Is the media alarmist over coronavirus? | Should girls be encouraged to be as strong as boys?

This week, Nick Ferrari refutes suggestions the media is being alarmist over the COVID-19 outbreak.

Also:

Should domestic abusers be forced to take lie detector tests?
Is Boris Johnson a typical Tory?
Why can't girls be just as strong as boys?
Is racism structural?

This week the panel discuss the rules on children transitioning gender, and ask if we should slow the process. But is it wrong to deny treatment to children who say they are sure that are trans?

Also:

Has the government learned from Windrush?
How much is too much for high speed rail?
Are we asleep to the threat of coronavirus?
Is colour-blind casting the future?

With mounting concerns about the spread of coronavirus, The Pledge has recruited a doctor as a guest panellist this week - none other than Love Island's Alex George.

He's arguing the media is fuelling hysteria about the infection.

Also:
Should there be a maximum age for US President?
Was No10 right to ban some reporters?
Is education the way to prevent radicalisation?

This week, Femi tells the panel that he doesn’t want police to use facial recognition technology as he thinks the government can't be trusted.

Also:
Will Brexit bring peace?
Is office football banter harmless?
How should we punish criminals who attack police?
Is antisemitism a thing of the past?

This week Michelle Dewberry presents the case for Parliament moving to northern England.

Also:
Nick Ferrari on why white privileged men should be able to talk abut race.
Afua Hirsch says the 'Tradwife' is not a feminist Twitter trend.
June Sarpong reckons post-Brexit Britain should look to Africa.
And on his Pledge debut, Geoff Norcott argues that social media is harming the left at the ballot box.

This week Andrew tells his adoption story - and explains why he thinks the stigma around it is wrong.

Also:
Should Big Ben chime on Brexit day?
Are Extinction Rebellion extremists?
Does Canada want Harry and Meghan?
How gloomy is the outlook for our high streets?

Scotland's raised the age of criminal responsibility to 12, but on this week's podcast, June Sarpong argues that's still too young.

Also:

Was McDonald's right to fire its boss because of a romance at work?
Are we giving away too much of our personal data?
Is the UK as a nation prejudiced?

The week, we ask if a Christmas general election is a gamble or a gift for those looking to deliver Brexit.

Also:

Is the gender pay gap as dramatic as it appears?

Is hate crime really on the rise?

Who's really at fault over the Grenfell Tower fire?

Greg Dyke thinks if you're a royal, press intrusion comes with the territory.

He says if Prince Harry and Meghan are "struggling to cope" with the press coverage they could leave royalty behind and move abroad. But do the panel agree?

Carole Malone thinks parliament has "repeatedly betrayed voters and democracy" and says the handling of Brexit has been "the greatest political embarrassment of modern times".

Michelle Dewberry says a "pitiful" number of prosecutions have followed against soldiers who worked at Nazi concentration camps. She thinks they should all face jail, despite their age, and even if they weren't directly involved in killings.

Prince William and Kate visited Pakistan recently and took every opportunity to wear a sherwani.

But Nick Ferrari wants to know, what is appropriate when it comes to cultural appropriation?

Sainsbury's has announced that they will not be selling fireworks in any of their stores.

Femi Oluwole suggests we "do what we can to shield" our animals from any distress and insists the ban is unnecessary.

On The Pledge this week, the panel discusses racism in football after England's 2020 Euro qualifier against Bulgaria was marred by monkey chants and Nazi salutes. Maajid Nawaz says that 'racism is re-emerging in football because racism is re-emerging in society.'

Nick Ferrari believes the government's proposal for compulsory voter ID is a good idea, but do the panel agree?

Michelle Dewberry says spreading the benefits of immigration to the north of England won’t work because ‘plans devised in Westminster are so often contradictory to the wants, needs and desires of the north’.

June Sarpong says now is the time to improve state education after it was revealed there has been a 27% rise in home schooling in the last year.

And Rachel Johnson looks at the public feud between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy and asks ‘should we accept that social media is where the bloodiest battles are fought these days?’