Americano

To watch the debate in full, go to https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/americano-live-is-america-great-again/ American commentator Ann Coulter and British columnist Peter Hitchens join host Freddy Gray live in London to debate whether America is great again—and what the Trump era means for both sides of the Atlantic. From immigration and national identity to executive power and the rule of law, th...

New York has elected Zohran Mamdani — and Heather Mac Donald, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and Spectator writer, warns the city is heading for trouble. She tells Freddy Gray why she thinks Mayor-elect Mamdani’s agenda on crime, housing and education could undo decades of progress, and why this moment feels like “a student activist government taking over a real city”. Become a Spectator subscr...

For this episode, Luke Lyman Spectator World's arts editor is joined by Kate Andrews, formerly with The Spectator to discuss President of Argentina Javier Milei's landslide victory in the elections this week. The polls were wrong – how did the self proclaimed anarcho-capitalist survive? Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find...

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: spectator.co.uk/greatagain Join  The Spectator ’s deputy editor and host of the  Americano  podcast, Freddy Gray, as Ann Coulter and Peter Hitchens go head-to-head to debate the highs and lows of Trump’s first year back in the White House. Has Trump 2.0 lived up to its promise – or fallen short of the ‘Golden Age’? When: 7:00 pm November 3, 2025 Where: Emmanuel...

In this episode of Americano , Simon Jenkins joins Freddy Gray to discuss his new book, A Short History of America . They explore how the United States became the world’s dominant power, the myths that shaped its identity, and why Britain has always struggled to understand its transatlantic cousin. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/ad...

In this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks to Tara Reade – the former Senate aide who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault and now lives in Moscow after seeking political asylum. She discusses her allegations, why she left America, and how she views the war in Ukraine. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. Fo...

With a Gaza ceasefire deal, President Trump's attention has turned to ending the war in Ukraine. A meeting with Putin was suggested, before coming to nothing. Owen Matthews joins Freddy Gray to talk about the fundamental differences between Trump and Putin, the limits on Ukraine's President Zelensky when it comes to negotiation and why the global west keeps misunderstanding Russia time and time ag...

Freddy Gray sits down with academic James Orr at the Battle of Ideas in London for a live Americano podcast to discuss Vice President JD Vance. Having been described as 'Vance's British sherpa', James responds to how likely it is that JD Vance will be President one day, which weaknesses could hold him back, and how Vance's unique closeness to Trump in office has given him vital experience to learn...

Was this Donald Trump's most phenomenal week yet? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss the President's success in orchestrating a Gaza peace plan, his 'Mean Girls style' of dealing with world leaders, and how to interpret his comments about not being 'heaven bound'. They also talk about how Trump might bailout Argentina - but only if Javier Milei wins upcoming elections.  Become a Spectator s...

Following the ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas, Donald Trump arrived triumphantly in Israel and delivered a speech to a rapturous Israeli parliament – some of whom wore red MAGA-style hats adorned with the words ‘Trump the peace president’. Trump is now in Egypt for further negotiations over securing a long-term peace in Gaza – but how realistic is it? Dan DePetris, foreign affairs colu...

Max Tegmark is an author and professor doing AI and physics research at MIT. He joins Freddy to discuss the moral and spiritual dangers of artificial intelligence, the rise of Silicon Valley’s ‘tech overlords’, and why he believes technology must remain a tool – not a master. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out m...

Pete Hegseth has declared war on 'fat generals' and DEI in the US army - but why have standards slipped? Chris Caldwell joins Freddy Gray to discuss why the current administration feels so passionately about forcing a 'major cultural shift' in the military, plus the legacies of Bill Clinton's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and Joe Biden's acceptance of transgender troops. They also talk about the...

Zohran Mamdani is widely expected to win the race to be the next New York City mayor. The contest is now a three horse race between Mamdani, the Republican candidate Curtis Silwa and Andrew Cuomo, the former Democratic governor. Current democratic mayor Eric Adams was also running but pulled out this week. David Kaufman, who worked on the Adams campaign, joins Freddy Gray in New York to dissect th...

Donald Trump has unveiled his “peace plan” for Gaza with Benjamin Netanyahu – but is it realistic? Professor John Mearsheimer joins Freddy Gray to assess Trump’s foreign policy instincts, the role of Tony Blair on the Board of Peace, the use (and misuse) of the term “genocide,” and what chance there is of a Saudi-Israeli accord emerging from the conflict. Become a Spectator subscriber today to acc...

Freddy Gray speaks to Jacob Heilbrunn, a longstanding friend of Americano to discuss James Comey, violence in Washington and Tucker Carlson’s new series.  Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. Se...

Freddy Gray speaks to The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons about Trump's announcement at the Oval Office on Monday night that taking Tylenol, known as paracetamol, 'is no good' and that pregnant women should 'fight like hell' to only take it in cases of extreme fever. They discuss the data behind the claims, whether the President is right, and what else could explain the startling rise...

Donald Trump has arrived in Britain with promises of billions in tech investment. But is this AI boom real growth — or just another bubble? Oren Cass, chief economist at American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives, joins Freddy Gray to discuss whether the Trump administration has been taken over by big tech. Click here to get your tickets for Americano live. Become a Spectator subscriber...

Donald Trump has launched a new ‘war on drugs’ – this time targeting Mexico’s cartels. Ben Domenech joins Freddy Gray to explain why MAGA has embraced the fight, what it means for US–Mexico relations, and how it could shape Trump’s foreign policy in his second term. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more S...

Freddy Gray is joined by Heather Mac Donald, fellow at the Manhattan Institute. They discuss how race and crime grips America, and the epidemic of violence in inner-cities. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts . Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted...

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from south-west Utah, has been detained over the shooting of Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of Donald Trump. Author and anthropologist Max Horder joins Freddy Gray to discuss the cocktail of online hate and tribal divisions that's fuelling America's new era of political violence. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts....

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot dead while taking questions at Utah Valley University. Kate Andrews speaks to eyewitness and reporter Eva Terry about the chaos on campus, the reaction across America, and what comes next. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to sp...

In Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, Britain has a double-edged sword: one of the most anglophile U.S. administrations of all time – but a greater awareness of UK domestic politics. From Lucy Connolly to the recent arrest of Graham Linehan at Heathrow airport, there is much chatter in America about free speech in Britain and whether it is under threat, especially from the American right. Author Ed West...

Freddy is joined by Harry Kazianis, editor in chief of the National Security Journal, to assess China’s military rise. He argues Beijing aims to dominate the Indo-Pacific with missiles, drones and naval power, posing a growing threat to U.S. influence and Taiwan. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spec...

On this episode, Nick Gillespie, Reason's editor at large, joins Freddy to discuss whether Trump 2.0 is really as authoritarian as people say. Is he closer to a gangster than a dictator? They also discuss tariffs, the weaponisation of the Justice Department, and the state of free speech in the UK. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adf...

Freddy Gray is joined by writer and internet ethnographer Katherine Dee. She's written about the Minneapolis school shooting and Robin Westman for Spectator World. Two children were killed and 17 others injured by a killer with a bizarre online footprint: a mix of memes, nihilism, politics and gore references. Katharine argues 'these shooters are radicalized, but in no particular direction. Their...