Best of the Spectator

Elif Shafak, a celebrated novelist and political scientist, shares her insights on the profound connection between food and cultural identity. She discusses how culinary experiences shape personal narratives and reflect heritage, highlighting her Turkish roots and French influences. Elif emphasizes the emotional resonance of food in storytelling and its power to bridge divides, especially in multicultural settings. With a nod to her grandmother's cooking wisdom, she also reveals her love for heavy metal music, adding a surprising twist to her creative journey.

In this engaging conversation, Mark Leonard, Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe, discuss intriguing polling suggesting many Brexit voters might welcome freedom of movement for access to the EU single market. They explore shifting public sentiments towards UK-EU relations and the potential for defense collaboration to enhance ties. With geopolitical tensions rising, they ponder whether a more flexible approach could reshape negotiations and the UK's role in Europe.

A.N. Wilson, a historian and novelist known for his insights on religion and British history, discusses the stark decline of church attendance in the UK and its implications. He questions if Christianity is fated for extinction, comparing it to Platonism. The conversation reveals a historical trajectory towards secularization, examines the effects of changes like female priests, and reflects on past religious fervor in England. Wilson highlights how these trends challenge the future of rural Christianity amidst evolving societal values.

Katy Balls, a political commentator, shares insights on Westminster's wishlists for 2025, highlighting the political landscape's evolving challenges. Satirist Craig Brown delves into irritable moments from his notebook, blending humor with social critique. Author Kate Weinberg touches on the deep emotional bond formed through a father's bedtime stories, revealing her inspiration for writing. Poet Craig Raine reviews T.S. Eliot's prose, discussing its impact on literary criticism and poetic expression, weaving a rich narrative of culture and politics.

Freddy Gray chats with Jacob Heilbrunn, Senior Editor of National Interest, about the political landscape heading into 2024. They dissect why Trump feels like the de facto President and question if a stronger Democratic contender could have challenged him. The duo dives into the potential implications of Trump's future cabinet choices, touching on how they could disrupt established agencies. Heilbrunn also highlights the Republican Party’s internal struggles with economic policies and critiques past protectionist moves while analyzing Trump’s impact on foreign relations.

Join Rod Liddle, Lionel Shriver, Matthew Parris, and Michael Farr as they engage in a lively discussion reflecting on the tumultuous events of 2024. They tackle everything from shifting political landscapes and identity politics to the unique experience of Christmas at sea for Royal Navy submariners. Michael Farr shares his childhood memories of Tintin and its lasting impact on his journalistic journey, while Anthony Horowitz emphasizes the comic’s cultural significance. It's a festive mix of humor, introspection, and sharp commentary!

In this week’s Books podcast, I am joined by the writer Daniel Tammet, whose new book Nine Minds: Inner Lives on the Spectrum is a pen portrait of nine lives of people on the autism spectrum. On the podcast, he tells me how he happened upon these nine lives, whether ‘spectrum’ is a helpful term when understanding autism and Asperger’s syndrome, and how popular culture’s most famous depiction of autism – Dustin Hoffman’s Rain Man – is based on an individual who wasn’t autistic at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the weekend, the rebels from the Syrian opposition claimed Damascus and president Assad had fled to Russia. Keir Starmer has welcomed the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s barbaric regime in Syria and called for civilians to be protested after rebel forces took control of Damascus. Freddy Gray speaks to Michael Weiss, an editor at The Insider, and Owen Matthews, writer and historian. They discuss how this story could develop on the international stage, whether this is the reinvention of the Arab Spring, and what is left of Iran, now that several of its proxies have been destroyed.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demetri Sevastopulo, US-China correspondent for the Financial Times, and Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Stanford expert on the Chinese military, delve into the implications of Xi Jinping's recent military purges. They discuss whether these actions signify a struggle against corruption or preparations for conflict, particularly regarding Taiwan. Additionally, they explore the effectiveness of Xi's military reforms since 2015, comparing China's readiness with Japan's historical military performance, while assessing the overarching geopolitical tensions.

Robert Hardman, a trusted biographer of King Charles III, discusses the monarch's evolving religious beliefs amidst health challenges. The King finds solace in a deepened Christian faith, embracing his title ‘Defender of the Faith’ while exploring Orthodox traditions. In contrast, Prince William's secular views pose questions about his future role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The conversation weaves through themes of spirituality, personal struggles, and the balance of tradition with modern beliefs in the royal family.