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Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)
Was Andy Burnham blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election because Labour need to save resources for elections they ‘must have’? Was the Tory briefing that referenced the defecting Suella Braverman’s mental health really a ‘
U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
With the backdrop of tariffs and territorial land grabs, Stewart and Armando look at the political language of U-turns and turncoats. With politicians having to advocate for a position they used to be in direct opposition to, we ask if poli
Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)
Is Keir Starmer stuck in 2016? BBC's Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent Marianna Spring joins Phil Wang and Armando to look at the evolving language of social media. How do politicians navigate the new online world, both when
Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
New Year, and Venezuela is under new management. The fallout from the "extraction" of Maduro has thrown up some interesting political language. Why aren't the US calling it 'regime change'? Why is Starmer damned if he does or doesn't say an
Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)
It's New Year's day, so Armando and Stewart are dipping into the very real, physical listeners' mailbag. In a loose and end-of-term episode, with some adult humour, we talk about the misuse of the phrase 'bad apples', Stewart thanks Armando
Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)
As the year comes to a close, Natalie Haynes joins Armando to discuss and dissect the words of 2025. Looking at official lists, and conjuring up some of their own, they set about breaking down the language that defined another frenetic year
Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee)
Is 'Civilisational Erasure' upon us? This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at this phrase, and others from the US' new National Security Strategy. Would this kind of language have been unthinkable even a few years ago? W
AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)
This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to discuss the language around AI. They are also joined by public policy expert and author of Careless People, A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams. For l
Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)
It's budget week, Armando is joined by two members of the Strong Message Here commune, Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee. How do markets get 'spooked'? Who has the broadest shoulders? And what does 'a Labour Budget with Labour values' actually
Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)
António Guterres has said that missing the 1.5 degree climate target is "a moral failure and deadly negligence". Is he right? Dr Matt Winning joins Sara Pascoe and Armando to discuss the language around climate change. Is it proportionately
The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)
This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Sky New's new breakfast host, Sophy Ridge. In the week with 2 big resignations at the BBC, news journalism and accuracy are under the spotlight. We discuss the pressures on live b
Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)
This week, Armando is joined by Phil Wang to look at the use and abuse of political language. Defence Secretary John Healy says we need to 'be vigilant', and Reform councillor Laila Cunningham says 'Labour want us to shut up and die' - we l
In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)
This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Political Editor of The Spectator, Tim Shipman. We're looking back at looking back. In a week where a scandal-hit Prince renounces his titles and the Chinese spy case continues to
The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee)
One one hand, the world is going to hell, on the other, the age of terror and death has ended, so which is it? Stewart Lee joins Armando to take a look at this maximal approach to political language. How do you do moderate politics with cap
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)
Did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker? Of course you did, because he repeated it every time he was in front a microphone for years. Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to discuss the use of repetition. How it can be an effective r
The Battle for the Soul of the Country (with Adam Fleming)
Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference. Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their
Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee)
Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'. With Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are now
Phase 2 (with Ria Lina)
In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language. The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home,
Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
In the last of our summer mini-series, Helen brings a book by Terry Pratchett. To Helen's surprise, this is a blind spot for Armando, who hasn't read any despite being told to do so many times. Where do you start with such an extensive back
Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)
Armando has been watch Tehran on Apple TV. This multi-language show about spy agencies in Iran and Israel sheds gives you a glimpse in to life on the ground in these countries that you can't get from headlines alone. Like the Post Office sc
Strong Recommend: Elden Ring
If you're interested in fantasy, and fancy taking on a responsibility equivalent to a part-time job, Helen recommends Elden Ring. A wildly popular Japanese video game which allows you to live in a world created by George RR Martin. With pla
Strong Recommend: The Contestant
In 1998, a Japanese man was filmed in solitary confinement for our entertainment. Naked as the day he was born, which led to his suggestive nickname, the Japanese people were gripped by Tomoaki Hamatsu's journey. Today, can we see how reali
Strong Recommend: Shamanism, The Timeless Religion by Dr Manvir Singh
What is xenising? And why do authority figures do it? Can we trace Farage back to the shamans of the past? Helen recommends Dr Manvir Singh's book Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, which helps inform a discussion around ritual and our desir
Strong Recommend: The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
Fancy trying a new author, but don't know where to start? Armando recommends a short novel by Penelope Fitzgerald, and Helen shares a tip on how to try on a new author for size before committing. Join Helen and Armando over the summer for m
Strong Recommend: Evita at London Palladium
Helen has been to the theatre recently, so you don't have to! Jamie Lloyd's production of Evita has a moment in it which can be enjoyed by anyone who happens to be near the venue at about 9pm most nights across the summer. You can enjoy the
Strong Recommend: Shakespeare's Richard II
This week, it's Armando's term to recommend something, and he makes the case for a little known up-and-coming writer, William Shakespeare. Richard II doesn't get its due among the other historical plays. Armando wonders why? It's full of dr
Strong Recommend: Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts
This week, Helen picks a book she's enjoyed recently. Jason Roberts' book from this year, Every Living Thing, details Carl Linnaeus and Du Buffon's attempts at taxonomy. The naming conventions of various parts of our world have informed so
Strong Recommend: The Ballad of Wallis Island
To start off this mini-series, Armando picks a film he's enjoyed recently. Tim Key and Tom Basden's hit film The Ballad of Wallis Island started life as a short film, and has won plaudits for its offbeat, funny and warm story. How do films
We Haven't Always Told Our Story as Well as We Should
This week, Helen and Armando look back at a year of the Labour government. What language has come out of if, and why is it struggling to define itself? Looking at phrases from the year, like "The tepid bath of managed decline" and "National
The New Brexit
This week, Helen Lewis is back! In the longer edition, you can hear what Helen has been up to in her absence, before Helen and Armando set their sights on the language around Net Zero. They ask, Why has it taken long for them to cover it on