This week’s Mark and Pete episode dives into the brilliantly baffling state of modern Britain and beyond. We begin with the latest UK budget, where rising beer duty and new hospitality taxes threaten the future of hundreds of pubs across the nation. Why is the beating heart of British community life being priced out? Mark and Pete explore the humour, frustration, and cultural loss behind the numbers — from village locals to city taverns.Then we cross the Atlantic to a bizarre headline from Virginia: a raccoon found raiding a liquor store and discovered passed out, completely drunk. Is it a one-off curiosity — or a worrying sign civilisation has now influenced wildlife in the worst possible ways?Finally, the West End triumph of the new Paddington musical prompts one question: if a polite bear can sing and dance, what would a Rachel Reeves or Nigel Farage musical look like?