Planet Normal

It’s been one helluva week on the rocket for co-pilot Pearson, as she describes the ‘news tsunami’ that has crashed through her life.Your co-pilots talk through the reaction to Allison’s story and discuss the principle of free speech in this country.Also boarding the rocket to discuss his new book, ‘What went Wrong with Capitalism’, is author Dr Ruchir Sharma who lays out his solution to the relationship between state support and free markets.And there is no shortage of post this week as your co-pilots dive into the rocket’s bulging mailbag as readers react to recent events.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read Allison: ‘My week from hell shows that the Britain we love and trust is gone’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/19/my-week-in-the-eye-of-the-storm/ |Read Susanne Moore: Read Suzanne Moore:’ I don’t always agree with Allison Pearson but I will defend her right to free speech’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/20/defending-free-speech-left-right/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

In wake of co-pilot Pearson’s shock visit from the police on Remembrance Sunday, the rocket reflects on the principle of free speech in our country. Allison explains what happens when the journalist becomes the story…Elsewhere Liam gives his take on why the Harris campaign failed to reach many voters in the US election after his trip across the pond last week.Also Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week to discuss her arrest following a tweet about the Southport killings, is Bernadette Spofforth.And your co-pilots weigh in on the latest news from the COP29 conference.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read Allison: ‘My visit from police on Remembrance Sunday is living proof of our two-tier justice system’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/12/my-visit-from-police-is-proof-of-two-tier-justice-system/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

Co-pilot Pearson is off on a special mission this week so Liam is joined in the cockpit by resident part time co-pilot, Tim Stanley.As the news breaks of Donald Trump’s victory in the US Liam and Tim dissect the news tsunami from across the pond.As the rest of the world comes to terms with what just happened, Tim describes why we shouldn’t be that surprised at the result, and Liam gives his economic prognosis.Whilst back on UK soil, the Tory party welcomes a new leader but what do your co-pilots make of Queen Kemi?Also boarding the rocket to discuss the fate of UK farming in wake of Labour’s first Budget is farmer Richard Payne, who delivers a harsh prognosis for the future of the profession.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read more from Tim: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/tf-tj/tim-stanley/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 20th October 2024In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, but two very special stowaways..Sociologist and social commentator, Professor Frank Furedi shares his thoughts on how we can tackle what he calls the ‘madness’ of political correctness.Writer and comedian, Andrew Doyle also explains why we need to prioritise the value of free speech in our society.And your co-pilots weigh in on the government’s recently unveiled plans for NHS and prison reform, and it’s safe to say they’re not sold.There’s also a healthy dose of Velma stats and a Scooby accompaniment!Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

The countdown to Labour's first Budget is on, but what do your co-pilots make of the new Chancellor's plans? Brace yourselves it's another news Tsunami…Liam isn’t convinced Labour’s plan for growth will strengthen up the public finances and believes a more prudent approach to spending is needed.Allison agrees and is concerned if they increase National Insurance on employers it will lead to less investment and fewer jobs.Joining your co-pilots for this week’s voyage is former Downing Street advisor and journalist Andy Coulson. The former News of the World Editor shares his thoughts on the first 100 days of the Labour government and reflects on his time at Belmarsh prison where he first formed the idea for his podcast ‘Crisis, What Crisis?’.And your co-pilots weigh in on Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s endorsement of weight loss drugs…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read Allison: ‘I’m buying a generator. Who would want to invest in blackout Britain?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/16/buying-a-generator-in-blackout-britain-ed-miliband/ |Listen to Andy Coulson: www.podfollow.com/crisis |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Planet Normal listeners can get 20% off tickets to the Battle of Ideas Festival by putting the code PLANETNORMAL24 into the Promo code section of the ticket page – accessible through https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2024/ |

Fresh from a shock elimination in the Tory leadership race, your co-pilots deliver their verdict on the latest results from the now two horse race. And did co-pilot Pearson really influence the result?One year on from the shocking 7th October attack in Israel, the rocket reflects on Allison’s recent dispatch to Israel and welcomes Brendan O’Neill into the cockpit. Brendan’s new book ‘After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation’ describes how he believes the West failed in their actions following the events in Israel.Your co-pilots also share an exciting announcement about an upcoming event and Bob the Bard returns…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read Allison: ‘Not one girl could be shown to her parents’: The horrors of Oct 7 – as told by the survivors’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/05/oct-7-israel-survivors-stories-state-of-the-nation/ |Read Allison: ‘Hamas murdered my sister and her husband – but we will give their babies a normal life’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/06/oct-7-attack-orphan-twins-guy-roi-adoptive-parents/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Planet Normal listeners can get 20% off tickets to the Battle of Ideas Festival by putting the code PLANETNORMAL24 into the Promo code section of the ticket page – accessible through https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2024/ |

The rocket beams in live from the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham this week and there’s no shortage of melodrama to dissect as the Party gears up to elect its new leader.Fastening their seat belt alongside your co-pilots this week is leadership contender and previous stowaway, Robert Jenrick MP for Newark, who shares his hopes for the party should he win the contest.Liam gives the rocket the inside scoop from the conference as the race for Leader of the Opposition aka the conservative ‘beauty contest’ reaches its final straight.And Allison shares a stark warning about the potential dangers of lithium batteries on solar farms.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ Read Allison: ‘‘I’ve seen how Ed Miliband’s net zero dream turns into a nightmare. It will destroy Britain’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/10/01/ed-milibands-net-zero-dream-will-destroy-britain/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | 

**Some of Alison's reporting contains descriptions you may find distressingWith Conference season in full swing, what do your co-pilots make of the PM’s latest speech slip up at the Party’s Conference?Liam thinks Starmer’s speech failed to set the room alight as much as previous Labour PM Tony Blair would have done.And Allison shares some moving observations from her recent trip to Israel.Also strapping into the cockpit this week is Chairman of Reform UK, Zia Yusuf, who explains the Party’s plans to create the most formidable political ground campaign in the country, by the next general election.And finally there’s an eagerly anticipated weight loss update from both co-pilots…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |