Jemma opens with some imaginings of a world far different from the one we inhabit now, where Trump is deposed, Putin is departed and David Attenborough leads the way, before swiftly moving on to the stark reality of our times...

And yes, the world has indeed gone mad, so the first clip of this episode is a pure dose of sense and humanity, which just so happens to come from a 14 year old named Zach.

Then into the Labour government we go, and the reviews are far from five stars. Jemma and Marina discuss the perils of maintaining the status quo, the cravenness of the non-dom U-turn and Starmer's hate for tree huggers.

There's a turn up for the books, as Marina has a momentary moment of praise for the Royal Family - specifically Prince Harry who took on Murdoch and won, followed by the petty Piers Morgan-led online spat with Hugh Grant that ensued.

There's a howler of an underrated tweet of the week and an wonderfully profound quote that reminds us why we must never give up.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Sophie Snelling

He's back... Like a bad stench that won't go away, except now it's gone from foul, to putrid and dangerous. Jemma and Marina wade through the inauguration fall out, including an interesting case of f*ck around and find out.

They discuss The Village People anthem performed during Trump's big day, which feels like an interesting choice for the MAGA bigots, then it's onto Melania's hat choice (genius move) and the peep show triggered by the garment worn by the partner of Jeff Bezos, or indeed lack of garment.

Like flies to sh*t, the UK's very own worst exports coalesced around Trump, as did the world's richest and most powerful tech bros who found themselves in front row, even ahead of the elected officials.

And then it came...that gesture from Musk, the "odd looking salute", the "Roman salute", the "show of love"...the ARE WE ALL LOSING OUR MINDS, IT WAS A NAZI SALUTE FFS!!! TWICE!!!

And breathe.

Or at least try to remain calm, as Jemma and Marina talk you through a smattering of the most petty, spiteful and damaging Executive Orders dished out in week one. And guess what...not one will impact the price of eggs.

The pod finishes with a show of strength from Rev.Mariann Budde who spoke for the church in a way that many Christians would appreciate, unless of course you're a Trump Christian who is now calling for her deportation - just as Jesus would have done.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

Marina and Jemma are finding January 'interesting.' Certainly 'Dry Janning' is beyond them. Trump's been inaugurated for goodness sake and there's a lot of batshittery to Trawl through before they can even begin on that!

In this one the Trawl ladies kick off by discussing the 'temporary' ceasefire in Gaza. There's a clip of actor, Guy Pearce, whose response encapsulates the underwhelm they're experiencing given the killing seems to have continued. It's also horrendous to witness Trump and Biden using the announcement as a political football, to unpick Starmer's reaction, to see Netanyahu using language which shows little resolve. On top of that there's a Trump clip which is truly sickening. He quite clearly views Palestine as wonderful real estate and even cites 'great weather.'

It goes without saying, any break from the relentless violence is welcome and to be celebrated, but it doesn't mean what's taken place isn't tragic, brutal and unforgivable.

Marina and Jemma have a conversation about social media which brings to light what Jemma has been watching on TikTok because it's been making waves and headlines.

Not content with controlling X and Meta, Trump also has designs on TikTok and is also on intent on making money from it. This is despite being the one who wanted it banned, which he said repeatedly. The ladies have receipts.

Then there's the coin Trump has released and he's made billions. He might as well just say GIVE ME YOUR MONEY NUMBNUTS.

Still, on a positive, Isabel Oakeshott has moved to Dubai...

Larry and Paul's Broken News are your pudding.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Jemma and Marina were thrilled when two of the original members of UB40 agreed to come on The Trawl Meets. After all, the group are one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, having sold more records than Oasis, over 100 million to be precise. Of course they are almost as known for their political leanings as they are for their wonderful music so it's a match made in Trawl heaven.

Even the band’s name is famously a reference to the unemployment benefit form, each had signed having left school without a job, so it was fascinating to chat politics, music and everything in between with drummer, Jimmy Brown and guitarist Robin Campbell.

They talked about how they began, what it was like to be discovered by Chrissie Hynde and why history comes full circle. They and other members of the band have always spoken out against racism and indeed, protested against the National Front decades ago. Yet here we are and Farage and Robinson et al are on the rise. Have we gone backwards?

The band supported Corbyn when he was Labour leader so how do they feel now and what do they make of Starmer? Are we all preaching to the converted or can art change minds? And what really happened when Robin's brother, Ali, left the band? Get the real lowdown, their no holds barred version and, it being The Trawl expect some giggles as well. Jemma's been making Max make UB40 inspired jingles.

Pudding is served by another reggae legend - the one and only Bob Marley.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

Everyone's favourite economy crasher is back on the scene... And she doesn't much like it when you call her that. Yes, Liz Truss is back and this time she's had a cease and desist letter issued to Keir Starmer over the 'defamatory' claim that she 'crashed the economy''. Ok hun.

But litigious letters are likely the least of Starmer's worries after what was a monstrous week for Labour. Jemma and Marina discuss the breaking news regrading former Labour minister, Ivor Caplin who appeared to have been caught by a vigilante group on his way to meet a child, and the resignation of treasury minister Tulip Siddiq after controversy over links to her aunt's dodgy political movement in Bangladesh.

On top of that, Reeves is getting all kids of flack (including from lard casserole, Boris Johnson) for her handling of the budget. Marina and Jemma bring balance to the conversation with their two cents, which is more than can be said for some Tories who insist on telling the media that Reeves should be sacked for not cleaning up 14 years of their mess in 5 minutes.

Lastly, are you all done with the truth? Because Mark Zuckerberg is, and as a result, we all are too. The ladies discuss the Meta CEO's decision to bin fact checkers as we enter a new oligarch-dominated post-truth era, and chat about Zuckerberg's now-viral comments about needing more masculine energy in the workplace. If that's what he wants, as the Have I Got news for You account wrote, Zuckerberg could start by shaving off his nan's perm.

A touch of inauguration chat about Trump's toddler-like behaviour ahead of the inauguration, before the ladies leave you with a pertinent pudding clip from The Exploding Heads named: CEO ANNOUNCES COMPANY NOW FULL FASCIST

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

Climate change reminded us it doesn't care one jot where you live or how much money you have last week.

Marina and Jemma discuss the apocalyptic scenes from LA as fires tore through the region, with some personal experiences that Jemma has permission to share from her friends caught up in the catastrophe.

They discuss the perfect storm that led to this and how the fires were not unexpected - in fact, you know who definitely expected the fires? Insurance companies - with many LA residents now being left without a thing because their home insurance company wouldn't cover them. Imagine having to pay a mortgage on a home that no longer exists.

An incredible tweet from Keith Wasserman - a wealthy man who thought he could buy his way out of the catastrophe sparks a discussion as to whether this could serve as a wake-up call, plus there's disgust at how Republicans and the right have weaponised the fires to point the finger of blame at...wait for it...diversity, equity and inclusion. And brace yourself for a clip of Trump regarding potential climate disasters that has aged like milk.

But there is a silver lining, as New York make political history that Jemma and Marina believe the rest of the world should follow, if only they had the balls.

The ladies finish up with a 'Rachel from accounts' teaser plus pudding from Professor Brian Cox that feels perfectly pertinent.

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

Over the Christmas period, Marina went down a rabbit hole she found completely fascinating. She was vaguely worried Jemma wouldn’t feel the same but she need not have worried.

This ep begins with a bit of ‘January’ comedy and ends with potential WW3. Cool!

But the meat in this strange sandwich, centres around US H-1B Visas which sounds horrifically dull. Only, when you look into what they are, who supports them, who doesn’t and why, it all suddenly becomes fascinating. Promise! Partly because the topic has also led to Trump doing a complete about turn having pledged to banish them. Only his bestie and, let’s face it, Master, Musk is keen to continue employing hundreds of thousands of migrants he can undercut.

Marina and Jemma end up discussing work/life balance and reflect upon different cultural attitudes when it comes to working 9-5 or 7-10 or whatever it may be.

With tweets and wonderful clips as ever, it’s a Trawl which takes a few turns before ending with a pudding which also demonstrates that maybe capitalism having taken a neo-liberal turn isn’t serving many of us anymore. Rethink anyone?

Enjoy!

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey

The Trawl is back! Jemma and Marina are thrilled to be back behind their mics but could not have predicted the kind of fallout and controversy they'd be back with.

A certain tech bro, out of control billionaire, has been firing off tweets suggesting, amongst other things, that the US should exert economic pressure on the UK to get far-right agitator Tommy Robinson out of prison and that King Charles should dissolve Parliament, while crossing so many lines there aren't any lines left to cross.

At the heart of his rantings is a very serious and tragic issue, the vile grooming gangs who sexually abused and tortured young girls in places such as Rochdale and Rotherham and whose victims have been let down and failed by politicians of all flavours, the police, and councils. Jemma and Marina discuss why drawing attention to a topic which does deserve more focus isn't the same as wanting to interfere in a country's democratic processes. As for calling out Jess Phillips in the reprehensible manner that Musk has, they spend a bit of time discussing why that is so wrong and looking at reaction.

As for the drop mic moment when Musk declared that Farage should not be leading Reform a mere few hours after Farage had been sucking up to him on the Laura Kuenssberg show, the Trawl ladies have just the right clip to express how it made them feel.

And of course, a Trawl would not be a Trawl without pudding and under-rated tweets.

Enjoy!

Thank you for sharing and do tweet us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

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Created and Produced by Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss

Edited by Max Carrey