The Spectator Podcast

This week, China agreed to consider a trade deal with Britain post-Brexit, but does a closer relationship with China expose Britain to its expansionist ambitions (00:35)? We also hear from two experts on what exactly a no-deal Britain would look like (16:45); and last, why are Britain’s great Catholic schools facing extinction (26:45)?With Michael Auslin, Kerry Brown, David Collins, Charles Grant, Will Heaven, and Damian Thompson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.

It’s safe to say that Brexit negotiations haven’t gone smoothly. The Tories are down in the latest polls, but Ukip is up. Are we witnessing the beginning of Ukip’s return (00:35)? Meanwhile, Australians are stuck between a rock and a hard place as China and America continue to bicker (18:30); and Cosmo Landesman complains about modern parenting (30:20).With Matthew Goodwin, Joe Twyman, Tom Switzer, Merriden Varrall, Cosmo Landesman, and Henry Jeffreys.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu.

Earlier this week, Trump met Putin. But beneath the outcry against Trump’s press conference, a peace plan for Syria was slipped out. Is America withdrawing its troops and leaving Assad in place (00:35)? We also ask – should we push back the March 2019 deadline for Brexit negotiations (13:00)? And last, why is communism still chic (23:50)?With Ambassador Robert Ford, Owen Matthews, Matthew Parris, Gisela Stuart, Kate Andrews, and Aaron Bastani.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

Is Brexit just going in circles? With the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson, the only progress the negotiations seem to be making is – backwards (00:35). We also ask – are pit bulls really murderous dogs from hell (18:55)? And last, what does it mean to be English (29:50)?With James Forsyth, Paul Goodman, John Springford, Julia Lewis, Mary Wakefield, Harry Mount, and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

Happy birthday to the Spectator. This week, we’re celebrating our 190th birthday. Lara takes a look back over the Spectator’s long life with three editors (24:35). But before that, it’s the podcast as usual. This week, we’re asking - do anti-Trump protests achieve anything other than virtue signalling (00:37)? And are driverless cars on a road to nowhere (14:30)?With Freddy Gray, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Christian Wolmar, Tom Tugendhat, Fraser Nelson, Charles Moore, and Dominic Lawson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Connor O’Hara.

As anti-migrant sentiment sweeps across Europe, is the continent turning against Angela Merkel for her open-door policy, and is this the end of the Merkel project (1:40)? Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced his new mission – to establish a sixth branch of the US military, the Space Force. Is this such a bad idea (14:20)? And last, while it may be greedy and corrupt, should Fifa be celebrated for making the World Cup truly global (25:40)?With Fredrik Erixon, Stefan Kornelius, Christopher Buckley, Jacqueline Klimas, Tim Wigmore, and Freddy Gray.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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 (19:15). And last, in the age of MeToo, is sex becoming sexier (28:50)?With Lionel Shriver, Coleman Hughes, Ash Sarkar, Paul Wood, Freddy Gray, Cosmo Landesman, and Katie Glass.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Conor O'Hara.

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 it like to be homeless in London (27:40)?With Judy Dempsey, Doug Bandow, Peter Hitchens, Paul Mason, Solomon Smith, and Dom Williamson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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 Ridley, John Carney, Cosmo Landesman, and Gabriella Van Rij.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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. Or are they? We talk to those who know Mueller on his progress (27:30).With James Forsyth, Nigel Farage, Douglas Murray, Tom Nuttall, Freddy Gray and David Priess.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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 Nelson, Prue Leith, Dr Sue Armstrong Brown, Mark Palmer, and Martin Tyler.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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 McCoy, and Mistress Kaz.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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 Roham Alvandi, Alastair Thomas, Dr Adam Winstock, Lara Prendergast, and Professor Vyv Evans.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu.

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.

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.

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.

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 Hardman.

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.

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 FreemanPresented by Lara Prendergast.

With Nic Cheeseman, Brian Klaas, Dan Hitchens, Rupert Shortt, Alastair Thomas, and Michael Segalov.Presented by Isabel Hardman.