Best of the Spectator

This week, the government commits to a green target of net zero emissions by 2050 – but how costly will meeting it be (00:25)? And stateside, with the Mueller Report showing the extent of Trump’s meddling, should Democrats try to impeach him (11:30)? And last, are modern fathers taken for granted (22:25)?With Lord Peter Lilley, Sam Richards, John Rick MacArthur, Karin Robinson, Cosmo Landesman, and Anna Machin.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thangarajah.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s books podcast promises to be a trip. Sam is joined by Mike Jay to talk about the history of mescaline — a psychedelic drug whose influence goes from the earliest South American civilisations through the 19th-century Indian Wars up to W B Yeats, Aleister Crowley and (of course) Aldous Huxley and Hunter S Thompson. Does tripping balls tell us anything profound about human consciousness? How come Mexico got all the good drugs? And why did Aldous Huxley lie about his trousers?Presented by Sam Leith.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 of Spectator Books here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK has committed to its biggest defence project in a generation: the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet. The government says the project, dubbed Team Tempest, will secure Britain’s status as a leading military power after Brexit. It also says the jet will make use of space-ace technologies - ­including x-ray vision for pilots - to provide one of the most powerful defence capabilities on earth. But with the Ministry of Defence already strapped for cash, is the project feasible? And what about the security landscape? Just who are these fighter jets intended to deter?In this Podcast Special, Fraser Nelson spoke to Sir Roger Carr, chairman of BAE Systems, the company which intends to develop the jet and who are sponsoring the podcast; Vice-Marshal Simon Rochelle, the chief of staff capability for the Royal Air Force; and Douglas Barrie, an independent analyst with the defence think tank IISS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

With Robert Jenrick, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Katy Balls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s obvious that we need to take action to slow down climate change, but given such a daunting task – it’s only saving the entire world... – where does one even start? The Climate Change Committee might have some of the answers. It reckons Britain can get to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. So what needs to be done? In the Spectator’s latest policy podcast, Fraser Nelson gets to the bottom of these questions with Chris Stark, chief exec at the CCC, Laura Sandys, former Tory MP and Co-chair of the IPPR Environment and Justice Commission, and Jo Coleman, Energy Transitions Manager at Shell.Sponsored by Shell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the unfinished business that Theresa May leaves for the next prime minister (00:30)? Plus, why everyone is fascist or Nazi these days (10:55)? And last, who was Alma Mahler, the woman who entranced some of the most creative men in 20th century Europe (23:45)?With Alex Morton, Hugh Pym, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Jonathan Lis, and Cate Haste.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thangarajah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The starting gun has been fired on the Tory leadership contest. With a live audience in London, Fraser Nelson interviews one of the frontrunners: Michael Gove.What is his plan to deliver Brexit? Can he defeat Jeremy Corbyn – and Nigel Farage? And will he bring the party behind him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s books podcast we're talking about why the Father of English Poetry, Geoffrey Chaucer, at least half belongs in a French, Latin and Italian tradition. Marion Turner’s magnificently scholarly Chaucer: A European Life sets the great writer in his own times — one of a hinge between feudal and early modern ideas about selfhood, authorship and originality; and one in which our man travelled widely and with profit across the Europe of his day, learning from poets from France and Hainaut, from Dante and Boccaccio, and even possibly from the painter Giotto. Plus, she tells how the man we often think of as a merry, roly-poly little character on the road to Canterbury first enters the record as an adolescent fashion-plate in something that looked suspiciously like a miniskirt…Presented by Sam Leith.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 of Spectator Books here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Sarah Elliott, the Chair of Republicans Overseas.Presented by Freddy Gray.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.