jaw-droppingly stupid geopolitical statements we’ve ever heard.Before Jemma and Marina get swept up in the next global meltdown, this episode rakes back over everything you might’ve missed while eating leftovers and avoiding your relat
Oil Be Damned: Venezuela’s New Year Coup
Marina and Jemma return from Christmas only to find that Trump has kicked off 2026 by bombing Venezuela and kidnapping its president - and the so‑called “rules‑based international order” immediately folded like a cheap camping chair, with Western leaders bravely choosing silence, caution, and the safety of not upsetting the big orange man.In this episode, they wade through the geopolitical sludge:
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