For a series that cricket fans look forward to for months, this year's Ashes was something of a disappointment - on the English side, at least. We lost 4-0, and were only saved from a 5-0 whitewash by a lifeless pitch ensuring a draw.

TV review: The Vietnam War: The US's role in endless wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Rising tensions between the US, Russia and China. Watching Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's monumental ten-part documentary on the Vietnam

"We're all three pay cheques away from being homeless": "We can't facilitate" the "wellbeing of the most vulnerable," says Barking and Dagenham council leader Daren Rodwell. This was a frank admission to 'No Place to Call Home', the BBC's distressing account of homelessness in the east London borough.

Dozens of socialists in a field with sunshine, debate and refreshments. Unusual maybe, but our summer camp, held on August bank holiday weekend, is a longstanding highlight of the Socialist Party calendar.

Culture secretary John Whittingdale recently published the government's White Paper plans on the future funding and governance of the BBC. Ken Smith explains what lies behind the changes and why they must be fought.

TV review - Jessica Jones: This is the latest production from Marvel, one of the homes of spandex-clad superheroes and villains. But in many ways, Jessica Jones is the complete opposite of the fantasy and explosion they normally purvey with such aplomb.

The Socialist Party's Nancy Taaffe took on the Tory and Blairite warmongers on the BBC's Daily Politics show on 3 December. Less than a week later, James Ivens appeared on the Daily Politics on 8 December to defend deselection of Blairites and the Socialist Party's participation in Momentum.