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The Trawl

The Trawl

By: Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss
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About this listen

The Trawl is the podcast that dives headfirst into the political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity of the week - so you don’t have to.


Hosted by broadcasters and political commentators, Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss, it’s part therapy, part takedown, and always unfiltered.


Each episode, Jemma and Marina trawl through the week’s most viral tweets, jaw-dropping headlines, and rage-inducing soundbites - offering sharp analysis, dark humour, and the occasional expletive. From Westminster to world affairs, they call out hypocrisy, amplify truth, and remind you that you’re not losing your mind - just living through it.


If you’ve ever shouted at the news or laughed through the tears, The Trawl is your people.

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

Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Conflation Nation: Flotillas, Fearmongering & Farewell Hyacinth
    Oct 8 2025

    This week, Marina’s on holiday and Jemma’s steering the ship so expect one or two Trawl anomalies to have slipped through the net and, honestly, what a week to be at the helm.


    The Trawl ladies cover the horrific attack on the Jewish community in Manchester, Starmer's reaction, the subsequent mosque attack, and what happened to the flotillas carrying desperately needed aid that never made it through. Greta Thunberg proves, once again, she’s got more moral clarity than most world leaders, while Trump and Tommy Robinson… do not.


    Meanwhile, Labour manage to disappoint on an Olympic scale, cracking down further on protest, while Zack Polanski reminds us what principled politics can actually sound like. Plus: Jemma and Marina bid farewell to national treasure Patricia Routledge.


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

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


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

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Is Karma on a World Tour - and Skipping Britain and America?
    Oct 2 2025

    This week, Jemma and Marina are asking: what if politicians actually faced consequences? Not a cosy resignation, not a fat book deal, not a pity gig on GB News - but actual jail time. A girl can dream...


    Sounds like science fiction if you live in Britain, but elsewhere in the world it’s apparently… a thing.


    In Brazil, Bolsonaro just bagged 27 years in prison for trying to cling to power - proof that karma occasionally gets out of bed. In France, Sarkozy is staring down five years for a Gaddafi-linked corruption scandal (yes, that Gaddafi - the one with the all-female bodyguard squad). And in Nepal? Gen Z set fire to Parliament and voted in a new Prime Minister while ministers literally dangled from rescue helicopters. Meanwhile here in the UK, our big act of rebellion is 100,000 plus raking to the streets to protest the exact things billionaires and think tanks told them to be mad about.


    Across the pond, Trump has decided Portland is a “war zone” and sent in troops - only to be met with locals posting pictures of rainbow-knitted trees, therapy llamas and burrito joints.


    So buckle up for another trawl through political carnage: from world leaders in courtrooms, to wannabe despots in helicopters, to Britain’s unique ability to turn corruption into a career move.


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

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast



    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


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

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Did Starmer Just Hand Reform Another Stick to Beat Him With?
    Oct 1 2025

    Jemma and Marina are back, rummaging through the week’s digital wreckage and pulling out the bits that made us laugh, rage, and despair in equal measure.


    We start, bizarrely, with golf. Yes, golf. The Ryder Cup turned into a geopolitical soap opera, with Rory McIlroy flying the flag, throwing shade, and still finding time to get soppy about his wife.


    Then it’s on to the Labour Party conference, a rollercoaster of highs and lows and touch upon Starmer's interview with Laura Kuenssberg which was promptly chewed up and spat out by all the usual suspects to misquote him into oblivion.


    Meanwhile, Reform proved once again that when they’re not playing victim which appears to be their new schtick, they’re busy starring in their own corruption scandal. One of their ex-leaders has pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery. Eight. Not even Tories manage those numbers.


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

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast


    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


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

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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