Best of the Spectator

We often complain that our politicians are all bluffers who know very little about a lot. But is the very structure of our political institutions at fault? And is the bluffocracy taking over the civil service, too (00:50)? Speaking of bluffers, Theresa May is fudging her way through the Brexit negotiations, but can she survive after March 2019 (18:40)? And last, maybe all this politics has made you long for the good old days of monarchy. With Prince Charles’s art collection on exhibit, we ask, what can be gleaned about our future king from his paintings (27:10)?With James Ball, Andrew Greenway, Ayesha Hazarika, Katy Balls, Will Tanner, Ned Donovan, and Roya Nikkhah.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are young men becoming too self-conscious of their body image? We discuss the trend to diet and use food replacement powders in a bid to become superhuman (00:35). We also talk about the Crocodile’s election victory in Zimbabwe – is British foreign policy in Africa too negligent (10:20)? And last, how are pale rosés driving dark rosés into extinction (25:45)? With Lara Prendergast, Tom Reader, Xan Smiley, Alex Vines, Rupert Wright, and Sophia Money-Coutts.Presented by Katy Balls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, China agreed to consider a trade deal with Britain post-Brexit, but does a closer relationship with China expose Britain to its expansionist ambitions (00:35)? We also hear from two experts on what exactly a no-deal Britain would look like (16:45); and last, why are Britain’s great Catholic schools facing extinction (26:45)?With Michael Auslin, Kerry Brown, David Collins, Charles Grant, Will Heaven, and Damian Thompson.Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s safe to say that Brexit negotiations haven’t gone smoothly. The Tories are down in the latest polls, but Ukip is up. Are we witnessing the beginning of Ukip’s return (00:35)? Meanwhile, Australians are stuck between a rock and a hard place as China and America continue to bicker (18:30); and Cosmo Landesman complains about modern parenting (30:20).With Matthew Goodwin, Joe Twyman, Tom Switzer, Merriden Varrall, Cosmo Landesman, and Henry Jeffreys.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, Trump met Putin. But beneath the outcry against Trump’s press conference, a peace plan for Syria was slipped out. Is America withdrawing its troops and leaving Assad in place (00:35)? We also ask – should we push back the March 2019 deadline for Brexit negotiations (13:00)? And last, why is communism still chic (23:50)?With Ambassador Robert Ford, Owen Matthews, Matthew Parris, Gisela Stuart, Kate Andrews, and Aaron Bastani.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Brexit just going in circles? With the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson, the only progress the negotiations seem to be making is – backwards (00:35). We also ask – are pit bulls really murderous dogs from hell (18:55)? And last, what does it mean to be English (29:50)?With James Forsyth, Paul Goodman, John Springford, Julia Lewis, Mary Wakefield, Harry Mount, and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy birthday to the Spectator. This week, we’re celebrating our 190th birthday. Lara takes a look back over the Spectator’s long life with three editors (24:35). But before that, it’s the podcast as usual. This week, we’re asking - do anti-Trump protests achieve anything other than virtue signalling (00:37)? And are driverless cars on a road to nowhere (14:30)?With Freddy Gray, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Christian Wolmar, Tom Tugendhat, Fraser Nelson, Charles Moore, and Dominic Lawson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Connor O’Hara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As anti-migrant sentiment sweeps across Europe, is the continent turning against Angela Merkel for her open-door policy, and is this the end of the Merkel project (1:40)? Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced his new mission – to establish a sixth branch of the US military, the Space Force. Is this such a bad idea (14:20)? And last, while it may be greedy and corrupt, should Fifa be celebrated for making the World Cup truly global (25:40)?With Fredrik Erixon, Stefan Kornelius, Christopher Buckley, Jacqueline Klimas, Tim Wigmore, and Freddy Gray.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent days, Lionel Shriver has been in trouble. Her criticism of the publishing industry’s diversity drive has led to her marked as a racist and even dropped from a literary judging panel. She argued that ethnic quotas harm rather than help diversity - is she wrong (1:40)? As Robert Mueller’s investigation continues, several dodgy links to Britain have surfaced that could bring down Trump (19:15). And last, in the age of MeToo, is sex becoming sexier (28:50)?With Lionel Shriver, Coleman Hughes, Ash Sarkar, Paul Wood, Freddy Gray, Cosmo Landesman, and Katie Glass.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Conor O'Hara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last few days, world order seems to have been turned on its head as Trump antagonised his western allies at the G7 Summit, and then shook the hand of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. We ask, how will Trump treat his allies in the July Nato summit (1:35)? We also talk to Peter Hitchens and Paul Mason about Marxism in the modern day – are there any left in Britain (12:55)? And last, what is it like to be homeless in London (27:40)?With Judy Dempsey, Doug Bandow, Peter Hitchens, Paul Mason, Solomon Smith, and Dom Williamson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.