Strong Message Here

BBC Radio 4
  • 5.0 (8)
  • COMEDY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Strong Message Here

In this new series, Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe. Each week Helen and Armando will crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to decode the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried? You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political language from two people both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight. Warning: this podcast features strong political language that some listeners may find nonsensical. Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

Episodes

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Becoming a Distraction

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Following Louise Haigh's resignation and Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from his Attorney General nomination, both said they were 'becoming a distraction', so Helen and Armando dig into the language of the political resignation. Looking at interesting resignations through history, Helen also codifies the archetypes of political resignations, and Armando tells us about seeing a high-profile sacking in real time. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. We have a listener mailbag special coming up, so if you have any correspondence for Helen and Armando, email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

    33 min

  2. NOV 28

    I Make No Apology For...

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, we get into the world of political apologies. Why does Starmer keep insisting he makes no apologies for things that no one is actually asking him to apologise for? Is saying something is 'regrettable' really an apology? And why has Mark Zuckerberg decided to stop apologising for Facebook? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

    29 min

  3. NOV 21

    The Deep State

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Helen and Armando spend some time trying to understand the 'deep state', and why it's caught on as a political attack. What's the difference between The Movement and The Blob? And who is draining the swamp of what? And is it just a convenient thing to blame for your inability to get things done? Also, you'll find out what music they play in Stalin's bunker as you turn the key to initiate nuclear war. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production.

    30 min

  4. NOV 14

    In Listening Mode

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, as the Democrats lick their wounds, and Kemi Badenoch looks to rebuild her party, we are talking about politicians in 'listening mode'. Who are they listening to? Why weren't they listening sooner? Is it a tick-box exercise, or do they make meaningful changes based off their listening? They also look at Wes Streeting's big public consultation on the NHS, and Elon's plans to 'crowdsource' policy from the US population. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production.

    29 min

  5. NOV 7

    MAGA - Trump trumps Harris

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Trump has made his way back to the White House, but will he Make America Great Again? What does that phrase really mean? And how did it become the enduring political message of our times? Helen and Armando examine how political reporters struggle to get answers, and what the effect of this election campaign will have on political language for years to come. A longer version, where Helen theorises on wrestling's impact on the world of politics, and Armando confesses the role he played in securing Trump's victory, is available on BBC Sounds Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production.

    30 min

  6. OCT 31

    Tough Decisions

    Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, as Rachel Reeves delivers the first Labour budget in 15 years, we’re talking about ‘tough decisions'. What’s a tough decision? Why is language around budgets so slippery? And why doesn’t anyone drink at the dispatch box anymore? A longer version, where Armando recalls making The Thick of It during austerity, and discuss whether Ed Miliband was really ’toss enough’ is available on BBC Sounds. Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production.

    29 min

  7. OCT 24

    Kemi-Kaze and political nicknames

    In this new series for Radio 4, comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Helen’s eye was caught by the Conservative leadership race, where Robert Jenrick has coined a new nickname for rival Kemi Badenoch. They dig into other examples of political nicknames and name-calling - the good, the bad and the ugly. And more to the point, is this sort of playground behaviour what we expect from our elected officials? A longer version, discussing more American presidents, and why Donald Trump keeps talking about Arnold Palmer, is available on BBC Sounds. Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.

    24 min

  8. OCT 17

    Introducing Strong Message Here

    Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe. New episodes are available weekly on Thursdays on BBC Sounds from 24 October, 2024.

    2 min
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

In this new series, Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe. Each week Helen and Armando will crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to decode the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried? You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political language from two people both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight. Warning: this podcast features strong political language that some listeners may find nonsensical. Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Strong Message Here

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada