‘We Have to Vote Labour’
Mick Lynch Talks to Ash Sarkar
Britain’s favourite union boss joins Ash Sarkar to talk about leveraging Starmer, the importance of council housing, and why he’s backing Labour.
Can the Green Party Win a Second MP in Bristol Central?
Are the Green party really about to win their second MP in Carla Denyer? Aaron Bastani went to Bristol Central to find out.
Does Bernie Sanders Think Israel Is Guilty of Genocide?
Bernie Sanders needs no introduction. Ash caught up with the senator to talk about his new book ‘It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism’, the speed of political change and whether what is happening in Gaza constitutes a genocide.
Norman Finkelstein on Israel’s Illegal War
Michael speaks to American political scientist and activist Norman Finkelstein about events since October 7th, Israel’s assault on Gaza and the events that have led up to this latest round of aggression.
This Israeli Onslaught Is Unacceptable | Husam Zomlot Interview
Michael Walker spoke to Head of Palestinian Mission to the UK Husam Zomlot after a press briefing on the ongoing attacks in Gaza.
Thousands Turn Out for Pro Palestine Protests
We spoke to demonstrators calling for an end to the bombardment and blockade of Gaza.
Israel Is a Regime Bent on Oppression | Interview With Palestinian Ambassador
Michael Walker speaks to Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot about the latest assault on worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque and Israel’s violent system of apartheid.
Corbyn Blocked, What Do His Constituents Think?
Jeremy Corbyn won’t be able to run in the next general election. We asked the people of Islington North, his constituency, what they thought.
Amazon Workers Go on Strike for the First Time in UK
We visited the Amazon workers striking for the first time ever in Coventry.
They Want Everyone to Be a Deliveroo Worker | Interview With Mick Lynch
Mick Lynch explains the details of the RMT’s dispute, Malcolm X’s insights into government negotiations and why Keir Starmer needs to tackle the scourge of outsourcing for all our sakes. Reporting by Polly Smythe
Is the Left Failing on Free Speech? Interview With Ronan Burtenshaw
Does the right actually care about free speech? Why should free speech matter to the left? Aaron Bastani speaks to editor of Tribune Magazine, Ronan Burtenshaw.
Maybe Don’t Defund the BBC? Interview With Nish Kumar
This week on Downstream Ash Sarkar met with Nish Kumar – comedian and host of The Mash Report – to talk about how he became the accidental face of the Defund the BBC movement, and why rightwing comics are the real snowflakes.
Can Capitalism Solve Its Crises? Interview With Mariana Mazzucato
What can the Apollo Missions teach us about dealing with the major crises of the 21st century? And why are politicians so eager to dwell on caricatures of the public rather than engage in problem-solving – from climate change to housing and education? Aaron Bastani speaks to author and academic Mariana Mazzucato to find out.
Why Has Britain Failed on Covid? Richard Horton
A year after the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic, with Britain enduring more than a 100,000 deaths since, a number of major questions remain unanswered. Why was the response of the UK among the worst in the world? How is it possible that the death toll of countries in Europe and North America […]
The Influencer Industrial Complex. Interview With Moya Lothian-McLean
The last few years have heralded the rise of the influencer: social media users who have, in essence, found a way to get paid for being themselves on the internet. But has this commodification of the self poisoned the public sphere? Or are we witnessing the end of gatekeeping – and the beginnings of a […]
‘A Red Flag and a Silver Dress?’ Interview With Divina De Campo
RuPaul has turned drag into a multi-million dollar industry and a global TV franchise, but has that meant that the art of drag has lost its claim to being punk? Ash Sarkar was joined by Divina De Campo, first runner up from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 1, to talk about drag, gender identity, and the […]
Can the Left Trust Keir Starmer? Interview With Richard Burgon
Was the Corbyn leadership a complete failure for the left – and what can be learned for next time? What are the chances of a socialist Labour government implementing the kinds of policies seen in the 2017 and 2019 manifestoes? And can the left trust Keir Starmer as party leader after a disappointing first year? […]
Does the US Want Julian Assange Dead? Interview With Yanis Varoufakis
On Monday a British judge ruled that Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States on charges of espionage and computer hacking. Yet despite that verdict the judgment arguably represented a blow to freedom of the press – with the judge accepting the substance of the case made by the US state department. […]