logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
32m 52s

Why is Labour Using Disabled People to P...

THE POLYESTER PODCAST
About this episode

If there's one scapegoat the government loves to roll out when it's doing poorly, it's the benefits thief. This imaginary person uses loopholes and caveats to steal tax money to buy themselves tellies and holidays in Lanzarote. In the UK, the new-ish-ly elected Labour party has announced new budget reforms that plays into this trope with an especially sinister new edge - tightening the pursestrings of the benefit system specifically against disabled people.


In this week's episode, hosts Ione and Gina break down what's actually being proposed by our Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, the need to work being framed as life's purpose and the ableism that has always been inherent in capitalist society.


Support our work and become a Polyester Podcast member <3


Order Ione's book, Poor Little Sick Girls, here!


Order Gina's book, Greedy Guts, here!


A statement by journalists: We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.


Have an opinion and want to be featured on an upcoming episode? We want to leave from YOU! Leave a review, send us your thoughts on this episode to ione@polyesterzine, or drop us a DM on Instagram. 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 17
Why Does The Internet Keep Getting Worse? Ft. Slop Content, Brain Rot, & The Attention Economy
Slop content - AI generated videos and images created to bait engagement on social media content - is getting more and more unavoidable. Whether you’ve been duped by bunnies on trampolines or enthralled by a AI cat fronted soap opera; we face a social media landscape that's no lo ... Show More
35m 57s
Aug 10
From The Tea App To Princess Treatment: How The Right Wing Agenda Is Poisoning The Dating Pool
Should you quiz your man on if he's doing princess treatment or the bare minimum? Are you allowed to look waiters in the eye or would that ruin you and your husband's night? Have you tried to check if your Hinge date is a creep and ended up getting doxxed by 4chan? If you're sing ... Show More
29m 28s
Aug 3
Are Sydney Sweeney's Jeans The Harbinger Of Doom?
It's been over a year since we last spoke about Sydney Sweeney and how many online and off see the Euphoria actress as a MAGA spokeswoman. Her latest scandal - an American Eagle advert celebrating the blonde's "great genes" - cements Sweeney's spot as the right's poster child.In ... Show More
30m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Disillusioned Musical Session | Ayelet & Elik's Anti-War Songs
As the genocide in Gaza continues, we felt there is a need for Jewish, Israeli voices who oppose it. Music is our way of expressing this. For the people of Gaza, for the Palestinian people, and for our own humanity. **** This is a bonus episode of the podcast 'Disillusioned. I re ... Show More
46m 10s
Aug 12
Ep36: By Any Means Necessary with Magdalene Moonsamy.
Is nonviolence truly the higher ground, or is that just a myth handed to the oppressed by those in power? In this fiercely honest and far-reaching conversation, South African lawyer, activist, and former parliamentarian Magdalene Moonsamy returns to the mic to confront the moral ... Show More
55m 58s
Mar 2025
Netanyahu commits a 'bloodbath' in Gaza to save himself | Daniel Levy
At least 400 people have been killed after a surprise Israeli attack on Gaza in the early hours of Tuesday.  Israel’s government vows to continue escalating these military attacks, saying it’s in response to Hamas’ refusal to extend the ceasefire, which has been in place since Ja ... Show More
17m 30s
Jan 2025
Sapir - Why I tried stopping far right rioters from blocking aid trucks to Gaza
Sapir is a community organizer, lecturer and a law phd candidate. She is the co-founder of Breaking Walls, a feminist grassroots organization, and the founder of "Mizrachion: The People's Archive for Social and political Movements in Israel." Her work spans legal advocacy, grassr ... Show More
1h 33m
Feb 2025
ALBERT KOSTANIAN - A Final Word (Ep.413)
Albert Kostanian returns to The Beirut Banyan. In this short episode he candidly discusses a campaign to discredit his economic views and media reputation, debunks accusations of shadow funding and behind-the-scenes government orchestration regarding Kulluna Irada, dispels smear ... Show More
12m 26s
May 2024
People Are Shouting At The Wrong Man
Subscribe to Mamamia This week, a deadly air strike in Rafah in southern Gaza killed at least 45 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to what happened as a “tragic mishap”, and yet, emerging reports indicate that such a ... Show More
32m 34s
May 2018
51: Double-guest special with FEMI from OFOC and BILLY BRAGG
It’s inefficient Euro-socialist overmanning time as we present a special, super-extended episode of Remainiacs with not one but TWO special guests. First the fantastic FEMI OLUWOLE of youth campaign Our Future Our Choice tells us why he gave up a promising career to fight Brexit, ... Show More
1h 11m
Jul 4
System of a Climbdown – Starmer: Year One ends in tears
What better way for Labour to celebrate a year in power than with a humiliating climbdown on welfare? Political historian Steven Fielding joins the panel to discuss rebellions, “Austerity PSD”, and how Starmer and Reeves can make Year Two better than Year One. Plus, after the ant ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 17
Palestinian Photojournalist Who Exposed Gaza’s Genocide to the World | Motaz Azaiza 153
Motaz is a Palestinian photojournalist and humanitarian storyteller who became one of the most recognized voices documenting life under siege in Gaza. With his camera as his witness, Motaz risked everything to shed light on the brutal realities faced by his people sharing unfilte ... Show More
1h 29m
Jun 25
THE ANCHOR PODCAST: EXPOSING GAZA – WHAT THE WORLD WASN’T SUPPOSED TO SEE
She never set out to become a voice for truth, but what she discovered couldn’t be ignored.As an Israeli wife and mother simply trying to improve her Arabic, Jacqui Peleg stumbled onto something few were willing to see: everyday life in Gaza that shattered the global narrative. F ... Show More
56m 31s