Sources of thoughtful current affairs/political opinion

On the back of Ton’s post (https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/extreme-thoughts-as-i-age/) – thanks Tony, and the Mod’s grappling for control of the Gaza threads, I’ve been having a bit of a think about my own approach to life/debate/politics. It’s a hell of a year coming up politically and it would be very easy to get sucked into an angry mire.

So – positive changes for me…..I’m staying local more. A focus on time outdoors, bike fettling in the shed, poring over maps and planning routes, books and chat with real people.

I’ve made the conscious decision to stay off political threads here. No offence folks – it’s me not you. But I’ve realised I get nothing from it  apart from witnessing semi informed people bickering from fixed viewpoints….and then adding my own dross.

But I do like to say informed, and I suspect I’m not alone. I just want to be informed and challenged by people who know their onions and can present their thinking in a reasonable way with more than soundbite levels of detail. I don’t need too much confirmation bias though – I am always reminded of my father, son of a trade union leader from the steel mills of Manchester, and life time left leaning himself who read the Telegraph to see what the other side were saying and challenge his own thinking.

I can’t be alone in this. I thought it could be useful to have a thread where people could post their sources of useful debate or long listens/reads. The antidote to a diet twitter spats and memes.

My contributions, all podcasts:-

The rest is politics – Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, twice a week. Quite centrist biased (which suits me I guess) discussion on world events and poltics

Leading – again Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell. A weekly insightful interview with someone ‘leading’ in their field – often political but not always. A longer view than the here and now.

The News Agents – Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall. Daily weekdays. Again, I’d say centrist/left leaning. A combination of discussion between themselves and interviews.

Americast – Justin Webb, Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring, Anthony Zurcher. A discussion and interview podcast from the BBC. The news agents who used to do Americast when they were at the BBC also do their own American spin off.

The Two Matts – Matt Kelly and Matt Anacona discuss recent events. A spin off from the New European Newspaper so again centrist/left leaning in general I’d say.

Page 94 – Private Eye’s Podcast often presented by Andy Hunter Murray but others too. Sporadically published.

I’m aware my collection are very much tailored to my political world view which does not pass my father’s test….what you got?

“papers” rather than podcasts but:
Private eye
Economist (although it does come with a severe bias its generally reporting is good).

Byline Times is the obvious one…

Digital Edition (28.03.24)

…I did buy the print version once. But IMO it needs a bit more humour. I know it’s meant to be serious journalism. But somewhere between Byline Times and Private Eye would have been better.

I also listen semi-occasionally to The Rest is Politics and Leading, and skim the Guardian app and BBC News site,

Other than that, I don’t bother any more. I used to be an avid news hound, I’d listen to Today and PM on R4 on the hour’s commute every morning/evening. I’ve reached the point where I’ve said “what’s the point”. I’ll make what I consider to be an informed vote in elections, but other than that I’ll just get on with living my life and trying not to be a dick.

nope, im still happy to get my ‘news’ from here.  never watch news on tv, never read the papers, get it all from here or the odd discussion i catch at work.

yes theres bickering sometimes but that usually gets called out, and i find that the differing views can as you say, challenge your own thinking.  they usually tie in with my own views tho and sometimes even dacker them down a little when i see reasoned arguments against my original thoughts.

dont really get het up about current affairs tho, grim as they are.  i try to protect myself from being mr angry by just acknowledging that i cant do anything to change the world, wars, tory voters etc, so just keep plodding along.

The FT expensive and with a huge section about financial news surprisingly ☺️ However the rest of their reporting is thorough and factual.

I like the Electoral Dysfunction podcast from Sky. Three sharp and funny women, makes a change from Centrist Dads.

I’m massively reducing the amount of news I consume, and I feel a lot happier for it.  I seriously think over consumption of ‘news’ (most of it isn’t really news imo) is very bad for your mental health. I have R4 on in the background  in the morning and will occasionally glance at the BBC news website, not every day but 2 or 3 times a week.  I don’t watch TV news anymore. If I’m on a longish car journey I do listen to the Rest is Politics and Leading. I like the Rest is Politics policy of ‘disagreeing agreeably’.  A lot more of that in the world would be a very good thing.

Talking about centrist dads, the Political Currency pod with Ed Balls & George Osborne is excellent.

Osborne is annoyingly witty and likeable, and it has a lighter touch than some of the others mentioned.

I’ve made the conscious decision to stay off political threads here. No offence folks – it’s me not you.

That’s kind of you, but let’s be honest, it is them as well.

😉

I’d add Paper Cuts to the podcast list – in bold as that seems to be house-style for this thread – which is a piss-taking view of the newspapers latest ‘big stories’ hosted by Miranda Sawyer. It’s very good at highlighting the sheer absurdity of news coverage from right across the spectrum without being earnestly outraged.

Novara Media

I’m massively reducing the amount of news I consume

Yep, likewise. I’ve exchanged Today for podcasts (MTB, F1, Road Racing, History) and my news comes from either scanning the papers online at work at lunch, or here. I did listen to The Rest Is Politics, but I’ve even cut down on that, Newsagents is on my podcast feed, but listening to it occasionally rather than every ep.

I don’t feel like I’m ill-informed, and there’s been a noticeable uptick in my mood generally.

im still happy to get my ‘news’ from here.  never watch news on tv, never read the papers, get it all from here

Without derailing my own thread….

Millions of people think like you now – getting all their news from social media – and I think it might be part of the current problem.

The analogy I would use is my poor long suffering wife. She has been present at enough tedious pub and car park conversations about bikes, kayaks and windsurfers to give a very good facsimile of an educated opinion on “what tyre”, “What line down the rapid” or “what sail size”. But she has never been mountain biking, white water kayaking or windsurfing in her life. She is the beta model for the current AI level of ‘expert’ on those subjects…..as I suspect would most STWers be for anything political – sometimes regurgitate something that sound legit but occasionally posting an opinion the equivalent of a cat with 7 toes.

Millions of people think like you now – getting all their news from social media – and I think it might be part of the current problem.

But if we’re being honest social media is about the right level for 90% of the stories that pass as “news”. I think if you’re looking for the source of the problem, then I reckon 24 hour rolling news broadcasting is probably ground zero. rather than an opportunity to delve more deeply into stories, take its time, and be more nuanced, its just repetition of [often] banal and [too often] fact free opinion led round table discussions between talking heads to fill the time cheaply

Electoral Dysfunction is good. I’ve gone off The News Agents, annoying banter and some pointless other point of view chat.

The Rest is Politics is one of my favourite podcasts and I listen to a lot. Rory Stewart is quite left for a Tory these days but also capable of putting a good argument together for his traditional Tory beliefs, and can make me quite uncomfortable when I find myself agreeing. It’s a far cry from the ultra-polarised stuff we’ve become accustomed to.

The Rest is Money I find quite entertaining as well on the economic side of things. It’s an easy listen and gives a fairly balanced view on some economic policies without delving into the politics of them.

 I’ve gone off The News Agents, annoying banter and some pointless other point of view chat.

Me too a bit, though I still listen quite often – Lewis Goodall too much of a smartarse and I feel like they’re trying to push people’s buttons sometimes.

Millions of people think like you now – getting all their news from social media – and I think it might be part of the current problem.

100% and anyone saying otherwise is probably too hooked on Twitter drama to admit it.

Pod Save the UK (Nish Kumar and Coco Kahn)

It’s lefty, but in a good way.

Millions of people think like you now – getting all their news from social media – and I think it might be part of the current problem.

+1

“can make me quite uncomfortable when I find myself agreeing”
A bit of discomfort now and then is good whether you are agreeing òr disagreeing.

The FT expensive and with a huge section about financial news surprisingly

A quick PSA – if you are a teacher yourself or you have a child of school age (and can get them to do the signing up and logging on), you can access the FT online for free.

Novara media, Democracy now, Al Jazeera, C4 news, Byline times, BBC/CNN

I’ve always liked Rory Stewart, he’s mates with a friend who runs charities in Afghanistan so met him a number of times but he sometimes descends into lecturing/hectoring mode which comes from his schooling and belief in he is always right, he admits this himself but is quite a good laugh when he’s not in earnest mode – possibly the most worldly informed and intelligent person ive met.

Goodhall in the newsagents podcast as been mentioned above is a bit of a smug **** at times

Ed Balls/George Osbourne can get in the **** sea.

Quite a few folk on twitter, Francesca Albanese is good on Gaza, Zoe Gardner refugee/immigration, Sangita Myska news, Decoding the Gurus – takedown of idiots, Dave Troy Ukraine, Gillian Tett financial stuff, Timothy Snyder political/social history, Ava Santina news/comment, Marina Hyde news/comment, Helia Ebrahimi C4 news/comment, Prof Devi Sridhar medical/public health, Donie `o’Sullivan CNN news, Beau of the Fifth USA news/comment, Right Wing Watch shining a light on US nut jobs, Peter Foster Policy wonk for FT, Hannah Fry – because, Jill Rutter Brexit/government failings, Dimitry Grozoubinski diplomat/Trade/ukraine, Emily Maitless news/comment, etc…etc

I have 100 folk in my twitter feed, 50 informative news stuff and 50 hobbies/funny etc. I usually read everything posted every day in one sitting to catch up. Don’t bother looking at stuff outside my feed.

I have a one in one out policy for following on my twitter feed.

Ed Balls/George Osbourne can get in the **** sea.

Just listened to a couple of their podcasts whilst doing odd jobs. Thought is was pretty good.

The latest Gove interview one in particular was a great advert for why a good podcast beats anything available here. A discuss on the Brexit vote with some of the biggest hitters at the time on the referendum. Honest, calm and reflective. Both sides conceding flaws in their own approach and ‘luck’ when it went well. Considering the alternative here which always distils down to a bicker between a few nobodies who bore on and attempt to point score (badly). Just no comparison.   I came away informed and almost refreshed. That is not something you can say about a STW politics thread.

If you want print media, then ‘the week’ is a really good source. Covers a huge amount and from a range of sources.

I listen to a lot of Novara Media and PoliticsJoe on Youtube. The rest is politics I now listen to as a Podcast. I think Al Jezerra also does some good news that the mainstream doesn’t cover.

Millions of people think like you now – getting all their news from social media – and I think it might be part of the current problem.
100% and anyone saying otherwise is probably too hooked on Twitter drama to admit it.

i dont have a problem tho.  and i dont have twitter/X either, just no interest in them.

i suppose i could have explained myself better, i dont go looking on here for the news, i just see various threads whilst surfing, and open them to see what theyre about and read members opinions.  and by reading those opinions, (both ‘sides’), i form my own.  i dont then go spouting on to others as tho im an expert, i just have my own opinion and could then join in with a conversation should the topic arise.

i think ive got a better understanding of the war in ukraine due to just reading the thread on here rather than watching the daily attacks on the news each evening,  it holds a wealth of expert knowledge.

and yes, i suppose stw IS social media, but i think its a world away from facebook/twitter et al, i certainly wouldnt be expecting to see any rational opinions or expert knowledge on those 😀

Ed Balls/George Osbourne can get in the **** sea

Totally agree. That slimy little **** Osbourne has nothing to say and the fact that Ed Balls is chumming up with him speaks volumes about his character too.

@convert, are you me?

Should meet up some time for a Dava explore!

I am doing a bit more travelling and just walking about these days, so podcasts work for me.

I’ve yet to try the Balls / Osborne one — but delve into Rest is Money a bit as they cover political ish matters and get guests on that are quite liberal.

I do listen to the Osborne balls love in, but mainly to get a bit of balance. More than once i have had to turn it off out of pure rage

Should meet up some time for a Dava explore! Definitely…..as long as we don’t talk about politics!

and the fact that Ed Balls is chumming up with him speaks volumes about his character too.

That he’s capable of remaining on friendly terms with a man with whom he shares almost nothing politically? We could do with a bit more of that sort of behaviour here sometimes

My sources of current world political opinion comes from all over the world, from English speaking to non-English Speaking media, social media, news etc.

Generally, I just want to understanding their views but there are plenty of credible as well less credible ones out there, nothing specific for me.  I can read Guardian one minute and the next minute Daily Whatever just to compare “notes”.

We have entered the age of information and disinformation in a very sophisticated ways; and trying to spot something reliable can be very difficult at times.

1
thisisnotaspoonFree Member
Pod Save the UK (Nish Kumar and Coco Kahn)

It’s lefty, but in a good way.

I’ve stopped listening to this, despite liking both presenters, because I agree with everything they say. It’s too depressing being told what I already think. For a podcast to be successful I think you need a bit of opposition. Should have paired either one of them with someone they could argue with, there’s a reason that format works so well.

I too get mine from Rest is Politics, Leading, NewsAgents (and USA) plus Americast.

I also like the The Story (The Times), some of the free Econimist stuff and some of the Guardian stuff.

And lots of interesting things on BBC Sounds.

But one of my favourites has been The Drug Science Podacst with David Nutt. Unsuprisingly, Politics through the years has been intertwined with the banning of various drugs and considering how many people start threads about mental health, there is lots of potential it seems in some of the drugs we have banned.

Guardian / BBC / Novara … A lot of far left outlets mentioned so far, seems a tad unbalanced no?

Far left? Give over 🙄

I quite like The Week for fairly balanced reporting… literally presenting an issue/story with ‘the guardian say this about it but the daily mail say this…’. It’s interesting to see where your own bias lies instead of just confirming and reinforcing your own opinions.

I also find the FT excellently impartial.

BBC or Guardian as they’re free and tend to balance each other.

Sometimes Politics Joe as I liked their coverage of rail strikes but they tend not to look at both sides of a story.

Telegraph – just to check on ‘the enemy’!

watched GB news once but couldn’t really understand what was going on.

PM on radio 4 is pretty good

Never really read the Daily Mail but it weirdly seems to have good financial advice…