The full interview is here. This is why social media has been so toxic -- this is how people who know and respect each other deal with differences. They don't all have to think the same way. But they also don't have to denounce each other for attention. https://t.co/IpOpFfjViO

The Radiohead interview in today's Sunday Times is genuinely heartening. They clearly have principled political differences over playing in Israel but everyone involved just . . . sounds like a grown-up.

🚨 ATTN. New Jersey: We can do SO much better than Mikie Sherrill. She voted against the child tax credit… She voted for tax hikes… She voted to give your money to illegals… Reject her on Nov. 4th.

The Caerphilly result shows pretty clearly that while there is an appetite for a populist right anti-establishment party (supported by a large swathe of our media), there's also a huge bloc who will turn out to oppose that. Labour thinks they can win those voters. But can they?

Meanwhile, the Greens have an energetic young leader who loves doing telly and will go on Piers Morgan's show to defend his positions and have a ruck. Yes, Polanski's views on many issues are not mainstream, but he's not aiming for 40% vote share so it doesn't matter.

Their second line of attack is: sure, Nigel has great ideas, but his numbers don't add up and his party is a basketcase. Which, ok. Every week there are stories of Reform councillors being bonkers. But . . . Labour-led councils keep going bankrupt. The contrast is not obvious.

Anyone excited for XGame?

Labour's whole strategy this term seems to be: ignore the Tories and prep for a fear campaign against Nigel Farage at the next general election, but basically agree with him right now on the substantive issues he raises.

It's very easy for me to say "I would prefer Labour to make correct but unpopular choices and go down in flames next time" but also I feel like . . . maybe it wouldn't be any worse than their current strategy of trying to hold a middle that doesn't exist?

Brand new episode hosted by @XanderArmstrong with @realrossnoble & @helenlewis tonight at 9pm on @BBCOne & iPlayer

“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a weirder comedy show.” @helenlewis attended the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia—which featured some of America’s most well-known comedians performing stand-up in a theocracy. Read more: https://t.co/TauE1fI0rA

Read the whole piece here (gift link): https://t.co/qywvpuRdRn

As soon as I heard about the Riyadh Comedy Festival, I pleaded with my boss to send me there. Who wouldn't want to watch Louis CK and Jimmy Carr do stand-up in, until recently, one of the most repressive Muslim countries in the world?

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Pretty sure I got more laughs out of this fantastic @helenlewis piece on the Riyadh comedy festival than I would have from any of the actual comedians

Why, yes, @helenlewis did go to the Riyadh Comedy Festival https://t.co/UKWMBBb21B

Read the whole piece here (gift link): https://t.co/qywvpuRdRn

Andrew Maxwell, who warmed up for them, gave the best case for doing the festival to me: "I’m not remotely laissez-faire about freedom of speech, but you’ve got to start where people are. We tried top-down state-building in the Middle East, and it failed."

Louis CK did a set with no concessions to local sensibilities. He joked about hating jury duty (not a problem here), loathing the rain (it's a desert), and being disgusted by the elderly woman in his building who wore “little shorts and a tube top” (again, not an issue here).

The comedians signed a contract promising not to criticise the Saudi royal family, or any religion. But Jimmy Carr's material sailed close to the wind, asking at one point: "Any lesbians here tonight?" before answering his own question: "Of course not, it's a comedy show."

Ahead of the festival, podcaster Tim Dillon said he’d accepted $375,000 to “look the other way,” and, in any case, “there are so many beautiful things that have happened as a result of forced labor.” Saudi Arabia—showing an unexpected grasp of comic timing—promptly canned him.

In Saudi Arabia, however, people who annoy the crown prince, 40yo Mohammed bin Salman, get cancelled with a bonesaw (Jamal Khashoggi) or a sword (journalist Turki al-Jasser, executed in June). Forty percent of the population are migrant workers, who often live in poor conditions.

The line-up leaned heavily on comedians who have survived brushes with cancel culture: Kevin Hart, who quit presenting the Oscars over past homophobic jokes. Aziz Ansari, subject of an unfair #MeToo incident. Dave Chappelle, whose trans jokes prompted protests at Netflix.