Best of the Spectator The Edition: Trump’s gilded age, the ‘hell’ of polyamory & is Polanski Britain’s Mamdani?
Nov 7, 2025
Tim Shipman, Political Editor of The Spectator with insights from D.C., analyzes how Trump's re-election strategies could inform British politics, including Keir Starmer's potential strategies for upcoming elections. Mary Wakefield discusses societal pressures in London, highlighting her piece on the aftermath of the Huntingdon train stabbings. The panel also debates the rising trend of polyamory among millennials and compares Zach Polanski to New York's success story, Mamdani, as a figure who could energize leftist politics in Britain.
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Trump's Second Term Seen As Coherent Governance
- Trump’s second term is viewed in Washington as more coherent and effective than his first, impressing both MAGA supporters and establishment figures.
- US observers think Britain could learn from a government that ‘goes big’ and comes with ready legislation and executive action.
Winning Isn't The Same As Governing
- Winning an election and preparing to govern are different skills that many teams neglect during campaigns.
- Tim Shipman argues Labour focused on winning tactics but lacked a ready plan for running government afterward.
Social Media Shapes International Perception
- Social media amplifies local UK problems to international audiences, shaping foreign perceptions of Britain.
- Americans focus intensely on UK issues because platforms make incidents globally visible and ideologically useful.
