The Trawl

Starmer's government is facing another defence row after senior figures quit over military spending, reigniting questions about Britain's preparedness, Russia's growing threat and whether billions more should be poured into defence while public services struggle.

Meanwhile, Labour's proposed ban on social media for under-16s has sparked a fierce debate. Will it protect young people from online harm, or is it a sticking-plaster solution that lets tech companies off the hook? Marina and Jemma dig into the arguments, hear what young people themselves have to say, and ask whether we're tackling the real problem.

Plus: Tommy Robinson's latest grift, overnight oats discourse, and a heart-warming update on the Ugandan nurse whose story moved so many Trawlers.

As ever, there's rage, nuance, laughter and a pudding to send you into the weekend.

Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/tickets

The link to support Sumayah and Stella who are support workers left homeless after the Belfast riots is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-care-worker-left-homeless-after-belfast-riots

Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

Patreon
https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:

• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on
• Early access to The Trawl Meets…
• Glorious ad-free episodes

Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.

And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.

Come join the fun:

https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina and Jemma try to wrap their heads around the arrival of the world's first trillionaire. Just how much money is a trillion dollars, and what does it say about modern society that one man can accumulate that level of wealth while millions struggle?

They also dive into Gwyneth Paltrow's eyebrow-raising appearance in a luxury Israeli property campaign, Trump's increasingly bizarre White House UFC extravaganza, and the jaw-dropping comments aimed at Michelle Obama during the event.

Plus, the pair unpack Trump's latest Iran deal, ask whether the self-proclaimed master negotiator has managed to outdo himself in spectacular fashion, and take a look at some of the more surreal moments emerging from the World Cup.

Expect outrage, disbelief, dark humour and plenty of "for f's sake" moments along the way.

Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/tickets

Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

Patreon
https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:

• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on
• Early access to The Trawl Meets…
• Glorious ad-free episodes

Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.

And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.

Come join the fun:

https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina and Jemma have been away for a short break, unfortunately Britain hasn't exactly held itself together while they've been away.

In this Trawl, they tackle the racist violence that erupted in Belfast, why calling it a "riot" doesn't come close to describing what happened, and the politicians, pundits and social media moguls helping to fan the flames.

They look at the shocking media takes that followed, from attempts to justify the attacks to outright denial of what was unfolding in plain sight. Plus, why are anti-genocide protesters and Palestine Action activists facing tougher consequences than some of the people terrorising families in their homes?

There's also a tribute to the late David Hockney, whose life and work brought colour to millions, a roundup of the week's most jaw-dropping commentary, and a healthy serving of underrateds and pudding.

It's a heavy one. But some weeks demand it.

Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/tickets

Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

Patreon
https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast
If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:

• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on
• Early access to The Trawl Meets…
• Glorious ad-free episodes

Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.

And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.

Come join the fun:

https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina and Jemma dive into Trump's increasingly chaotic behaviour, the World Cup visa fiasco, and the extraordinary protests sweeping Albania, where thousands are taking on billionaire land grabs in what protesters are calling the Flamingo Revolution.

Meanwhile, Trump is sleeping through basketball games, storming out of interviews and comparing the size of his beloved reflecting pool to skyscrapers.

Along the way, there's a brilliant masterclass in debating misogyny from Dean Withers, a reminder that billionaires still wanting more might be one of humanity's great unsolved mysteries, and a pudding courtesy of the late, great Steve Irwin that restores a little faith in what real strength looks like.

From vanity projects and billionaire entitlement to people finally pushing back, this week's Trawl asks a simple question: why are we letting these people have everything?

Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/tickets

Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

Patreon
https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:

• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on
• Early access to The Trawl Meets…
• Glorious ad-free episodes

Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.

And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.

Come join the fun:

https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jemma and Marina are trawling through a week so full of weapons-grade stupidity they barely know where to start. But first first, they take the opportunity to say Happy Pride Month, Trawlers.

Comedian James Barr absolutely dismantles conservative commentator Michael Knowles live on Piers Morgan Uncensored, and it is glorious. Reform's candidate for Makerfield, Robert Kenyon, somehow survives Question Time despite his brain leaving the building. The audience's contempt was, frankly, delicious. Then JD Vance wades into British politics with a tweet so pernicious and so factually wrong that even David Lammy lands a few good punches in response.

Plus: Reform weaponising the prostate cancer screening announcement, the press's very selective outrage, why "I was raised by my mum" is not the defence against sexism Rob Kenyon thinks it is, Durham Pride getting a beautiful solidarity-fuelled upgrade, and the horrifying stat that puts the whole week in perspective.

Furious? You should be. But at least you're furious with friends.

Get your tickets for The Trawl Live from https://thetrawl.tix.to/tickets

Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

Patreon
https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:

• Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on
• Early access to The Trawl Meets…
• Glorious ad-free episodes

Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.

And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.

Come join the fun:

https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.