Best of the Spectator cover image

Best of the Spectator

Spectator Out Loud: Catherine Lafferty, Michael Simmons, Paul Wood, Philip Hensher, Isabel Hardman and Damian Thompson

Jan 12, 2025
Paul Wood discusses the alarming resurgence of ISIS and the US's strange partnership with the Taliban in combating this threat. Philip Hensher reviews a new biography of the Brothers Grimm, emphasizing how words can wield immense power and shape cultures. Damian Thompson shares his unconventional way of handling election anxiety—watching videos of plane crashes to distract himself from the chaos. Together, these guests paint a vivid picture of contemporary challenges and cultural reflections.
38:57

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Catherine Lafferty argues that the strategy to lower teenage pregnancies inadvertently dismantled vital protections against sexual exploitation for young girls.
  • The podcast illustrates how Gen Z's engagement with darts and online platforms like Twitch is reshaping the traditional sports culture, promoting a more socially aware environment.

Deep dives

The Impact of Teenage Pregnancy Policies

The discussion centers on how initiatives aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies in the UK inadvertently dismantled crucial protective measures for young girls against sexual exploitation. The introduction of the Fraser guidelines in 1985 normalized underage sex under the pretense of empowering young women while minimizing risks of pregnancy. This led to a culture where signs of abuse among minors were overlooked, as it was mistakenly considered that consensual relations were harmless if pregnancy was avoided. Reports from serious case reviews highlight that the approach taken to decrease teenage pregnancy rates contributed to an environment where male predation went unchallenged.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode