The Lowdown from Nick Cohen

Epizódy

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  Climate change will change everything 05.10.2026 35min

  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, noting missed targets and the persistence of fossil fuel reliance despite the affordability of renewables. Arthur and Nick discuss the role of China in driving down renewable costs and the geopolitical shifts this causes, contrasting it with America's doubling down on fossil fuels. The conversation covered the link between climate change and conflict, particularly in Africa's Sahel region, and the challenges of adaptation, including infrastructure investment and political opposition. Arthur Snell explains the limitations of geo-engineering as a solution and expressed cautious optimism, stating that humanity will probably continue to adapt to a more erratic climate and mitigate its effects, though extreme weather will become more common.Arthur says: "I think we're in the odd position where, the, the people who we need to rely on to sort of save us are the authoritarians of the Chinese Communist Party, which is, is an uncomfortable, situation to be in. And, and the reason I say that is arguably, I think a lot of this comes down to pure kind of strategic calculation. Of course, China is, very dependent on energy imports and has been for decades. , So for China, the argument to push for, massive renewable energy expansion is a no brainer. And, and I'm not actually denying that the Chinese, unlike Donald Trump, probably do care a bit about the climate crisis for all kinds of logical reasons, just as our own leaders do."Arthur also says of the populists taking advantage of climate change: "I think part of this is, is playing, playing the man and not the ball... the populists will respond to these events by attacking the government's response. And you know, whenever there's a disaster, there's always something that you can have a go at. So you can say that because of, you know, wasting time on woke policies.... think the other thing that, that populists do is they, they weaponise fear and they, they talk about the economic aspects of it. And so they say, well, these people are going to bankrupt us, and what we need to be doing is investing in our emergency responses, and instead they're going to bankrupt us by insisting that we, we have expensive renewable energy or things like that."Read all about itArthur Snell's @SnellArthur @snellarthur.bsky.social substack column is Not all doom & his regular inciteful podcast is Behind the Lines. Arthur's latest book tackles the growing climate crisis and is called Elemental - The new geography of climate change and how we survive it. Arthur's first not fiction book was How Britain Broke the World: War, Greed and Blunders from Kosovo to Afghanistan, 1997-2022 .Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Read Nick's latest column, Can Europe resist Trump's gangsterism? Does it have the willpower to try? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Farage & his Fairford fantasies 01.10.2026 11min

  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 before anyone was even charged, Farage rushed headlong onto social media and heavily suggested this was an Iranian plot, using terrorists who got into the UK on one of the small boats!Nick says that while the story initially appeared serious, the five arrested men were released on bail, no weapons were found, and one suspect had actually called the police. Nick argues that Farage used the event to falsely link the incident to asylum seekers and small boats, despite the suspects being British citizens. He claims Farage then aligned himself with the extreme right by comparing the situation to that of Danny "Tommo", a leader of a group that menaces ports. Nick describes a "media political complex" involving Farage, Rupert Lowe, and GB News that pressures the police and undermines contempt of court laws. Nick concludes by quoting a psychological profile of Adolf Hitler to suggest that Farage and his allies use similar tactics of repetition and blame to maintain supporter dependency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The U.S. we knew is dead 28.09.2026 48min

  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's traditional role as a leader of democracies, instead promoting corruption, far-right ideologies, and imperialist policies both domestically and abroad. Canada's PM Mark Carney was among the first of prominent western leaders to publicly proselytise recognise the disturbing truth about the U.S. and propose a strategy to build a new order without such reliance on U.S. for our security.She details how the administration seeks to manipulate elections and influence politics in allied democracies like the UK, Canada, and European countries, often aligning with far-right groups and using economic pressure. Anne discusses the ideological underpinnings, including the Great Replacement Theory, and the normalisation of breaking democratic taboos. Chillingly, she warns that even if Trump loses power, the ideas and networks driving this movement will persist, and she advised European countries to consider alternative security arrangements. The conversation also touched on the role of tech companies and cryptocurrency in funding and amplifying these movements. Anne concludes by emphasising the fundamental will to power motivating these actions, referencing George Orwell's insights on the appeal of authoritarianism.Read all about!Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum @TheAtlantic and @SNFAgoraJHU is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such brilliant best-selling histories as Gulag, Iron Curtain, Red Famine, Twilight of Democracy and now AUTOCRACY INC . Find her more often on http://wsocial.eu Warsaw, London, Washington linktr.ee/anneapplebaum . Her lates essay Empire of Grift is in the latest edition of The Atlantic.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Crypto threat to democracy 26.09.2026 11min

  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 involvement in the crypto industry. Cohen criticises the lack of regulation in the crypto sector and its use by criminals and authoritarian regimes. He argued that honest industries do not need to buy political protection and called for more scrutiny of large political donations. Cohen also mentioned the need for Labour and other politicians to take a stronger stance against the anti-democratic forces funded by crypto interests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Russia is at war with the UK 21.09.2026 47min

  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 Russian intelligence has shifted its focus from left-wing groups to right-wing populist parties, particularly targeting figures like Nigel Farage and the Reform Party in the UK. Luke and Nick discuss how Russian agent recruitment of Ukrainian Ilya Bilyik to attack mosques in London was part of a broader pattern of destabilisation operations, including the firebombing of Keir Starmer's home. Luke detailed Trump's long-standing connections with Russia dating back to the 1970s, including Soviet surveillance of Trump and his family, and questioned whether Trump serves as a Russian asset given his consistent pro-Russian policies in office. Luke examines Putin's war strategy in Ukraine, noting how Russian casualties exceed 1 million while making minimal territorial gains, and he talks to Nick about how Putin's approach of waiting out Western resolve while supporting far-right parties in Europe represents a new form of imperial conquest. Luke expresses concern about the West's response to Russian influence operations and emphasises the need for democratic countries to maintain their values and alliances despite current challenges.Read all about!Luke Harding @Luke Harding68. Journalist @Guardian is.a fomrer foreign correspondent * Moscow correspondent for The Guardian, and a former New York Times best-selling author. His new book is Betrayal: Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest. His publisher is @FaberBooksNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Save the UK from corruption 17.09.2026 13min

  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 Ecclestone produced an exception to a tobacco-advertising ban for Formula One. Uniquely among Western democracies, Britain also lets money purchase a seat in the legislature through peerages; the odds that such honours were coincidental were once put at winning the lottery jackpot five times running. Because big money in politics was never cleaned up, Cohen says, we now live in an age of extreme wealth in which sums that are rounding errors to crypto billionaires can buy an entire party.CRYPTO-SLEAZE & REFORMNick says there is rightly deep concern over the unprecedented funds being showered on Reform by shadowy foreign-based: Christopher Harborne a main investor in the Tether stablecoin firm, has recently pledged £36 million, on top of an earlier £5 million personal gift to Farage, and earlier donations to Reform totalling £12million. The total amount to Reform and Farage would total a staggering £53 million! The Harborne £36 million is being matched by another crypto-billionaire, Ben Delo, co-founder and former chief executive of BitMEX. Delo pleaded guilty in 2023 to U.S. anti-corruption charges over failed anti-money-laundering controls and was later pardoned by Donald Trump. Farage, whom Nick Cohen calls Trump’s acolyte, then lobbies the Bank of England against a digital pound that would compete with his patrons’ products and presses for capital-gains-tax cuts on crypto. Both Harborne and Delo have indicated they will move back to the UK so their huge donations can be valid, and legally made under current UK electoral law.Labour, despite a huge Commons majority, is not closing the loophole that currently allows foreign based donors to move to the UK in order to make a donation because it too lives off big money. An insider account of the 2024 campaign records Angela Rayner’s proposed ban on foreign donations being pulled after Labour’s then-biggest donor, Lord Ali, objected. Nick finds a mere foreign-donor ban inadequate anyway: money has no smell, and a gift from Thailand or Hong Kong does not become virtuous if the donor moves to Britain. He wants a hard cap on donations regardless of source—even if that hurts trade unions—plus more public funding of parties, building on existing Short Money. If a Labour government will not do that, he asks, what is the point of it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Burnham must fight the far right 14.09.2026 55min

  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 supporting extreme right-wing movements, creating a more dangerous political landscape than the "cosy" narrative of just elderly voters being concerned about change. Rafael analyses the Labour Party's failure to adequately confront far-right threats, particularly noting how they treat extreme right-wing protests as legitimate political expression rather than addressing the underlying fascism. Raf and Nick discuss how figures like Nigel Farage have been able to manipulate both mainstream and extreme right-wing voters, and discuss the lack of strong pushback from both Labour and Conservative parties against far-right influences, including Russian interference and extreme positions on immigration. They conclude by discussing their concerns about the need for clearer red lines against fascism and whether Labour leader Andy Burnham would articulate a stronger response to these sinister aspects of an increasingly transnational radical right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Burnham must take on the black shirts 08.09.2026 8min

  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 a crutch during a Farage conference speech and grabbed by their hair by thugs and dragged out of the hall - but the silence in the face of these outrages from the Labour government is deafening.Nick Cohen says that Labour must take off its kid gloves in dealing with Farage and co and take on the forces of the radical right full on. Nick argues that Burnham cannot make the same mistake as Keir Starmer and flunk these crucial challenges to democracy and true British values for fear of upsetting voters who are currently attracted by Farage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Brexit Britain's growing debt crisis 07.09.2026 44min

  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 than immediate financial crisis.Simon attributes the UK's inflation problem to being a price taker in global markets, energy price vulnerabilities, and Brexit's impact on supply chains. Simon argued that the UK's economic model shifted from efficiency-focused neoliberalism to a resilience-focused approach, noting that decades of prioritising efficiency over resilience left the country vulnerable to shocks in finance, energy, and infrastructure. Simon and Nick discusses potential solutions including a 2p income tax rise, with Simon suggesting this could address multiple challenges simultaneously, though he acknowledges the political constraints preventing such measures under current conditions. Simon and Nick also cover Andy Burnham's approach to addressing these issues, with Simon noting Burnham's correct analysis of neoliberalism's failures but expressing concern about the lack of concrete policy proposals beyond identifying problems.Read all about!Simon Nixon's Substack column Wealth of Nations is one of the best and most insightful reads on economics and finance. European political economy and geoeconomics. Previously chief Europe commentator @WSJ, chief leader writer @thetimesNick Cohen's regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bursting the Brexit Bubble 01.09.2026 39min

  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 in Brexit or austerity policies. He explains that right-wing figures genuinely believe they haven't gone far enough with their policies rather than admitting mistakes, and that the entire movement has been radicalised into extreme positions through an echo chamber effect. Roland and Nick discuss how journalists like Boris Johnson and Michael Gove led Brexit rather than proper politicians, how the Conservative Party has been pulled ever rightwards, and how no one can operate within right-wing circles and admit Brexit was wrong without losing their entire social network. They discuss how this radicalisation has cost the Conservatives traditional support in former strongholds, with seats like Chesham and Amersham switching to Liberal Democrats, yet the party continues moving in an extreme direction under leaders like Kemi Badenoch.Read all about it!Roland Smith @rolandmcs is a Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute and author of "The Liberal Case for Leave", made the case for the EEA [European Economic Area] - a so-called "soft Brexit" which would have left the UK in the Single Market back in 2016. He has since publicly opposed the hard Brexit agreed by Boris Johnson's government. Roland also has his own regular Substack column, Soft Landing, that regularly explores the UK's troubled relationship with the EUNick Cohen's @NickCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Israel on the brink 24.08.2026 38min

  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 increasingly critical of Israel and supportive of BDS movements. Jo-Ann and Nick discuss how Israel has become a wedge issue in American politics, with left-wing candidates opposing pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC, while also addressing concerns about rising anti-Semitism in the left-wing movement. Jo-Ann criticises performative activism around Israel, arguing that targeted sanctions and engagement with Palestinian leaders like Marwan Barghouthi would be more effective than symbolic gestures like BDS. She also discusses the upcoming Israeli elections and potential leadership changes that could impact the peace process, as well as concerns about anti-Semitism affecting Jewish communities in both America and Britain.Read all about it!Jo-Ann Mort is a journalist, poet, analyst, advisor-specialty Israel/Palestine and social Democracy, A PRECISE CHAOS, poetry 4thcoming from @ArrowsmithpressNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Censors' threat to art 10.08.2026 45min

  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 describes how plays are now heavily workshopped and censored by committees, leading to bland and inoffensive productions. Sally highlights specific examples, such as the canceled production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, which was deemed too political. Nick and Sally also discuss the chilling effect of funding dependencies, such as deals with China, and political pressures, particularly in Scotland where the SNP's dominance has stifled satire. Sally concludes with a critique of the self-censorship and institutional timidity that is rendering the arts irrelevant and apolitical.Read all about it!@SallyGimson is editor of @IndexCensorship, aTrustee of Abortion Talk. Sally's Fabian pamphlet Building Bridges in the wake of the Labour Party's 2019 defeat on what it needed to enhance its futjure election chances https://fabians.org.uk/publication/building-bridges/ was published in 2020.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump's U.S is a paper tiger 03.08.2026 32min

  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 operations. He describes how Iran is exploiting two key American vulnerabilities: Trump's need to declare victory and the pressure on U.S. allies in the Gulf region.Phillips highlights the significant depletion of America's missile stockpiles, noting that the U.S. and its partners are firing as many Patriot missiles in one week as they would build in a year. He criticises the corruption and division within American institutions, including the military, which he said has been compromised by Trump's promotion of loyalists over competent officers. Phillips and Nick discuss Iran's potential war aims, including control over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining their nuclear program, sanctions relief, and withdrawal of U.S. military presence in the region. Phillips concludes that the conflict would likely end after the November 2026 election, as the war has become increasingly unpopular and pressure would mount on Washington to find a settlement.Read all about it!Read Phillips' own regular Substack column - Phillips's Newsletter. Phillips is also professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump's forever wars 27.07.2026 47min

  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 ordinary Americans see Canada as an enemy, making Trump’s tariffs especially irrational and damaging. He argues the episode shows allies can no longer assume the US will honour agreements, whether on trade, NATO, or security guarantees.On Iran, Sykes says Trump promised to avoid “forever wars” but is now trapped by his fear of looking weak. He warns that Trump’s corruption, isolation, and reliance on loyalists have made US policy more erratic, while nuclear deals with Saudi Arabia and unreliable American guarantees may encourage more countries to seek nuclear weapons.Read all about it!Charlie Sykes @SykesCharlie is a leading highly respected United States conservative political commentator who was formerly editor-in-chief and founder of the highly influential website The Bulwark. Charlie has been a leading Never Trump Conservative since Trump stood for the presidency in 2015. Charlie's Substack - To the contrary is a must read, and his regular podcast - also called To the contrary - a must listen. He has also been a columnist and author for the progressive channel MSNBC.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Right's attack on free speech 20.07.2026 44min

  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, through Marco Rubio and the State Department, to revoke or threaten visas and immigration status for foreign researchers who study misinformation, disinformation, platform harms, and technology policy. Emma L Briant explains that the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, of which she is a member, advocates for independent access to platform data so researchers can assess harms without depending on tech companies’ permission.Emma argues that the real target is not “censorship” but transparency. Researchers, she says, are being punished for measuring and exposing uncomfortable facts about social-media platforms, algorithmic harms, propaganda, and failures of accountability. Tech companies and their political allies frame this research as censorship because governments may use it to inform regulation, but Emma stresses that researchers do not make policy: they analyse evidence. She connects this to a wider alliance between the political Right and powerful technology executives, especially in the United States, who oppose European-style regulation such as the Digital Services Act because it threatens their control over data, platform design, verification systems, and public scrutiny.The interview broadens into a critique of oligarchic power over media and democracy. Briant and Cohen discuss wealthy figures and tech elites using immense resources to shape politics, weaken regulation, influence media institutions, and promote far-right agendas. Emma warns that extreme wealth creates unprecedented political power and a sense of entitlement among billionaire and trillionaire elites, whose interests are increasingly aligned with authoritarian right-wing politics. Her proposed response is tougher, more targeted accountability: not merely media literacy or content moderation, but laws andenforcement aimed at the actors behind disinformation, whether states, platforms, PR firms, or political funders.Read all about it! Dr Emma L. Briant is a leading expert on misinformation and propaganda and a published author. She is Visiting Associate Professor (Research) at University of Notre Dame. She is a Fellow in the Human Rights Program at Bard College, an Associate at the Center for Financial Reporting and Accountability, University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Media and Journalism Research Centre Previously she held faculty positions.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Rising intolerance of the Right 17.07.2026 12min

  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 European Convention on Human Rights, and Amnesty International's controversial report targeting organisations that disagree with gender ideology. Nick argues that while these movements claim to be protecting their respective ideologies, they are actually demonstrating intellectual decline by using fear and exclusion rather than debate to win arguments, and suggested that the public will ultimately reject such authoritarian approaches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Follow the Farage money! 13.07.2026 35min

  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 George Cottrell, with money potentially being funnelled through Richard Tice's companies. Peter explains how Farage's policies on cryptocurrency align with his donors' interests, noting that Reform Party has concrete policies on crypto deregulation despite having few other defined positions. The conversation explored how Farage's claims about being tough on crime contrast with his support from a crypto industry used by criminals, and discussed the lack of political opposition from Labour in highlighting these corruption issues.Read all about itPeter Geoghegan's must read Substack is Democracy for Sale & his best selling book Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics  is published by W.F.Howes Ltd.Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The crypto bung by-election 09.07.2026 11min

  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 kind for Farage's political operations. Nick slams Farage's claim to be tough on crime while simultaneously lobbying against a digital pound and supporting the crypto industry, noting that crypto serves as a tool for criminals and state actors due to its untraceable nature. He emphasises that journalists and politicians should challenge Farage on this contradiction by asking why someone claiming to be tough on crime would be soft on crypto. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Londonov - A class act no more 06.07.2026 49min

  "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 international elites, with properties like the One Hyde Park development being owned primarily by Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern investors, and other foreign billionaires rather than British residents. They examined how American and Russian influence has disrupted traditional national identities, with Peter citing examples like Elon Musk's deliberately inflammatory statements and the US government's official security strategy calling for regime change in favor of European far-right parties.Peter and Nick explore how the English ruling class has been replaced by international plutocrats, with British citizens now often serving as "butlers to the world" in various service industries, while political figures like Nigel Farage receive funding from wealthy developers like the Candy Brothers who build luxury properties for international clients. Peter reflects on his own political awakening and expressed concern about Britain's future choices between aligning with America, Europe, or other global powers, emphasising the need for truth-telling about the current state of international relations.Read all about it! Peter York @PeterPeteryork The legendary journalist, author, style guru & social commentator. Author: Sloane Ranger Handbook, Dictators Homes, Style Wars, The War Against the BBC, Dead Cat on Your Table Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The lost Brexit decade 29.06.2026 41min

  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 both examine how Europe has moved from a "Kantian" rule-based system to an "unorder" world where international rules no longer have standing, using the Iran conflict as an example of how military actions are now conducted without regard for international law. They discuss Brexit's impact on Britain's position in the world, with Mark Leonard presenting polling data showing that 58% of Leave voters believe Brexit has been bad for border management and that 75% of Britons want closer EU relations.They discuss how Germany has transformed its energy system and defence posture in response to global challenges, while Britain struggles with infrastructure projects and defence capabilities. Mark explains that British public opinion has shifted from the 2016 Brexit divide to three new groups: "loners" (27% who want to stay out of Europe), "optimists" (30% who would vote to rejoin), and "realists" (35% favouringcloser cooperation), with younger demographics being more pro-European. They conclude with optimism about potential future shifts in British politics toward re-engagement with Europe, particularly if Labour adopts a more pro-European stance.Read all about it! @markhleonard Co-Founder & director, @ecfr, bestselling author, latest book THE AGE OF UNPEACE, keynote speaker & weekly podcast host http://apple.co/2ACObcjNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.