<p>Ali hosts from Makerfield for the last time before the by-election. He’s joined by author and historian, Alex von Tunzelmann to unpack the big stories of the week.</p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>The Week Unwrapped:&nbsp;</u></strong></p><p><br></p><p><u>The US and Iran sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ -&nbsp;</u></p><p>Just as we thought things in the Middle East were getting boring…The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/15/trump-declares-us-iran-peace-deal-all-signed-g7"><u>US announced that a framework peace deal </u></a>with Iran has been reached, bringing the 15 week conflict to a tentative end. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gy700j0eko"><u>A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Washington and Tehran</u></a>, and both parties are set to meet in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260618-talks-on-implementing-us-iran-deal-still-planned-in-switzerland-friday-bern"><u>Switzerland later this week for the initial talks</u></a>. Ali and Alex discuss whether the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://theconversation.com/a-peace-deal-may-bring-an-end-to-the-iran-war-but-what-did-the-us-and-israel-truly-achieve-285241"><u>US has achieved its foreign policy goal, how Iran will fare from the deal </u></a>and the reaction from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.itv.com/news/2026-06-18/why-trumps-peace-deal-with-iran-has-left-israel-feeling-betrayed"><u>Israel</u></a>.</p><p><br></p><p><u>Ban on Palestine Action was lawful, court of appeal rules</u></p><p>On Monday, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government's proscription of Palestine Action as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://novaramedia.com/2026/06/15/palestine-action-ban-ruled-lawful-by-court-of-appeal/"><u>a terrorist organisation is lawful.</u></a> Earlier this year, the High Court found the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8x90q9nyzyt"><u>proscription was disproportionate,</u></a> in a judgment that threatened to undermine <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ft.com/content/8a9ff5a1-0e6b-4a66-a559-5bb9f616f2e5?syn-25a6b1a6=1"><u>hundreds of ongoing criminal prosecutions.</u></a> That ruling has now been overturned, in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-15/uk-government-wins-appeal-over-palestine-action-terror-ban"><u>a win for the government</u></a>. Ali and Alex unpack the significance of this and what it means for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://goodlawproject.org/palestine-action-our-right-to-protest-is-on-the-line/"><u>the right to protest in this country.</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><u>Voters head to the polls in Makerfield</u></p><p>All eyes are on<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzgpe2ld3o"><u> Makerfield as voters head to the polls</u></a> after weeks of build-up for one of the biggest by-elections this country has seen. Ali and Alex look ahead to what it might mean for the Labour Party <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/andy-burnham-wins-makerfield-byelection-what-happens-next-b1286520.html"><u>if Andy Burnham wins</u></a>, and what the scenario might be if he doesn’t.</p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>Elon Musk becomes the world’s first trillionaire&nbsp;</u></strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wired.me/story/elon-musk-is-the-worlds-first-trillionaire"><u>Entrepreneur Elon Musk is the world's first trillionaire.</u></a> The milestone came over the weekend after the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/12/spacex-stock-price-ipo-spcx"><u>stock market debut of SpaceX</u></a>, the company behind his rocket launches, satellite internet network and artificial intelligence business. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/12/technology/elon-musk-trillionaire.html"><u>Musk was already the richest person on the planet</u></a>, but reaching a net worth of $1 trillion marks a new era of affluence. Ali and Alex discuss what this means for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-takes-legal-action-against-german-broadcaster-over-belfast-riot-claim/"><u>Musk’s power and political influence</u></a> and public attitudes towards extreme wealth.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>Keir Starmer announces a ban on social media for under-16’s</u></strong></p><p>Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c77yx1jpg1nt"><u>plans for the UK to restrict social media access for under-16s.</u></a> The government says the measures would go <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back"><u>further than ‘any country in the world</u></a>’ to protect children from online harms. The new rules will mean that starting from 2027, young people under-16 would be barred from a range of major platforms, including <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9824zvpz9po"><u>Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Cosima Wiltshire, Lead of Strategy and Public Affairs at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.flippgen.com/"><u>FlippGen</u></a>, tells us her thoughts on the ban, how young people have reacted and how the government can make social media a safer place for all.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>Guests:</u></strong></p><p>Alex von Tunzelmann, Author and Historian. You can find her on Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/alexvontunzelmann/?hl=en"><u>@alexvontunzelmann</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Cosima Wiltshire, Lead of Strategy and Public Affairs at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.flippgen.com/"><u>FlippGen</u></a>. You can find her on Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/cosimawiltshire/"><u>@cosimawiltshire</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong><u>Producer:&nbsp; </u></strong></p><p>Monica Lillis&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>