{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/648c40140701dc00113b4626/660ee77f3a97ef00171599dc?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The year so far (Spoiler alert: It’s worse than we could imagine)","description":"<p>How time flies when the world is on fire… a quarter of 2024 has already passed and the Matts check global progress against their expectations at New Year. It’s a grind reality check as Gaza and Ukraine go from bad to worse and Trump appears to be gaining ground on the White House.&nbsp;On the upside, there’ve been a bunch of cultural highlights to provide welcome distraction - not least the publication this week of Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan. “It’s like Bonfire Of the Vanities… but better” says Matt d’Ancona. Enjoy!</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to the New European and get a free signed copy of James O'Brien's hardback book, How They Broke Britain (worth £20!) when you use this link &gt;&gt;</p><p>https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/2matts/</p>","author_name":"The New World"}