The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

Once upon a time Donald Trump loved to talk about conspiracy theories. Now, well, not so much.Why can’t Trump shake the Epstein story - and what could it mean for his presidency?--Last week, Katie Stallard and Freddie Hayward talked about how Donald Trump wanted his supporters to move on and stop talking about Jefrey Epstein, and how that seemed to be driving a wedge between him and the MAGA faithful.Since then, the US president has continued his attempts to distance himself from the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But it’s not working.Freddie and Katie pick up the story and discuss what the Trump's Epstein connection could mean for his presidency.READ: The Epstein conspiracy has exposed Trump as a faux-populist

As Donald Trump visits Scotland, world leaders - including Keir Starmer - flock to pay tribute at the emperor's feet.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2DHAQOeEg-Z-4trARDXHRA?sub_confirmation=1The US President is on a 4-day trip to his golf courses in Scotland. He has met with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Wielding the "bully-boy" threat of trade tariffs, the President is enjoying unprecedented influence. But should European leaders learn from the more combative approaches taken by Canada and France?Megan Gibson joins Tom McTague on the New Statesman podcast.📚 READ: Can Starmer and Trump come to an agreement on Gaza? - Megan Kenyonhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/morning-call/2025/07/can-starmer-and-trump-come-to-an-agreement-on-gaza

Director, writer and producer Peter Kosminsky, who directed of the BBC's adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, has worked in the television industry for 45 years. The BAFTA and Golden Globe winner is one of the most respected voices in the industry.Kosminsky spoke to the New Statesman's Hannah Barnes in a wide ranging discussion about the state of British television, and why he is calling upon the government to stand up for public service broadcasting against the might of the streaming giants.

Our Listeners ask: With Keir Starmer and his government under fire over their approach to Gaza, and the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's new party, why vote Labour? And with infrastructure and public services in such a terrible state, and the prospect of taxes and bills rising, what are we paying for?Tom McTague is joined by Megan Kenyon, George Eaton and Will Dunn to discuss.READCorbyn and Sultana declare war on Labour from the left - Megan Kenyon

This week - Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has identified immigration, economic insecurity and time spent online as key causes of unrest and rioting in the UK following last year's Southport attacks. Also, Can Rachel Reeves avoid another fiscal crisis?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton to discuss.READCan Rachel Reeves avoid a new fiscal crisis - George Eaton

She was the Tory saviour. Now, by November, she could be gone.Where did it all go wrong for Kemi Badenoch?--For this week's New Statesman magazine, Will Lloyd has written a powerful and revealing profile of the Nigerian immigrant who rose to lead the Conservative Party. Will joins Tom McTague to discuss what he discovered in the course of his reporting, including why Conservative grandees first celebrated, then turned against, Kemi Badenoch. They explore whether racism plays a role in the way Badenoch has been treated, and whether the woman who some cast as a new Thatcher was ever as able as the Conservatives wanted to believe.--Read Will Lloyd's profile of Kemi Badenoch in the New Statesman magazine, or online: Kemi Badenoch isn't workingListen next: How to defeat reform - exclusive polling with analyst Steve Akehurst

Could Donald Trump’s plea to his support base to “not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein” finally drive a wedge between the US president and his MAGA faithful? And what are Trump and Vice President JD Vance doing in the UK this summer?Katie Stallard is joined by the New Statesman’s US correspondent Freddie Hayward to discuss.READA conspiracy theory that Donald Trump can't control - Freddie Hayward

Water regulator Ofwat is to be abolished - but Labour should go further.***On Monday the results of an independent review of the water industry were published. The results were damning for the regulator, Ofwat, which will be abolished in response to the report. Megan Kenyon attended the announcement for the New Statesman and joins Anoosh Chakelian and George Eaton on the podcast.They argue that while provision of water in the UK clearly needs drastic reform, the government needs a more radical plan to address the core issues - including the "radicalising" problem of sewage in Britain's lakes and waterways.They also discuss the proposed appointment of Tim Allan as Keir Starmer's permanent secretary for communications. Does the PM really need another member of the New Labour team on his staff?LISTEN NEXT:What does "Blue Labour" really mean? - Morgan Jones interview

As Keir Starmer's government appears to be buffeted by internal storms, multiple factions are influencing the flow of power. Not least, the oxymoronically-named 'Blue Labour'. But what is Blue Labour? And what do those in the movement actually want?In this episode, Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe are joined by the author Morgan Jones, who specialises in reporting on the politics of the Labour Party. She's also the co-editor of Renewal, a Labour-aligned journal.