On Cross Section this week, Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Danny Webster discuss the theme of division and polarisation that spans across all the trending headlines. The team cover six political, cultural and religious stories, looking at how we can be good news people amidst the chaos.

They cover Meryl Streep playing Aslan, the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the village of Piddington wanting to leave the UK, a volunteer for Restore Britain being violently attacked, the Archbishop of Canterbury's u-turn, and the Green party's' thoughts on Zionism. This is an episode not to be missed.

0:00 Intro 1:52 Meryl Streep as Aslan in Narnia 7:13 Ed Sheeran and Macklemore: where politics meets music 14:30 Piddington, the village that voted to leave the UK 20:20 Green Party 'Zionism is racism' motion 24:20 Restore Britain volunteer assaulted 30:12 Archbishop of Canterbury's interfaith award controversy 38:30 Good news people in a polarized world 42:35 Closing

In this week's episode of Cross Section, Peter Lynas, Danny Webster and Alicia Edmund discuss the headlines. They begin with a news review that covers a worship event in a football stadium, the euthanasia of a one year old in the Netherlands and predictions for the upcoming series of Celebrity Traitors.

Conversation then turns to all that is happening in Northern Ireland. Peter helpfully unpacks the context and history of the situation in Drumcree, what has been happening this week and how Christians can be praying.

The episode concludes with a reaction to Andy Burnham's speech at the 2026 Labour party conference. What stood out? What will the implications be? Where will this leave the UK?

This is an episode not to be missed.

Peter Lynas, Alicia Edmund and Zanna Meynell return to Cross Section to discuss this week’s leading headlines. The episode begins with a news review. Peter updates us on the continued tensions in Drumcree, Alicia outlines the Man City controversy, and the team discuss the relaunch of a dating app with a particular focus on marriage. They also briefly reflect on the first week of Celebrity Traitors.

Conversation then turns to the deeply controversial motion from the Green party, “Zionism is racism”. Could this splinter the Green Party? What will this mean for Zack Polanski in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election? How can Christians talk about this with wisdom and compassion?

The team then address the prevalent theme of global instability and the threat of war, addressing calls for the church to be prayerful in this moment.

The episode concludes with a brief review of party conference season and advice on navigating political differences within our church families. This is an episode not to be missed.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome 01:06 Drumcree tensions update 03:35 Man City charges fallout 06:46 Dating apps shift towards marriage 09:31 Celebrity Traitors chat 11:39 Green’s Zionism motion 17:20 Discussing Israel/Palestine in our churches 22:18 Praying against war 32:09 Party conference season 36:15 Encouragements