186: Fa-rage Against The Machine

As the summer draws to a close, Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss the best books about journalism and writing ever, er, written, covering everything from Vesuvius to Rwanda to Elton John.Further Reading The Faber Book of Reportage, edited by Professor John Carey Tickle The Public - 100 Years of the Popular Press by Matthew Engel We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Phillip Gourevitch Towards The End Of The Morning by Michael Frayn  Scoop by Evelyn WaughStick It Up Your Punter! by Peter Chippindale & Chris HorrieMother Tongue by Bill BrysonNew Grub St by George Gissing

Summer special! The team discuss the Conservatives’ new policy on convicted Neo-Nazis (pro), the AI data centres hoovering up power and water, and the extraordinary story of Professor Jason Arday.

The team discuss how Andy Burnham’s social media is annoying the ‘lobby’; the mad debate over North Sea drilling continues; and how to make the new PM funny. 

The team (with guest Jane Mackenzie) discuss Nigel Farage's by-election gamble, the latest military procurement disasters, and the lowdown on Prince Harry’s trial against the Mail. 

Ian, Helen, Andy and Richard Brooks discuss Andy Burnham’s vision for Britain (AKA Even Greater Manchester), the non-existent ban on air-conditioning, and a new book on Emperor Trump. 

The Private Eye team, minus Andy but plus Matt Muir, wave a sad farewell to Keir Starmer and prepare themselves for Andy Burnham and the Burnaissance. Also: is Nigel Farage running out of steam?

The team (plus guest Sarah Shannon) catch up on the latest White House cage fight, on the World Cup, on the USA and Iran's actual fight, and on the British fight for the right between Reform and Restore.

The team record a special episode from the Hay Festival. Featuring Tony Blair, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, and all your other - favourite? - characters from the news. 

You've heard the stories. You've admired the piles of paper in the Eye office (video viewers only). And now it's time to learn which brilliant story has won this year's Paul Foot Award! 

Chloe Hadjimatheou of the Observer looked into a beloved, million-selling bestseller, The Salt Path, and found the book arguably fit the 'fiction' shelves better.