Americano

Jeff Bezos is getting married in Venice – but not everyone is celebrating. Venetians have staged small protests, accusing the billionaire of symbolising the city's takeover by the ultra-rich. But is this anything new? Associate editor Owen Matthews joins Freddy Gray to discuss.

Against all odds, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and proud 'Muslim democratic socialist' won as as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Aidan McLaughlin wrote about this for Spectator World. On this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks to Aidan about how Mamdani defeated the favourite Andrew Cuomo, whether his success is attributed to TikTok and whether Zohran is really the voice of the 'oppressed'.

Over the weekend, the US conducted strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran is weighing a response, and Trump has raised the possibility of a change in leadership in Iran. To discuss what comes next and why this move seems to counter everything we know about 'America First', Freddy Gray is joined by editor of the National Interest Jacob Heilbrunn.

Freddy Gray speaks to Kelley Vlahos DC-based writer, editor and senior advisor at the Quincy Institute about the developing situation between Israel, Iran and America. The President has warned that despite winning the electorate over on an 'America First' mandate, the US armed force may intervene on Iran. Freddy and Kelley discuss who Trump is being advised by and why the American people could turn on him should Trump wade into the conflict.

Freddy Gray and Dan McCarthy discuss the LA riots, why they are different to the protests on Capitol Hill and how Trump will respond.

Relations between Iran and Israel are deteriorating rapidly, with comparisons being drawn to Israel's 1981 strike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be advocating for regime change in Tehran, reportedly encouraging the United States to take military action. Donald Trump, who previously came close to authorising a strike, is now said to be more cautious – mindful of the risks of exposing American forces abroad and being drawn into another protracted conflict, contrary to the non-interventionist platform on which he was elected. The Iranian regime, built on a foundation of resistance, is responding to Israel's attacks while also expanding its network of regional proxies, which now extends as far as South America and east Africa. Iran is believed to be only weeks away from producing weapons-grade uranium, meaning that failure to institute regime change may lead Tehran to accelerate its nuclear ambitions – particularly if tensions are eased while the current regime remains in power.Russia, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a strategic disruptor. By maintaining dialogue with both Tehran and Jerusalem, Moscow retains influence over developments without aligning itself fully with either side. Although it has refrained from supplying Iran with its most advanced military technology, its ambiguous stance offers it significant leverage. While global energy prices have thus far remained stable, the possibility of disruption cannot be discounted. Cautious but alert, the Gulf states are keen to avoid direct involvement. The broader question now facing the international community is whether diplomacy can contain the crisis – or whether the region is edging closer to a far more serious and destabilising confrontation.To discuss the conflict, Freddy Gray speaks to Owen Matthews and Charlie Gammell.

In the new edition of Spectator World, author and anthropologist Max Horder argues that the US is experiencing a change in its psyche, and left-wing violence is being normalised. He joins Freddy Gray on the Americano podcast to discuss the various examples attached to this, and what the dereliction of democratic disagreement means for us all. This episode is also available to watch on Spectator TV: https://youtu.be/MPQ-BDTjRDo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billionaire Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have had a very public falling out. Musk, whose time running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) came to an end last month, publicly criticised Trump's spending bill (the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act'). The row then erupted onto social media with Trump expressing his disappointment with Musk, Musk accusing Trump of ‘ingratitude' – and even making insinuations about Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Tesla's stock has taken a hit, Trump and Musk are yet to speak and there could be implications for the government contracts that Musk's companies have, but the full consequences are yet to be understood.What do this tell us about Trump 2.0, and American politics more generally? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the decline of meritocracy to the rise of anti-Western ideology, author Heather Mac Donald joins Freddy Gray to discuss race, merit, and victim hierarchy. Why is the West so desperate to self-cancel? And is now a moment of reckoning considering we're five years on from the BLM protests? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddy Gray speaks to writer and author Karen Hao, whose new book Empire of AI looks at a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI. On the podcast they discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on society and democracy and how Open AI founder Sam Altman has become a controversial figure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump exposed South Africa's leader Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House yesterday over what he refered to as white racism against the farmers in South Africa. Freddy Gray speaks to Errol Musk — father of Elon Musk — from Cape Town about Trump's confrontation. Errol shares personal experiences of being attacked on a farm, defends Trump's intervention, and reflects on the country's decline under ANC rule. The conversation also touches on Elon Musk's influence, family history, and a surprising political reversal within the Musk household.

Polish émigré Zbigniew Brzezinski – known as ‘Zbig' – rose to prominence in America during the Cold War as a key intellectual architect of US foreign policy. He was National Security Advisor to President Carter and was a trusted advisor to many US presidents from John F Kennedy onwards. Yet, despite helping to shape American foreign policy during critical moments, he is not as well-known or celebrated as his lifelong rival Henry Kissinger.   The Financial Times' chief US columnist Edward Luce joins Freddy Gray on this episode of Americano to talk about his new book Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America's Cold War Prophet. The book aims to bridge the gap in the historiography of the Cold War and looks at Zbig's legacy – from preventing a Soviet invasion of Poland, to strengthening relations with China, to shaping America's response to 9/11. Was Zbig a Cold War prophet? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

President Trump is an America Firster, but he has an undeniable affinity for the Arab world. He would have made a good sheik: he doesn't drink, he loves developing flashy properties to show off his power and wealth, and he's brutally realistic about the role of oil (and other commodities) in world politics. On his tour of the Middle East, he signed an enormous arms deal with Saudi Arabia and announced all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted. Historian and former diplomat Charlie Gammell joins Freddy Gray to discuss what Trump really wants in the Middle East. 

Freddy Gray speaks to Chris Whipple, whose latest book Lesson Learned from Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History gives an insiders' analysis having spoken to the people closest to both campaigns.

Trump has announced a beautiful new deal with the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and President shared a phone call to congratulate one another. It is the first trade deal agreed after Mr Trump began his second presidential term in January, and after he imposed strict tariffs on countries around the world in April. Freddy Gray speaks to Sarah Eliot and Kate Andrews about the negotiations and whether it is a coup for Trump or Starmer.

Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator World's Editor-at-Large Ben Domenech about this month's issue, the Reviving of the American Mind, and Ben's interview with Christopher Rufo. 

Victor Davis Hanson joins Spectator TV to talk about the first 101 days of Donald Trump's second presidency, describing it as a bold counterrevolution against decades of cultural, political, and economic drift. He discusses Trump's sweeping agenda—from closing the border and challenging DEI initiatives to confronting foreign policy orthodoxy and trade imbalances—framing it as a populist backlash against elite institutions and progressive ideologies. Hanson highlights the deepening divide between America's coastal elites and its working class, and argues that Trump's unorthodox style and aggressive reforms are reshaping the political landscape in ways not seen in modern American history

Professor John Mearsheimer and Freddy Gray discuss Donald Trump's foreign policy during his second term, focusing on the Middle East and U.S. relations with Iran. They look at Trump's instincts versus execution, divisions within the administration, diplomacy with Iran, and the broader geopolitical stakes involving Russia, Israel, and China. 

Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator US Editor-at-Large Ben Domenech to discuss defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose job appears to be on the line. They explore Hegseth's outsider status in Washington, his clashes with both hawkish and dovish factions, and the growing tensions over U.S. policy on Iran and Israel. 

Freddy Gray speaks to Peter Wood who is the President of the National Association of Scholars about Trump's decision to block Harvard funding after the university denied the President's DEI demands. 

Global financial markets are experiencing significant declines following the announcement of new tariffs by President Trump. These tariffs led to widespread panic among investors and sparked debates about their potential impact on the economy.​ In this episode of Americano, host Freddy Gray is joined by Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast, to discuss the ramifications of these tariffs. They delve into the immediate market reactions, including a brief $4 trillion surge driven by a misinterpreted news clip, and analyse the underlying motives and potential consequences of the administration's trade policies. 

President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs, including a 10 per cent duty on all UK exports to the United States, as part of his 'Reciprocal Tariffs' plan aimed at addressing trade imbalances and bolstering American manufacturing. This move is expected to impact approximately £60 billion worth of UK exports, with sectors such as automotive and Scotch whisky facing significant challenges. The UK government, while relieved to have avoided higher tariffs imposed on other nations, is now navigating the potential economic repercussions and exploring avenues for negotiation. ​ Freddy Gray speaks with William Clouston, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to analyse the implications of Trump's tariff announcement on the UK economy.

Freddy is joined by James Fishback – writer, investor and chief executive of investment firm Azoria – on ‘Liberation Day', when Donald Trump is set to announce a raft of new tariffs (at 9 p.m. UK time). They discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs on the market, whether this marks the upending of the neoliberal economic world order, or if Donald Trump is just a tough negotiator. Join Freddy Gray, deputy editor and host of the Americano podcast, and special guest Lionel Shriver for our second instalment of Americano Live. Go to www.spectator.co.uk/americanoevents

David Holtzman and David Carvalho from Naoris Protocol delve into the recent bankruptcy of 23andMe, a leading genetic testing company. They explore the implications for data security and privacy, discussing how the sale of 23andMe's vast genetic database raises concerns about the protection of personal information. 

The Spectator's columnist Douglas Murray joins Freddy Gray to discuss his recent column on why the JFK conspiracies just won't die. They also discuss the moon landing, the emergence of American self-hatred, and the return of the post-truth era.

Jeffrey Goldberg's story in the Atlantic is so mind-blowing it's hard to know what to say in response. It defies belief that Donald Trump's National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, appears to have accidentally added a top journalist to a Signal messaging group with senior government officials – including the Vice President, Secretary of State, Defence Secretary and the Director of National Intelligence – to discuss top-secret military action. It boggles the brain that the people running the most powerful country on the planet, the Principals Committee of US national security no less, use childish emojis to discuss a bombing campaign which they helped co-ordinate in order to kill 53 people. It's another painful reminder that, whether Trump or Biden is in the White House, the free world is not being led by serious people. Deputy and US editor Freddy Gray is joined by Ben Domenech, editor at large of Spectator World, to discuss. You can watch this episode on YouTube! Click here.

The new Spectator US team, Kate Andrews and Freddy Gray are in Washington to discuss Trump's economy, why the Democrats aren't good opposition and whether the MAGA excitement is still alive.

Russia and Ukraine have launched air attacks on each other, hours after Vladimir Putin told Trump that Russia would stop targeting Ukrainian energy sites. Has Putin outplayed Trump? And will Trump regret bringing Europe's militaries back to life? Deputy and US editor Freddy Gray is joined by Americano regular and author Jacob Heilbrunn to discuss.

Freddy Gray is joined by Fox News broadcaster Deroy Murdock to discuss Trump's America. They cover what could be the real reason behind Trump's tariffs, how concerned Americans should be about a recession, the Ukraine-Russia peace plan and what the Democrats can do to recover from the election defeat. 

Is mental health overdiagnosis harming children? Abigail Shrier, author of Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up, joins Freddy Gray on the Americano show to discuss how mental health experts are potentially damaging children. Have our efforts to support our children backfired?

Freddy Gray is joined with Michael Auslin who is an academic and historian at the Hoover Institute and author of the Substack 'THE PATOWMACK PACKET'. They discuss China's response to Trump's tariffs, whether China is serious about threats of war and how concerned Trump is about China's relationship with Russia. 

Donald Trump announced last night he is suspending military aid to Ukraine until Zelensky is ‘ready for peace'. Following this, the Vice President JD Vance sparked further international outrage in a Fox News interview referring to Britain as ‘some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years'. JD Vance has since come out saying that he was not referring to the UK or France in that interview - although critics can't work out who else he could have been talking about.  Freddy Gray is joined by The Spectator's Russia correspondent Owen Matthews to discuss whether the only way for there to be peace in Ukraine is for Zelensky to go, how far China and Russia's relations have prospered since the war, and whether Trump will win a Nobel Peace Prize.

In a wide-ranging conversation at the White House yesterday evening, Donald Trump was in the mood to talk about everything under the sun – from the speedy success his second administration has had putting fear into the hearts of bureaucrats and Eurocrats, to why he believes there is a path to a balanced budget. He spoke to The Spectator's Ben Domenech for the first magazine interview of his second term, following a major day of international politics with his meeting with prime minister Keir Starmer.

Freddy is joined by The Spectator World's deputy US editor, Kate Andrews, and The Telegraph columnist, Tim Stanley, to talk about Keir Starmer's much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Across the board, it has been read as a success – at least domestically, that is. The victories include movement on the Ukraine backstop, some positive discussions around the UK avoiding tariffs, and a second state visit is on the horizon as well. The biggest win, though, was the number of compliments that the president gave Starmer, including – puzzlingly – about his accent. The Spectator World's Ben Domenech secured an interview with Donald Trump after the Starmer meeting, in which he was similarly effusive about the PM: ‘I thought he was very good. I met him twice before – you know, he came to see me twice before – but this time was the best. And I think we got along very well.' You can find more from that interview on The Spectator World website. 

Robert Bryce, an energy expert and author of The Question of Power, discusses the state of global energy, electric vehicles, and government policies both in the UK and America. Freddy and Robert look at how government subsidies and mandates have driven automakers toward unprofitable EV production, what is energy humanism, and how foreign interference has shaped climate policies over the past decade. 

Curtis Yarvin, is a political theorist and writer known for his critiques of liberal democracy. Under the pseudonym 'Mencius Moldbug' he developed ideas that have influenced the New Right and post liberal political movements. Curtis Yarvin spoke to The Spectator's Angus Colwell about why Britain is in decline, how far Europe should go to protect itself against Putin, whether Churchill-bashing is fair, and what would be his top three book recommendations. 

Donald Trump attacked the Ukrainian President overnight, describing him as a 'dictator' and saying he's done a 'terrible job.' In return, Zelensky has accused Trump of 'living in a disinformation space.' The West has invested a huge amount of capital in the fight against Russia – and failed to secure peace. Is Trump using these offensive and odious methods in order to secure an end to the conflict? Is he the only person with the power to do so? Freddy Gray discusses with The Spectator's Russia correspondent Owen Matthews, and Sergey Radchenko, historian and author.

Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of think-tank American Compass, sits down with Freddy Gray at the ARC conference in London. They react to the announcement by President Trump over the weekend of reciprocal tariffs: the decision by the US to match import duties levied by other countries.  What's the strategy behind Trump's decision? And what could the consequences be for American companies and for global trade? They also discuss the broad political consensus behind free trade in the US since the 1990s. Given the 'lived reality' that faced many American investors and companies - for example competing with Chinese Electric Vehicles - was the free trade really working anyway? Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons.

The fallout continues from US vice-president J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference. Criticising Europe over what he sees as the retreat of free speech, he singled out the case of Adam Smith-Connor in the UK as something that worries him about the direction that Britain is heading in. Smith-Connor was arrested in 2022 and prosecuted for breaching an abortion buffer-zone in Bournemouth. Freddy Gray speaks to Paul Coleman at the ARC conference in London. Paul is executive director of ADF International, a faith-based legal advocacy organisation that has been advocating for Smith-Connor. What is the truth behind abortion buffer-zones? Is this part of a wider 'censorship industrial complex'? And does Vance's criticism signal a new era of free speech? Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons.

Political commentator, and author of Troubled, Rob Henderson joins Freddy Gray from the ARC conference in London. They discuss the political reaction to the news that Elon Musk has allegedly had his 13th child – are there signs of a new, more permissive conservatism? They also discuss Trump's administration so far – particularly his flurry of executive orders – with critics decrying them as the tactics of a populist, yet supporters approving of the speed of activity. What's the psychology underpins these political viewpoints? Vice-President J.D. Vance's speech in Munich over the weekend has also left many European leaders reeling – but should they really have been surprised? Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons.

Professor John Mearsheimer comes back on the Americano show with Freddy Gray to discuss how seriously we should take Trump's foreign policy. They cover the President's plans to rebuild Gaza, why Netanyahu and Trump won't agree on what to do with Iran and whether Trump can strike a deal with Putin.

Angus Hanton, author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain, joins Freddy Gray to talk about the economic relationship between Britain and America. As the world adjusts to the new US administration, every day seems to bring news of new potential tariffs. Is the UK a prime target for Trump? What could the impact of tariffs be? And what are the long-term questions facing British politicians about both the economic and political relationship with the US? Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.