Strong Message Here

Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)

Was Andy Burnham blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election because Labour need to save resources for elections they ‘must have’? Was the Tory briefing that referenced the defecting Suella Braverman’s mental health really a ‘first draft?’Armando and Natalie examine this and more, to find out if politicians in the UK are echoing Donald Trump’s words as they ask us to take these at face value - “Are you a stupid person?”. Are we not expected to read this 'subtext in block caps'? We also discuss how Trump's speeches are held together, and why Carney quoting Thucydides warmed Natalie's heart. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

28 min

U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)

With the backdrop of tariffs and territorial land grabs, Stewart and Armando look at the political language of U-turns and turncoats.With politicians having to advocate for a position they used to be in direct opposition to, we ask if political language exists in a quantum state inside Robert Jenrick's head, or, failing that are we really expected to believe defectors like him have had a damascene conversion?Stewart gives an update to an tired political joke, Armando finds a nifty Peace Prize related fix for the Greenland dispute, and they both give a run-down the shifty, shifting responses from Government officials on their numerous U-turns.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

31 min

Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)

Is Keir Starmer stuck in 2016? BBC's Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent Marianna Spring joins Phil Wang and Armando to look at the evolving language of social media.How do politicians navigate the new online world, both when trying to get their central message across, and in responding to crises? With the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, we examine how the normal playbook of a tragedy no longer applies.In the extended episode, we hear Phil take on the role of a lifetime, playing Nigel Farage, find out how Armando's nickname is causing him problems, and look at Grok's recent scandal.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

31 min

Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)

New Year, and Venezuela is under new management. The fallout from the "extraction" of Maduro has thrown up some interesting political language. Why aren't the US calling it 'regime change'? Why is Starmer damned if he does or doesn't say anything? and is Trump the first politician to use the word 'literally' correctly?In the extended version, we also look at Natalie's pedometer, Armando as the Elder of Taskmaster, and why a 'mild zombie apocalypse' has been described as 'encouraging'.Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

30 min

Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)

It's New Year's day, so Armando and Stewart are dipping into the very real, physical listeners' mailbag.In a loose and end-of-term episode, with some adult humour, we talk about the misuse of the phrase 'bad apples', Stewart thanks Armando for his leadership, and are treated to unexpected, slightly fruity, film reviews of 'Who Dares Wins' and 'Cats'. We also hear about Armando's ambassador for 'pace', Stewart's artistic skills, and some alternatives to the phrase 'fighting age males'.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

37 min

Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)

As the year comes to a close, Natalie Haynes joins Armando to discuss and dissect the words of 2025.Looking at official lists, and conjuring up some of their own, they set about breaking down the language that defined another frenetic year. We find out what links all of the official words of the year, and why we can learn a lesson from Austria when choosing them. Armando also denies he writes Pete Hegseth's speeches, and Natalie denies she is in a parasocial relationship with Taylor SwiftGot a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

28 min

Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee)

Is 'Civilisational Erasure' upon us?This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at this phrase, and others from the US' new National Security Strategy. Would this kind of language have been unthinkable even a few years ago?We also look at other elements of the strategy, and whether it's time to forget the idea that Trump is playing '3-dimensional chess' with his language. Outside civilisational erasure, we look at whether leaders need to communicate on social media, given Starmer's new TikTok account and Liz Truss' YouTube show both launched this week.If you want to know what Liz Truss has got against Gails, and why 70s sitcoms are back in the spotlight both sides of the Atlantic, then this programme is for you.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk to have your missive read out in our listener mailbag special.Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

29 min

AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)

This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to discuss the language around AI.They are also joined by public policy expert and author of Careless People, A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams. For legal reasons, Sarah is not allowed to say anything negative about Meta, so we discuss lots of other areas around tech and AI.We look at hallucinations - what are they, and are they solvable? Do we respond to the sycophancy of AI? Should there be rules around AI in weapons, and why is that even up for debate?We also take a retrospective look at the budget, headlice, and the Your Party members' decision to call Your Party 'Your Party'.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk and your email could be read out on our listener mailbag special episode over the festive periodSound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

36 min

Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)

It's budget week, Armando is joined by two members of the Strong Message Here commune, Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee.How do markets get 'spooked'? Who has the broadest shoulders? And what does 'a Labour Budget with Labour values' actually mean?We discuss how taxes get their nicknames, why we know so much about the budget ahead of time these days, and whether Rachel Reeves could've taken inspiration from Taylor Swift to make the budget more exciting.In the longer edition, we also look at 'the banter defence', and decide a new name for 'the markets' that feels more apt for the way they behave.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

33 min

Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)

António Guterres has said that missing the 1.5 degree climate target is "a moral failure and deadly negligence". Is he right?Dr Matt Winning joins Sara Pascoe and Armando to discuss the language around climate change. Is it proportionately alarmist, or does it just scare us? Are we numb to the jaw-dropping headlines?Matt has some ideas of how to communicate these complex ideas more succinctly, and tell us of the days spend at COP agonising over whether 'urges' or 'suggests' makes it into an agreement. We also look at how language has been used to put the onus on us, rather than corporations, for waste and pollution, and a Swedish word that should make its way into Keir Starmer's vocabulary.Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Jodie Charman Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

38 min

The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)

This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Sky New's new breakfast host, Sophy Ridge.In the week with 2 big resignations at the BBC, news journalism and accuracy are under the spotlight. We discuss the pressures on live broadcasting, editing, and deciding what stories make it to air. When is something worthy of coverage? These decisions are made all the time, but how? We also discuss how comedians skills can be deployed by journalists with tricky interviewees, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is the nadir of 'selective editing'.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss and James Robinson Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

34 min

Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)

This week, Armando is joined by Phil Wang to look at the use and abuse of political language.Defence Secretary John Healy says we need to 'be vigilant', and Reform councillor Laila Cunningham says 'Labour want us to shut up and die' - we look at how the public and the police respond to horrific events, and at our relationship with the police.We also discuss chocolate getting worse, Nigel Farage straddling the line between being a maverick and assuring the markets, and what other things Rachel Reeves is 'refusing to rule out'.Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukListen to Strong Message Here at 0945 on Radio 4, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coodinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

30 min

In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)

This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Political Editor of The Spectator, Tim Shipman.We're looking back at looking back. In a week where a scandal-hit Prince renounces his titles and the Chinese spy case continues to pose questions of language for the government, people's previous decisions are being put under the spotlight, we look at how public figures respond to the repercussions of their past. Of course, hindsight is 20:20.Speaking of 2020, there's also chat about the covid inquiry, and whether we're getting the results we need, or just lurid detail?Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukSound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound CompanyProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

34 min

The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee)

One one hand, the world is going to hell, on the other, the age of terror and death has ended, so which is it? Stewart Lee joins Armando to take a look at this maximal approach to political language.How do you do moderate politics with caps lock on? What's the smart way to diffuse complex arguments about politics? And given the details still to be worked out in the Isreal Gaza peace process, is this week's Peace Summit Trump's 'Mission Accomplished' moment?Have a message for Armando? Drop us a line on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukListen to Strong Message Here at 09:45 on Thursday mornings on Radio 4, or the extended version on BBC Sounds.Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: James Robinson Sound Editing: Chris MacLean Recorded at The Sound CompanyStrong Message Here is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

29 min

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)

Did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker? Of course you did, because he repeated it every time he was in front a microphone for years. Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to discuss the use of repetition. How it can be an effective rhetorical technique for the likes of Cicero and Tony Blair, but grates when coming from others? We also look at the language of the recent Tory Party conference, political chocolate bars, and have a debate about the 'debate' politicians often say we need.Have a strong message for Armando? Drop us a line on strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukExecutive producer - James Robinson Production Coordinator - Jodie Charman Sound editing - Chris MacleanProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

30 min

The Battle for the Soul of the Country (with Adam Fleming)

Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference.Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their own momentum still make them newsworthy? Looking at conferences past, we look at what makes them an interesting part of the political calendar, and how language comes to the fore.Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45 on Tuesdays, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

34 min

Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee)

Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'. With Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are now getting into 'consequence culture'. We also discuss how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of their new owners, and whether you can pray in your own homes in this country anymore (spoiler alert, you can).Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4, Thursdays at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

29 min

Phase 2 (with Ria Lina)

In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language. The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria look at the language that defined recent months including Keir Starmer's "Phase 2" and the word "plastic".Armando’s erstwhile partner in de-baffling political lexicon, Helen Lewis is away working in the United States in the Autumn and so her seat will be kept warm by a rotating cast of co-hosts.Got a question for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukListen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.Recorded at The Sound Company Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow Sound editing by Chris Maclean Executive Producer: Richard MorrisProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

29 min

Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

In the last of our summer mini-series, Helen brings a book by Terry Pratchett. To Helen's surprise, this is a blind spot for Armando, who hasn't read any despite being told to do so many times. Where do you start with such an extensive back catalogue? What makes Pratchett's satire so timeless? and has Helen found a new Pratchett super-fan in Armando?Strong Message Here will return next week. If you have a strong message for Helen and Armando, please email strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukProduction Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Sound Editing: Chris Maclean Recorded at The Sound CompanyStrong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

7 min

Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)

Armando has been watch Tehran on Apple TV. This multi-language show about spy agencies in Iran and Israel sheds gives you a glimpse in to life on the ground in these countries that you can't get from headlines alone. Like the Post Office scandal in the UK, why does it sometimes take a dramatisation to mobilise the public, and bring about change?Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Sound Editing: Chris Maclean Recorded at The Sound CompanyStrong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

7 min

Episodes

Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)

U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)

Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)

Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)

Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)

Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)

Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee)

AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)

Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)

Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)

The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)

Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)

In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)

The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee)

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)

The Battle for the Soul of the Country (with Adam Fleming)

Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee)

Phase 2 (with Ria Lina)

Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)

Staying Relevant

Wanging On with Graham Norton and Maria McErlane

Bad Chat with Greg James and Alice Levine

Josh Widdicombe's Archive of Pop Culture

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Bottoms Up! With Alan Carr and Lee Peart

What Did You Do Yesterday? with Max Rushden & David O'Doherty

Sh**ged Married Annoyed

Episodes

Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)

U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)

Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)

Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)

Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)

Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes)

Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee)

AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)

Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)

Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)

The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)

Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)

In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)

The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee)

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)

The Battle for the Soul of the Country (with Adam Fleming)

Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee)

Phase 2 (with Ria Lina)

Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)

Similar podcasts

Staying Relevant

Wanging On with Graham Norton and Maria McErlane

Bad Chat with Greg James and Alice Levine

Josh Widdicombe's Archive of Pop Culture

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Bottoms Up! With Alan Carr and Lee Peart

What Did You Do Yesterday? with Max Rushden & David O'Doherty

Sh**ged Married Annoyed