Podaganda
26 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago -A weekly show from journalists Steve Sweeney, Ben Cowles and their Morning Star comrades, Podaganda is the podcast the corporate media warned you about: It's adversarial, sweary and profoundly left-wing.
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Episodes
Turkey's child rape bill, Libyan refugees and cutting the Gaza fence
January 17, 2020 18:12 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBPODAGANDA is back after a much-needed break from 2019 and ready to take on the new decade. In this episode, journalists Ben Cowles, Steve Sweeney and Bethany Rielly discuss: The Turkish government’s proposed changes to child sex laws (4:09) The 1,000 refugees pushed back to war-torn Libya in the first two weeks of 2020 (11:50) The protesters who tried to cut Israel’s fence around Gaza fence (20:58) As always, brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Sh...
Standing up to Nato and the pro-Israeli settlement charity
December 06, 2019 16:57 - 40 minutes - 55.3 MBIN this episode, Ben Cowles is joined by fellow journalists Ceren Sagir and Bethany Rielly to discuss: The general election so far: The polls, the Lib Dems’ lies, Elizabeth Winsdor’s (aka the queen) speech fiasco, Tory Islamophobia (1:50) This week’s anti-Nato protests (10:03) And the pro-Israeli settlements charity which held a meeting in London this week (18:32) As always, brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show notes Legenda...
Saving lives is not a crime: Interview with SOS Mediterranee's David Starke
November 25, 2019 18:13 - 47 minutes - 66.2 MBIN this episode of Podaganda, David Starke, the general director of SOS Mediterranee speaks about the charity’s rescue missions onboard the Ocean Viking, Europe’s handling of the so-called ‘migrant crisis’ and the criminalisation of humanitarian rescue Show notes Follow Podaganda, Ben Cowles and SOS Mediterranee on Twitter via: @PodagandaCast, @Cowlesz and @SOSMedIntl. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also works on board the Ocean Viking with SOS Mediterranee. Check them out here...
A once-in-a-generation opportunity: Interview with Labour's Danielle Rowley
November 18, 2019 14:14 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBIN this episode of Podaganda, Labour’s shadow minister for climate justice and green jobs Danielle Rowley tells us about how she became Labour’s youngest MP, her campaign to get re-elected as Midlothian's MP, the Lib Dem-Plaid Cymru-Green Party's alliance, the environment, period poverty and more. As always, brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show notes Follow Podaganda, Ben Cowles and Danielle Rowley on Twitter via: @PodagandaCast, @Cowles...
General Election; Footballers and billionaires; global fight against neoliberalism, and The Joker
November 08, 2019 15:16 - 56 minutes - 77.9 MBIN episode nine of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney are joined by their Morning Star colleague Kadeem Simmonds to discuss: General Election 2019 (1.40) Footballers defending billionaires against Labour (16:36) Anti-neoliberal protests around the world (24:48) And the Joker from a leftwing perspective (Spoilers!)(37:48) As always brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show Notes Check out Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s sketchy v...
Chile vs Neoliberalism: Interview with Francisco Dominguez
November 01, 2019 16:00 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MBIn this episode of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney interview Chilean academic and activist Francisco Dominguez about the recent anti-neoliberal protests in Chile and the history which led to them. As always brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show Notes Check out Francisco’s recent article for the Public Reading Rooms here: bit.ly/2WzH1PN Read about the Chicago Boys here: bit.ly/337ijbZ Find out more abo...
The British state, the media and Middle Eastern regimes: Interview with Matt Kennard
October 18, 2019 21:29 - 1 hour - 28.4 MBIn this special episode of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney interview investigative journalist and author Matt Kennard about: The British intelligence services’ co-opting of the Guardian newspaper (11:37) the establishment’s propping up of the brutal Saudi royal family (30:42) and the Windsor’s connection to Bahrain’s absolute monarch (44:23) As always brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show Notes Read t...
Criminalising solidarity: Sean Binder, Anouk Van Gestal, Haidi Sadik, Ben Smoke and Jeremy Corbyn
October 10, 2019 15:11 - 1 hour - 28.3 MBBen Cowles and Steve Sweeney were unable to record a show this week, due mainly to life and work getting in the way. And so Podaganda would like to present The World Transformed’s Crimes for Humanity panel at the Labour Party Conference from a couple of weeks ago. In this brilliant conference that Ben went to, the awesome panelists discuss how Europe has treated them as criminals for saving migrant and refugee lives. The speakers include: Sean Binder Anouk Van Gestal Haidi ...
The media war on Labour: The Morning Star fringe event
September 28, 2019 16:07 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBIN this special episode of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney present the Morning Star’s fringe meeting, the Media War on Labour, at Labour Party Conference in Brighton last week. Speakers include: Carolyn Jones, vice-chair of the Morning Star’s management committee (2:23) Morning Star Editor Ben Chacko (6:22) Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott (13:00) Shadow chancellor John McDonnell (24:11) Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) general secretary Dave Ward (34:09) ...
Unethical journalism; Lib Dem conference, and Turkish state misogyny
September 20, 2019 20:08 - 1 hour - 98.6 MBIn episode eight, journalists Steve Sweeney and Ben Cowles are joined by with Morning Star colleague Kadeem Simmonds and the Private Eye/Morning Star’s Solomon Hughes to discuss: A bad week for journalism (Laura Kuenssberg, the S*n’s Ben Stokes story and the blackmail of Gareth Thomas) (02:55) Solomon Hughes reports from the Lib Dem’s Conference (28:21) Turkey’s renewed attack on the HDP and women’s rights (54:10) ??? (1:05:46) Show notes: You can read Solomon Hughes’s la...
Press Freedom and the Labour Party: Interview with Asa Winstanley
September 11, 2019 14:26 - 1 hour - 32.8 MBIn this special episode of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney interview the Electronic Intifada’s Asa Winstanley about Palestine, journalism, the so-called Labour anti-semitism crisis, and his ban from the Labour Party conference. Brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show notes: Check out the Electronic Intifada’s brilliant journalism here: electronicintifada.net Asa Winstanley’s work for EI can be found here: elect...
The Lib Dem's no-deal Brexit bungle; repression in Turkey; NGO ships saving lives, and football's twitter racism problem
August 23, 2019 15:44 - 1 hour - 32.8 MBIn episode 7 of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney are joined by their Morning Star colleagues Kadeem Simmonds and Lamit Sabin to discuss: The Lib Dems helping Alexander "Boris" de Pfeffel Johnson’s no-deal Brexit (2:36) Turkey’s President Erdogan’s latest brutal crackdown on the HDP (19:45) Why did an NGO migrant rescue ship captain turn down the Medal of the City of Paris? (35:34) And Twitter’s abysmal handling of racist abused aimed at black footballers (45:51)...
EHRC Exposed: Interview with Phil Miller
August 13, 2019 14:53 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MBIN this special bonus episode of Podaganda, Ben Cowles speaks with journalist Phil Miller about his investigative series exposing potential conflicts of interest at the highest levels of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and its probe into anti-semitism in the Labour party. Show notes Check out parts one to five of Phil’s EHRC Exposed articles below: Part 1: Fears over conflicts of interest at top of watchdog probing Labour anti-semitism: bit.ly/2TxZ3Ay ...
What's going on in Nicaragua?
August 07, 2019 15:58 - 42 minutes - 19.5 MBFinally Steve Sweeney and Ben Cowles are back podcasting together after a summer of craziness. In episode 7, Steve talks us through his recent trip to Nicaragua where he reported on the 40th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution and contrasts what he saw with the mainstream media. Show notes Here’s Wikipedia’s take on the Nicaraguan Revolution: bit.ly/2ZFP8Lo Another interesting read on the revolution worth reading is Neil Faulker’s take here for Counterfire: bit...
Is the British military a far-right organisation? Interview with Joe Glenton
July 25, 2019 14:36 - 1 hour - 28.3 MBIN this special bonus episode of Podaganda, Ben Cowles speaks with author, activist and veteran JOE GLENTON on how the British military resembles a far-right organisation. We also discuss imperialism, class, and why Joe went Awol in Southeast Asia and fought for his right to be recognised as a conscientious objector. Show notes Follow Joe Glenton on Twitter here: @joejglenton. You can buy Joe’s book, Solider Box: Why I Won’t Return to the War on Terror, here: bit.ly...
Interview with Haidi Sadik of the German migrant rescue NGO Sea Watch
July 21, 2019 10:31 - 45 minutes - 21 MBIN this special bonus episode of Podaganda, Ben Cowles speaks with Haidi Sadik from the German migrant rescue NGO Sea Watch about the charity’s recent rescue mission and the 17-day stand off with Italy and Europe’s war on the civil fleet. Show notes Click on the following link to read Ben’s coverage of Sea Watch: bit.ly/2O9osl0 Here’s the story Ben was getting confused with Sea Watch: bit.ly/2LZXSYC. In April, the German Transport Ministry gave the Mare Liberum, a 69ft ya...
Interview with Campaign Against the Arms Trade's Andrew Smith
June 25, 2019 14:46 - 1 hour - 29.2 MBIN this special bonus episode of Podaganda, Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeny speak with Andrew Smith from Campaign Against the Arms Trade (Caat) about their legal victory halting weapon sales to Saudi Arabia. Show notes Read about Caat’s Arms to Renewables campaign here: mstar.link/2xepsZC Read about the Italian dock workers who stopped weapons being shipped to Saudi Arabia: mstar.link/2xc5ONV Steve’s report on the French journalists from the Disclose investigative jour...
Establishment vs working-class history: Interview with Dr Louise Raw
June 21, 2019 16:29 - 51 minutes - 23.5 MBIN this special bonus episode of Podaganda, Ben Cowles speaks with historian, activist, broadcaster, trade unionist and all-round legend Dr Louise Raw about: Establishment history vs working-class history; Pissing off the far right; The Tory party leadership race; The matchwomen’s central role in the labour movement, Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and the media’s framing of him; Historiography and the importance of nuance, And the Matchwomen’s festival Get your tickets to M...
Gross Tory leadership candidates; Italy wants to jail people for rescuing migrants; Mike Pompeo's secret threat to Corbyn
June 15, 2019 12:20 - 1 hour - 28.6 MBIn episode 6 of Podaganda, journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney are joined by their Morning Star comrade Ceren Sagir to discuss: The Tory leadership candidates (5:10) The German sea-captain Pia Klemp who faces 20 years in an Italian jail for rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean (32:55) Mike Pompeo’s leaked threat to Jeremy Corbyn (43:00) ??? (54:27) Brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show notes Follow the Sudanese Transl...
Sudanese Translators for Change: Interview with Raga Makawi
June 08, 2019 08:00 - 19 minutes - 8.93 MBIN this special bonus episode, Podaganda's Ben Cowles speaks with Sudanese Translators for Change activist Raga Makawi about the ongoing revolution in Sudan. Show notes Follow the Sudanese Translators for Change on Twitter via @SudaneseTc. Steve, Ben and the rest of the Morning Star crew's coverage of Sudan can be found here: bit.ly/2wIwMMR
Journalism under fire across the world and Britain attempts to deport gay rugby player to unsafe country
June 05, 2019 18:05 - 47 minutes - 21.8 MBAfter a two-week hiatus, Podaganda Episode 5 is here. Journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney discuss: The Blairite-Tory alliance party Change UK splitting / Theresa May’s resignation / and Donald Trump’s visit to Britain (2:11) The Turkish state objects to Kurdish journalist Seda Taskin’s acquittal claiming her work is spreading ‘terrorist propaganda’ And gay rugby player Ken Macahria speaks with Ben Cowles about the fears he will face persecution in Kenya if Britain deports him Brac...
The Tories' diabolical plan to prevent justice and the Italian dockers who fought the arms trade
May 21, 2019 14:18 - 44 minutes - 20.3 MBIn episode 4 of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney discuss: Tory Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt’s 10-year amnesty for British soldiers accused of crimes (3:57) An Italian dockers’ strike to block weapons bound for Saudi Arabia (24:40) ??? (37:58) Brace yourself for profoundly left-wing views and plenty of bad language Show notes Read Steve’s interview with Kurdish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan here: https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/f...
Free Kibriye Evren; Working-class football fans; Scottish Tories; Refugees aren't terrorists
May 10, 2019 22:33 - 1 hour - 29.3 MBIn episode 3 of Podaganda, journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney are joined by their friends/comrades Ben Saunders and (briefly) Conrad Landin to discuss: The free Kibriye Evren campaign, an initiative started by the Star’s NUJ chapel to urge our trade union and others to call for the freedom of hunger-striking Kurdish journalist (3:20) Working-class football fans being priced out of the Champions League final by absurd “market forces” (15:56) The Scottish Conservatives Party Con...
The Miami Showband Massacre: Interview with Stephen Travers
May 07, 2019 22:50 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBIN this special bonus episode, Podaganda's Steve Sweeney speaks with Stephen Travers: musician, campaigner and survivor of the Miami Showband massacre. In July 1975, one of the most notorious events of The Troubles took place in County Down in the north of Ireland. Three members of one of the most popular bands at the time, the Miami Showband, were shot dead by Loyalist paramilitaries at what appeared to be a British Army checkpoint. Sweeney spoke to bass player and survivor Stephen Tr...
Parliament's climate emergency, digital consent, and Venezuela
May 03, 2019 15:03 - 44 minutes - 35.2 MBIn episode 2 of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney are joined by Ceren Sagir to discuss: Jeremy Corbyn forcing Parliament to be the first in the world to declare a climate emergency. What does this mean and is it enough? And what about Heathrow’s third runway? (2:17) The digital consent forms allowing police forces to download data from rape victims’ phones. What does this mean for privacy and women’s rights? Can the police be trusted with this power? (10:27) And what th...
A victory for renters, Kurdish hunger strikers occupy Amnesty International and Global Witness warns investments in fossil fuels will exacerbate climate change
April 27, 2019 13:03 - 52 minutes - 24.1 MBIn the first episode of Podaganda journalists Ben Cowles and Steve Sweeney discuss: A victory for the London Renters Union (3:12) The Kurdish hunger strikers occupying Amnesty International's London HQ in protest against the charity's silence on the imprisonment of Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Abdullah Öcalan (10:00) And interview Murray Worthy from Global Witness about a report he authored warning that the $4.9 trillion invested in new fossil fuel extractions are incompatible with g...