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Planet Normal

Planet Normal

Written by: The Telegraph
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The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.
Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Reform launch their top team, as Starmer U-turns - again!
    Feb 19 2026

    Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |


    You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_jt6Hy7NYvU


    On this week’s flight through the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine the rapid rise of Reform’s new "Shadow Cabinet," including Robert Jenrick’s debut as Shadow Chancellor and his mission to position the party as the new vanguard of fiscal prudence.


    Alison and Liam also debate the "gratitude of immigrants" and push back against "ethno-nationalism" in British politics following the appointments of Zia Yusuf and Suella Braverman.


    In a powerful and moving interview, Alison speaks with Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by an illegal migrant. They discuss the systemic failures of the UK’s immigration system and Siobhan’s campaign to support the children left behind by such violence.


    Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |


    Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

    Read Allison ‘Every day, we are reminded that the migration crisis is ruining Britain’:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/17/migration-crisis-is-ruining-britain-nhs-jim-ratcliffe/ |

    Read Allison ‘This is Reform’s best week yet’:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/18/this-is-reforms-best-week-yet/ |

    Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

    Read Liam ‘Labour’s net zero extremism is ripping the heart out of Britain’:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/15/labour-net-zero-strategy-ripping-heart-out-britain/ |

    Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

    Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

    Support the Rhiannon Whyte Foundation’s gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-rhiannon-whyte-foundation |

    Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

    Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

    For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Tick tock, Sir Keir’s against the clock
    Feb 12 2026
    Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LFlJivPsT9AFollowing a scorching column by their colleague Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan discuss whether Britain is becoming "ungovernable" as sovereign bond yields spiral and the Prime Minister appears increasingly held hostage by the hard-Left of his own party.Allison questions the mandate of a leader facing internal coups, and a looming wipeout in the upcoming May elections.Liam warns of a looming correction from the bond markets if the government doesn't get a grip on public spending.Making a return trip to the rocket is actress and campaigner Sophie Window (nee Winkleman) to share some of her findings in the campaign to keep children off screens and social media.Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read Allison ‘Anyone who thinks Rayner is the answer to Britain’s problems needs their head examined’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/10/angela-rayner-answer-britain-problems-head-examined/ |Read Allison ‘Labour says it is cutting NHS waiting lists. That is just a lie’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/11/labour-cutting-nhs-waiting-list-lies/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Japan’s spendthrift Iron Lady has dangerous plans’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/08/japans-spendthrift-iron-lady-has-dangerous-plans/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Read Ambrose Evans-Pritchard ‘The Starmer palace coup is a national disgrace’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/10/the-starmer-palace-coup-is-a-national-disgrace/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • The Mandelson quagmire and murky dealing of Chagos
    Feb 5 2026

    Book your tickets for Planet Normal: LIVE on the 24th February: telegraph.co.uk/planetnormallive |


    You can watch this episode of Planet Normal on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wh42OqWtzDA


    As the Prime Minister vows to release the ‘Mandelson Files’ pressure on who knew what, and when is mounting on Labour. Repeat stowaway former head of Mi6 Sir Richard Dearlove is on hand to give his expert analysis on the unfolding situation.


    Allison is disgusted by the continuing scandal of Peter Mandelson and is in disbelief that Starmer et al. thought he would ever be a suitable candidate as Ambassador to the United States.


    Liam thinks this scandal will change the political landscape as deeply as the expenses scandal did; in making the public scrutinise the political class even closer.


    Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

    Read Allison ‘When I met Peter Mandelson, I knew straight away he was rotten’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/03/i-knew-peter-mandelson-was-rotten/ |

    Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

    Read Liam ‘The US dollar is down but not out’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/01/the-us-dollar-is-down-but-not-out/ |

    Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

    Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

    Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

    Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

    For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
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