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66 episodes

Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)
2026/1/29 | 28 mins.
Was Andy Burnham blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election because Labour need to save resources for elections they ‘must have’? Was the Tory briefing that referenced the defecting Suella Braverman’s mental health really a ‘first draft?’
Armando and Natalie examine this and more, to find out if politicians in the UK are echoing Donald Trump’s words as they ask us to take these at face value - “Are you a stupid person?”. Are we not expected to read this 'subtext in block caps'?
We also discuss how Trump's speeches are held together, and why Carney quoting Thucydides warmed Natalie's heart.
Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]
Sound editing: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Asha Osborne-Grinter
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Recorded at The Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.
U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
2026/1/22 | 30 mins.
With the backdrop of tariffs and territorial land grabs, Stewart and Armando look at the political language of U-turns and turncoats.
With politicians having to advocate for a position they used to be in direct opposition to, we ask if political language exists in a quantum state inside Robert Jenrick's head, or, failing that are we really expected to believe defectors like him have had a damascene conversion?
Stewart gives an update to an tired political joke, Armando finds a nifty Peace Prize related fix for the Greenland dispute, and they both give a run-down the shifty, shifting responses from Government officials on their numerous U-turns.
Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]
Sound editing: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Caroline Barlow
Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
Recorded at The Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.
Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)
2026/1/15 | 30 mins.
Is Keir Starmer stuck in 2016? BBC's Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent Marianna Spring joins Phil Wang and Armando to look at the evolving language of social media.
How do politicians navigate the new online world, both when trying to get their central message across, and in responding to crises? With the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, we examine how the normal playbook of a tragedy no longer applies.
In the extended episode, we hear Phil take on the role of a lifetime, playing Nigel Farage, find out how Armando's nickname is causing him problems, and look at Grok's recent scandal.
Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]
Sound editing: Rich Evans
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu
Executive Producer: James Robinson
Recorded at The Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.
Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
2026/1/08 | 29 mins.
New Year, and Venezuela is under new management.
The fallout from the "extraction" of Maduro has thrown up some interesting political language. Why aren't the US calling it 'regime change'? Why is Starmer damned if he does or doesn't say anything? and is Trump the first politician to use the word 'literally' correctly?
In the extended version, we also look at Natalie's pedometer, Armando as the Elder of Taskmaster, and why a 'mild zombie apocalypse' has been described as 'encouraging'.
Sound editing: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Recorded at The Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.
Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)
2026/1/01 | 36 mins.
It's New Year's day, so Armando and Stewart are dipping into the very real, physical listeners' mailbag.
In a loose and end-of-term episode, with some adult humour, we talk about the misuse of the phrase 'bad apples', Stewart thanks Armando for his leadership, and are treated to unexpected, slightly fruity, film reviews of 'Who Dares Wins' and 'Cats'.
We also hear about Armando's ambassador for 'pace', Stewart's artistic skills, and some alternatives to the phrase 'fighting age males'.
Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at [email protected]
Sound editing: Chris Maclean
Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu
Executive Producer: Richard Morris
Recorded at The Sound Company
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

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About Strong Message Here

Armando Iannucci hosts the programme that gives you a cast-iron guarantee to be laser-focused on decoding the baffling world of political language.Each week he'll be joined by a guest to crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to demystify the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be 'turbo-charged'? What's the difference between a 'pledge' and a 'mission'? Why has my local MP been 'weaponised' and should I be worried?You'll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political language from people on the inside who are both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight.Armando's erstwhile partner in de-baffling political lexicon, Helen Lewis, is away working in the United States in the autumn and so her seat will be kept warm by a rotating cast of co-hosts.Listen to Strong Message Here on Thursdays on Radio 4 at 9.45am, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4.

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