Bob Vylan under fire after Glastonbury protest | Podcast #162

Today the triple threat are back in the dungeon on this, the Monday after Glastonbury, to chew the cud over the weekend's events. As the BBC comes under fire for broadcasting Bob Vylan's set where the group led anti-IDF chants, we ask whether the backlash is overegged and whether free speech is dying at the hands of right-wing snowflakes.

This week on the PoliticsJOE Podcast, the gang unpacks a weekend of controversy at Glastonbury that saw politics, music, and state power collide in spectacular fashion.

We start with Bob Vylan’s explosive performance, which made headlines after festivalgoers joined in a chant condemning the IDF during the band’s set. With calls of “death to the IDF” echoing across the grounds, the moment sparked outrage from politicians, the BBC, and Glastonbury organisers alike — and has now reportedly led to a police investigation into the band’s conduct. We ask: where is the line between protest and incitement? And what does this response say about free speech and the criminalisation of pro-Palestinian sentiment?

From there, we turn to the continuing fallout over rap group Kneecap, who were also at the centre of a Glasto storm. The BBC’s decision to censor their set, choosing not to air it live and instead offering a delayed and edited version on iPlayer, drew sharp criticism from viewers and artists. Was this media cowardice or a calculated attempt to avoid political risk?

Finally, we take a lighter turn as Ed heads to Milton Keynes for a surreal day out at a UK witches’ meet-up. From spell-casting to spiritual resistance, we meet the people keeping the flames of paganism and mysticism burning bright — and hear what modern witches really think about Britain’s current political energy.

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