The Edition: Labour’s Terminator, Silicon Valley’s ‘Antichrist’ obsession & can charity shops survive?

Sep 26, 2025

Tim Shipman, Political Editor of The Spectator, dives into Labour Party dynamics, discussing Shabana Mahmood’s rising profile as a potential successor to Keir Starmer. He highlights her pragmatic views on migration and swift policy actions as Home Secretary. Meanwhile, Damian Thompson explores Peter Thiel's fascination with Antichrist theories, linking them to modern fears of a liberal elite's influence. The conversation also touches on the struggles of charity shops amid the cost-of-living crisis, revealing how this impacts community support.

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INSIGHT

Mahmood Emerges As Pragmatic Power Player

Shabana Mahmood rose to prominence after being promoted to Home Secretary and is viewed as a pragmatic problem-solver within Labour.
Her readiness to confront the party's left and act decisively gives her potential as a future leader if she succeeds at the Home Office.

INSIGHT

Pragmatism Over Ideology

Mahmood blends a Labour working-class ethos with pragmatic views on immigration and public spending.
Her stance often aligns with public opinion even when it conflicts with her party's left, which strengthens her political position.

ANECDOTE

Swift Reaction To Blocked Deportation

When a deportation to France was blocked, Mahmood immediately summoned officials and rewrote legal advice to challenge the court's modern slavery finding.
Within 48 hours the appeal succeeded, showing she acts quickly and can rally civil servants to get results.

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First: who has the Home Secretary got in her sights?

Political editor Tim Shipman profiles Shabana Mahmood in the Spectator’s cover article this week. Given Keir Starmer’s dismal approval ratings, politicos are consumed by gossip about who could be his heir-apparent – even more so, following Angela Rayner’s defenestration a few weeks ago. Mahmood may not be the most high-profile of the Starmer movement, but she is now talked about alongside Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham as a potential successor to Starmer.

But – it all depends on what she can achieve at the Home Office. So, who does she have in her sights? Tim joined the podcast

Next: why the philosopher king of Silicon Valley is reinventing the ‘Antichrist’ theory

What do Mohammed, Martin Luther, King George III, Adolf Hitler, Henry Kissinger and Bill Gates have in common? They have all been identified as the Antichrist. And now the theory is back, preoccupying the mind of billionaire Peter Thiel, who believes that ‘a globe-trotting liberal elite… are using their billions to manufacture a new world order’.

So why is Thiel, the co-founder of Paypal and Palantir, so obsessed with the Antichrist? Damian Thompson joins the podcast to discuss.

And finally: the cost-of-giving crisis

Rupert Hawksley, the Spectator’s new opinion editor, examines the crisis facing charity shops. Over 50 stores have shut this year with the big four – the British Heart Foundation, Barnado’s, Oxfam and Cancer Research UK – struggling to maintain healthy sales. This isn’t just a crisis for the charities, he argues, but also for the consumers who rely on the shops.

Rupert joined the podcast alongside another charity shop enthusiast, the Spectator’s editor Michael Gove. What’s the most prized charity shop find?

Plus: Henry Jeffreys discusses the horror of wine lists and Angus Colwell reviews a new BBC Sounds podcast on David Bowie, ahead of the ten year anniversary of his death next year.

Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.