Best of the Spectator

In recent days, Lionel Shriver has been in trouble. Her criticism of the publishing industry’s diversity drive has led to her marked as a racist and even dropped from a literary judging panel. She argued that ethnic quotas harm rather than help diversity - is she wrong (1:40)? As Robert Mueller’s investigation continues, several dodgy links to Britain have surfaced that could bring down Trump (19:...

In the last few days, world order seems to have been turned on its head as Trump antagonised his western allies at the G7 Summit, and then shook the hand of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. We ask, how will Trump treat his allies in the July Nato summit (1:35)? We also talk to Peter Hitchens and Paul Mason about Marxism in the modern day – are there any left in Britain (12:55)? And last, what is...

In this week’s episode, Lara Prendergast talks to two Russia experts on the country’s hidden fragility, and ask, is Putin surviving on luck (1:47)? She’ll also be getting to the bottom of Trump’s tariffs – is there really no rhyme or reason to them (14:36)? And last, with all that’s going on in the world, is kindness what we all need more of (27:35)? With Owen Matthews, Christopher Granville, Matt...

This week, the new Italian coalition’s proposed government was blocked by the Italian President, giving EU grandees in Brussels a cause for celebration. But is the EU way too controlling of rebellious member states (1:45)? On the home front, would a Eurozone crisis help or hinder Brexit negotiations (15:50)? And last, things aren’t going much better across the Atlantic with Mueller’s investigation...

The Spectator reveals that the government is planning a significant yearly increase in the NHS's budget - but, isn't this the £350m bus pledge (00:40)? We'll also talk about the difficulties of modern adoption with Prue Leith (15:30), and hear from Martin Tyler about whether this year's Russia World Cup looks set to be the most political, ever (26:35). With Will Tanner, James Forsyth, Fraser Nelso...

In this week’s episode, we talk about Italy’s new coalition – what will the Five Star and Lega partnership mean for Italy and for Europe (0:35)? We also ask whether Conservative Friends of Israel are too friendly to Israel (12:00), and, on a slightly different note, discuss why powerful men loved to be spanked… (26:30) With Fredrik Erixon, Ferdinando Giugliano, Peter Oborne, Stephen Crabb, George...

We discuss Donald Trump’s latest foray into foreign policy (1:01) – in taking the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. Is it worthy of a Nobel peace prize, or the act of a maniac? We also talk about the young Londoners who regularly take cocaine, despite the drug’s violent supply chain (13:20), and ask, are emojis ruining children’s abilities to communicate (22:04)? With Christopher de Bellaigue, Dr R...

From 2009 to 2010 Sven Hughes worked for SCL group, the parent company of the controversial — now deceased — Cambridge Analytica. In this Spectator Podcast Special, Sven, now the CEO of a company called Verbalisation, talks to Freddy Gray about his work for Nix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we talk about Theresa May’s impossible situation, and ask, how can she get out of this bind created by her friends and enemies? We also discuss the hostile environment policy, and ask, is Ireland going to repeal its Eighth Amendment? With James Forsyth, Chris Wilkins, David Goodhart, Ash Sakar, Melanie McDonagh, and Una Mullally. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast...

Is Meghan Markle good news for the Establishment, and what do we make of her anyway? We also discuss the potential for Tory rebellion on the customs union, and ask, does economic research back up higher government spending? With Jan Moir, Sophia Money-Coutts, Ken Clarke, Tim Shipman, Liam Halligan, and Michael Jacobs. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Why is Theresa May pulling up the drawbridge to Britain, exactly when she should be advertising Britain’s openness in a post-Brexit world? We also discuss why charities are working to shut down schools in Africa, and hear from Quentin Letts on his experience of being pursued by the Establishment. With Fraser Nelson, Joey Jones, James Tooley, Sylvain Aubry, and Quentin Letts. Presented by Isabel Ha...

How do we know Assad did it, and will counterstrikes work? We also look at the impact of drill music on young people and rising crime in London, and ask, is Beyonce's feminism better than the Spice Girls'? With Paul Wood, James Forsyth, Harriet Sergeant, Jermaine Lawlor, Cosmo Landesman, Ayesha Hazarika, and a special guest. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Just how badly will the Tories do in the upcoming local elections, and why do people love Sadiq Khan? We also talk about the end of Macron's political honeymoon, and follow the trail of a new Grand Tour. With Will Heaven, Andrew Gilligan, Pippa Crerar, Gavin Mortimer, Luke Baker, Harry Mount, and Laura Freeman Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

With Nic Cheeseman, Brian Klaas, Dan Hitchens, Rupert Shortt, Alastair Thomas, and Michael Segalov. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Angela Patmore, Simon Wessely, James Ball, Jamie Bartlett, and Aidan Hartley. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Owen Matthews, Tom Tugendhat, Radek Sikorski, Laura Hughes, Katy Balls, Charlie Campbell and James Forsyth. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Christopher de Bellaigue, Sherard Cowper-Coles, Paul Mason, Andrew Adonis, Damian Reilly and Tom Peck. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Helen O’Hara and Joanna Williams, Katy Balls and James Forsyth, Paul Wood and Johnny Mercer.  Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Thomas Kielinger, Anne McElvoy, Sam Leith, Steven Pinker, and Roger Alton. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Deborah Doane, Jonathan Foreman, Munira Mirza, Shaun Bailey, Freddy Gray and Henry Jeffreys. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Liam Halligan, George Magnus, Matthew Parris, James Forsyth, Polly Morgan and Mary Wakefield. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With James Forsyth, Giles Kenningham, Simon Ings, Sanbot, Cosmo Landesman and David Brockway. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Sean Hanley, John O'Sullivan, Mikolaj Kunicki, James Forsyth, Katy Balls, Marcus Berkmann and Mark Mason. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Fraser Nelson, Jonathan Bartley, James Forsyth, Louis Coffait, Harry Mount and Damian Thompson. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Brendan O'Neill, Dawn Foster, Owen Matthews, Roger Alton and Mary Wakefield. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.