The History of Rice, Air-Con and How the Mongols Really Won
Ash Sarkar meets Sunil Amrith
What can the story of rice tell us about air-conditioning sales in 21st century India? The author of The Burning Earth explains.
Downstream is an in-depth interview show featuring conversations with activists, authors, economists, politicians, scientists, philosophers and thinkers of all stripes.
Insects Are Disappearing and We Should Be Very Worried
Aaron meets Dave Goulson.
Britain’s leading entomologist on the insect apocalypse.
Do We Really Need to Tax the Rich?
Ash Sarkar Meet Stephanie Kelton
One of MMT’s leading lights on taxation, government deficits and tackling climate disaster.
Everything You Need to Know About China & Xi Jinping
Aaron Bastani meets Olivia Cheung
Xi Jinping is possibly the most powerful person in the world, but what do we know about his origins, ways of thinking and goals for China and the human race in general? To answer these questions and more, Aaron is joined by Olivia Cheung, author of “The Political Thought of Xi Jinping”. They discuss his […]
India Was the Epicentre of the Ancient World
Ash meets William Dalrymple
Historian and author, William Dalrymple, on India in antiquity.
The UK’s Landowning Elite Are Destroying the Countryside
Aaron Bastani talks to Guy Shrubsole, author of ‘The Lie of The Land’.
This Is the Reality for Palestinian Christians
Ash Sarkar meets Dr. Munther Isaac
The pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem talks to Ash about the ongoing annexation of the West Bank and the role of Christian Zionists.
This Is the End of the Liberal World Order
Political scientists agree that we are now living in a multi-polar world. How we might have arrived at this new formation and whether the newly powerful actors on the global stage are inherently problematic, remain areas of much disagreement. Someone who has a distinct perspective on this new world order is this week’s guest, Anne […]
Massive Attack Founder on Palestine, Riots and the Greenest Music Festival Ever
Moya Lothian-McLean talks to Robert Del Naja ahead of the Act 1.5 Climate Action Accelerator, a day festival which promises to be the greenest live music event of it’s size ever staged.
The Truth About the Riots and the White Working Class
Ash Sarkar meets Taj Ali
The co-editor of Tribune Magazine found himself at the centre of a communication network monitoring the far-right. Here’s his firsthand account of what happened during August’s riots.
Is Humanity Really Heading for Population Collapse?!
During 1960s, fears of planetary ‘overpopulation’ became widespread. And yet, in more recent years, an altogether different worry has emerged: future population decline. Fertility rates have fallen for decades – and in some places centuries – as humans live in cities, gender equality improves and access to birth control becomes widespread. But, according to some, […]
What Do the Riots Say About Britain?
Ash Sarkar, Aaron Bastani and Rivkah Brown
In the wake of the murders in Southport at the end of July, racist violence has swept Britain, but who or what is to blame? And what do these riots say about Britain in 2024?
Carla Denyer on Media Bias, Farage and Weird Westminster Traditions
Aaron Bastani talks to Carla Denyer
The Greens doubled their vote share to 7% and have 2 MPs. What happens now?
How the British Establishment Really Works
Aaron Bastani talks to Simon Kuper
In his latest book, ‘Good Chaps: How Corrupt Politicians Broke Our Law and Institutions’, Kuper chronicles changes in the instincts of Britain’s ruling class – and how corruption came to be increasingly normalised. What do these elites believe? When did those beliefs change? And who are the people, places and policies that led to such shifts?
Arab Jews: the Hidden History
Ash Sarkar Meets Avi Shlaim
Avi Shlaim is a historian and author of “Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew”. He joined Ash to talk about the Israeli right, Mossad’s covert operations in Baghdad and what it means to have hyphenated identities.
I Defied the Party Machine and Won. Here’s How
Aaron Bastani talks to Jeremy Corbyn
Defying all the odds Corbyn managed to keep his seat, winning almost fifty percent of the vote. He sat down with Aaron Bastani to discuss that achievement, Labour’s performance more generally, the success of other independents elsewhere – and what the future holds for party politics in the UK.
This Is How Propaganda Actually Works
Ash Sarkar meets Matt Kennard
Talking corporate media, secret intelligence and liberal think tanks with Declassifed UK’s investigative chief.
The Tories Are Done and They Won’t Be Coming Back
Aaron speaks with Peter Oborne
The Telegraph’s former chief political correspondent speaks to Aaron Bastani about the collapse of the Conservative party.