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Artwork for The Two Matts

The Two Matts

The New World
Donald Trump
Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Brexit
Nigel Farage
Gaza
Andy Burnham
Iran
The New World
Ukraine
UK Politics
BBC
Rachel Reeves
European Union
Israel
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
NATO
China
Jeffrey Epstein

Join The New World's Matt Kelly and Matt d'Ancona plus occasional guests for weekly chat on politics and media with a side of cultural stuff. A podcast in the spirit of the award-winning New World newspaper - irreverent, witty, surprising, argumentative ... and annoying all the right people.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesDailyEpisodes689Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for The Two Matts

Latest Episodes

The Matts answer listener questions including: why can’t we have decent welfare and a strong defence? Was Reform stung or entrapped? Why is Liz Truss still costing us so much money? Is AI really going to kill me? And why is everyone losing their mind... more

As Ed Miliband announces sanctions against illegal settlements in the West Bank, the Matts take a holistic look at what the government hopes to achieve and at what cost. Does this make British Jews less safe? Are challenges to Miliband’s level of Jew... more

The Matts answer listener questions in this, their regular Sunday morning question and answer edition. Including; is Farage finished; what tax pledge should Burnham break; is Michael Gove stupid; how should we think about China; apart from Dante, Gio... more

YouTube

The Matts are joined by The New World contributing editor Paul Mason to discuss his blockbuster book Reds: A Global History Of Communism. We cover a lot of ground - from pre-historic society through the French Revolution to the USSR and finally moder... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

James Ball
Political editor, Touching Grass collaborator
The New World
Episode: Have you been Touching Grass? You should be
Lucy Reade
Staff writer, Touching Grass collaborator
The New World
Episode: Have you been Touching Grass? You should be
Mark in Slough
Listener who asks about Andy Burnham's vulnerabilities
Listener
Episode: The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?
Tommy in Fleetwood
Caller asking how to improve the caliber of politicians
Listener
Episode: The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?
Francine in Alderley Edge
Caller asking about BBC cuts
Listener
Episode: The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?
Tinfoil Tim in Peckham
Caller with culture/UFOs interest and alien question
Listener
Episode: The Two Matts Q&A: Where is Burnham weak? And is America humiliated?
Misan Harriman
Artist and activist, chair of the Southbank Centre
Southbank Centre
Episode: SPECIAL with Misan Harriman: Under attack from the UK’s right wing press
Phil Tinline
Author of The Ghosts of Iron Mountain
Author, The Ghosts of Iron Mountain
Episode: Special: Exploring the Ghosts of Iron Mountain with Phil Tinline
John Kampfner
Author of Braver New World; discusses global case studies in governance and democracy
Episode: Is a brave new world possible? With John Kampfner

Hosts

Matt Kelly
Co-host with strong policy and political analysis, often driving the conversation with brisk, direct takes.
Matt d'Ancona
Co-host known for thoughtful, sometimes provocative political commentary and culture-focused observations.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 927 ratings
  • Book Recommendations

    This is a great suggestion from today's episode and would love to see this included in the Podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AMP243
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • Hilarious

    Nippy Chorthner and Pammering Studge compete for the crown of Sanctimonious Sad Sack. Studge normally wins.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ❤️Radio4Comedy
    Netherlands19 days ago
  • Jason Arday

    Matt D may feel himself expert on the matter of Cambridge dons, but he clearly knows nothing about mental health. I’m sure worse things were said in the whole debate, but his repeated insistence that Arday was a “bad man” was certainly one of the most foolish. Whilst armchair psychology is a losing game, it should at the very least occurred to him that this was a man who at least MIGHT have some sort of issues going on based merely upon the fantastical nature of some of his claims. As someone wi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Fullerton42
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Jason Arday

    “There’ll be a time and a place” … “it’s all very complex”… “there should be a full enquiry”… What sort of response is that? Matt D why not just show a little humanity and say “if the pile on by, among others, podcasters like me, in any way contributed to this then I am really sorry”. Read Matthew Syed in the Times for an example of how to do it.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Rob Levine
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Clear, thoughtful and funny.

    My favourite dissection of the news by two friendly and knowledgeable blokes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vendosian
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, witty, and informative debates with strong host personalities.
Listeners appreciate thoughtful takes on media, politics, and culture, with occasional controversial stances.
Guests and episodes with deep policy analysis are highly valued by the audience.
Audio quality and interruptions are frequently cited as a shortcoming by some listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#48
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#90
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#99
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#238
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#69
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Two Matts Q&A: is the Kelly Plan dead? And TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY SPEAKER PHONE!
Q: From Mick in Essex, Wetherspoons banning speakerphone—should this be extended nationwide or legislated away?
They agree it's a valid public-sphere issue and advocate for stronger controls on loud speakerphone use, debating feasibility and potential government intervention.
The Two Matts Q&A: is the Kelly Plan dead? And TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY SPEAKER PHONE!
Q: First question comes in from Jane McShane, who describes herself as a long time listener and subscriber. Thank you, Jane. And first time caller.
They discuss why Reform's position remains precarious and how Burnham must demonstrate tangible improvements, while debating whether the Labour transition strategy needs a clearer, faster path to credibility.
The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books
Q: What does the Matts think about West Streeting as Defense Secretary and the backlash he faced online?
They believe he was a strong appointment with good strategic instinct, and the backlash is part of a broader culture that is growing more bigoted and hostile, which is concerning for public life.
The Two Matts Q&A: Why tell ourselves lies about prison time? And what do we miss about the 70s?
Q: What do you miss from the 1970s, and what would you bring back to the present?
One host wants local, community-focused printed newspapers delivered door-to-door to rebuild community cohesion and local democracy, while the other longs for periods of digital detachment (like Sabbatarianism) to regain personal space and isolation when needed.
The Two Matts Q&A: Why tell ourselves lies about prison time? And what do we miss about the 70s?
Q: Should prisoners be released early in any circumstances, or should sentencing be honest about actual time served?
They argue for clearer, more transparent sentencing; the distrust arises when headlines say a person is sentenced to 25 years but they will serve far less due to remission. They compare to honest sentencing models in the US where time served matches the sentence, cautioning about incentives for good behavior and the practical limits of prison capacity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Two Matts

What is The Two Matts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two sharp political commentators co-host a weekly, irreverent yet thoughtful discussion that blends UK politics, media scrutiny, and cultural commentary with listener Q&As and occasional guests. Across recent episodes they bounce between policy debates (care, public funding, governance), international events, and media trust, all delivered with brisk banter and a willingness to rile both audiences and opponents. Noteworthy are their incisive takes, strong personalities, and a habit of weaving pop culture into policy conversations, making it likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy lively, well-informed debates with a human, sometimes provocative edge.

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How many listeners does The Two Matts get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Two Matts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Two Matts:

1. Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
2. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
3. Oh God, What Now?
4. Quiet Riot
5. The News Agents

How many episodes of The Two Matts are there?

The Two Matts launched 9 years ago and published 689 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Two Matts?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Two Matts?

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What guests have appeared on The Two Matts?

Recent guests on The Two Matts include:

1. James Ball
2. Lucy Reade
3. Mark in Slough
4. Tommy in Fleetwood
5. Francine in Alderley Edge
6. Tinfoil Tim in Peckham
7. Misan Harriman
8. Phil Tinline

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