S9 Ep47: Espresso Martini | Farage Surges, Allies Reject Trumpism, and Waltz’s Ouster

In this week’s Espresso Martini, Chris and Matt dig into a wave of elections across the UK, Canada, and Australia, exploring what they signal for populist movements, center-left parties, and Trump-style politics beyond US borders. They break down the rise of Reform UK, growing concerns over Nigel Farage’s influence, and why British voters seem caught in a cycle of backlash politics. Then, a pair of liberal wins in Canada and Australia suggest that even the faintest whiff of Trumpism remains a liability overseas. Finally, they dissect the demotion of Mike Waltz, explain why combining the roles of secretary of state and national security advisor is historically fraught, and ask whether the Trump White House has learned anything—or simply become more ruthless in its chaos. All that, plus Larry the Cat for PM, the specter of Musk in British politics, and an earnest thank-you to recent reviewers.

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Articles discussed in today’s episode

“Farage claims Reform UK local election gains ‘beginning of the end’ for Tories" by Peter Walker, Eleni Courea, and Kiran Stacey | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/02/farage-reform-uk-local-elections-beginning-of-the-end-for-tories

"Does Farage own the future?" by Andrew Marr | The New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2025/05/does-farage-own-the-future

"First Canada, Now Australia: The Trump Factor Boosts Another World Leader in an Election" by Mike Cherney | The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/world/first-canada-now-australia-the-trump-factor-boosts-another-world-leader-in-a-close-election-bef1c5a1

“Inside Mike Waltz’s White House Exit" by Isaac Stanley-Becker, Ashley Parker, Jonathan Lemire & Shane Harris | The Atlantic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/03/waltz-trump-israel

"Inside Waltz’s ouster: Before Signalgate, talks with Israel angered Trump" by Michael Birnbaum, John Hudson, Emily Davies, Sarah Ellison & Natalie Allison | The Washington Post: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/05/mike-waltz-trump-fired/682660

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Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from