Share
Daily Politics from the New Statesman
Booker prize winner Samantha Harvey: "political choices are sculpting the surface of the earth"
The author of Orbital says Elon Musk's "individualistic" future is "problematic in all sorts of ways".
Samantha Harvey, winner of the 2024 Booker Prize for fiction speaks to Nicholas Harris in this episode of Culture from the New Statesman.
She discusses how her novel portrays the politics and powers of the world from orbit, and why the de-orbiting of the ISS marks the end of an era of "peaceful co-operation between nations".
š READ
Nicholas Harris's write up of this conversation
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2024/11/samantha-harvey-booker-prize-2024-winner-interview-orbital
šāāļø ASK
We answer listener questions every Friday. Submit yours at www.newstatesman.com/youaskus
š§ FREE
Get our daily politics email
https://morningcall.substack.com
š· SAVE
Give a loved one a year's subscription to the New Statesman for just Ā£49 https://www.newstatesman.com/pod24
SAVE Ā£Ā£Ā£ THIS CHRISTMAS:
āļø Gift big ideas, bold politics, and proper journalism from just Ā£2
LISTEN AD-FREE:
š±Download the New Statesman app
MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
ā Ask a question ā we answer them every Friday
ā° Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
āļø Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
More episodes
View all episodes
A three horse race in Gorton and Denton
24:46|On Thursday, a by-election in a Southern Manchester constituency, Gorton and Denton, is shaping up to be a seismic litmus test for British politics.After the previous MP, Labourās Andrew Gwynne, stepped down in January, an opening for a new MP has set in motion a battle between Labour and their insurgent challengers, Reform and the Green Party.Oli Dugmore is joined by our senior data journalist Ben Walker to discuss.
What if Russia wins?
35:41|It has been four years since Russiaās full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has settled into a grinding and uncertain stalemate.Despite proving remarkably resilient, Ukraine, and the rest of the world, must face the question: What if Russia wins?Katie Stallard explores this urgent question with German political scientist, Professor Carlo Masala.
Labour Togetherās attack on press freedom
27:45|Why has Keir Starmer ordered an investigation into Labour Together? What the hell is going on with our local elections? And what are we meant to make of Reform UKās new āshadow cabinetā?You asked, weāll answer.Ā Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe for the listener questions episode of Daily Politics from the New Statesman.š READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/02/dismay-as-no-10-works-with-brendan-cox-after-misconduct-claims
Rutger Bregman āThis Trump phenomenon really is fascismā
22:04|This week we launched another, thatās right ANOTHER, podcast.Ā The Exchange is the New Statesmanās long-form interviews show, featuring some big names you know, and some big names youāll be glad to learn of.Listen on: Spotify and Apple
Andrew arrested
28:20|The Kingās brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been arrested.The alleged offence: misconduct in public office.Ā The arrest came after claims Andrew allegedly shared official documents during his time as UK Trade Envoy, with two emails in particular showing up in the latest Epstein files ā although police havenāt yet released the specifics of their investigation.Police have searched Andrewās homes, and at the time of recording the former Prince is in custody. Heās not yet been charged, and has previously ā strenuously ā denied any wrongdoing on these matters related to Epstein.Ā The King has said āthe law must take its courseā.Ā Oli Dugmore is joined by Will Lloyd in the studio.
Is Bridget Phillipson really the most dangerous woman in Britain?
36:02|From āNaziā to āMarxistā Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has faced intense criticism from all sides.But how exactly is she trying to reform the British education system? For the cover of this weekās New Statesman magazine, our executive editor Pippa Bailey has written an extended profile of Phillipson - exploring what motivates the education secretary, and how consequential the next few months could be for her - and the Labour Party.She joins Oli Dugmore in the studio.š READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/2026/02/is-bridget-phillipson-the-most-dangerous-woman-in-britain
Has Starmer killed Welsh Labour?
27:29|Eluned Morgan, the first minister of Wales speaks to Megan Kenyon about her relationship with Keir Starmer, Welsh Labourās prospects in the upcoming Senedd election and the threat of Plaid Cymru and Reform.
Should we ban social media for under-16s?
32:05|Will Keir Starmer ban kids from social media?Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DHAQOeEg-Z-4trARDXHRA?sub_confirmation=1The PM has promised a crackdown on social media and said heās āopen-mindedā to a full on, Australia-style ban for under 16s. Oli Dugmore is joined by senior editor George Eaton.
The Labour Party's "unpopularity contest"
33:23|Labourās unpopularity contest, the joys of figure skating and bonkers advice from RFK Jr's nutrition chatbot.Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn explore the most ludicrous and laughable stories of the week.Including calls for Britain to set up a āMinistry of Sexā...