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Episode details

Radio 4,11 Jun 2026,34 mins

Fanning the Flames (with Hugo Rifkind)

Strong Message Here

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Hugo Rifkind joins Armando, fresh from interviewing a highland cow, to discuss the phrase 'fanning the flames'. Can a politician ever avoid politicising an issue? How is that different from weaponising? And does journalism have a roll in fanning the flames, and prolonging political arguments? Elsewhere, Armando explains the power of the power nap, Pete Hegseth conflates D-Day with immigration, and we ask if Keir's curse is having an eminently rhyme-able name? Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk Sound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at the Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

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