The fact that Starmer just lets him carry on like this is maddening. Back when you did the Origin Story ep on Starmer I was fully on board with you and Ian that if nothing else at least there was a decent man there. I don’t think I could’ve been more wrong. There’s nothing there.

What I don't get about McSweeney is that he seems to hate most Labour members, most Labour MPs and most of the people who actually voted Labour or want to vote for it. Why is he there? Why does he seem so unable to accept that it's not the wider Labour movement that's the issue in this, it's him?

Well, that missed word is annoying.

I see Labour are doing their level best to promote the podcast for you again. You should McSweeney on commission.

Never thought about it Pip Torrens is an absolutely brilliant shout. He’s perfect for Rear Admiral, merchant banker, civil servant, cabinet minister or Imperial officer in Star Wars. The classic British establishment roles.

I never thought of it as simply as that before but if your left wing base and the people who voted for, and want to vote for you, think you're not a left wing government but everyone else does, maybe just try being a left wing government and roll the dice.

I do feel she's way too prolific right now. Between Midnights, TPS and this there probably a really good album. I guess I respect the work ethic but maybe slow down, be a bit pickier? Or maybework with more people who'll say that something is not good enough?

I think I'm higher on this than most but it's not her best. I just find her fascinating, the pettiness and insecurity that I think is always there flares up in such odd ways. It's way too much in this though. I kinda don't get the criticism that she's always doing the same thing, I don't see that.

Just got to Dorian asking "Why is the left so divided?" and burst out laughing on my train home! Today of all days!!

Me, explaining to a new friend group what happens after two tequila shots. 😳

(Obviously I will keep subscribing to both OGWN and Origin Story. All the best people do!

Thank you Dorian. Having found Remainiacs early on as a fan of you music writing I've loved every minute of it. As a queer person who has spent the last few years growing increasingly anxious at "everything" having a political media space that's felt welcoming and supportive has been a true help.

Really pleased to see the unity in this. Hope it's the beginning of something.

Sure!

We’ve been repeating these same mistakes for more than a decade now. The change required isn’t massive but it doesn’t seem like the board has any interest in making it. So we either keep doing this and take muddling through, or change something. If we don’t, we know what the next decade looks like.

So, where do we go? We’ve had maybe one window where we’ve functioned well? Not the Dom McKay one, we still did most of our business late, but the one where we sold GG and Juranovic after we replaced them with Oh and AJ that’s the only time it felt like we went into a window with a plan and did it.

As has been argued ad nauseum by @90minutecynic.bsky.social, but that will require the club execs/major shareholder to delegate a little control and for the manager (particularly in Rodgers case) to also give up some control on their side too. But there are no signs of that happening under Desmond.

I’m not arguing for ownership change. I don’t think it’s necessary. So many of the problems at this club could be solved with the simple addition of an experienced football exec/technical director to work between the CEO/CFO and the manager and take an overview of the running of the football dept.