Is ‘consent’ the only dividing line between good sex and bad sex? Ash Sarkar is joined by Rachel Thompson to discuss her new book Rough, and the politics of pornography, kink, and sex ambivalent feminism.
Ash Sarkar is joined by ACFM’s Jeremy Gilbert to discuss euphoria, liberation, and the wisdom in the rave.
Since 2010 Len McCluskey has been the general secretary of Unite, one of Britain’s largest trade unions. That changes this year with the election of his successor – a three-way race between Gerard Coyne, Sharon Graham and today’s guest, Steve Turner.
The murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987 is back in the spotlight with the official inquiry report soon to be published. Ash Sarkar discusses the case with Daniel’s brother, Alastair Morgan.
Check your privilege. Google it. Stay in your lane. Though Black Lives Matter has politicised a new generation into antiracism, it’s not actually clear what white people are meant to do next. Ash Sarkar is joined by Emma Dabiri to talk about why liberal identity politics are a dead end, why allyship is a nonsense, […]
In March this year the UK’s new military strategy declared Israel remains a ‘key strategic partner’. But what does that mean, and where does it sit in relation to Israel and its war on Palestine? Aaron Bastani is joined by Mark Curtis, editor and co-founder of Declassified UK.
While Labour lost council seats across the North and Midlands, it held firm in Preston. Can only municipal socialism and the ‘Preston Model’ now save the party? Aaron Bastani is joined by Matthew Brown, Labour leader of Preston council.
Climate change is better understood as climate systems breakdown, and it’s only through the lens of the latter that we can grasp the scale of the crisis ahead. On this episode of Downstream, Aaron Bastani is joined by Mat Lawrence and Laurie Laybourn-Langton to discuss their new book, Planet on Fire: A Manifesto for the […]
For some Joe Biden has already exceeded expectations. For others his economic programme is nowhere near enough to address the climate crisis and American decline. While his Covid relief package has seen billions dispensed immediately, the Jobs Plan proposes to invest $35 billion in green R&D over eight years – less than Americans spend annually […]
Political scandal no longer seems to cut through, but is the unfolding saga around Max Greensill and David Cameron an exception? On this week’s Downstream Aaron Bastani is joined by Sunday Times journalist Gabriel Pogrund to discuss the implications of a story which is only set to grow.
Excluding Tony Blair’s back-to-back victories, the Conservative Party has governed the UK for all but 18 of the last 100 years. While the media often presents elections as Labour’s to lose, the truth is that Britain is a one party state which occasionally lets the other side have a go in the interest of fairness. […]
Will the 2020s be the decade when power decisively shifts from the United States to China? How important is the country’s rise in broader historic context – and is that why we are seeing an emerging Cold War between Washington and Beijing? And do appeals to a ‘civilisation-state’ undermine the power of universal values and […]
In recent years Scottish and Welsh independence, as well as Irish unification, have become increasingly plausible with Britain’s departure from the EU highlighting major points of difference, as well as economic imbalances, across the home nations. But could the break up of the UK ever include the North of England? And what would a sovereign […]
The criminalisation of drugs has almost no impact on drug use, denies access to proven medical treatments and disproportionately targets people of colour. Yet the idea that drugs are ‘evil’ and that drug users are criminals is entrenched in international and domestic law. How can we begin to shift this point of view? What are […]
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