Today’s guest is a titan of political journalism - someone whose calm, incisive reporting helped us make sense of the madness during one of the most dramatic chapters in American political history. It’s Jon Sopel, the former BBC North America Editor, who spent eight rollercoaster years covering the United States, through Trump, through Covid, through history being made in real time.He’s interviewed presidents, grilled press secretaries, and yes - even been shouted at by Donald Trump himself.

Now, Jon’s back on home turf - though the country he’s returned to isn’t quite the Britain he left behind. In his brilliant new book Strangeland, Jon turns his razor-sharp eye on post-Brexit Britain, peeling back the layers of a nation that feels unfamiliar even to someone who grew up here. It’s part political memoir, part social commentary, and entirely unputdownable.

These days, you’ll know Jon as one-third of the brilliant trio behind The News Agents, one of the UK’s most popular news podcasts, which he co-hosts with Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall. It’s completely redefined how many people consume the news - and it’s an absolute must-listen if you don’t already.

In this episode, we dive into the shifting political landscapes of both the UK and the US and of course, we set off on Jon’s Travel Diaries - from his long stint in Washington D.C. to the sun-drenched Riviera, the energy of Rio, and the beauty of Sydney.

Holly’s Destination Recap:

• Puente Romano Hotel, Marbella, Spain 

Jon’s Destination Recap:

• New York City, USA 
• French Riviera, France
• St Paul de Vence, France 
• La Colombe D’or, St Paul de Vence, France 
• Paris, France
• Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France
• Jardin du Ranelagh, Paris, France 
• Andia (formerly Restaurant La Gare), Paris, France 
• Afghanistan 
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 
• Tokyo, Japan 
• Sydney, Australia 
• Noosa, Queensland, Australia 
• Blackberry Farm, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, USA
• Maine, USA
• Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA
• Shelter Island, New York, USA
• Costa Rica
• The Galapagos 
• Rwanda

Strangeland: Is This Britain’s New Normal? By Jon Sopel is out in paperback on 29th May (Penguin £10.99).

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Thanks so much for listening If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok.

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