Podcasts about spectators

It's the big day for Starmer's one-in, one-out migrant deal with France. The scheme, which was agreed during the state visit last month, comes into effect today – but Yvette Cooper and other figures in Whitehall remain suspiciously evasive when it comes to putting a number on returns to France. Immigration is, of course, the problem of highest salience across the country, and made even more pressing by recent riots at migrant hotels, giving far-right opposition parties plenty of ammunition. Polling shows that 40 per cent of Reform supporters would consider voting for Labour next time if the number of small boat arrivals fell. So, will it work? Will it prove a better deterrent than, say, the Rwanda deal?This is undoubtedly a landmark agreement with France, and puts us in closer alliance with the French. Are there areas where we should be taking lessons from them – perhaps when it comes to our dealings with overseas terrorists, for example?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and Madeline Grant.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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

Nigel Farage hosted a press conference today as part of Reform's summer crime campaign 'Britain is lawless'. He unveiled the latest Tory defector: Leicestershire's Police & Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews. Amidst all the noise of whether crime in the UK is falling or not, plus the impact of migration on crime, is Reform's messaging cutting through? Would US Vice President agree with Farage's message that Britain is lawless? Vance is in the UK, staying in the Cotswolds, as part of his summer holiday. Tim Shipman and Lucy Dunn are joined by James Orr, associate professor at Cambridge University, and a friend of Vance's to talk us through the dynamics between Trump, Vance, Starmer, Lammy and Farage. Does Farage have Vance's ear? Plus: James explains the rationale behind the new Reform-linked think tank that he is leading, saying that the Centre for a Better Britain is about seeking to build a 'politics of national preference'. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.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

Is the Online Safety Act protecting children – or threatening free speech? Michael Simmons hosts John Power, who writes the Spectator's cover piece this week on how the Act has inadvertently created online censorship. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough. Michael and John joined by former Conservative MP Miriam Cates who defends the core aims and principles at the heart of the Act. They debate the principles of Big Tech, the risks of government overreach and whether freedom of expression is under threat.Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.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

Is the Online Safety Act protecting children – or threatening free speech? Michael Simmons hosts John Power, who writes the Spectator's cover piece this week on how the Act has inadvertently created online censorship. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough.Michael and John joined by former Conservative MP Miriam Cates who defends the core aims and principles at the heart of the Act. They debate the principles of Big Tech, the risks of government overreach and whether freedom of expression is under threat.Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.

John O'Neill and Sam McPhail, the Spectator's research and data team, join economics editor Michael Simmons to re-introduce listeners to the Spectator's data hub. They take us through the process between the data hub and how their work feeds into the weekly magazine. From crime to migration, which statistics are the most controversial? Why can't we agree on data? Plus – whose data is presented better, the Americans or the French?For more from the Spectator's data hub – which may, or may not look like the thumbnail photo – go to: data.spectator.co.ukProduced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.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

Lionel Shriver on Trump's vendetta, Mamdani's ‘stupid' ideas & sentimental immigrationDeputy US editor Kate Andrews is joined by author and Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver to assess Donald Trump's turbulent second term. They discuss the rise of socialism in New York, why fairness is warping immigration policy, and whether Trump's obsession with lawfare and vengeance is undoing his own presidency.

The dispute between the British Medical Association (BMA) – a trade union for doctors – and the government continues, following the five-day strike by junior doctors. Doctors argue that pay is still far below relative levels from almost two decades ago, combined with the cost of study, the cost of living and housing crises, as well as challenging conditions within the NHS. Nevertheless, with an average pay rise of 5.4% for resident doctors this year, support for the strikes appears to be falling – both with the public at large, and within the BMA. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hit back at the BMA and said they 'will not win a war with this government'. Tim Shipman and Lucy Dunn join Natasha Feroze to discuss whether the junior doctors are wise to pick a fight with Wes. First though they talk about the fallout from Keir Starmer's announcement of that the UK could recognise Palestinian statehood in September. Given the recognition is conditional, is Starmer's position the worst of both worlds?Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze. 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

After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, many people voiced fears that the religious minorities in the country could face increased persecution. This could be at the hands of the new government's supporters, or simply because the new regime can't protect them. Now those fears appear to have been realised. There is rising sectarian violence against Christians, the Alawites and the Druze (pictured). There are also frequent barbaric attacks on Christians in parts of Africa: more than 40 Christians have just been murdered by Islamists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo while attending church.Fr Benedict Kiely joins Damian Thompson on this episode of Holy Smoke to discuss the background to this violence, the role of inter-faith score-settling, and why the global West – including leaders of the Catholic Church – seem more interested in migration than the slaughter of Christians and other people of faith.A Catholic priest of the Ordinariate, Fr Ben is a leading campaigner for religious believers around the world, and especially in the Middle East, and the founder of the charity nasarean.org.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.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

First: the new era of censorshipA year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different'. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control over what can and can't be viewed online'. While the act ‘promises to protect minors from harmful material', he argues that it is ‘the most sweeping attempt by any liberal democracy to bring the online world under the control of the state'.Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough. So how much of a danger is the Act to free speech in Britain?John joined the podcast to discuss further alongside former Conservative minister Steve Baker, MP from 2010-24, and who was one of the biggest critics of the bill within the Conservative Party at the time.Next: should we be worried about protests against migrants?This week, outside a hotel in Epping, groups amassed to protest against the migrants housed there, with counter-protestors appearing in turn. Tommy Robinson might not have appeared in the end, but the Spectator's Max Jeffrey did, concluding that the protests were ultimately ‘anticlimactic'.Nevertheless, the protests have sparked debate about the motivations of those speaking out against the migrants – are there legitimate concerns voiced by locals, or are the protests being manipulated by figures on the political fringes? And what do the protests tell us about community tensions in the UK? Max joined the podcast to discuss alongside the editor of Spiked Tom Slater.And finally: why are ‘romantasy' novels so popular?Lara Brown writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of the genre ‘romantasy', which mixes romance with fantasy. While ‘chick-lit' is nothing new, Lara argues that this is ‘literature taken to its lowest form', emblematic of the terminally online young people who consume it. Nevertheless, it is incredibly popular and is credited by publishers as boosting the British fiction industry to over £1 billion. To unpack the genre's popularity, Lara joined the podcast, alongside Sarah Maxwell, the founder of London's first romance-only bookshop Saucy Books, based in Notting Hill.Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.

September 3 in NYC at 6 pm, I'll be in conversation with Lionel live at The Village Underground. Tix available here. Use promo code CATASTROPHE18 at checkout for a discount. Bestselling novelist and beloved (and occasionally be-hated) columnist Lionel Shriver returns to the podcast to talk about several topics, including her most recent novel, Mania. In that novel, she imagines a society under the grip of “mental parity,” a concept arguing that all individuals possess equal intelligence and no one should be given greater credence or responsibility because of the perception that they are smarter. We also discuss our own intelligence (are we really all that smart?) and wonder what makes us so resistant to groupthink in politics and daily life, especially around movements like #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and gender ideology. In search of a lighter topic, we finally move on to . . . immigration. (Oops.) As a Los Angeles resident, I've been alarmed by the ICE raids in my community, and I'm quite upset about the Trump administration's policies. As a longtime expatriate in the U.K. and as the author of a forthcoming novel about immigration (A Better Life, coming in February 2026), Lionel sees things a little differently. GUEST BIO A prolific journalist with a fortnightly column in Britain's The Spectator, Lionel Shriver has written widely for the New York Times, the London Times, the Financial Times, Harper's Magazine, and many other publications. Her first nonfiction book, ABOMINATIONS: Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-destruction, was published in 2022. It joins a story collection and fifteen novels, including Mania, Should We Stay or Should We Go, The Mandibles, and We Need to Talk About Kevin (a 2011 film starring Tilda Swinton). Her work has been translated into 35 languages. Her latest novel A Better Life, focused on immigration, will be out in early 2026. UPCOMING EVENT: Once again, if you enjoyed this interview, join me in NYC on September 3 at The Village Underground for a conversation with Lionel about The Catastrophe Hour as well as her work. Topics will include (but are not limited to) death, sex, real estate, dogs, beauty, grief, aging, cancelation, incels, femcels, self-destruction, natural disasters, pronatalism, anti-natalism, human intelligence, and cultural stupidity. Doors open at 5:15, show starts at 6pm. Tix available here. Use promo code CATASTROPHE18 at checkout for a discount. HOUSEKEEPING

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney unveiled his strategy for pursuing a second independence referendum this week, arguing that an SNP majority at next year's Holyrood elections is the only way to guarantee it. This is seen as an attempt to put Scottish independence back on the table as well as combat the rising popularity of Reform. Pollster Mark Diffley of Diffley Partnership joins Lucy Dunn to unpack the SNP's independence strategy. Mark points out that while Reform are consistently outperforming expectations, their support still primarily comes from ex-Conservatives. This, plus the unpopularity of the current UK Labour government, could provide the SNP with an opening to exploit and shore up nationalist support. Could next year's Holyrood election be the most consequential election of the devolution era so far?Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze.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

Sam Leith is joined for this week's Book Club podcast by Gary Shteyngart — whose new novel Vera, or Faith is set in a near-future America whose politics seems to be less science-fictional by the day. It tells the unexpectedly tender story of a bright but lonely ten-year-old girl contending with her parents' failing marriage and navigating the beginnings of a friendship. Gary tells Sam how parenthood changed him as a writer, how his feelings about his Russian heritage have shifted uncomfortably in light both of the Ukraine invasion and the US's fresh hostility to migrants, and why Writers' Tears is his students' drink of choice. 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 and to contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Keir Starmer says the UK will recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September unless Israel meets certain conditions. As the UN warns of famine and aid agencies are raising concern about widespread starvation, countries are coming under pressure to change their approach and influence Israel. The UK's announcement follows Emmanuel Macron's decision that France will do so in September and after more than 200 cross-party MPs signed a letter endorsing recognition.Political editor Tim Shipman and senior associate fellow at RUSI Michael Stephens join deputy political editor James Heale to discuss the situation. Plus, as Donald Trump's visit to Scotland comes to an end, they discuss the surprising nuance in Trump's position on Israel which was evident when he met Starmer yesterday.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.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

Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte started her career as a media adviser in Theresa May's Number 10, before she moved into the world of radio. She was a political correspondent at talkRADIO and Wireless Group before joining Times Radio.  On the podcast, Charlotte tells hosts Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts about chasing the high she felt from tasting risotto for the first time, how a second date unwittingly converted her from vegetarianism and what she thinks makes a good restaurant critic.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

It's often the rotator blades of Marine One that blare over Donald Trump's voice as he stands near the helipad on the south lawn of the White House. In Turnberry, Scotland, it was bagpipes. Trump, playing host to the British Prime Minister in Britain, performed his now familiar ingratiation ritual as he welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course. “Our relationship is unparalleled,” he said, above the din. He flattered the PM's wife and even suggested, in his delightful nonsensical way, that she is a well-known figure all over the United States.  Lucy Dunn is joined by US editor Freddy Gray and political editor Tim Shipman to discuss what the trip means, and what we should make of the Starmer-Trump relationship.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

Douglas Murray on conspiracy America, lawfare & the new age of suspicionDonald Trump promised to release the Epstein files – so why hasn't he? Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Kate Andrews to discuss the scandal that won't go away, what it says about trust in institutions, and why even Trump's most loyal supporters are starting to turn on him.

Donald Trump is in Scotland, holding court at Turnberry. He's welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course, and had a long discussion with reporters at a wide ranging press conference, that covered Russia, Gaza, and his long running feud with London mayor Sadiq Khan. To unpack it all, Freddy is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, and deputy US editor Kate Andrews. 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

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Kemi Badenoch does the rounds, giving her view on the war in Gaza, immigration, and the new party on the left. And, after France officially recognises the state of Palestine, will the UK government follow suit?Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.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

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson on what the destruction of the Hotel Oloffson means for Haiti (00:54); Patrick Kidd analyses Donald Trump and the art of golf diplomacy (06:43); Mike Cormack reviews Irvine Welsh's Men In Love (16:49); Ursula Buchan provides her notes on the Palm House at Kew (20:38); and, Richard Bratby argues that Johann Strauss deserves better than to be the victim of snobbery – plus listen to the end for an extract from Strauss's Emperor Waltz (24:24). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

Deputy US editor Kate Andrews is joined by author and Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver to assess Donald Trump's turbulent second term. They discuss the rise of socialism in New York, why fairness is warping immigration policy, and whether Trump's obsession with lawfare and vengeance is undoing his own presidency.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

Katie Lam became an MP in 2024 after a career in finance. She's also an accomplished scriptwriter, having co-written five musicals. She's one of the most exciting new intake MPs, and she's ruffling feathers in Westminster and beyond. She joins political editor Tim Shipman to discuss everything from her vision for the country to the ECHR, and shares her political ambitions.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

Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have finally launched their new party, but it's off to a bumpy start. They unveiled 'Your Party', but had to quickly clarify that was not in fact the new party's name, and that will be decided on by a member's vote. He also had to play down claims of a split already. However, if the so-called Gaza independents join forced with Sultana and Corbyn, the organisation that's not called Your Party could have enough MPs to outnumber Reform UK. What does it mean for the left – and can they get their act together?Elsewhere, Tim discusses the slightly more organised Reform UK, the subject he wrote about in this week's magazine – and how it's no longer a case of can they win, but can anything stop them. Megan McElroy discusses with Tim Shipman and James Heale. 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

Michael Gove, now Lord Gove of Torry in the City of Aberdeen, was a cabinet minister under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. He ran to be leader of the Conservatives twice, famously killed off Boris Johnson's first tilt at the top job but backed him on Brexit, spectacularly falling out with David Cameron in the process in a drama portrayed in sometimes excruciating detail in a book by his ex-wife Sarah Vine. He has now gone back to his first trade of journalism as editor of the Spectator magazine.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson on what the destruction of the Hotel Oloffson means for Haiti (00:54); Patrick Kidd analyses Donald Trump and the art of golf diplomacy (06:43); Mike Cormack reviews Irvine Welsh's Men In Love (16:49); Ursula Buchan provides her notes on the Palm House at Kew (20:38); and, Richard Bratby argues that Johann Strauss deserves better than to be the victim of snobbery – plus listen to the end for an extract from Strauss's Emperor Waltz (24:24). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.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

Dominic Green writes, “The war on free speech is about to violate the most sacred recesses of British life—not the home or the workplace, but the pub.” In legislation dubbed the “Banter Bill”, Parliament is attacking the center of British life in a new effort to hold employers accountable for staff's hurt feelings over third parties “offensive language”. Under the UK's two-tiered justice system, government is now in the service of a minority to punish perceived miscreants for free speech. How did the UK government arrive here? And how will the British restore freedom and common sense?Dominic Green is a fellow at the Royal Historical Society, a Wall Street Journal contributor, and a Washington Examiner columnist. He was previously a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and editor-in-chief of The Spectator's U.S. edition. Dr. Green is the author of five books about British history and society. Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

The UK has finally signed a free-trade deal with India after three-and-a-half years of negotiation. The agreement will open up trade for cars, whisky, clothing and food products, with ministers claiming it will boost the British economy by £4.8 billion. For Keir Starmer, it offers much-needed economic and political good news. For Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, it shows that the £3 trillion Indian economy is willing to shake off its protectionist tradition and open up to international investors.Lucy Dunn discusses with James Heale and Michael Simmons. 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

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy'?First up: how private equity is ruining BritainGus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of children's homes owned by PE has doubled in the last five years. This ‘gives capitalism a bad name', he writes. Perhaps the most symbolic example is in the water industry, with water firms now squeezed for money and saddled with debt. British water firms now have a debt-to-equity ratio of 70%, compared to just 4% in 1991. Britain's desperation for foreign money has, quite literally, left Britain ‘in the shit'. Gus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside the journalist Megan Greenwell, author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. (00:46)Next: why is MAGA so incensed over Jeffrey Epstein?Six years after he died, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is still haunting Donald Trump. Trump had vowed to release all files on various cases that attract conspiracy theorists – from JFK to Martin Luther King Jr. What makes the Epstein case different, as Douglas Murray writes in the magazine this week, is that the case was so recent and Epstein's ties with the elites, many of whom are still in power. Trump appeared to backtrack on releasing files relating to Epstein, prompting ire from the MAGA world, and there is now mounting cross-party pressure to uncover who knew what. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, sent representatives home early for summer, and there is even talk of Ghislaine Maxwell testifying.  Why is the Epstein scandal such a lightning rod for MAGA rage? Douglas Murray joined the Spectator to discuss. The full interview can be found on Spectator TV. (15:49)And finally: are literary sequels ‘lazy'?It's ‘sod's law', says the Spectator's literary editor Sam Leith, that when a friend's book is due to be reviewed in the pages of the books section that you edit, the review will be bad. Mike Cormack reviews Men In Love by Irvine Welsh this week, calling the decision by Welsh to pen another sequel to Trainspotting ‘lazy'. At the Spectator this made us ponder whether this is true of all literary sequels, and what motivates authors to stick with characters and stories that they know.Sam joined us to discuss further alongside Lucy Thynne, the Telegraph's deputy literary editor. (33:59)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy'?First up: how private equity is ruining BritainGus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of children's homes owned by PE has doubled in the last five years. This ‘gives capitalism a bad name', he writes. Perhaps the most symbolic example is in the water industry, with water firms now squeezed for money and saddled with debt. British water firms now have a debt-to-equity ratio of 70%, compared to just 4% in 1991. Britain's desperation for foreign money has, quite literally, left Britain ‘in the shit'. Gus joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside the journalist Megan Greenwell, author of Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. (00:46)Next: why is MAGA so incensed over Jeffrey Epstein?Six years after he died, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal is still haunting Donald Trump. Trump had vowed to release all files on various cases that attract conspiracy theorists – from JFK to Martin Luther King Jr. What makes the Epstein case different, as Douglas Murray writes in the magazine this week, is that the case was so recent and Epstein's ties with the elites, many of whom are still in power. Trump appeared to backtrack on releasing files relating to Epstein, prompting ire from the MAGA world, and there is now mounting cross-party pressure to uncover who knew what. Mike Johnson, the House speaker, sent representatives home early for summer, and there is even talk of Ghislaine Maxwell testifying.  Why is the Epstein scandal such a lightning rod for MAGA rage? Douglas Murray joined the Spectator to discuss. The full interview can be found on Spectator TV. (15:49)And finally: are literary sequels ‘lazy'?It's ‘sod's law', says the Spectator's literary editor Sam Leith, that when a friend's book is due to be reviewed in the pages of the books section that you edit, the review will be bad. Mike Cormack reviews Men In Love by Irvine Welsh this week, calling the decision by Welsh to pen another sequel to Trainspotting ‘lazy'. At the Spectator this made us ponder whether this is true of all literary sequels, and what motivates authors to stick with characters and stories that they know.Sam joined us to discuss further alongside Lucy Thynne, the Telegraph's deputy literary editor. (33:59)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.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

Le 21 juillet 2025, plusieurs chefs d'États de gauche se sont réunis à Santiago au Chili au nom de la démocratie, face à une montée croissante de l'extrême droite partout dans le monde. Un reportage de Naïla Derroisné.  Les chefs d'États du Chili, de la Colombie, de l'Uruguay, du Brésil et d'Espagne étaient présents à Santiago pour défendre la démocratie, renforcer le multilatéralisme, combattre la désinformation et pour plus de justice sociale. Chacun leur tour, ils ont fait une déclaration sur les ambitions de leurs pays et de ce groupe de travail pour sauver la démocratie. « Le chemin vers la conquête de la démocratie et de la liberté a été long », a rappelé le président brésilien Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Plusieurs solutions pour renforcer les institutions démocratiques ont été discutées.  L'Église haïtienne hausse le ton face à la violence des gangs  Frantz Duval, le rédacteur en chef du journal haïtien Le Nouvelliste était en direct sur RFI. Il est revenu sur la Une du jour. Le journal a choisi de parler de la prise de position de la conférence des évêques haïtiens qui dénoncent la barbarie des gangs et l'inaction de l'État. « L'Église catholique sort de son silence pour exprimer les préoccupations partagées par les Haïtiens », note le rédacteur en chef. Les affrontements armés sont très fréquents dans le pays, le 24 juillet trois policiers ont été tués par des gangs dans le pays, un schéma « qui se répète trop souvent », note Frantz Duval. Au Canada, des groupes de militants fascistes s'entraînent au combat Dans un article publié par le média anglophone CBC News, on découvre que dans des parcs publics, des gymnases ou des centres d'arts martiaux au Canada, des suprémacistes blancs se préparent à la violence, en toute discrétion. Le travail de la rédaction est précis et colossal. Pendant deux mois, les journalistes ont identifié les lieux dans lesquels les « groupes actifs », ces groupes secrets de combat, bien connus dans la communauté nationaliste, se réunissent et recrutent d'autres membres. CBC a épluché des centaines de comptes Instagram, Facebook, analysé des milliers de captures d'écran. Le but : trouver des indices à partir de publications anonymes de ces hommes. Recouper des informations pour identifier des lieux, des visages... Parmi eux, il y a par exemple celui qui se fait appeler Primo, qui s'entraîne dans une salle de jiujitsu, et qui publie des messages comme : « Rendre le Canada blanc à nouveau » sur son Twitter, le soir en rentrant chez lui. L'enquête a permis d'identifier Primo et d'autres suprémacistes blancs. Désormais, on sait où ils s'entraînent, où ils se réunissent. Mais le journal CBCNews précise que c'est un phénomène qui va au-delà des frontières du Canada : il y aurait aujourd'hui 187 clubs actifs dans 27 pays. Aux États-Unis, un accord financier de 221 millions de dollars a été signé entre Donald Trump et l'Université Columbia Cet accord, c'est un « deal historique », titre le quotidien très conservateur et pro-Trump, le New York Post. Sur la Une du journal, il y a une image de plusieurs étudiants cagoulés, et puis cette phrase : « une amende de 200 millions de dollars pour discrimination et non-protection des étudiants juifs ». 200 millions de dollars, c'est bien cette somme astronomique que l'établissement a accepté de verser, hier, à l'État fédéral américain. En échange, il promet un retour des subventions et la fin des pressions menées par l'administration Trump. Elles se sont multipliées depuis le début des manifestations contre les massacres à Gaza, sur le campus, que Donald Trump a taxé d'antisémites.  Dans le pays, ce compromis à été vivement critiqué. Le journal étudiant de l'université, le Spectator, évoque les frustrations face à la capitulation de la directrice de l'établissement, Claire Shipman, et lui donne la parole. « Cet accord est conforme à nos valeurs et ne franchit pas les lignes rouges que nous avons définies », assure-t-elle. Dans un autre quotidien, le New York Times, Suresh Naidu, un professeur d'économie à Columbia, n'y croit pas. « Pensons-nous vraiment que cet arrangement destructeur empêchera l'administration Trump d'arrêter à nouveau de financer la recherche ? » questionne-t-il. L'enseignant évoque les fausses promesses de Donald Trump lors de son dernier mandat et son imprévisibilité. En Colombie, une condamnation historique  Le service investigation du média colombien El Tiempo a suivi de très près ce procès contre d'anciens dirigeants de la multinationale Chiquita. Une grosse entreprise américaine spécialisée dans la production de bananes.  Hier, sept anciens patrons ont été condamnés à onze ans de prison pour avoir financé, via l'entreprise, un groupe paramilitaire d'extrême droite, responsable de plusieurs crimes contre les guérillas de gauche en Colombie dans les années 90. L'une des périodes de la guerre civile dans le pays, qui a fait des millions de morts. La radio colombienne Caracol salue « une décision clé ». Et une vraie étape de franchie dans l'une des affaires les plus emblématiques de financement des groupes paramilitaires en Colombie. Journal de la 1re  Des bandes de plus en plus épaisses de sargasses s'échouent sur les côtes de la Guadeloupe. Ce sont des algues brunes toxiques et dangereuses pour la santé. La population est contrainte de s'éloigner du littoral.

Day 1,246.Today, after a historic vote in the Ukrainian parliament which sparked the country's biggest protest in wartime, we assess the damage to President Zelensky's credibility following his decision to approve a bill some argue has gifted Putin a propaganda victory. Then we take you to Moldova – a nation on Europe's edge, with the first of a two-part dispatch that includes our clash with Russian-sympathising politicians outside of the parliament.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Svitlana Morenets (Staff writer at The Spectator). @SvMorenets on X.With thanks to Radu Marian, Member of Parliament of Moldova.Content Referenced:VIDEO DISPATCH: 'Moldova is worse than Ukraine': My clash with Russian sympathisers on the frontline of Cold War Two (Francis Dearnley for The Telegraph):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZC5FvDt-u0 Anti-government protests break out in Kyiv (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/22/zelensky-destroys-ukraine-anti-corruption-agencies/ Zelensky dismantles Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, brings law enforcement agencies under his thumb (Kyiv Independent): https://kyivindependent.com/potential-elimination-of-ukraines-anti-graft-infrastructure-signals-slide-into-authoritarianism-may-block-eu-integration/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As MPs depart Westminster for parliamentary recess, The Spectator's political sketch writer Madeline Grant joins Natasha Feroze and economics editor Michael Simmons to talk about how to sketch PMQs and why Keir Starmer makes for the best sketches. Also on the podcast, Michael Simmons looks at the promising FTSE at record high following Trump's trade deal with Japan and the gloomy national debt figures announced yesterday. 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

Charlie Eisenhood and Josh Mansfield welcome in Calvin Heimburg to talk about his victory at the European Disc Golf Festival, the first major title of his career. They also chat with Vinny about the upcoming World Championships and his preparation. Later, they look at some of the biggest storylines coming into Worlds.0:00 Introduction4:15 Calvin Heimburg Interview, Final Round of EDGF13:00 Tallinn Course, Spectators, Prepping for Worlds19:40 Shotmaking, Inward Focus, Avoiding OB28:30 Winning At Tampere& the Beast, Card Preference35:30 Reflections on Vermont Worlds38:40 Reactions to Heimburg42:15 Which MPO Player Needs Worlds the Most?53:30 International Representation, Potential Era Shift in FPO?

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the biographer Frances Wilson, whose new book Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark was recently lauded in these pages as "mesmerising" and "a revolutionary book". She tells me how she immersed herself in the spooky life and peerless art of the great novelist, and why a conventional biographical treatment would never have been adequate to a subject for whom fiction and reality twined in unexpected and disconcerting ways.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/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Donald Trump promised to release the Epstein files – so why hasn't he? Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Kate Andrews to discuss the scandal that won't go away, what it says about trust in institutions, and why even Trump's most loyal supporters are starting to turn on him.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

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the biographer Frances Wilson, whose new book Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark was recently lauded in these pages as "mesmerising" and "a revolutionary book". She tells me how she immersed herself in the spooky life and peerless art of the great novelist, and why a conventional biographical treatment would never have been adequate to a subject for whom fiction and reality twined in unexpected and disconcerting ways.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/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.ukBecome 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/podcastsContact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

The Commons is closing down for the summer, but Kemi Badenoch has treated us to a shadow cabinet reshuffle. At the beginning of the year, Badenoch's team were keen to stress stability, dismissing talk of an early reshuffle. But, as so often in politics, events have forced her hand. Ed Argar, the shadow health secretary, had a health scare earlier this summer. He has today stepped back from the frontbench to focus on his recovery. Badenoch is therefore using his departure as the chance to make what she calls ‘a few changes to my frontbench.'The headline is that Sir James Cleverly, former foreign and home secretary, is returning to the front bench as shadow housing secretary. Is his new position designed to take on Angela Rayner? And what's Badenoch planning to do about the Jenrick question? Lucy Dunn speaks to Michael Gove and Tim Shipman. 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

Is Epstein the new Russiagate?Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator writer Roger Kimball. They delve into the Epstein claims, the media's handling of the story, Trump's economic agenda, and whether the MAGA movement is holding strong or starting to splinter.

Nigel Farage has unveiled the party's policy proposals for tackling crime should they get into government. The Reform leader said that his entire policy platform would cost £17.4 billion, and suggested that a Reform government would introduce a 'three strikes' system for repeat serious offenders. Lucy Dunn speaks to James Heale and Tim Shipman about the policy pledges, how the Tories should respond and what Britain can do about its failing water industry. 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

Will AI have rights?Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator writer Paul Wood about his piece this the latest edition of Spectator World on AI and whether it will soon have rights. This first came about when Paul went to live in Rome and discovered some of the work the Vatican has been doing in AI.

Today on the Woody and Wilcox Show: Wilcox watched Blazing Saddles with his daughter; Judge Judy's new show; Dubbing in movies; Fallout from the Coldplay incident; Cool Beans Remix; Frank got a truck for his birthday; Car and dog stereotypes; Man dies after being sucked into an MRI machine; Spectator hit by a car at the Tour de France; And more!

One week ago at the closing session of the Turning Point USA Conference in Tampa, Charlie Kirk moderated a debate between two conservative Americans with starkly different perspectives on the value of Israel as an ally of the U.S.A. Writer and commentator, Josh Hammer, spoke for the proposition that America and Israel are countries aligned in values and ideology. Dave Smith - a recently famous comedian and libertarian who has become a darling of the talk show circuit (Joe Rogan and Piers Morgan in particular) - represents the conservative isolationist camp. An “as a Jew” Jew, Dave opines on matters about which he has thin knowledge. His bottom line: Israel has nefariously influenced and taken control of American foreign policy. Domestic policy too, for that matter. Hammer, more grounded in knowledge and fact, explains that military support and alliances are necessary for a strong and principled America. And Charlie does a great job to manage the discussion. Some of the things that Dave says - and with confidence and pride - are astonishing. Like that America has no problem with Iran. And Iran has no problem with America. “I mean, geez”, he says, “Iran is a third world country and no threat to us”. For real. It's a fascinating discussion. I learned a lot about this emerging and growing isolationist movement among conservative Americans - some of whom are turning sharply on Israel. It's a fiery debate.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Josh Hammer is the author of the new book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. He is the senior editor-at-large of Newsweek, a syndicated columnist, and a fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation and the Palm Beach Freedom Institute. He also hosts The Josh Hammer Show, a Newsweek podcast and syndicated radio show. A frequent pundit and essayist on political, legal, and cultural issues, Josh is a constitutional attorney by training and additionally serves as senior counsel for the Article III Project.Josh has been published by the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail, U.S. News & World Report, National Review, First Things, National Affairs, American Affairs, the Claremont Review of Books, The New Criterion, City Journal, Public Discourse, Tablet Magazine, Deseret Magazine, The Spectator, Fortune, Fox Business, The Times of Israel, The Forward, and the Jewish Journal. His legal scholarship has been published by the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and the University of St. Thomas Law Journal. Josh is a college campus speaker through Young America's Foundation and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and a law school campus speaker through the Federalist Society.Josh graduated from Duke University, where he majored in economics, and from the University of Chicago Law School. He lives in Florida with his wife and daughter, and he also remains an active member of the State Bar of Texas. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Today, it's all eyes on the water sector, as Labour announce plans to halve sewage pollution by 2030. Nigel Farage advocates for partial nationalisation, although he's vague on the numbers. Farage also says net zero targets are defrauding tax payers, but Ed Davey says we actually need more renewable energy to protect industry from rising energy bills.Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill. 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

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Mark Mason reminisces about old English bank notes (00:33), Philip Patrick wonders whether AI will replace politicians in Japan (04:04), Matthew Parris wonders why you would ever trust a travel writer (10:34) and Mary Wakefield looks at the weird world of cults (17:42).

The strange death of Tory England has been predicted before. But never has the ‘natural party of government' faced a greater challenge to survive. The Conservatives are facing attacks on all fronts from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. Kemi Badenoch's six-month anniversary as leader was marked by the loss of nearly 700 councillors, with a stern test awaiting next year in Scotland and in Wales. She promises change with her long-awaited policy commissions, ahead of a make-or-break party conference in October, but can she turn it around? Is there a road back to power for the 121 surviving Tory MPs? And what exactly is Robert Jenrick and the rest of the shadow cabinet up to?Join editor Michael Gove, new political editor Tim Shipman, assistant editor Isabel Hardman and the pollster Luke Tryl as they discuss where the Tories go from here.This event is in partnership with Charles Stanley Wealth Managers.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

Lots to discuss today, between Diane Abbott being suspended (again) and Labour handing the vote to 16-year-olds just before we head into recess.Abbott's suspension comes after she was accused of ‘doubling down' on previous claims that Jewish people experience racism differently from black people. She is the latest Labour troublemaker to be left out in the cold, with seven MPs punished this week for voting against the government – four of them suspended from the party. Is Starmer confusing toughness with strength? And will Abbott's suspension stick this time?Elsewhere, 16-year-olds have been given the vote. Those in favour point to the political maturity of young people in the country and welcome this as a move towards fairness and encouraging responsibility, while detractors are crying gerrymandering and a raw attempt to swing the political arithmetic in the governing party's favour. But will it actually matter? Polling suggests that very few 16–17-year-olds will actually vote – and that many of them prefer the insurgent parties. So who stands to win, and who stands to lose from the very modest youth-vote bump?Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and the pollster Luke Tryl.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.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

Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator writer Roger Kimball. They delve into the Epstein claims, the media's handling of the story, Trump's economic agenda, and whether the MAGA movement is holding strong or starting to splinter.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

Keir Starmer has struck again. Compounding his reputation as a ruthless operator – like Michael Corleone – he is settling all family business by removing the whip from a number of troublemaking MPs, including Neil Duncan Jordan, Chris Hinchcliff, Brian Leishman and Rachel Maskell. This comes after each led respective revolts on winter fuel, planning reform, Grangemouth and the welfare changes. Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin have all lost their trade envoy roles too.Many of the MPs who have been cast adrift are from the new intake, and so today we are joined on the podcast by Mike Tapp, MP for Dover and Deal, to give his reflections on a year in office. On the podcast: he offers James Heale his advice on stopping the boats; details how Labour can start to deliver tangible change for people in constituencies much like his own; explains why Keir was right to suspend his fellow MPs; and gives us an insight into the future Labour stars from the new intake.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.We are hosting a Coffee House Shots live tomorrow (15th July) at The Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. Join Tim Shipman, Michael Gove and Isabel Hardman to debate: Are the Tories toast? Click here for tickets.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Last night, Rachel Reeves was the headline act at the Mansion House dinner. In her speech, she made the case that ‘Britain is open for business' and that we must ‘stay competitive in the global economy'. Critics would say it is hard to claim to be open for business while having also overseen a £25 billion national insurance tax raid that is now known to be costing thousands of jobs.She began by stressing that, despite what recent reporting might suggest, she is ‘okay' – the economic indicators, however, suggest that the economy is far from okay. Just this morning, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that inflation hit 3.6 per cent in the year to June – well above the 2 per cent target.On this special edition of Coffee House Shots, James Heale and Michael Simmons are joined by shadow chancellor Mel Stride, who offers his prescription for Britain's ailing economy. He outlines how he would have conducted the speech at Mansion House, how he will spend the recess with business leaders of all descriptions in 'listening mode', and why – when it comes to the big institutions such as the OBR, the Treasury and the Bank of England – he ‘isn't ruling anything out'.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.We are hosting a Coffee House Shots live tomorrow (15th July) at The Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. Join Tim Shipman, Michael Gove and Isabel Hardman to debate: Are the Tories toast? Click here for tickets.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

In this episode of the TICKED OFF TUESDAY, Jared reads through a fresh batch of hilarious and relatable listener complaints, from 4th of July traffic rage to the chaos of eight baristas being trained at once. Jared shares stories from his holiday weekend in Delray Beach and uses humor to unpack the mental toll of everyday annoyances. One listener vents about getting their window seat stolen on a flight by a smug stranger, while another details the absurd emissions "quest" they've been forced into with their plug-in hybrid BMW. There's also a debate on basic courtesy, like whether a wave of thanks in gridlock is really too much to ask. Jared keeps things light, funny, and therapeutic, turning collective gripes into laughs and moments of clarity. If you've ever felt alone in your petty frustrations, this episode will remind you that you are not alone.Support the show and get 10% off your Hero Bread order. Use code JTRAIN at https://www.herobread.co

It can now be revealed that a Ministry of Defence data leak has cost the UK some £7 billion and put thousands of Afghans at risk of death. A dataset containing the details of nearly 19,000 people who applied to move to the UK following the Taliban takeover was released in error by a British defence official in February 2022. Ministers were informed of the debacle in August 2023; since then, an unprecedented super-injunction has been in place to stop the press from reporting details. What does this mean for successive governments?Also on the podcast, Donald Trump gave a surprise interview to the BBC overnight in which he changed his position on Nato and on Ukraine – this comes after the President threw the full weight of America's military supplies behind Ukraine and warned Putin of 100 per cent tariffs if he doesn't end the war in 50 days. What he hasn't changed his tune on is Keir Starmer, whom he gushed is a ‘liberal' doing his best to navigate a ‘sloppy' Brexit. Can the Trump–Starmer love-in continue?Natasha Feroze speaks to James Heale and Freddy Gray.Produced by Natasha Feroze and Oscar Edmondson.We are hosting a Coffee House Shots live tomorrow (15th July) at The Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. Join Tim Shipman, Michael Gove and Isabel Hardman to debate: Are the Tories toast? Click here for tickets.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk