The Polanski Effect

“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum – even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate.”

― Noam Chomsky

Much of the British media/political elite is in meltdown over the ascendancy of Zack Polanski, the new Green leader, who has offered some political ideas which, until recently, would have been thought mainstream. Such is the extent to which the Overton Window has hurtled to the right, simple ideas like progressive taxation, calling out genocide, talking about social inequality or caring about the environment are now verboten. Such is the quietening effect of self-censorship by the surround-sound of right-wing politics that people are just shocked to hear someone speak plainly and clearly and appear to have some conviction.

We have seen this movie before, when Michael Foot and later Jeremy Corbyn had the temerity to step outside the proscribed zone of allowable British politics. Remember when Newsnight did this?

They were relentlessly smeared, just as Polanksi is today.

The same is happening to Zohran Mamdani in New York, who is about to be elected as the city’s first Muslim Mayor on a ticket of practical populist progressive politics. The knives are out. Disgraced and exiting former Governor Andrew Cuomo, talking to conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg this morning said: “God forbid, another 9/11—can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo asks. “He’d be cheering,” Rosenberg says. Cuomo paused and chuckled before saying: “That’s another problem.”

Here’s Mamdani’s response:

🚨NEW: @ZohranKMamdani reacts to comments made by @andrewcuomo this morning on @sidrosenberg show:

“This is disgusting,” says Mamdani.

“This is Andrew Cuomo’a final moments in public life and he’s choosing to spend them making racist attacks.” @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/azINKIrqGm

— Dan Mannarino (@DanMannarino) October 23, 2025

The attacks have not been subtle.

The same can be said for Catherine Connolly, the left-wing candidate in the Irish presidential race who has faced attacks, smears and AI videos [‘Disgraceful’ deep-fake AI video condemned by presidential candidate].

But Greens in particular (north or south of the border) hold a special place for the horror of the right-wing commentariat. Here’s Zack Polanski responding to the absurdity of Britain’s anti-democracy at Westminster, which leaves Victoria Derbyshire astonished.

Watch poor Rory Stewart’s body-language:

Amazing bit on Newsnight where Nick Watt explains to an astonished Victoria Derbyshire that MPs can’t even discuss removing Prince Andrew’s title without the permission of his brother. Zack Polanski raises the questions this poses for a democracy…pic.twitter.com/kwLoiWKpuI

— Ansell Eade (@AnsellEade) October 23, 2025

One thing is consistent with responses to the Greens shifting their point of focus to the crisis of social inequality as part of the problem of ecological breakdown. This sort of systemic analysis (what the dum dums call the omnicause) is intolerable.

Here’s the combined genius of @HugoRifkind @Dannythefink & @PollyMackenzie on ‘Times Radio’:

“He is basically turning the Greens into a red party.”

Many people who voted Green in the last election “will absolutely hate” the direction Zack Polanski is now taking the party.

🗳️ How To Win An Election
🎧 https://t.co/rjWS37Y62b@HugoRifkind @Dannythefink @PollyMackenzie pic.twitter.com/whsNs8VHQx

— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) October 23, 2025

Greta Thunberg, who gets a mention here, is of course now pilloried because she has broadened her analysis to the crisis of capitalism and spoken out on Palestine. Where once she was a media-darling, she is now a villain. Stick to recycling and acceptable liberal environmentalism and you’re fine. Step outside Chomsky’s spectrum and you’re suddenly a vile extremist.

As Mike Galsworthy has noted: “This diatribe against Zack Polanski is dripping with condescension and hypocrisy. This is why the dinosaur class of journo-politics is on its way out.”

In this meltdown, Luca Watson complains bitterly that Polanksi “wants to break up Britain”  [Zack Polanski is peddling empty promises | Luca Watson | The Critic Magazine].

This sort of process, where Green and Left thinkers, activists and leaders speak out has been causing our own (sort of) homegrown commentariat to hyperventilate for years [some examples here].

These sorts of people operate in complete isolation.

Cushioned in the cosy silos of tabloid offices, they operate in the chummy but fetid world where nothing changes. Having created a world in which none of their assumptions are ever challenged, they produce churnalism of their old broken worldview and go into deep shock when presented with something – anything – that exists beyond it. Really simple ideas, like the idea that people are motivated by the climate crisis, or appalled by the genocide in Palestine, or suffering from grotesque social inequality are just beyond the scope of political discourse. I mean, you can mention these things, but if you want to actually propose doing anything about them, these people lose the plot.

Here’s Paul Hutcheon, the Daily Record’s Political Editor, grappling with such issues with his two colleagues Ben Borland and Douglas Dickie from The Scottish Daily Express, on what’s called ‘Planet Holyrood’. Before you watch this, remember these are well-paid tabloid journos. “What’s causing the Green surge across the UK?” they ask each other in complete incomprehension:

📽️ What’s causing the Green surge across the UK? | Planet Holyrood

🎙️ Planet Holyrood Podcast: https://t.co/bxUq84w7IH pic.twitter.com/jUKS8RDjcW

— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) October 23, 2025

Luckily, they’ve pulled this from their own YouTube channel:

I think this is the beginning of the breakdown, not the end. Because, despite the overwhelming media dominance of the reactionary and the ignorant, the reality is that Green Party membership in England and Wales under Zack Polanski has doubled to 140,000 in two months, and their polling is rising above Labour; Zohran Mamdani will be elected Mayor of New York City; and Catherine Connolly will be elected the President of Ireland. The independence movement watched these smears and distortions for years.

This is a broken media for a broken politics, but despite all its money, it’s failing.