How Violence Shapes Our Sex Lives
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.
Downstream is an in-depth interview show featuring conversations with activists, authors, economists, politicians, scientists, philosophers and thinkers of all stripes.
Has the Left Forgotten How to Have Fun?
Ash Sarkar is joined by ACFM’s Jeremy Gilbert to discuss euphoria, liberation, and the wisdom in the rave.
The Stories of Transgender Britain
Ash Sarkar speaks to Juliet Jacques about her new book ‘Variations’ – a collection of short stories inspired by real-life events that explore the history of transgender Britain.
The Fight for Unite – Interview With Steve Turner
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 Daniel Morgan Murder Inquiry
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.
How Britain’s Police Spied on the Left
The Undercover Policing Inquiry is examining the infiltration of more than 1,000 political groups by British police since 1968. How much has been disclosed? And will more revelations come to light? Aaron Bastani talks to Tom Fowler of the Spycops Info podcast.
What White People Can Do Next
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, […]
How Britain Supports Israel’s War on Palestine
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.
How Labour Wins Back the Red Wall
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.
Is Line of Duty Copaganda?
What impact does the ubiquity of police dramas on our screens have on the real criminal justice system? And has Line of Duty been feeding us pure ideology all this time? Ben Smoke and Caspar Salmon join Ash Sarkar to interrogate the world of fictional police.
Why It’s Eco-Socialism or Collapse
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 […]
How Radical Is President Joe Biden?
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 […]
A Super League for the Super Rich
Ash Sarkar is joined by Laurence McKenna talk about how a sport created by the poor was stolen by the rich – and just what can be done to take it back.
‘Dodgy Dave’? the Facts on the Greensill Saga. Interview with Gabriel Pogrund
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.
Why the Tories Keep Winning. Interview With Sam Earle
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. […]
When Will China Be the World’s Most Powerful Country? Interview With Martin Jacques
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 […]
Independence for the North of England Interview With Philip Proudfoot
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 […]
Why All Drugs Should Be Decriminalised. Interview With David Nutt
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 […]