Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
Swearing
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lawmakers in the US state of Virginia have voted to repeal a pre-Civil War law prohibiting profanity in public. But across the pond, a growing number of British cities are introducing fines for using “foul and abusive” language. So should swearing in “polite society” be banned - or can cuss words serve a positive purpose?
Treason
The European Union has this month withdrawn Cambodia’s preferential “Everything but Arms” (EBA) trade agreement, citing human rights abuses in the country. But, the country’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has vowed to continue the persecution of his enemies, notably the main opposition leader Kem Sokha, who is currently facing treason charges. The EBA is vitally important to Cambodian trade, but with China ploughing billions of dollars into the country, Europe’s influence is waning.
A prime ministerial murder mystery
Murder, lies, bitter rivalries and a political crisis - when it comes to riveting drama, the tiny African nation of Lesotho has been giving Netflix a run for its money following a sensational murder trial implicating Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his first lady.
You can subscribe to The Week Unwrapped on the Global Player, Apple podcasts, SoundCloud or wherever you get your podcasts. It is produced by Sarah Myles and the music is by Tom Mawby.
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Google: A monopoly past its prime?Feature Google’s antitrust case ends with a slap on the wrist as courts struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s rapid changes
-
Patrick Hemingway: The Hemingway son who tended to his father’s legacyFeature He was comfortable in the shadow of his famous father, Ernest Hemingway
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Is the G7 still relevant?Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemmaTalking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
