The Lowdown from Nick Cohen
Nick Cohen 146 episodes Nov 9, 2026
The Lowdown from Nick Cohen is a political and current affairs podcast hosted by the longtime columnist Nick Cohen. Each week he talks with leading commentators, journalists, authors and politicians to cut through the noise of modern political discourse. Drawing on his experience at The Observer and The Spectator, Cohen tries to make sense of an increasingly strange and troubling world. The show aims to help listeners stay sane amid the daily commentary and debate. It is accompanied by his Substack column, Writing from London.
Episodes
Ukraine & the midterms
WHERE DOES TRUMP'S DEFEAT IN THE MIDTERMS LEAVE UKRAINE?In his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Jimmy Rushton, the British journalist and Kyiv-based security analyst, about the current state of the war in Ukraine and the role of the Trump administration in foreign policy. Jimmy describes a chaotic US diplomatic process where amateurish Trump acolytes like John Cole, Jared Kushner, a
Time to cut the cord with the U.S.
WE NEED TO CUT THE CORDS WITH ISOLATIONIST U.S. - THE MID-TERMS CHANGE NOTHING In his Weekend Blast, Nick Cohen criticises the assumption that the world, including Britain, understands America. For far too long, we Brits have obsessed about U.S politics and trusted too much to U.S. security guarantees. It's high time that we, with our European friends, decided to cut the chord with an unreliab
Trump - the beginning of the end?
THE DANGEROUS FUTURE LAME PRESIDENCY DUCK DONALD TRUMP In this special pre-mid terms Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to legendary Never Trump commentator and podcaster Charle Sykes about corrupt U.S. president Donald Trump and his greedy, grifting family and its potential impact on the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Charlie and Nick discuss how Trump’s financial scandals had become blatant and
Burnham needs his own mandate
WILL ANDY BURNHAM GO TO THE COUTRY FOR HIS OWN MANDATE FOR CHANGE?In his weekend blast, Nick Cohen criticises his own previous belief that political opponents should simply be removed from power without considering what comes next. He argued that Labour's massive 2024 election victory with a 165-seat majority was cursed by self-imposed restrictions that prevented implementing any meaningful po
The great U.S. betrayal of Ukraine
TRUMP IS SELLING OUT UKRAINE TO BUDDY TYRANT VLADIMIR PUTIN - & ALL FOR A QUICK BUCK!In this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen interviews Sir Bill Browder, where they discuss Browder's experiences with Russian corruption and Putin's regime. Browder shared how he ran a successful investment fund in Russia in the 1990s exposing corporate corruption, but faced expulsion in 2005 and l
An epitaph on Trump the tyrant
AN EPITAPH ON 2 TYRANTS - VLADIMIR PUTIN & DONALD TRUMPIn his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks about what happens when power passes from autocrats, using Donald Trump as a primary example. The great British-American poet W.H Auden would have recognised the deeply sinister but darkly ridiculous figures of Trump and Putin in his 1939 poem Epitaph on a Tyrant [*see below] and the lines: &
Two Party politics could be back!
The UK's Labour Tory Punch and Judy show could be back with a vengeance!In his latest podcast interview, Nick Cohen talks to doyen pollster Peter Kellner, founder of YouGov, to discuss the current state of British politics and the potential return to a two-party system dominated by Labour and the Conservatives. Peter and Nick talk about how Reform Party support has declined from around 30% to
The new Brexit! Leaving the ECHR!
TORY OBSESSION WITH LEAVING ECHR COMPOUNDS THE EXTRAORDINARY FOLLY OF BREXITNick Cohen argues that the Conservative Party's latest obsession with leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is stupid, wrong headed, is deeply damaging to the UK, destroys the basis of our human rights and and replicates the Tories' enduring stupidity in dragging the country out of the European Un
The old UK-U.S. relationship is dead
THE UK MUST NOT WASTE PRECIOUS TIME MOURNING THE DEATH OF THE OLD U.S.In the latest episode of The Lowdown, Nick Cohen talks to David Frum, the former George W. Bush speechwriter turned leading “Never Trump” conservative and Atlantic writer, for a wide-ranging discussion on Trump, the deteriorating UK-U.S. relationship, America’s place in the world, and the crisis facing the democratic right.David
Disaster for the Greens in Holborn
The Holborn by-election result is a disaster for the GreensNick Cohen delivers his thoughts on the recent Holborn and St Pancras by-election results, where Labour comprehensively defeated the Green Party candidate, and its leader, Zack Polanski. Cohen criticises Polanski's leadership, particularly his absence during the controversial Green Party conference where motions on Israel and Palestine
Climate change will change everything
CLIMATE CHANGE - COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU!In his latest The Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to author & former diplomat Arthur Snell about the growing climate crisis and its global impacts. Aftera summer of 2026 & that will be remembered for its relentless record-breaking heatwaves, Arthur, the author of Elemental, his latest book, describes the grim s tate of climate change response, n
Farage & his Fairford fantasies
Nigel Farage & the radical right have tried to use the strange events at RAF Fairford to feed the politics of hateIn his latest Lowdown podcast short, Nick Cohen discusses Nigel Farage's extraordinary and irresponsible attempts to make political capital from the strange events at RAF Fairford this week, including allegations of an alleged Iranian-linked terrorism. Without any evidence, and
The U.S. we knew is dead
TRUMP'S "EMPIRE OF GRIFT" - WHY THE U.S. WE ONCE KNEW & TRUSTED MAY BE STONE COLD DEADIn this episode of The Lowdown, Nick Cohen talks with author and journalist Anne Applebaum about her recent essay in The Atlantic, which describes the current U.S. administration under Trump as an "empire of grift." Anne Applebaum explains that this administration has abandoned America
The Crypto threat to democracy
HOW CRYPTO BUYS AND SELLS POLITICANS ON THE FAR RIGHT ACROSS EUROPEIn this Lowdown short, Nick Cohen discusses the influence of the crypto industry on politics, focusing on how crypto billionaires have been buying support from radical right politicians. He highlighted cases such as Christopher Harbourne and Ben Delo's large donations to Nigel Farage and his party, and Donald Trump's involv
Russia is at war with the UK
PUTIN IS AT WAR WITH US - WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO RECOGNISE THE FACT, OR NOT! WITH LUKE HARDING OF THE GUARDIANIn his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen discusses the Kremlin's current Russian influence operations against and other countries in Europe with Luke Harding, Guardian foreign cortrespondent, and the author of "Betrayal: Trump, Putin, and A New Age of Conquest." Luke explains how Russia
Save the UK from corruption
Trump has swamped the U.S. in corruption - Nick Cohen argues that the UK must act now to escape the same fate Nick Cohen delves into the history of past political donations as he argues that the UK must do all it can not to be plunged into the brazen corruption of Donald Trump's crooked White House.The controversial gift of £1 million to the Labour Party by former Formula One boss Bernie Eccleston
Burnham must fight the far right
Labour must confront the far right & its fascism head-on - with Rafel BehrIn this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to author and leading Guardian columnist Rafael Behr about the interconnectedness of ultra-capitalism and reactionary right-wing forces in politics. They discuss how both radicalised elderly voters nostalgic for the past and wealthy tech billionaires like Elon Musk are sup
Burnham must take on the black shirts
Labour must take on Farage and the UK's new blackshirts but where is Andy Burnham?Hundreds of anonymous men turn up at Dover dressed in black shirts and balaclavas; Reform leader and Brexit con artist Nigel Farage threatens to scrap the House of Lords, purge the civil service and judiciary and use emergency decrees to pass sinister legislation if he ever takes power; women hecklers are beaten with
Brexit Britain's growing debt crisis
The growing debt crisis of no-growth Brexit BritainIn his latest Lowdown podcast, host Nick Cohen interviews economics and geopolitics commentator and columnist Simon Nixon about the UK's national debt crisis and broader economic challenges. Simon explains that while the UK faces significant debt sustainability concerns, the current high bond yields reflect primarily inflation expectations rather
Bursting the Brexit Bubble
BURSTING THE BREXIT BUBBLE! HOW BREXITEERS ARE CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN "PURTY SPIRAL"In his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen interviews Roland Smith, one of the few Brexit supporters who has publicly admitted the Brexit project was a mistake. Roland discusses how British right-wing politics has descended into a purity spiral since 2016, with no senior conservative politicians acknowledging failures
Israel on the brink
ISRAEL - THE NEW WEDGE ISSUE OF U.S. POLITICSIn this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to the journalist Jo-Ann Mort about Israel, Jews, and anti-Semitism in left-wing politics. Jo-Ann Mort,who is also former founder of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), discussed how the DSA has shifted dramatically from its original anti-communist, anti-totalitarian stance to a position that is i
The Censors' threat to art
THE CENSORS' THREAT TO ARTIn his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Sally Gimson, editor of Index on Censorship, discussing her report on censorship and the lack of political drama in the British arts scene. Sally explains that despite a strong left-wing political passion in the arts, there is a dearth of political theatre, with institutions playing it safe to avoid controversy. She descr
Trump's U.S is a paper tiger
HOW TRUMP'S U.S. STUPIDLY ENGINEERED ITS OWN HUMILIATIONThis week, Nick Cohen interviews Phillips O'Brien, a professor of strategic studies at St. Andrews University, about the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. O'Brien explained how Iran has effectively "toyed with America" by continuing attacks despite Trump's attempts to de-escalate, forcing the U.S. to resume military operati
Trump's forever wars
No end in sight to Trump's moronic war of choice with IranNick Cohen and Charlie Sykes discuss what they describe as Donald Trump’s two reckless “wars”: the shooting conflict with Iran and the trade war with Canada. Sykes argues both are driven largely by Trump’s personal whims, lack public support, and have not been properly authorised or explained to Americans.On Canada, Sykes says almost no ord
The Right's attack on free speech
The Right has power & money to destroy our worldNick Cohen talks to academic Emma L.Briant about a neglected threat: right-wing attacks on free speech. While acknowledging that left-wing censoriousness has damaged liberal politics, he argues that conservatives who claimed to defend open debate are now adopting authoritarian methods. The central example is the Trump administration’s attempt, th
The Rising intolerance of the Right
THE RIGHT & THE RISE OF INTOLERANCENick talks about the the rise of intolerance and the suppression of debate, highlighting how both right and left-wing political movements are moving toward authoritarianism by excluding individuals who disagree with core policies. He gives specific examples including Kemi Badenoch's statements that Conservative candidates must accept Net Zero targets and Eur
Follow the Farage money!
FARAGE'S CRYPTO-BUNG WOES ARE MOUNTING & RIGHTLY SO!In his latest "The Lowdown" podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Peter Geoghegan, author of "Democracy for Sale," about the corruption allegations surrounding Nigel Farage and the Reform Party. Their chat centres on Farage receiving a £5 million personal donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbourne and being funded by convicted fraudster Ge
The crypto bung by-election
THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA MUST NOT FALL FOR NIGEL FARAGE'S LATEST RUSENick Cohen addresses the mainstream media's missed aspect of the story regarding Nigel Farage's links to the crypto industry. He highlights that Farage received £5 million from British Thai crypto billionaire Christopher Harbourn without declaring this donation, and that his convicted fraud pal, George Cottrell ,provided gifts in kin
Londonov - A class act no more
"LONDONOV!" HOW THE SLOANE RANGERS WHORED THEMSELVES OUT TO DODGY OLIGARCHS & SHEIKHS In his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Peter York, the legendary social commentator who co-wrote the influential "Sloane Ranger's Handbook" in the 1980s about the English upper class in London.Peter discusses how London has transformed from an English-dominated city to a global centre for wealthy
The lost Brexit decade
The tide has turned on Brexit - the "Brexiteers" have only the dead to rallyIn his latest Lowdown" podcast, Nick Cohen discusses the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum with Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and the significant changes in global politics over the past 10 years since 2016 that make Brexit an even worse decision than it was a decade ago.They
Keir Starmer resigns
Keir Starmer resigns - can Andy Burnham save the country from the disaster of a Reform government?Nick Cohen talks about Keir Starmer's resignation as Britain's sixth Prime Minister in ten years, reflecting on the implications for the country and the wider West. Nick explores concerns about Britain's political stability, comparing the situation to historical examples of governments collapsing, and
A World Cup in the age of Trump
The World Cup - the goals, the corruption and the colonialism!In this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to Professor Stefan Szymanski, Professor of the Economics of Sports at Michigan University, about the World Cup and the evolution of global football. They explore how the tournament has shifted from being hosted by nation-states to being controlled by oligarchical interests, with Stefan e
The Mackerfield Byelection
Mackerfield shows why Andy Burnham must lead Labour in the fight against the Radical RightNick Cohen gives a comprehensive analysis of the Makerfield by-election results from early Friday morning, where Andy Burnham emphatically defeated Nigel Farage's Reform Party, arguing this victory represents both an opportunity and a significant challenge for the Labour Party.Nick criticises the unprecedente
The death of conservatism
UK needs a a strong liberal voice in the south to counter the predictable catastrophe of Farage and Reform In his latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to historian and author James Hawes about parallels between current political developments and fascist movements in the 1930s and 1970s. James compares Elon Musk's influence to that of Alfred Hugenberg in 1930s Germany, noting how both used medi
HS2 - The rail to nowhere
Rail to nowhere - HS2 - the poster child project of a failed British political classIn this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to author and doyen transport writerChristian Wolmar about the serial UK failed high-speed railway project. HS2 has spiralled to an estimated cost of £87-102 billion pounds due to political fickleness, mismanagement, inefficiency, and excessive environmental require
All we have comes by sea
Iran and the Strait of Hormuz crisis reveal how much we owe to our merchant marinersThis week, Nick Cohen talks to author, travel writer and writer-mariner Horatio Clare about the hidden world of merchant marines and the critical role they play in global trade. Horatio shares insights from his experience as a writer-in-residence on container ships, describing the challenging conditions faced by se
Britain's broken politics
Is instability the new normal with the UK's broken polticis.In this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to author and historian Robert Saunders about Britain's transition from decades of political stability to having six prime ministers in ten years and how this reflects deep systemic pressures rather than just poor individual leadership. Robert explains that modern leaders have faced an unpr
Why we think what we think!
Why we think what we think! The factors beyond our control that form our beliefs!Nick Cohen chats to author, journalist and entrepreneur Turi Munthe about his latest book "Why We Think What We Think," which explores how non-rational factors significantly influence political and social beliefs.In an increasingly polarised and fractious world, the issue of people's beliefs and think and why they hol
Brexit Britons - away with the fairies!
Lowdown election special with Rafael Behr of The GuardianBrexit Britons away with the fairies- and believing in at least 6 impossible things before Breakfast! In the local - and national elections, British voters voted for parties in Wales & Scotland that want to destroy the United Kingdom and for Nigel Farage and his fellow Reform con artists who conned 17.4 million people into voting for Bre
The "Special Relationship" is dead
Trumps disastrous foreign policy on Iran and Ukraine isolates the U.S and the UK!In this latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to distinguished defence expert, Phillips O'Brien from St. Andrews University, about military developments in Ukraine and Iran, focusing on how drone technology is changing the nature of warfare. Phillips explains how Ukraine's use of cheap, mass-produced drones has tra
The UK is the no-can-do nation
Is there are braver new world out there for Brits or they doomed for ever to be the no-can-do nation?Nick Cohen talks to journalist and author, John Kampfner, about his book "Brave a New World," which examines democratic governments that successfully address long-term challenges like aging populations, renewable energy, and housing. Kampfner highlights Japan's approach to demographic change throug
The death of the book means trouble
We have the i-Phone to thank for the fast death of literacy & rise of autocracy"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book because there would be no one who wanted to read one."— Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to DeathThis week, Nick Cohen talks to essayist and Times journalist James Marriott about Marriott's essay on
America - The decline & fall
Nick Cohen interviews Andrew Gawthorpe about the current geopolitical situation, particularly focusing on America's disastrous war with Iran and its broader implications.Andy Gawthorpe is the author of the highly-regarded newsletter "America Explained" and teaches at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He describes the current mess caused by Trump and his fellow incompetents, such as defence min
Centrists of the world unite!
Centrists of the World, Unite! The world needs the path of Liberalism out of today's madnessNick Cohen and Adrian Wooldridge discuss Adrian's book "Centrists of the World Unite: The Lost Genius of Liberalism." They discuss how liberal institutions and ideologies have become corrupted across multiple domains - from "Woke" identitarianism on the left to neoliberal capitalism and global managerialism
Can the U.S. be saved from itself?
Can the Democrats put an end to Trump & his MAGA cult?Nick Cohen talks to leading U.S. commentator and conservative dissident Charlie Sykes about the continuing collapse of the U.S. Republic under the corruption, authoritarianism and incompetence of the Trump-MAGA regime. Nick asks Charlie the question increasing numbers of people are asking, "Can Democrats save the U.S. from becoming a despot
Humiliating America & threatening the world
The World's growing Trump crisis - the rogue U.S. president is everyone's biggest problem nowThis week, Nick Cohen interviews Paris-based American journalist and author Claire Berlinski, editor ofThe Cosmopolitan Globalist, about the ongoing crisis involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Nick and Claire discuss Donald Trump's decision to launch military strikes against Iran without congress
Antisemitism on the march!
Novelist Howard Jacobson discusses his new comic novel exploring post-October 7th anti-SemitismIn this weeks The Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen and Howard Jacobson, discuss Howard's latest novel "hoWL" which explores antisemitism and Jewish fear in the world following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. Howard and Nick discuss whether the recent rise in anti-Jewish sentiment in Britain represen
Will Dictator Orban fall?
Is this the end for Viktor Orbán - the Godfather of European authoritarianism?Nick Cohen talks to Hugarian author, journalist and politician Zsuzsanna Szelényi about the the upcoming Hungarian election on April 12th, where Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party faces a significant challenge from the opposition Tizsa party led by Péter Magyar. Could this - at last - be the end for the role model for Donald Tr
Trump won't give up power
America may take back control from Trump's cold, dead hands!In his latest Lowdown podcast episode, recorded before US strikes against Iran, Nick Cohen talks to Washington-based British journalist and commentator, Ben Cohen, about the terrible state of the American and politics, particularly focusing on Donald Trump's disastrous presidency and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party. Ben is co
Will France fall to the far right?
France is heading for a far right take overIn this latest Lowdown podcast Nick Cohen talks in-depth to with Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet, a former F.T Paris correspondent about his book "Far-Right France: Le Pen, Bardella, and the Future of Europe." Mallett explores how the French far-right, led by Marine Le Pen and her protege Jordan Bardella, has become a mainstream political force a
A united Ireland is on the way
English nationalism will destroy the UKNick Cohen talks with Lowdown regular, author and historian James Hawes, about the on-going damage wrought on the UK by English nationalists and their failed Brexit project. Now current polls indicate that the same nationalist charlatans look likely to take power at the next general election. James said a Whitehall mandarin's prediction of the future break-up
The love Labour's lost!
Mandelson crisis engulfs an already embattled Starmer Nick Cohen talks to John McTernan about the Labour Party's deep political crisis in the wake of the struggles, leadership challenges, and ideological direction. They explore athe implications of the Peter Mandelson scandal, the factionalism within the Labour Party, and the broader context of the collapse of Christian democracy, which has create
A lonely UK's defence dilemma
Nick Cohen talks to Mark Urban about the UK's deep defence crisisNick Cohen & Mark Urban discuss changing dynamics of the American-British alliance and its huge implications for British defence strategy.Mark Urban and Nick discuss how recent actions by Donald Trump have created uncertainty about America's role as a traditional ally, particularly regarding NATO and European security. They explo
Trump's madness threatens us all
Donald Trump is increasingly insane - period!Nick Cohen talks with U.S commentator and author Claire Berlinski about the increasingly dangerous and insane presidency of Donald Trump which Claire sees as a pattern of national sabotage rather than mere incompetence, impulsiveness, or corruption, highlighting the destructive impact of his policies on US global power and alliances.The last week has sh
Comparing Trump & Putin
Trump & Putin - the despots at war with our worldIn this week's Lowdown, Nick Cohen talks to Professor Sam Greene - the Director of the Russia Institute at King's College London about Vladamir Putin and Donald Trump, and how about how much longer Russia can endure the continuing carnage and humiliation of its seemingly never ending aggression against Ukraine.What Putin intended to be a few day
America's Dark Revolution
Nick Cohen talks to influential leading US commentator Charlie Sykes who has a grim warning for the West about Trump and the far-right revolutionaries now in charge of the White HouseAmerica's dark revolution threatens the world"We're not dealing with something that's going to be fixed by a midterm election. We are dealing with a fundamentally revolutionary time - a revolutionary age in which Amer
The Tories ain't dead yet!
Charlotte Leslie, a former Conservative MP, discusses the rise of the radical right in politics and the potential for a Reform-led government in the UK, emphasising the need to take the group seriously despite their challenges. She and Nick Cohen explore the underlying divisions in British society that led to Brexit, using her experience as an MP for Bristol Northwest as an example, and discussed
Christmas Special - Was Jane Austen too woke?!
Nick Cohen and Dr Bharat Tandon, academic, novelist & Booker Prize judge, discuss Jane Austen's astonishing legacy before delving into a detailed analysis of her enduring popularity and literary significance. They explored themes of claustrophobia in Austen's works, particularly how her novels depict the constraints of patriarchal structures and economic relations for women, while also examini
Christmas special with Rev Richard Coles
A Lowdown Christmas special with Rev. Richard ColesRichard Coles is a man of many parts and many talents - a former rock star turned vicar, who inspired the BBC TV series "Rev" and continues to be a prominent figure in religious and media circles, presenting radio shows and writing thrillers. With Lowdown host Nick Cohen, Richard explores the declining role of Christianity in Britain, with discuss
We're now in Trump's cross-hairs
Trump and MAGA see European values and societies as the real enemiesNick Cohen talks to the leading US commentator Charlie Sykes about the impact of the highly controversial US National Security Strategy 2025 which has overturned 80 years of post-war security strategy and threatens the very social and political fabric of Europe, as well as its security.Incredibly, in this document, the US says it
Guilty as charged! Labour's threat to juries
Labour's threat to the ancient right of Trial by JuryNick Cohen and Francis FitzGibbon KC - a prominent barrister and former chair of the Criminal Bar Association - discuss the proposal by Labour politicians, including Sir Keir Starmer and David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, to restrict the right to trial by jury, which Nick finds astonishing given Starmer's previous advocacy for human rights and
Exploding the myths of immigration
SummaryNick Cohen and Professor Alan Manning - economist and one of the country's leading experts on immigration - discuss the impact of immigration on Western democracies, including its role in recent and upcoming elections, as well as the resurgence of right-wing movements driven by immigration-related fears. Alan Manning, a professor at the London School of Economics, explains the complexities
Starmer's failure may drag us into the abyss
Center-Left's Struggle Against Radical RightNick Cohen talks to The Guardian's chief political correspondent Rafael Behr discuss the failure of the Western centre-left to effectively counter the rise of the radical right, using examples from the United States and Britain. They highlighted the Democrats' inability to stop Trump's return to power and Labour's struggles under Keir Starmer despite a s
"None dare call it treason!"
TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE - FROM EUROPE'S RADICAL RIGHT, AND EX-BREXIT PARTY MEP NATHAN GILL!Nick Cohen and Arthur Snell - the author and ex-diplomat - discuss political corruption and treason - following the sentencing of Nathan Gill, the former Brexit Party MEP and ex-leader of UKIP in Wales. They discuss the deply disturbing case of Gill- convicted of eight counts of bribery, after an investigation b
The Centre can and must hold
Nick Cohen and Robert Saunders, the author and academic, discuss historical political party splits in Britain, particularly in the 1920s when the Liberals split and Labour formed, contrasting with the current situation where both left and right-wing votes are fragmented. Nick and Robert analyse the current political landscape, noting that while the right-wing vote is divided with Nigel Farage bein
Gay rights are under threat
Nick Cohen talks to and Ronan McCrea about the current state and future challenges of the gay rights movement. Ronan expressed concerns about the potential reversal of LGBTQ+ gains due to weakening secular and liberal forces, arguing that the movement's expansion beyond gay rights has become counterproductive and risks alienating straight allies. The discussion concluded with Ronan emphasising the
Can France be saved from the Far Right?
Can the Centre hold in France?Nick Cohen discusses the dire state of French politics with journalist, author & academic Agnès Poirier. They discuss the chaos of politics in France over the last years which has seen 4 prime ministers come and go in barely a year. Extremists on the far right and far left are becoming ever more dominant - their voices ever more shrill.In 2017, Emmanuelle Macron b
Is it already too late to save US democracy?
Is is already too late to save US democracy?In this week's The Lowdown, Nick Cohen asks Edward Luce - the Washing-based editor & columnist of the Financial Times - is it already too late to save the US? Trump is already trying to gerrymander the critical 2026 mid-term elections by demanding re-districting of states like Texas to produce more Republican states. Also, he repeatedly threatens to
The UK won't survive Tory far right lunge
Nick Cohen and historian and author James Hawes explore the rise of far-right sentiment in Britain and the Conservative Party's transformation, including their evolving definition of English identity and embrace of discriminatory immigration policies. Historical parallels were drawn between contemporary political events and pre-World War I era, with particular focus on the party's strategic shifts
A warning from Trump's kingdom of fear
Nick Cohen talks to leading US political commentator Charlie Sykes about the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on American politics and conservative institutions, with Charlie sharing his perspective as one of the first "Never Trump" conservatives and discussing the erosion of traditional conservative values and principles. They examine how Trump's rise was connected to broader trends in right-w
Will Farage's Trump worship backfire?
Can Farage be stopped, and if so, by who?Nick Cohen talks to Ed Hodgson from the More in Common think-tank about growing concerns over the potential shift towards extreme right-wing politics by Nigel Reform & his latest insurgent party Reform and the implications for British society and the political landscape. Ed Hodgson explores divisions in British society and the rise of the Reform, while
Can Keir stop the rot - or not?
SummaryLet's face it - Labour inherited a total shit show after 14 years of Tory misrule - an economy crippled by Brexit, immigration chaos, turds in our rivers and seas, and rapidly deteriorating public services. But - inevitably - it's Sir Keir Starmer who's getting the blame for the country's woes, thanks mainly to the the fickleness of the electorate as well as the country's evident decline. B
America in free fall
SummaryNick Cohen and Anne Applebaum discuss the current state of democracy in the United States and Europe, focusing on the rise of populism and identity politics, while exploring how political figures maintain support despite policy failures. They examined the systematic dismantling of American institutions under Trump's administration, including attacks on the civil service and potential weaken
Fighting Farage extremism
Nick Cohen and Sunder Katwala engage in a detailed discussion about the rise of right-wing extremism in Britain, analysing rabid right rabble-rousers like Nigel Farage and examining how his evolving stance and ambiguous approach appeal to both mainstream voters and extreme elements. They explored the current political climate, focusing on the challenges faced by mainstream conservative parties and
RIP Normality
Goodbye Normal - it was nice knowing you!Nick Cohen and author & academic Yascha Mounk explore the enduring presence of populism and the challenges faced by centrists in adapting to changing political realities, discussing how assumptions about the world have evolved over the past 25 years. They examine various economic and political challenges across different countries, including Britain, Po
Is Trump a Russian spy?
SummaryIn this discussion, Nick Cohen and former diplomat Arthur Snell explore the complex relationship between Donald Trump and Russia, examining evidence suggesting Trump may be serving Russian interests either knowingly or unwittingly. They analyze Christopher Steele's controversial intelligence work on Trump-Russia connections, noting that despite criticism, many of his key allegations have pr
The online Rabid Right plague
The death of the mainstream media has emboldened far right charlatans Nick Cohen talks to author and journalist James Bloodworth about the evolving nature of politics and media in today's digital age. James explores how traditional media institutions are losing influence while online platforms and personalities mainly of the radical and far right have become more prominent, particularly noting how
Brexit cover-up is killing UK politics
Nick Cohen talks to former Conservative MP and minister Dr Phillip Lee about the Brexit Omertà that is killing the Conservative Party. Dr Lee, now a practising GP, blames the party's spectacular demise partly on its failure to call out Nigel Garage and the Reform Party for the failure of Brexit and the dire consequences. The elephant in the roomPhillip Lee that although few people want to tal
Britain's Worst Past the Post fiasco!
The UK voting system is falling into disrepair and disreputeNick Cohen talks to the distinguished pollster and political commentator Peter Kellner @PeterKellner1 about the parlous state of British democracy and the UK's creaking and increasingly unfit-for-purpose First Past the Post voting system. Peter explains how First Past the Post (FPTP) has become problematic with increased party fragmentat
The overpowering stench of Trumpstein
SummaryThe discussion between Nick Cohen and US-based journalist and commentator Ben Cohen centres on the implications of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal for Donald Trump, including his alleged involvement with Epstein and how Trump exploited conspiracy theories like QAnon to gain political power. The conversation explored Trump's ability to control the narrative and create distractions, while examini
