Pod Save the UK

This week, Nish and Coco make sense of a bruising local election week, as Labour braces for heavy losses, Reform eyes major gains, and the Greens look to break through in London.
They’re joined by Will Hayward, award-winning investigative journalist and expert on Welsh politics, to break down what’s happening in Wales, where Labour’s century-long dominance could be coming to an end. He explains the new Senedd voting system, the rise of Plaid and Reform, and what this election could mean for the future of devolution.
Plus: Zoë Grünewald joins to unpack Reform’s latest migrant detention centre proposal, Green hopes in the capital, and what a bad night could mean for Keir Starmer.
And: should MPs be allowed to drink on the job, or is Parliament’s bar tab finally becoming a political problem?
GUESTS 
Zoë Grünewald, political journalist
Will Hayward, Cardiff-based investigative journalist 
USEFUL LINKS
Guide to Senedd voting system: https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/how-will-the-new-voting-system-work-at-the-next-senedd-election/
CREDITS
Radio 4, Today Show 
Tiktok, Zia Yusef (@ziayusufuk) 
Instagram, Hannah Spencer (@hannahtheplumbermcr)
Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.
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British politics was shaken to its core this week when we all realised that, maybe, Keir Starmer isn’t as quite across the detail as he tries to make out. He had to explain exactly what he did and didn’t know about the developed vetting carried out for Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s Ambassador to the US.
Right on the heels of that, came Olly Robbins, who was sacked last week from his role as the chief official at the Foreign Office. In a very civil servant way, he revealed the internal pressures and machinations that were happening during the appointment process.
Both men had serious questions to answer about what they did but Coco and Nish are joined by political journalist Zoë Grünewald to ask why everyone is obsessing over the process while almost totally ignoring the larger, moral decision to make the appointment in the first place.
Plus the comedian Rosie Jones arrives to totally derail the whole podcast with a mix of funny jabs at Nish while still telling us about the work of her brilliant foundation which is celebrating its first birthday! 

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**Warning: use of a racial slur during the Labour May election segment**
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GUESTS 
Zoë Grünewald - Journalist, broadcaster and political commentator
Rosie Jones - Comedian
USEFUL LINKS
The Rosie Jones Foundation: https://www.rosiejonesfoundation.com/
CREDITS
Sir Keir Starmer MP - Parliament TV
Emily Thornberry MP - The Mirror, YouTube 
Sir Oliver Robbins - Parliament TV 
David Miliband MP - Mornings with Ridge and Frost, Sky News 
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
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Who says the special relationship is on the ropes? Coco and Nish are joined by Pod Save America’s Tommy Vietor to showcase transatlantic co-operation at its very best. From the battle of slopaganda to the real war in Iran - there’s a lot to talk about.
Donald Trump deleted a Truth Social post because he looked a little bit too much like Jesus for the Christian community - many of them have been some of his biggest supporters. Meanwhile Iran has released a series of sometimes-antisemitic, AI, Lego rap videos. 
In the UK, Keir Starmer is being criticised for not spending enough on defence at a time when the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are focusing minds.
Plus - Your Party hits the skids in Scotland - we hear from an insider about what went down.
Don’t forget to leave a review - it gives the show a boost and we love to see your comments.
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GUESTS 
Tommy Vietor, Host, Pod Save America and Pod Save The World
USEFUL LINKS
How to email your MP about NHS Palantir contracts - https://www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/sign-a-petition/mp-demand-no-palantir-in-our-nhs/
CREDITS
Donald Trump - @rapidresponse47, X 
Iranian Propaganda Video - Explosive Media
Owen Maitland, Former Your Party Scotland executive committee member
Faiza Shaheen, Director, Tax Justice UK - ‘Politics Live’, BBC One
Saturday Night Live UK, Sky One
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Get in touch - contact us via email: [email protected]
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK
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Coco and Nish are joined by top author and tech expert Jamie Bartlett. His new book is a deep dive into the ways AI is being used - highlighting its pitfalls and also where it might be beneficial.
Jamie even created an AI alter-ego to help people understand how the technology really works, its strengths and its limitations. 
Plus, your questions, answered! From the new electoral system in Wales to favourite conspiracy theories - you’ll learn and you’ll laugh!
Don’t forget to leave a review - it gives the show a boost and we love to see your comments.
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VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK
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GUESTS 
Jamie Bartlett, Author, ‘How To Talk To AI (And How Not To)’ and Host of Everything is Fake (And Nobody Cares) on BBC Sounds
Special guest appearance: Jimmy Botlett
USEFUL LINKS
‘How To Talk To AI (And How Not To)’: Out April 9th. 
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/475950/how-to-talk-to-ai-by-bartlett-jamie/9780753561980
Welsh Assembly election guide
https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/senedd-election-2026-what-is-the-d-hondt-formula-and-how-does-it-work/
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Get in touch - contact us via email: [email protected]
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Comedian and columnist Stewart Lee joins Nish and Coco to discuss the week’s big stories.
They talk about Donald Trump’s deadly and yet utterly confusing war with Iran, as the US President continues to contradict his own statements about the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks, almost in the same breath. 
It certainly means a new, live, UK sketch show has plenty of material - but how should comedy respond to the challenging times we are all living through?
Plus - why having a weekly opinion column is good for your mental health and why news organisations need to do more to tackle the lies and extreme rhetoric coming from politicians.
Don’t forget to leave a review - it gives the show a boost and we love to see your comments.
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 
VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK
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GUESTS 
Stewart Lee, Comedian and columnist for The Nerve
USEFUL LINKS
Guide to Senedd voting system: https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/how-will-the-new-voting-system-work-at-the-next-senedd-election/
CREDITS
Saturday Night Live UK, Sky One
Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Get in touch - contact us via email: [email protected]
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk
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BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk
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