Best of the Spectator

The Edition: Is Nato ready for war with Russia?

Feb 15, 2024

Max Jeffery, The Spectator’s assistant foreign editor, discusses Nato's readiness to defend against a possible Russian invasion. Lionel Shriver talks about the moral implications of a mother being convicted of manslaughter for her son's school shooting. Travel writer Sean Thomas shares his experiences staying in haunted hotels in Cambodia, joined by Judith Blincow, owner of a haunted hotel in Rye.

37:35

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Episode guests

Max Jeffery

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

NATO's readiness to defend against a possible Russian invasion is a pressing concern highlighted by military drills on the Estonian border.

The criminal charges against parents for their child's school shooting raise questions about parental accountability and moral precedent.

Deep dives

Preparing NATO for a Possible Russian Invasion

The podcast episode discusses NATO's preparations to defend against a future Russian invasion. The cover story centers around a journalist's visit to Estonia, where he witnessed NATO troops rehearsing tactics in the event of a Russian attack. The journalist highlights the challenges faced by soldiers, including outdated equipment and difficult conditions. The episode includes interviews with a historian and a former NATO official who offer their perspectives on the seriousness of the Russian threat and the importance of NATO's preparedness.

Introduction

1min

Military Preparations for Potential Russian Invasion

11min

Male grooming, sunscreen, and growing up in the shadow of a criminal

2min

Reflections on the impact of being the child of a notorious criminal and a clash of egos between Barry Humphreys and John Lennon

2min

Examining Parental Responsibility in the Context of a School Shooting

9min

Haunted Hotels: Eerie Atmospheres and Dark Histories

12min

Welcome to a slightly new format for the Edition podcast! Each week we will be talking about the magazine – as per usual – but trying to give a little more insight into the process behind putting The Spectator to bed each week.

On the podcast: The Spectator’s assistant foreign editor Max Jeffery writes our cover story this week, asking if Nato is ready to defend itself against a possible Russian invasion. Max joined Nato troops as they carried out drills on the Estonian border. Max joins us on the podcast along with historian Mark Galeotti, author of Putin's Wars. (00:55)

Then: Lionel Shriver talks to us about the sad case of Jennifer Crumbley, the mum who's just been convicted of manslaughter – for her son carrying out a school shooting. Does this set a dangerous moral precedent? (16:05)

And finally: would you stay in a haunted hotel? The travel writer Sean Thomas speaks to us from one in Cambodia, having written for the magazine about the places with grisly pasts that he has stayed in over the course of his career. We're also joined by Judith Blincow, owner of the Mermaid Inn in Rye, one of the most haunted hotels in the country. (26:10)

Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

Produced by Cindy Yu.

If there are any areas of the magazine that you are particularly interested in or any questions you have for Will and Lara, please email: podcast@spectator.co.uk. We will try and answer as many as we can in next week’s episode.

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Best of the Spectator

The Edition: Is Nato ready for war with Russia?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Preparing NATO for a Possible Russian Invasion

Criminal Responsibility of Parents for School Shootings

The Haunted Hotel Phenomenon

The Appeal and Preconceptions of Haunted Hotels

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts