The Battle of the Billionaire Ball Sacks: Trump v Murdoch

This week, Marina and Jemma dive into a whirlwind of chaos and clarity—from the Lionesses’ triumphant Euros win (yes, again) to the surreal scenes in Epping, where far-right protests collided with police apathy and a mob of counter-protesters. The Lionesses win was surely a source of joy for all England fans, surely? Er, sadly not, and one man in particular went to the trouble of calling up on LBC to express his disgust.Still, at least the police appear to be growing tired of arresting pensioners in kagoules at the ongoing Palestine protests and then there's the soft launch of a new left-wing political party to discuss. Will the Corbyn and Sultana proposition split the vote or bring radical change? Marina and Jemma discuss. Larry & Paul are served up for pudding and they capture the terror of summer holidays with kids.Enjoy!Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Clive Lewis is the Labour MP for Norwich South and takes a bold stance in areas like water privatisation, the NHS, welfare, wealth taxes and Palestine. They discuss how he feels about the direction the Labour party has taken, and what it was like to make an anti-monarchy statement when he was sworn in as an MP.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

This week, Marina and Jemma unpack the most expensive hissy fit in presidential history: Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal for a casual $10 billion, meanwhile it appears JD Vance is on manoeuvres.... Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert, the most-watched late-night host in America is seemingly being cancelled not long after calling out a $16 million Trump settlement. Quite the coincidence! Reform UK continues its misinformation tour, with Sarah Pochin spouting nonsense on national TV and getting politely dismantled mid-broadcast. And in a by-election where Reform came fourth, the media coverage was so minimal it may as well have been printed in invisible ink and buried under a Farage flat cap. Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte have done the doom scrolling so you don’t have to, bringing you the viral chaos, the political drama, and the bits the mainstream misses.First up, the scandal that broke the internet—yes, that Coldplay affair. It had everything: shock, schadenfreude, and memes so relentless they almost made you forget how painful it must have been for those involved. The ladies have rounded up the funniest, sharpest, and most unhinged takes from across social media.Then they dive into Labour’s latest rollercoaster, including the good things you're not hearing about. One thing that has hit the headlines is the news that sixteen-year-olds will soon get the vote—cue the inevitable outrage about teenagers who “can’t even boil an egg.” Meanwhile, Starmer’s whip-wielding spree has left MPs floating awkwardly between “Labour-ish” and politically homeless, and Diane Abbott’s expulsion has sparked fury about hypocrisy at the heart of the party. Add Corbyn’s growing “Independent Alliance,” and you’ve got a movement that’s starting to look more like a rebellion.Oh, and did we mention pensioners are being arrested for peaceful protest? Yeah. That too.And the latest update from Palestine is heart wrenching but has to be discussed. From Westminster to TikTok, from viral reels to the quiet crises no one’s talking about—Jemma and Marina have trawled it all so you don’t have to.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

This week on The Trawl, Marina and Jemma dive into the truly gobsmacking and head-scratching events of the week - so you don’t have to. We start with Trump elbowing his way into Chelsea’s Club World Cup glory, and then it’s onto the swirling chaos of the Epstein files, with GOP evasions, metadata shenanigans, and conspiracy theories so spicy they could be served with fries.Marina breaks her “no implausible movies” rule for the new Superman flick that’s got geopolitical undertones and triggered right-wing meltdowns, while Trump distracts with poetic vendettas against Rosie O’Donnell and sanctions on a UN human rights expert. Plus a sprinkling of some dark comedy, a few celebrity cameos, and the surreal spectacle of American political theatre - and voilà, another episode of The Trawl that’s part therapy, part firecracker.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Jemma and Marina are determined to ensure that The Trawl contains as many 'glimmers' as possible so begin the episode with some positive news about butterflies. Also featured is a heart warming story about raving school kids and the Trawl ladies share what each of them have been doing to mitigate how bleak the news is currently. They do go on to discuss why Rory and Alastair acknowledging that a genocide is occurring on their podcast, feels like a 'moment.' There then follows a heartfelt discussion about how they may or may not vote come the next election, and Marina poses a question which gives them both pause for thought. There are, as ever, some brilliant clips including a particularly powerful one of Jewish US actor, Mandy Patinkin. Then, did you know it's forty years since Live Aid? A certain someone has tweeted something so bizarre about it, it gives rise to lots of Trawl gold. Still, perhaps it's not quite as terrible as Tommy Robinson not knowing that migrants can be white, or Farage posing on the white cliffs of somewhere like a page 7 fella. Under rated clips and posts follow and pudding is a poem which Jemma and Marina adore and find very moving. It's by the brilliant Roger McGough. Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

What's the world coming to Trawlers? Yes, the news cycle is astoundingly awful but, as ever, Jemma and Marina nominate themselves to wade through what's happening so they can chat all through with you. They begin by paying tribute to Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva who sadly died in a car crash. For some reason, Trump is very anti finding the Epstein files which, after months and months of painstaking investigation have seemingly disappeared along with the much mooted client list. Hmm, it begs the question, if there weren't any clients, what's Ghislaine Maxwell in jail for? The plot thickens and even some of the most loyal MAGA loons aren't happy as it appears Trump is OK about protecting a paedophile ring. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. The clip of the two war-mongering fellas will render your speechless but fortunately Marina and Jemma do manage to find some words. Some are quite choice. There are some domestic updates too and some ponderings over Richard Tice's wallpaper and, as ever, the under rated tweets section provides some levity. Pudding is Cody Dahler - Enjoy! Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

This week, Jemma and Marina tackle Venice’s most OTT nuptials as Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez say “I do” amidst a spectacle that felt like a Succession spin-off. From helicopters to haute couture and a Vogue cover cameo, the ladies break down the eyebrow-raising moment, including Leo Di Caprio's terrible attempt at camouflage and a Dolce & Gabbana dress that could have Bezos in for a long night. But things turn darker, and dumber, with the U.S. Senate’s passage of the “Big Bullsh*t Bill,” a legislative grenade lobbed straight at America’s most vulnerable. Marina and Jemma break down the grim fallout: Medicaid slashed, clean energy sabotaged, food assistance gutted… all while millionaires snag tax cuts and ICE gets worryingly bloated. And just when it couldn’t get more dystopian - enter Trump and Musk. Again. The MAGA soap opera gets spicier by the day with threats of deportation, party-splitting tantrums, and Elon hinting at a new political party. The ladies are living for the chaos - and if this feud reignites properly, the popcorn’s already in the microwave.There’s also a pudding from satirist Rosie Holt that’s too pitch-perfect to miss. So pull up a gondola - because Jemma and Marina are taking no prisoners.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

Marina and Jemma begin the episode with a quick round up/ precis of the recently announced spending plans from Rachel Reeves. There's stuff to like but it's not the most scintillating, partly because it's pretty sensible which doesn't create massive headlines, as it shouldn't. Acknowledging that politics should be dull but that 'dull' doesn't make for a very entertaining podcast, the Trawl ladies decide to set their thoughts to music....who knew they could play the synthesiser?Then, they feel obliged to hark back to when Reform MP Sarah Pochin chose to use her first question at PMQ's as an opportunity to suggest banning the burqa. They wouldn't have given such a stupid question any oxygen only it led to a chain of events that can't be ignored for a number of reasons. It led to a resignation, a back pedal and a very disproportionate amount of coverage. This makes more sense given the recent scoop from Byline who have exposed how the BBC are trying to appeal more to Reform voters.....Jemma and Marina also discuss the flotilla which Greta Thunberg set sail on along with 11 other activists who were trying to break the Israeli blockade which is preventing food getting in for starving Palestinians. On a lighter note, Tommy Robinson and his pals got kicked out of a steak restaurant and lots of under rated tweets were written as a result. Pudding is served by comedian Sam Avery. Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey

What can we say... Sadly, this pod isn't a laugh a minute, although Jemma does manage to squeeze in a little humour when discussing Marina's social algorithm which has taking scrolling to another level of doom. Jemma landed back from a few days away from the news to the harrowing events in Liverpool and the grim state of affairs that saw Merseyside police rush to declare the ethnicity of the suspect, yet seemingly this wasn't enough to placate the usual suspects who seemingly relish any opportunity to weaponize suffering for their own gain. Talk turns to the tragic events in Washington, where two Israelis were gunned down and Netanyahu's response which is a masterclass in gaslighting and responsibility shirking. The ladies discuss how the dehumanisation of Palestinians and devaluing of their lives has become so prevalent and share one powerful explanation by Israeli journalist, Gideon Levy.And while it was only last week that David Lammy declared suspended trade negotiations with Israel, just wait till you see what our UK trade envoy has been up to. Pudding is from a new contributor – Actor, Caitlin O’Ryan who delivered an incredible poem entitled: Questions for my conscience. Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcastPatreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcastYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawlTwitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastBlueSkyhttps://bsky.app/profile/thetrawl.bsky.socialCreated and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina PurkissEdited by Max Carrey