You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VyLxbLsnrqY

The rocket of right thinking is back as the co-pilots tackle a turbulent week in British and American politics, from Donald Trump's midterm election defeat to Andy Burnham's latest interventions and Shabana Mahmood's immigration climbdown.

Liam and Allison discuss the Democrats' sweeping victory in the US midterm elections and what it means for Donald Trump's presidency, while noting Britain's mounting economic pressures and the prospect of an early general election.

Meanwhile, Allison takes aim at Shabana Mahmood's watered-down immigration reforms and discusses the disturbing murder of teenager Henry Novak and his family's treatment by police in the aftermath.

Stowing away this week is Poundland founder Steve Smith, who reflects on building one of Britain's best-known discount retailers and explains why he believes the embattled high street chain can, and must, be saved amid fears of its move towards administration.

Highlights

• Donald Trump and the Democrats' sweeping US midterm election victory
• Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms and indefinite leave to remain
• Poundland founder Steve Smith on the retailer's financial crisis and future

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 ‘Anti-white racism in the police is laid bare by the treatment of Henry Nowak’s family’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/03/allison-pearson-anti-white-racism-police-henry-nowak/ |

Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ |

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

Read Liam ‘Nothing-burger Budget will leave a bad taste’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/11/01/nothing-burger-budget-will-leave-a-bad-taste/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube:

The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor John Healey delivers his low-key first budget amidst mounting economic pressure.

Joining the co-pilots to unpack the reality behind the numbers is the brilliant Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle, who assesses Britain's fragile fiscal health, rising bond yields, and the hidden costs of net-zero policies.

Liam dives into the underwhelming fiscal statement, the reality of soaring debt interest payments, and the political calculations behind a potential early general election.

Meanwhile Allison and Roger dissect the widening gap between official economic forecasts and the harsh daily struggles of hardworking taxpayers, alongside updates on Allison’s survivalist prepping.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Budget reaction special
• Allison and Liam are joined by Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle

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 ‘The horror of Aberfan will never die, but neither will the humanity’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/horror-aberfan-never-die-neither-humanity/ |

Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ |

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

Read Liam ‘No time for schadenfreude if French bonds blow up first’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/25/no-time-for-schadenfreude-if-french-bonds-blow-up-first/ |

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.

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube:

Recorded live in front of a packed room at the Battle of Ideas Festival in Westminster, your co-pilots are joined by two special guests to help them tackle the week’s biggest cultural and economical flashpoints.

Liam opens by examining widespread European unrest and the mounting fiscal pressures facing the UK as the October budget approaches, drawing parallels to the 1976 IMF bailout. Will it end up being a tale of two Healeys?

Meanwhile, Allison dives into the looming threat of power cuts, the staggering costs of propping up a rickety national energy grid, and her new obsession with survivalist prepping.

Joining Allison and Liam onstage are Lucy Connolly who discusses her new book A Tweet Too Far, alongside Cambridge professor Robert Tombs, who breaks down the ongoing battles over British History and free speech.

Highlights

• Planet Normal: Live at The Battle of Ideas
• Allison and Liam are joined by Cambridge professor Robert Tombs and Lucy Connolly

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 ‘Suspend asylum and save Britain before it’s too late’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/13/allison-pearson-suspend-asylum-claims-nigel-farage/ |

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

Read Liam ‘Crazy diesel prices are a misfortune of our own making’:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/18/crazy-diesel-prices-are-a-misfortune-of-our-own-making/ |

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.