BONUS NEWSCAST! Review of the Year 2026... So Far

Podcast: Newscast (BBC News)
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts & Guests:

• Adam Fleming (A)
• Chris Mason (C)
• Henry Zeffman (D)
• Lyse Doucet (B)

Episode Overview

This playful “review of the year—so far” episode sees the Newscast team reflect on an event-packed January 2026. They discuss political chaos in Westminster, transatlantic turbulence stirred up by Donald Trump, major reshuffles and defections, and world events including Venezuela and Greenland. The conversation is insightful, peppered with wit and candid behind-the-scenes observations, aiming to catch listeners up on the fast-moving headlines and help them make sense of the British and global political landscapes.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The State of UK Politics: Labour and Conservative Turmoil

(02:47 – 14:07)

• Reform UK’s Disruption:

  • Adam frames the month as being marked by “trouble on the left, trouble on the right,” with Reform UK shaking up both Labour and Conservative parties (03:05).
  • Chris: “Whenever the Prime Minister has been attempting to set the agenda... he gets knocked off course by headlines elsewhere,” especially Trump and international events (03:16).
  • Labour and Conservative strategists are fixated on Reform UK—a party that barely existed a couple of years ago but is now considered a threat in previously safe contests (08:56).

• Labour Party: The Andy Burnham Saga

  • Henry details how Keir Starmer blocked Andy Burnham’s attempt to stand as a Labour candidate in an upcoming by-election, fearing internal competition and potential electoral risk to Reform UK (04:32).
  • Quote—Keir Starmer:
    “Having an election for the Mayor of Manchester when it’s not necessary would divert our resources from the elections that we must have and that we must fight and win.” (06:15)
  • The parliamentary Labour Party is divided, with about 50 MPs expressing concern over the Andy Burnham block (11:04).
  • Chris on significance:
    “To pick up on that last observation, it could have determined who was Prime Minister later this year. That’s the simple truth as to why there was so much significance attached to this.” (07:23)
  • Labour is worried Reform UK could eat so much into their vote, they might lose even Manchester mayoral races or drop to third behind Reform and the Greens in by-elections (13:24).

• Conservative Defections to Reform UK

  • Multiple Tory MPs have defected to Reform, with Robert Jenrick’s high-profile exit orchestrated in dramatic, almost farcical circumstances (14:07).
  • Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, managed the situation by removing Jenrick’s whip and posting a video online pre-empting the defection (14:55).
  • Quote—Kemi Badenoch (read by Henry):
    “This morning, I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick...after dismissing him from the Shadow Cabinet. I was very sorry to be presented with clear, irrefutable evidence...he was preparing to defect.” (14:55)
  • Chris: “He has a knack of being able to pull off those moments” — on Farage managing the public drama of the defection (19:36).
  • The episode recounted a “farce” of Nigel Farage waiting to unveil Jenrick at Reform HQ, only for Jenrick to be missing at the crucial moment (18:52–19:21).
  • Later, Suella Braverman’s defection followed, marked by a notably harsh and personal Tory press release, inflaming party tensions (21:08).
    • Henry describes her as “somebody who ran for the leadership of the Conservative Party, who has a decade’s worth of parliamentary friendships on her own side, who was Home Secretary...decided to go and join a rival whose stated ambition is to kill the Conservative Party.” (22:10)

2. International Shocks: Venezuela, Trump, and Greenland

(22:10 – 30:55)

• Venezuela & US Intervention

  • Lyse Doucet’s prediction—Maduro ousted, Trump emboldened in Latin America (22:48).
  • Lyse: “So much as I would like to be seen as the astrologer in chief of Newscast, we just don’t know...We’re all looking at commercial airliners...warplanes into the Persian Gulf. That is what we’re fixed on these days.” (24:25)
  • Clip of Donald Trump on Fox News describing the US Special Forces’ raid on Caracas:
    “There’s no other country on earth that could do such a maneuver...If you would have seen the speed, the violence...” (25:40)

• Trump, Greenland, and NATO

  • Trump pivots focus to Greenland:
    “We need Greenland from a national security situation...Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.” (26:22)
  • Lyse narrates Trump’s tense, then de-escalated standoff at Davos, aided by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (27:45). Trump claims victory with “total access to Greenland,” despite categorical denials from Denmark and Greenland that sovereignty is being transferred (28:28).
  • Chris observes Starmer’s calm response — “everyone basically chill out and let’s see what happens”—proving strategically wise amidst diplomatic chaos (29:18), reinforcing Starmer’s “brand” of international pragmatism.

3. The Davos Speech: Mark Carney’s “Rupture”

(30:55 – 36:46)

• Mark Carney’s Stand at Davos
  • Carney’s speech resonates worldwide, calling out the risks of global economic fragmentation:
    “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition...great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons...You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination.” (31:07)
  • Lyse: “People did call me or message me saying I wish my prime minister…had been as blunt and candid.” (31:45)
  • Keir Starmer adopts unexpectedly tough language towards Trump at PMQs: “I will not yield, Britain will not yield.” (32:04)
  • Henry: “If you take a step back, Keir Starmer’s relationship with Donald Trump...has transformed in the short few weeks of 2026 in ways...Downing street...would have seen not long ago.”
  • Lyse notes real-world consequences: Carney was “disinvited from the border peace,” Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs if they strike a trade deal with China (33:48).
  • Carney’s speech and the diplomatic mood have helped Starmer score a rare apology from Trump regarding the heroism of British soldiers — a diplomatic win (34:47).
  • Chris: There is “overlap” in the cautious, middle-power approach of Starmer and Carney, even if their tones and rhetoric differ (35:17–36:46).

4. China and the Changing Global Order

(36:46 – 37:31)

• Britain–China Relations
  • Chris, about to board the PM’s China trip, describes renewed diplomatic dialogue after years of relative quiet:
    “The first visit by a British prime minister to China since 2018. Mark Carney’s visit was the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2017.” (36:46)
  • Europe and the US scramble to rebalance their diplomatic and economic relationships in the wake of Trump’s unpredictable moves.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Chris Mason (on Labour turmoil):
  “It could have determined who was Prime Minister later this year. That’s the simple truth as to why there was so much significance attached to this.” (07:23)

• Kemi Badenoch (on Jenrick’s defection):
  “I removed the Conservative whip from Robert Jenrick after dismissing him from the Shadow Cabinet. I was very sorry to be presented with clear, irrefutable evidence…he was preparing to defect…” (14:55, as read by Henry)

• Lyse Doucet:
  “So much as I would like to be seen as the astrologer in chief of Newscast, we just don’t know…That is what we’re fixed on these days.” (24:25)

• Trump on the Caracas raid:
  “If you would have seen the speed, the violence…” (25:50)

• Mark Carney at Davos:
  “You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination.” (31:45)

• Henry Zeffman (on Starmer’s evolving Trump strategy):
  “Keir Starmer’s relationship with Donald Trump and the way he conducts himself around Donald Trump in public has transformed in the short few weeks of 2026…” (32:04)

• Lyse Doucet (on global unpredictability):
  “It’s not even January. It’s not even over yet.” (22:30)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 01:05 – 02:47: Host intro, episode premise, panel introductions
• 02:47 – 14:07: Labour’s internal splits, Andy Burnham block, Reform UK’s disruptive force
• 14:07 – 22:10: Tory defections, Jenrick drama, Suella Braverman, the state of the right
• 22:10 – 30:55: World news: Venezuela, Trump and Latin America, Greenland/NATO saga
• 30:55 – 36:46: Mark Carney’s Davos speech, Starmer-Trump relations, global power “rupture”
• 36:46 – 37:31: The diplomacy shift: UK and China, international realignments
• 37:31 – end: Closing remarks, goodbyes

Tone & Style

• Conversational, candid, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek (“having just hair dried my underpants...”).
• Thoughtful analysis of complex political dynamics, bolstered by behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
• Engaged and knowledgeable panel using first-hand reporting and political insight.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This “early review” of 2026 is an illuminating digest of the year’s turbulent start: surging third-party threats at home, messy party machinations, and a world stage upended by Donald Trump’s unpredictable moves. UK party leaders scramble for footing, tactics change by the week, and global alliances are reshaped with striking speed and high drama. Throughout, the panel keeps a sense of humour and a grounding in the human messiness behind the headlines—making this a brisk, smart “first draft of history.”