Matt Catino

Piers Morgan. He's a polarising figure, a Marmite personality. He fancies himself a champion of free speech, a valiant warrior against the encroaching forces of "wokeness." He wields the term like a cudgel, seemingly unable to resist its siren call. But what is "woke," really? Beyond the hyperbolic pronouncements and the performative outrage, what does this ubiquitous, and increasingly weaponised, word actually mean? This isn't just about Piers Morgan. He's a symptom, not the disease. He, along with figures like Elon Musk, throws "woke" around with abandon, but what are they really talking about? What's the history of the term, and how has its meaning morphed over time? A dictionary definition might tell you that "woke" means "aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)." Simple enough, right? Awareness of social issues impacting minorities – wh...

Britain's latest general election marked a significant majority win for labour, one the party hasn't seen since the Blair days. I claim however, that Labours victory was not in part due to their policies, leader or viewpoints, but instead simply because they're not conservatives. The British people had been subject to devastating tory rule for years, and when the election was called, everyone knew what the outcome would be. My analysis here claims that Labours victory is in no way a victory for the left, and is more a return to the neoliberal status quo. My position is that labour has more in common with conservatives than differences, a position I believe solidified by their reluctance to seriously engage in left wing ideals. My position then focuses on these claims: Labour are a conservative Lite party, who push neoliberal economics: Under Starmer’s leadership so far, there has been little noticeable shift in British economic policy. The prevailing ideology remains unchan...

Here is a list of my personal top 10 recommended books to begin engaging critically with the world around us. This list is in no particular order, but I have included the readability of the books, as some are more challenging then others.  Hegel Outlines of the Philosophy of Right  Hegel's Outlines of the Philosophy of Right is a complex but rewarding exploration of the concept of freedom and its realisation within human society. It argues that true freedom isn't simply the ability to do whatever we want, but rather the ability to act in accordance with rational laws and institutions that we ourselves create. This book is a great addition to anyone's philosophical reading list and makes reading other texts who base their thinking on Hegel an easier read. Palestine  Ilan Pappé  & Noam Chomsky   In their book, Palestine, Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky offer a critical analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They challenge the dominant narrative and shed li...

 Matt Walsh's documentary "What is a Woman?" sets out with a clear agenda: to mock and discredit those who hold a nuanced understanding of gender. From the outset, Walsh's dismissive attitude towards anyone who challenges his simplistic worldview is evident. He resorts to cheap "gotcha" questions and inflammatory rhetoric, framing the film as a battle between "common sense" and the "idiocy" of those who dare to question his rigid definitions. It's important to acknowledge that the issues surrounding gender are complex and require ongoing debate. This review focuses specifically on the flaws within Walsh's documentary and its approach to the subject, rather than taking a definitive stance on any particular viewpoint. A thorough examination of the multifaceted aspects of gender identity and the related social and political implications warrants a separate, dedicated analysis, which is beyond the scope of this review. The documentary...

1. Introduction: This analysis engages with the pro-life arguments articulated by the populist right in the United States. Their position is grounded in a Christian understanding of the sanctity of life, which posits as an absolute and inviolable principle. The populist position contends that abortion constitutes the unjustified termination of a human life, morally tantamount to murder. This stance hinges on the assertion that life begins at conception, thereby endowing the unborn with an inherent right to life irrespective of the circumstances of conception. This position further asserts that abortion is never medically necessary, advocating for emergency Caesarean sections in instances where the mother's health is jeopardised. His position extends to cases of rape and incest, where he maintains that the termination of a pregnancy remains morally unjustifiable. This rigid stance, devoid of contextual considerations, underscores the simplistic nature of his argument, which relies s...