Shirley Valentine, Baked Spuds & Budget Bollox: It's Politics Honest

In this episode of The Trawl, Jemma and Marina dive head-first into a planet-sized pile of billionaire bullshit — starting with the news that Elon Musk is on track to become the world’s first trillionaire. Yes, trillionaire. As in: “bigger than the GDP of Saudi Arabia” trillionaire.They roll out a brand-new listener-made jingle for the “Trickle Down Update of the Week” and ask: What on earth is Tesla doing? internet?And as the Epstein situation develops, Trump is playing chicken with the food-stamp programme that keeps 42 million Americans fed. Payments frozen, families panicking, the Supreme Court involved, and Trump using hunger as a bargaining chip. Marina and Jemma discuss the fallout, the food-bank queues, the voters caught in the middle, and the grim Oval Office moment that shows exactly how little he cares.Then: chaos at The New York Times, where a catastrophically misjudged opinion piece sparks the question: who keeps approving this?!And finally, JoJoFromJerz delivers pudding - a clip that lands somewhere between cathartic, furious, poignant and funny.Enjoy!Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

From baked potatoes to pension raids, it’s another rollercoaster week in the weird and woeful world of UK politics.Jemma and Marina pay tribute to the glorious Pauline Collins, salute a life well lived, and then plunge straight into the nation’s latest highs and lows, including the latest (Not Prince) Andrew news. It involves a late night snack and what amounts to culinary catastrophe frankly. Somehow this segues into chat about Kim K’s thongs with a difference, and Rachel Reeves apparently testing just how unpopular she can make saving for retirement.Throw in a Tory montage, some tax turmoil, and a side of existential dread, and you’ve got a trawl that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

This week on The Trawl, Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss are knee-deep in the latest wave of outrage from poppy politics to a BBC in apparent crisis.As Remembrance Sunday came and went, the usual suspects found new ways to weaponise the poppy, turning a moment of reflection into yet another battle in the culture war. Jemma and Marina unpick the hypocrisy, the viral clips, and the veteran being used for clicks.Then, it’s onto the Beeb: two top resignations, a leaked memo, and a right-wing press party that smells blood. Is this really about “bias” or something far more coordinated? The pair dive into how the BBC’s latest wobble has been spun into a full-blown assault on public broadcasting.With new jingles (thank you, Simon Brown), the usual sound effects, and plenty of righteous rage, this is The Trawl doing what it does best — diving deep into the week’s digital nonsense so you don’t have to.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

It’s a week of whiplash on The Trawl. Marina and Jemma begin with words - literally - as they find the perfect Susie Dent–style term to capture the emotional chaos of the moment. From there, it’s a hard swerve into horrors too big to scroll past: Netanyahu’s meltdown over leaked footage from a detention centre, the ongoing genocide in Sudan, and why it's practically impossible to absorb it all.But even in the darkness, the absurdities keep coming. Trump throws a “Great Gatsby” party (because of course he does), JD Vance gets intimate AF on stage with Erika Kirk and Marina and Jemma have a chat about the pros and cons of plether leggings.In the Under Rated section Billie Eilish restores a little faith in humanity by donating $11 million to feed the hungry.From genocide to greed, from linguistics to lunacy, Jemma and Marina trawl through a week that shows us the best and worst of what we are.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

Marina and Jemma are riding a rare and glorious wave of optimism because on November 5th, New York City elected Zohran Mamdani as mayor. A progressive, principled, hope-restoring human who didn’t just beat the billionaire class - he trounced them. The internet rejoiced, Fox News melted down, and various billionaires were left clutching their pearls.Marina and Jemma revel in the joy of seeing an actual adult take charge, explore the ripple effects of Mamdani’s win from Mississippi to Manhattan, and ask the big question: could Britain ever have its own Mamdani moment? Over to you Zack Polanski.Plus: Prince Andrew’s latest rebrand, a Piers Morgan self-own and a glorious Cody Dahler pudding.A hopeful scroll through the best kind of timeline where decency wins, billionaires sulk, and Jemma cries more than she did at the John Lewis Christmas ad.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

This week on The Trawl, Marina and Jemma wade through a week so grim it makes the John Lewis Christmas ad look like a cry for help.From Rachel Reeves’ gloomy pre-budget spin to Nigel Farage’s bright idea that young people should earn less (apparently poverty builds character), the Trawl ladies cover it all. There’s a reality check on the cost of living, a brutal look at the online reaction to the LNER train stabbings, and a dose of festive existentialism courtesy of Waitrose and a raver dad.It’s politics, propaganda and pudding bowls of hypocrisy — all served with the usual mix of outrage, wit, and a few well-aimed “go f*** yourselfs”.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

Nigel’s on strike because he's not getting enough questions at PMQ'S (widdums), Reform’s spending a lot of money on flags, and Trump’s throwing tariffs about whenever he has a tantrum. This week The Trawl is overflowing with fragile egos, bad maths and moral bankruptcy.Marina and Jemma pick apart Nigel Farage’s latest pity party, Trump’s gold-plated meltdown over a Canadian ad, and the jaw-dropping Gaza “masterplan” that sounds more like a property pitch than diplomacy.There are of course moments of actual joy: Finland’s women-led happiness and some cracking Under Rated's.All that, plus jokes, rage, and the sort of catharsis only The Trawl can deliver.Enjoy!Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

It’s a proper shit sandwich this week, Trawlers — a little light snack, a heavy main course and a very hopeful bite to finish. Followed, of course, as ever by a delicious pudding.This episode starts with bad news for snack lovers - Penguin bars are no longer technically chocolate (cheers, climate change). Then, Jemma and Marina bite into the grim meat of it all: the racism notch in British politics. From Reform MP Sarah Pochin’s rant about “too many foreigners in adverts” to Katie Lam’s calls for “cultural coherence,” it’s open season for dog whistles. Marina and Jemma discuss how this stuff stopped being whispered and started being cheered. Though rest assured they've also trawled away and come up with plenty of wonderful clips and takes to offset it all, because it goes without saying, millions of people do not feel the same. Which brings them onto the recent council by- election results and what happened in Caerphilly. Wonderful. Reform’s balloon well and truly popped.Details of the charity art auction that Jemma mentioned are as follows - ART AUCTION FOR PALESTINE : BID FOR HOPE auction hosts @wynnesteve & @hanazidek . Join them for a instagram live at @hope_and_play_charity on : SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER at 7pmThey will showcase the artwork, introduce the artists and give you a chance to have a closer look at the work.There will also be a live Q&A with Emma from Hope and Play. Emma will answer questions about the work they do and provide updates from volunteers in Gaza.The auction is online now and open for bids. Auction closes at 8pm that night (Nov 30th 2025) so you have time to get your bids in. To bid, go to the link visit  www.jumblebee/bidforhopeThank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

This week on The Trawl, Jemma and Marina wade through a global cesspit of power, propaganda and, quite literally, poo.From Donald Trump’s unhinged AI fantasy, featuring himself as a crowned Top Gun pilot dropping actual sewage on protesters, to the real-life horror of leaked GOP group chats filled with racist bile, America is plumbing new depths. Meanwhile, back in Blighty, Tesco’s being called out, M&S thinks it’s Harrods, and the Palace is in a PR panic as Prince Andrew’s name re-enters the headlines ahead of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.Thank goodness for characters like Zohran Mandami who aren't afraid to hold powerful men to account for their sleazy misdemeanours and indeed crimes. There’s hypocrisy, hubris, and high-octane nonsense on both sides of the pond — plus your usual Underrated Clips and Tweets of the week. Grab your waders, Trawlers. It’s a murky one.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.

This Week on The Trawl it's winners and losers time... and Reform appear to be losing in a rather spectacular fashion. Marina and Jemma break down the implosion: Russian ties, disappearing councillors, and a Kent council Zoom meltdown that makes Jackie Weaver look like a stateswoman. Oh, and Nigel Farage’s partner? She’s now reportedly embroiled in a criminal probe over alleged EU fund fraud. Suddenly it's all looking a bit spicy...Meanwhile, the Greens are quietly stacking up wins, the Lib Dems are snatching by-elections, and Reform’s “party of business” can’t even file VAT properly. If this is their political auditions, they're flunking hard.Then it’s the Aston Villa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv saga, where British politicians united to defend a fanbase banned for racist violence. The outrage machine kicked into action and Starmer ended up looking like a massive bell after the Israeli police banned their own fans - unless of course they're antisemitic too? Plus: Celia Imrie’s viral moment, Traitors spoilers (don’t worry, none here), and Tommy Robinson’s baffling football pivot to Tel Aviv Yellow. It’s football, farce, and fury - with a side of righteous indignation.Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast Patreonhttps://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl Twitterhttps://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcastIf 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 episodesPlus, 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.