Strong Message Here Podcast
Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci host a world-beating programme that gives you a cast-iron guarantee to be laser-focused on how politicians use language.
In this new series, Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe.
Each week Helen and Armando will crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to decode the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried?
You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political language from two people both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight.
Warning: this podcast features strong political language that some listeners may find nonsensical.
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A 成人快手 Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.
Episodes to download
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Strong Recommend: The Ballad of Wallis Island
Thu 10 Jul 2025
The first in a series of cultural recommendations from the hosts of Strong Message Here.
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We Haven't Always Told Our Story as Well as We Should
Thu 3 Jul 2025
A look at the language of the first year of the Labour government.
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The New Brexit
Thu 26 Jun 2025
Helen returns as we discuss the topic described by Farage as 'The New Brexit'; Net Zero.
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Delivering for Ordinary People (with Marina Hyde)
Thu 19 Jun 2025
Who are 'ordinary people'? And do politicians really know how to 'deliver' for them?
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I Regret Some of My Posts (with Sara Pascoe)
Thu 12 Jun 2025
Bromances, breaking up, and making up. With Sara Pascoe.
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Weird Turkish Barber Shops (with Stewart Lee)
Thu 5 Jun 2025
Armando Iannucci is joined by comedian Stewart Lee to discuss 'weird Turkish barber shops'
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An Announcement President (with Jon Stewart)
Thu 29 May 2025
The Daily Show host Jon Stewart joins Armando and Helen to talk Trump.
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The Island of Strangers and the Manacled Gimp of Brussels
Thu 22 May 2025
Armando and Helen voyage around the Island of Strangers, and other inflammatory phrases.
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Yes or No?
Thu 15 May 2025
Helen and Armando ask, is there any nuance in politics? It's a simple yes or no question!
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I Want My Country Back (with Phil Wang)
Thu 8 May 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Phil Wang to talk British identity.
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The Official Language of the United States
Thu 1 May 2025
Helen and Armando converse in the official language of the United States.
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How Much is a Pint of Milk? (with Rob Burley)
Thu 24 Apr 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis talk gotchas, and political interviews with Rob Burley.
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Liberation Day (with Soumaya Keynes)
Thu 17 Apr 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
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Three Word Slogans (with Cleo Watson)
Thu 10 Apr 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Cleo Watson to discuss the power of three.
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Fist Emoji, Flag Emoji, Fire Emoji (with Ava Santina Evans)
Thu 3 Apr 2025
Armando and Helen are joined by Ava Santina Evans to talk casualness in political speech.
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Seizing the Narrative (with Stephen Bush)
Thu 27 Mar 2025
Armando and Helen are joined by Stephen Bush to see who's seizing the political narrative.
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Britain Isn't Working
Thu 20 Mar 2025
Armando and Helen look at how we talk about those on welfare, and how it's changed.
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Be Quiet, Small Man
Thu 13 Mar 2025
Helen and Armando investigate how politicians convey strength through rhetoric.
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In the Public Interest?
Thu 6 Mar 2025
What happens when private communications become public? Helen and Armando find out.
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Everybody's Miserable
Thu 27 Feb 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis find out why everyone in politics is so miserable.
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The Threat from Within
Thu 20 Feb 2025
A tale of two speeches this week, as Helen and Armando look at Vance and Badenoch's lines.
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Build, Baby, Build!
Thu 13 Feb 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis examine why politicians copy each other's language.
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Flying a Kite and Rolling the Pitch (with Rob Hutton)
Thu 6 Feb 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by a guest, journalist Rob Hutton.
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Trump Derangement Syndrome
Thu 30 Jan 2025
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis identify the symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
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Free Speech Is Back!
Thu 23 Jan 2025
Helen and Armando use their free speech to decode Meta's new fact-checking rules.
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A Lawyer, Not a Leader
Thu 16 Jan 2025
Helen and Armando are back, and they're looking at what makes a good political attack.
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Listeners' Strong Messages
Thu 2 Jan 2025
Helen and Armando read some 'strong messages' from the listeners.
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Words of the Year
Boxing Day 2024
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis break down the political language of 2024.
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The Tepid Bath of Managed Decline
Thu 19 Dec 2024
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis take a dip in the tepid bath of managed decline.
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Reset, NOT Relaunch
Thu 12 Dec 2024
Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis hit the big button marked 'reset'.
