I think the rise in popularity of political podcasts comes from people looking to make sense of what’s happening around them. The eroding of norms in politics and international relations can be unsettling, so having a calm, authoritative voice explain why we shouldn’t panic, or why one event won’t necessarily set off a chain reaction leading to greater disaster, can be a relief.
Where we at In the News This Week differ from all the other news podcasts out there – as the spin-off podcast of Have I Got News for You (myself and my co-hosts have all been producers, researchers or writers on the TV show) – is we’re in the business of finding the funny in the news, however bleak. Sure, the world might be going to hell in a handcart, but that doesn’t mean we can’t, or shouldn’t, have a laugh along the way at the mess we find ourselves in. It taps into the unique psyche of being British, always seeking light relief from the relentlessness of it all.
On our podcast, for example, we’re covering the new Labour government and every mistake they make; America and their new young buck of a president coming in to shake things up. We’ve also talked about the international reaction to Gaza and Ukraine when it’s felt right. No topic is automatically off limits. If it’s funny without being cruel, if it can shine a light on hypocrisy without punching down, then it’s fair game. You can’t always tune in to Emily Maitlis or Rory Stewart and find them segueing from Trump to an awards ceremony for the weirdest holiday souvenir, or a story about a newly discovered sea bug that’s been named after Darth Vader. And yet news encompasses all of these things.
Another way in which we stand out from other podcasts is when it comes to balance. Everyone is obsessed with it, trying to be equally as fair about all sides of the political spectrum, and on ITNTW our approach is very clear: we try to have a healthy and equal disdain for them all.
A lot of what we do is picking out the way the story has been presented – PR gaffes, unintentionally bad newspaper headlines or jaw-dropping quotes. A brilliant quote from a couple of years ago springs to mind from a Reform party aide who said “Nigel Farage is able to touch the clitoris of public opinion”. It’s teeth-clenchingly awful but regardless of your political views, also undeniably funny.
Whatever the news story, there will always be people who use it to try and promote themselves or their ideas and it’s in that sweet spot that you find the hypocrisy. I’m not tied to any one political party or ‘side’ but even less so at work where it’s all fair game. They’re all there to be got at – to be held up to scrutiny.
I’m already looking to see what we’ll be covering this week and I imagine we’re going to spend plenty of time talking about Trump threatening to invade Greenland, Labour’s budget woes and what it means for working people, but then, oh wait… Suella Braverman admitted publicly that she thinks Italy and Turkey share a border and Ed Davey’s done another TikTok. Looks like the news isn’t all grimdark. Maybe things aren’t so different from goofy old 2012 after all and, for now, maybe there’s some comfort in that.
In the News This Week is available on all podcast platforms, with weekly episodes each Wednesday. Rayment has worked on topical shows such as Would I Lie to You?, Have I Got News for You and Alan Carr: Chatty Man
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