Spin, bias and sound bites

As a political enthusiast who has spent countless hours dissecting speeches, debates, and interviews, I wholeheartedly endorse “Strong Message Here” on Radio 4. The show’s unique blend of humor, insight, and analysis is right up my alley.

Strong Message Here is on Radio 4 on Thursdays at 9.45am. Add it to your collection.

If you recognize the source that inspired Radio 4’s Strong Message Here, then this program is tailored just for you. It was, in fact, a memorable moment at the 2015 Labour Party Conference when Jeremy Corbyn unintentionally read an autocue prompt telling him to emphasize more strongly.

Helen Lewis, political journalist, broadcaster, and co-host of SMH, smiles and says, ‘It could happen to any of us.’ This phrase isn’t overly clichéd and it fits perfectly with the title of our show, which revolves around the concept that people don’t always say what they’re supposed to.

Spin, bias and sound bites

Apart from “Us,” the other significant contributor is Armando Iannucci, renowned for creating numerous award-winning political satires like “Veep” and “The Thick of It.” As Lewis clarifies, it was Armando’s concept behind “Strong Message Here.” He approaches political language from a comedic perspective, while I examine it critically. However, we both share an interest in the manipulative use of language by politicians to deceive and flatter. I aim for this podcast not only to be entertaining but also to inspire listeners to consider familiar topics from a fresh perspective.

Lewis is conversing with TopMob, who hails from Pennsylvania and is currently working on U.S. election duties. She’s stationed right at the events where Donald Trump speaks, and these rallies might just be some of the most extraordinary oratorical fireworks in modern political history.

We’re fascinated by politicians using words to manipulate

“It’s intriguing how his speeches often seem scattered, yet in the heat of the moment, you can understand his message clearly. This reminds me of a 3D image where individual parts may not make sense at first glance, but when viewed from the right angle, you can see the complete picture – like a shark or Hannibal Lecter, to use two recent examples of his off-script remarks. Additionally, we might discuss this and the phrase ‘the enemy within’, which he’s recently started using. This phrase is reminiscent of McCarthyism and political witch hunts.

Strong Message Here examines how catchphrases, popular sayings, and trends emerge, as well as the impact of special advisors in this process. For instance, characters from “The Thick of It,” initially portrayed as anti-heroes, were surprisingly embraced by those working within British politics. Armando Iannucci’s work has had a witty yet profound effect on an entire generation of young politicians and special advisers, although it is somewhat ironic that they idolize these characters.

After pondering why people never finish the quote most usually associated with Michael Gove about experts [he went on to say “from organisations with acronyms getting it consistently wrong”] or Peter Mandelson’s on being “intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich [as long as they pay their taxes]”, Lewis concludes that “by talking about political language, we can talk about history and where these phrases came from, psychology and what little bits of our brain they tickle and also philosophy and traditions of thought. That makes it sound very grand, but it’s hopefully a very funny, short and sweet, Radio 4 programme.”

2024-10-31 18:10

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