The Trawl

Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss
  • 4.5 (24)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Trawl is the podcast that dives headfirst into the political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity of the week - so you don’t have to. Hosted by broadcasters and political commentators, Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss, it’s part therapy, part takedown, and always unfiltered. Each episode, Jemma and Marina trawl through the week’s most viral tweets, jaw-dropping headlines, and rage-inducing soundbites - offering sharp analysis, dark humour, and the occasional expletive. From Westminster to world affairs, they call out hypocrisy, amplify truth, and remind you that you’re not losing your mind - just living through it. If you’ve ever shouted at the news or laughed through the tears, The Trawl is your people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 17H AGO

    Botox Bollox, Boozy MPs & a Five Million Pound 'Gift'

    In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina take on everything from outdated beauty standards to the increasingly surreal state of UK politics. There’s fury over a jaw-dropping tabloid takedown of Cameron Diaz, a debate about whether Westminster has a drinking problem, and a deep dive into political messaging that raises more questions than it answers. Plus: claims, counterclaims and confusion around campaign tactics, viral clips that feel almost too bizarre to be real, and yet more examples of how modern politics often blurs the line between serious and absurd. Throw in AI-generated oddities, questionable adverts, and some truly baffling public reactions, and you’ve got an episode that’s equal parts funny, frustrating and hard to look away from. As ever, they scroll so you don’t have to. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Shots Fired at The White House & Marathon Heroes

    Jemma and Marina start with the emotional highs of the London Marathon: stories of resilience, community and the kind of humanity that restores your faith in people. Then they take a sharp hand brake turn into the chaos of global politics. From a dramatic incident at a White House event to the online reaction that followed, Jemma and Marina wade through fact, speculation and the sheer pace of modern news. There’s talk of late-night posting sprees, political theatre, and how quickly serious moments risk becoming just another scroll. Plus: a headline-grabbing interview moment, a viral TV appearance that has to be heard to be believed, and a reminder that in 2026, the line between reality and absurdity feels thinner than ever. It’s funny, unsettling, occasionally baffling and very much the world we’re living in. Enjoy! Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  3. 6D AGO

    Bias, Bombings & Batshit Takes

    Jemma and Marina are back in the scroll, picking apart the stories, headlines and takes that have everyone talking, pondering and shouting. They get into growing frustration with the way global events are framed, and why some stories seem to get all the attention while others barely register. There’s a look at how international law is being talked about (and sometimes ignored), plus the narratives shaping coverage of Israel, Gaza and Lebanon. Back on home turf, Nigel Farage and Reform are having a bit of a moment with a headline-grabbing stunt that’s raised more eyebrows than applause. Elsewhere, there’s a chaotic night out involving politics on the dancefloor, a genuinely surprising story of someone leaving the English Defence League, and a reminder that even in the noise, small shifts in perspective can still happen. It’s sharp, it’s funny, it’s occasionally exasperated but there’s enough to keep you thinking long after you’ve stopped scrolling. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  4. APR 24

    The Pope, Pulp Fiction & Wild Presidential Claims

    In this Trawl, we're heading Stateside because, frankly, you can’t look away. From Pentagon prayer sessions to a defence secretary apparently quoting Pulp Fiction as scripture, Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte try (and fail) to make sense of the latest chaos unfolding in US politics. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is back making sweeping claims about Iran, the Pope, and global diplomacy many of which don’t quite stand up to scrutiny. As tensions escalate around the Strait of Hormuz, questions swirl about what’s really going on behind the scenes and who, if anyone, is actually in control. Plus: MAGA vs the Pope, market-moving statements, political hypocrisy, and one truly unhinged news cycle. Confused? So are we. Let’s trawl through it together. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  5. APR 22

    Starmer Drama & A Website From Hell

    Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte wade through the latest Westminster psychodrama involving Keir Starmer, Peter Mandelson, and a row that refuses to die. Is it a genuine scandal or just political noise drowning out far more urgent stories? Because while the media obsesses over Whitehall intrigue, and there is TRIGGER WARNING for this part of the episode, something far darker is barely being covered: a disturbing online forum where men share advice and footage on drugging and assaulting their partners. Yes, really. The hosts unpack what’s been reported, why it hasn’t led the news cycle, and what it says about whose safety actually matters. Plus: Reform chaos, Richard Tice’s tax questions, parliamentary theatrics, and the small matter of who—if anyone—is fit to run the country. Equal parts fury and fatigue, this is the week’s chaos, carefully trawled. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  6. APR 19

    The Trawl Meets Sir Bill Browder

    The Trawl sits down with Sir Bill Browder, the man Vladimir Putin would very much prefer stayed quiet. From exposing corruption at the heart of the Kremlin to spearheading the global Magnitsky sanctions, Browder’s story is part financial thriller, part political crusade. He joins The Trawl to talk oligarchs, accountability, and why the fight against kleptocracy is far from over.  In the first half, Jemma and Marina dive into Bill's extraordinary life story from the wild west of post-Soviet Russia, to exposing corruption among powerful oligarchs, being expelled from the country, and the devastating death of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. It’s a deeply personal account of risk, loss, and a relentless pursuit of justice that led to the creation of the Magnitsky sanctions. In the second half, they shift to present day and unpack the current geopolitical moment. From Russia’s global strategy and the war in Ukraine to questions around Western sanctions, disinformation, and political influence in the UK, Browder helps make sense of an increasingly unstable world and what it all means for democracy. It’s a conversation that moves from the intensely personal to the globally political and it's one you won’t want to miss. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    58 min

  7. APR 16

    Reform Raffle, Tory Receipts & Starmer Confusion

    Marina and Jemma are back in the trenches, sifting through the chaos so you don’t have to. In this episode, why Keir Starmer can be both competent and deeply frustrating, a baffling “free energy bills” stunt linked to Nigel Farage, and yet more questions swirling around Reform’s candidates and Tice's company tax affairs. There’s also a diplomatic cringe moment featuring David Lammy and JD Vance, a Tory hypocrisy masterclass, and a reminder that British politics remains, above all else, spectacularly weird. Plus: unconscious bias checks, Brexit queue rage, a genuinely heartening vox pop, and an underrated section that delivers exactly what it promises. It’s messy, it’s ranty, it’s occasionally unhinged. It’s The Trawl. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  8. APR 15

    Trump vs Pope, AI Jesus & What the Melania?!

    This Trawl begins, as you do, with Melania Trump making a deeply strange, entirely unprompted statement insisting she has “nothing to do with Epstein”, a denial so out of nowhere it immediately raises more questions than it answers. And somehow, that’s just the start. Because this week also brings Donald Trump recasting himself as Jesus in a social media post that’s as revealing as it is absurd, while the Pope steps into the global conversation - a reminder of how power, influence and image still intersect on the world stage. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the situation continues to deteriorate with escalating violence and humanitarian consequences that should be leading the news, but aren’t. From surreal distractions to stories of real-world consequence, Jemma and Marina track what gets amplified, what gets ignored, and why. Because when the headlines veer from messianic self-posting to pre-emptive denials, it’s worth asking what we’re not being made to look at. Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast   Patreon https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast   Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl   Twitter https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including: • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on • Early access to The Trawl Meets… • Glorious ad-free episodes Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat. And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone. Come join the fun: https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
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Trailer

Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

The Trawl is the podcast that dives headfirst into the political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity of the week - so you don’t have to. Hosted by broadcasters and political commentators, Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss, it’s part therapy, part takedown, and always unfiltered. Each episode, Jemma and Marina trawl through the week’s most viral tweets, jaw-dropping headlines, and rage-inducing soundbites - offering sharp analysis, dark humour, and the occasional expletive. From Westminster to world affairs, they call out hypocrisy, amplify truth, and remind you that you’re not losing your mind - just living through it. If you’ve ever shouted at the news or laughed through the tears, The Trawl is your people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    396
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte
  • Show Website
    The Trawl

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