In a Surprise Announcement (with Beth Rigby)

Armando is joined by Tim Shipman to go over 'the same old arguments'.With 40 years of neoliberalism being followed by a 10 year plan, are politicians reluctant to look at the world as it is? And given our penchant for raking up old graves, are we about to relive the brexit years?Elsewhere, we discuss commons traditions, Farage's prayer card and try desperately to remember was the 'Malthouse compromise' was.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by comedian Nish Kumar to talk about petulance in politics.With Flavio Bolsonaro flouncing off, Trump accolytes baulking at Obama's joke, and Elon Musk creating his own 'historically accurate' Odyssey, are we seeing political language and action become infected by greivance?Elsewhere, there are Sean Connery impressions, Nish rails against paperclips, we discover Armando's role in creating a heartthrob.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby to pore over the language surrounding the budget.Can you pre-trail a 'surprise announcement'? What does good growth mean? And do people care about PuFins?Elsewhere, we look at politicians telling jokes, vibes politicians, and hear what happened when Beth shouted at Angela Merkel.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by comedian Chloe Petts to look at whether we're getting more stupid, and whether we get the politicians we deserve.To get into the weeds of that, they are also joined by BBC's Social Media Investigations Correspondent, Marianna Spring.With Trump telling an audience 'i could say the stupidest things and you'd clap', we look at how social media and AI are changing our interactions with politicians from both directions, and with Celebrity Traitors as an example, are we suspicious of anyone who displays intelligence?Elsewhere, we find out what's under Armando's kilt, hear a long goodbye from an AI agent, and invent a very British solution to rioting.AI interview clip from @grahamdotzip's video "I Sent an AI to My Job Interview. So Did the Company" on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0fECnj5sasGot a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Mac Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by sketchwriter for the Times, Tom Peck, to look at the language of the schism on the British rightFollowing on from party conference season, we discuss the escalating war of words between Badenoch and Jenrick, as well as 'the worst speech of all time' from Andrew Griffith.We also look at the language of the Green Party's 'zionism is racism' motion, and the wider reaction to it.Elsewhere, Armando recalls the moment he died inside, Tom pitches a new BBC property show, and they speculate on the late Queen's final diary entry.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by Stewart Lee to look at the newly rebranded 'Super Intelligence'.To get into the linguistic weeds, they are also joined by founding member of The Nerve, Carole Cadwalladr.The tech bros are coming up with new terminology all over the shop, so we take a whistle stop tour through phrases that grind our gears. Rogue agents, warfighters and bootloaders all come under scrutiny.Elsewhere, we discuss Armando's visit to Jeffrey Archer's house, Burnham's short honeymoon and why Superman is a rubbish superhero.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Armando is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie this week, and they’re going to have an honest conversation about political capital. Looking at some of the phrases and language being used around Burnham’s decision to spend his political capital, we look at some of the announcements trailed in the speech, and whether the politics of ‘saying’ now trumps the politics of ‘doing’.Elsewhere, Armando and Pierre work out the difference between a ‘legitimate concern’ and an ‘understandable concern’, examine Peter Thiel’s defense of evil, and find the most unfortunately named politician in the world.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Rich EvansProduction Coordinator: Asha Osborne-GrinterExecutive Producer: Pete StraussRecorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

Stewart Lee returns to the show after a summer judging dog shows with Charlotte Church.He and Armando look at the Lib Dem conference, and why the 'word cloud' is not Ed Davey's friend. They also have some helpful and serious suggestions for how Ed can improve his messaging, which I'm sure he'll take on board.Elsewhere, we look at how Trump's media ban might play out, and if the Democrats in the US have finally landed on a decent attack line on 'The Trump Crime Family'.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at the Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Armando is back from a summer break to look at the use and abuse of political language.Joined by friend of the show, Natalie Haynes, they mournfully fell the Keir Starmer Metaphor tree, and find a suitable replacement for the Andy Burnham era.Elsewhere, they discuss the undercover operation on Reform, and the language of the fallout, 'perv glasses' and a corbyn-eqsue 'Strong Message Here' for the modern era.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at the Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

This week, Phil Wang steps in for Armando, and is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie to discuss 'doing politics differently'.Digging into the language of Burnham's speech, we examine what he means by 'place', and whether we will see an end to 'punch and judy politics'.Elsewhere, we look at Badenoch's attack mode, America's 250th celebrations and why politicians struggle to p-p-p-pick a favourite biscuit.Stay tuned to the end to hear from Armando, and find out what they 'Putin' the chicken over in Georgia.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected] editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James RobinsonProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.