Best of the Spectator

With Spectator USA's Paul Wood.Americano is a series of in-depth discussions on American politics with the best pundits stateside. Presented by Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA. Click here to listen to previous episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last few years, climate change has risen to the top of the agenda for consumers, voters, politicians, and journalists alike. But as well as cutting down emissions and using less plastic, could we also be rethinking the way we use energy at home? Here’s where smart meters come in – a smart meter is a fully digital electric or gas meter, which shows the consumer exactly how much energy they’re using. Proponents say that they can save the environment and save you money; but full rollout was meant to have happened next year – 2020 – a target that, this year, has been delayed for four years. So what exactly is so smart about smart meters, what’s holding them up, and what would a 'smart' world look like? In this podcast, Katy Balls speaks Dhara Vyas, Head of Future Energy Services at Citizens Advice Bureau, Adam John, a reporter at Utility Week, and Robert Cheesewright, Director of Corporate Affairs at Smart Energy GB, the government-backed campaign for national smart meter upgrades.Sponsored by Smart Energy GB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you and your family spend Christmas? In the Christmas issue of the Spectator, broadcaster and author Gyles Brandreth writes about the generations old traditions in his family of playing games and reciting poetry. In this episode of the Edition at Christmas, the Spectator’s Features Editor and resident board games fanatic Will Moore speaks to Gyles and Mark Mason, author of the Importance of Being Trivial, about their favourite Christmas traditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a protest unlike any other that China has seen. Since June, hundreds of thousands – by some estimates millions – of Hong Kongers have protested against the government. What was sparked by opposition to an extradition bill that would allow Hong Kongers to face trial in the mainland, has now turned into a six month long pro-democracy movement. So how significant are these protests, and have they got any closer to their goal? With Professor Kerry Brown and Isabella Steger.Presented by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of the year, Trump was locked in a fight with the Democrats over the funding for his wall, leading to a weeks long government shutdown. As Trump faces impeachment this week, has much changed in 2019?With Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA, and John Rick MacArthur, President of Harpers Magazine.Presented by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of the year, Theresa May had just survived a no confidence motion from her own party, but she was barely clinging on. Cross-party MPs, aided by John Bercow, defeated the government in vote after vote. There was a real chance that Brexit might have been reversed. Things are pretty different now. So what were the main events of 2019?With James Forsyth, Katy Balls, and Jacqui Smith.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Matt Taylor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam talks to the 'demon dog' of American letters, James Ellroy — whose latest book is This Storm. In a wide-ranging and somewhat NSFW conversation, they talk about misquoting Auden, why Ellroy hates Orson Welles, how he maps out the byzantine plots of his novels, why as a recovering addict he fills his books with pill-poppers and juice heads, why he thinks he's the best crime writer living — and what his dad’s '20-inch wang' had to do with Rita Hayworth.The Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Young is a food writer and chef, whose cookbooks take recipe inspiration from literary classics, recreating favourite dishes of Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, and more. She runs a catering company with Olivia Potts and, on the podcast, tells all about an Australian's idea of Britain, why she left the theatre to go into cooking, and, from personal experience, which dishes only work in fiction.Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Isabel Hardman and James Forsyth.Presented by Katy Balls.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, politics becomes a little less volatile as Boris Johnson achieves the biggest Tory majority since Margaret Thatcher. So what happened in this election, and what next (00:50)? Plus, China has interned over a million Uyghur Muslims in so-called ‘re-education’ camps – what is going on in Xinjiang (17:55)? And last, what are the rewards of mudlarking (31:25)?With Fraser Nelson, Steve Richards, Harald Maass, Rachel Harris and Lara Maiklem.Presented by Cindy Yu and Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.