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Armando Iannucci hosts the programme that gives you a cast-iron guarantee to be laser-focused on decoding the baffling world of political language.

Radio 4,84 episodes

Episodes

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There's Been An Under-Discussion (with Natalie Haynes)
Armando and Natalie wade in on the under-discussed topic of AI safety.
04 Jun 2026,36 mins
That's Not for Me to Say (with Munya Chawawa)
A look at the political art of not saying anything.
28 May 2026,34 mins,
A Febrile Atmosphere (with Tom Peck)
After some 'febrile' weeks in parliament, we look at the language of heightened times.
21 May 2026,39 mins
We Can't Go On Like This (with Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Ayesha Hazarika)
Armando defies the naysayers with the programme of his life.
14 May 2026,34 mins,
Technological Republic (with Stewart Lee and Carole Cadwalladr)
Why are tech companies releasing manifestos? We look at the language of the tech bro.
07 May 2026,34 mins
Game On (with Natalie Haynes)
War memes, prediction markets, protecting your streaks - is everything a game now?
30 Apr 2026,28 mins
The Process Was Followed (with Tim Shipman)
Are we obsessed with process? And can language can tell us the true severity of a crisis?
23 Apr 2026,23 mins,
Only the Fake News Would Come Up with This (with Amol Rajan)
Armando Iannucci and Amol Rajan look at politicians getting into their own media bubbles.
16 Apr 2026,34 mins
Righteous Targets for Violence (with Hugo Rifkind)
Are politicians invoking the Almighty more regularly than before?
09 Apr 2026,37 mins,
That's a Great Question (with Stewart Lee in Laugharne)
Is AI's sycophantic language grating? That's a great question - let me check that for you.
02 Apr 2026,27 mins
We're Here to Listen (with Stewart Lee in Laugharne)
Getting outside the Westminster bubble to hear some refreshing phrases from real people.
26 Mar 2026,21 mins,
You Don't Have to Worry (with Marina Hyde)
Is the optimism and positive language of the US administration encouraging or worrying?
19 Mar 2026,33 mins
I Understand the Anxiety (with Ria Lina and Coco Khan)
How do we cope with increasingly scary news?
12 Mar 2026,28 mins
Get Real (with Hugo Rifkind)
Who is a 'real person' in politics? How do politicians use language to change reality?
05 Mar 2026,32 mins
History Will Judge You (with Stewart Lee)
Is history still written by the victors? How do people try and control their legacy?
26 Feb 2026,25 mins,
For the Sake of Transparency (with Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove)
Lifting the veil of opacity, Michael Gove joins Armando and Natalie Haynes.
19 Feb 2026,34 mins
Psychodrama (with Stewart Lee)
Is political language on fast forward? And are we addicted to the psychodrama?
12 Feb 2026,28 mins
You've Let Your Country Down (with Emily Maitlis)
Emily Maitlis joins Armando to pore through the language of the Epstein Files.
05 Feb 2026,31 mins
Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)
Blaring subtext, flimsy reasoning and hypocrisy - do politicians think we're stupid?
29 Jan 2026,28 mins
U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
Can politicians use language to convince us they have changed their minds?
22 Jan 2026,30 mins
Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)
If elections aren't 'won on Twitter', then what is happening on social media?
15 Jan 2026,30 mins,
Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
With Venezuela under new management, why won't the boss call it regime change?
08 Jan 2026,29 mins
Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)
Stewart joins Armando as they dip into the listeners' mailbag.
01 Jan 2026,36 mins,
Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)
Armando Iannucci and Natalie pick through some of the words of the year.
18 Dec 2025,28 mins
Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee)
Armando and Stewart look the US' claims of civilisational erasure in Europe.
11 Dec 2025,28 mins
AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)
Sarah Wynn-Williams joins Armando and Stewart Lee to talk all things AI.
04 Dec 2025,36 mins
Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)
Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee and Natalie Haynes decode the world of political language.
27 Nov 2025,32 mins,
Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)
Armando and Sara Pascoe are joined by Dr Matt Winning to discuss the language around COP.
20 Nov 2025,37 mins
The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)
Armando is joined by Ria Lina are joined by Sophy Ridge to chat editing and impartiality.
13 Nov 2025,34 mins
Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)
Armando Iannucci and Phil Wang look at language used after a violent event.
06 Nov 2025,29 mins