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Best of the Spectator — News & Politics
Best of the Spectator

Home to the Spectator’s best podcasts on everything from politics to religion, literature to food and drink, and more. A new podcast every day from writers worth listening to.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Does the Biden administration know what it’s doing with Iran? Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Freddy Gray is joined in the office by Mike Baker a former CIA operations officer, CEO of the global intelligence and security firm Portman Square Group and host of the popular news podcast the President’s Daily Brief.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women With Balls: Gina Miller Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Gina Miller was born in Guyana to a political family, but was sent to England for her education. Fleeing dictatorship, she couldn’t receive financial support from her family, and so began finding work in hotels and handing out flyers. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Gina set up her first company in 1987 – a property photographic company. Since then, her CV boasts a myriad of achievements, degrees, the Vanity Fair Challenger Award and financial services. But she is most well known as the woman who set up the first legal challenge to the government’s attempts to trigger article 50 in 2016. Since then, my guest has worked on many anti-Brexit campaigns and in 2021 she launched The True and Fair Party.

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The Edition: how the Tories gave up on liberty Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

On the podcast: have the Tories given up on liberty?
Kate Andrews writes the cover story for The Spectator this week. She argues that after the government announced plans to ban disposable vapes and smoking for those born after 2009, the Tories can no longer call themselves the party of freedom. Kate is joined by conservative peer and former health minister Lord Bethell, to discuss whether the smoking ban is a wise precedent for the government to set. (01:22)
Also this week: can the UAE be trusted on press freedom?
At The Spectator that’s a question close to our hearts at the moment as we face possibly being sold off to an Abu Dhabi backed fund. In the magazine this week Anna Somers Cocks, co-founder of the Art newspaper, writes about her own experience dealing with the UAE as an art journalist. And it's not exactly a positive one. She joins the podcast alongside The Spectator's editor Fraser Nelson. (20:03)
And finally: can Gen Z be counted upon to defend Britain?
Investigating in this week's magazine, The Spectator's assistant online editor Angus Colwell argues not. He speaks to people his own age about whether they would take up arms to defend King and country. This is of course in light of general Sir Patrick Sanders’ comment that Britain may need to resort to conscription if world events spiral further out of control. Angus joins the podcast alongside Dr Mike Martin, security expert and former British army officer. (31:16)
Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore.
Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Book Club: Sathnam Sanghera Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In this week's Book Club podcast my guest is Sathnam Sanghera, author of the new book Empireworld about the effect of British imperialism around the globe. He tells me why he's trying to get beyond the 'balance-sheet' view of imperial history, why we should all read W E B Dubois, and why he's not good at going on holiday.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could Taylor Swift swing the election? Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Freddy Gray sits down with host and producer of the 538 Politics podcast Galen Druke to discuss whether a Taylor Swift endorsement could sway the general election.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Table Talk: Edward Stourton Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Edward Stourton is a broadcaster who has worked as foreign correspondent for the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN. He is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Sunday Program, and presented the Today Program for ten years. He has authored eight books including his most recent, Sunday: A History of Religious Affairs through 50 Years of Conversations and Controversieswhich is available now.
On the podcast, he recalls chocolate-stuffed baguettes on Swiss ski slopes, reveals the disappointing breakfast options in the Today Program green room, and explains why heaven is eating oysters to the sound of trumpets.

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Action Men: how the porn industry targets children Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

Julie Bindel speaks to Pala Molisa, an academic and life coach from Vanuatu. Pala has become an outspoken critic of sex work and the left's failure to accept the implications that a sexually liberated culture can have on women's safety. On the show, Pala and Julie discuss how the porn industry deliberately grooms children into becoming a 'customer for life'; Pala's research into post-colonial power structures and the onslaught of criticism Pala received from his academic writing.

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Americano: will Jon Stewart still be funny? Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

Freddy Gray speaks to Jonathan Askonas, assistant professor of politics at the Catholic University of America about Jon Stewart's return to TV, and what role, albeit inadvertent, he played in Tucker Carlson’s success.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spectator Out Loud: Richard Dawkins, Douglas Murray and Cindy Yu Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

On this episode, Richard Dawkins explains how to convert an atheist like him to a Christian (00:37), Lisa Haseldine says the German army is in a dire state (05:53), Douglas Murray looks at the return of the Trump show (12:44), Cindy Yu reviews a Chinese intelligence officers account of life under the CCP (20:14), and Mary Wakefield wonders if it’s wrong to track her child (25:14).

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The Edition: inside the SNP’s secret state Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

On the podcast: gangsterism or government?
The Covid Inquiry has moved to Scotland and, in his cover story for the magazine, our editor Fraser Nelson looks at the many revelations uncovered by Jamie Dawson KC. Fraser describes how civil servants were enlisted into what he calls an ‘SNP secret state’ and how SNP corruption is threatening devolution. Joining us to discuss is the Coffee House Scots team: Times columnist Iain Macwhirter, The Spectator’s data editor Michael Simmons and The Spectator’s social media editor Lucy Dunn who coordinates our Scotland coverage. (01:26)
Also this week:
With the UK army chief raising the prospect of conscription in the event of war with Russia, spare a thought for Germany whose plans to rebuild its army are already imploding. Lisa Haseldine, The Spectator’s assistant online editor, writes about the dire state of Germany’s army for the magazine and joins the podcast alongside Elisabeth Braw, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. (14:58)
And finally: is the customer – in fact – always wrong?
The old maxim is that the customer is always right. But Quentin Letts, sketch writer for the Daily Mail, says that the adage has been reversed in recent times. It seems instead that the customer is always wrong, or can never be right. He joins the podcast to discuss the sorry state of modern customer service. (27:48)
Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.
Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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