Best of the Spectator

The podcast delves into Taylor Swift's huge fanbase in China, with dedicated fans flying to Singapore to see her and breaking box office records. The discussion covers the popularity of Western music in China, challenges faced by Western artists, the influence of K-pop, and the obstacles Chinese artists face in going global. They also mention viral videos featuring Western pop music in China.

Kate Andrews analyzes J.D. Vance's MAGA stance, Adam Frank discusses super-Earths for alien life, David Hempleman-Adams recounts his balloon voyage, Svitlana Morenets reports on Kharkiv's battle, and Michael Beloff dives into Olympics history.

Ambassador Eduard Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, shares wisdom on Twitter etiquette and living a good life based on Habsburg history. Emphasizes kindness, forgiveness, family values, and spreading positivity online to combat negativity. Offers advice on navigating social media and relationships with humor and grace.

This podcast discusses the unwavering support for Donald Trump following an assassination attempt, his lead in battleground states, and speculation about a second term. It also explores the mega MAGA fans in Wisconsin, favourite magazine pieces, and the rise of techno-optimism in society.

Acclaimed poet Roger McGough discusses revisiting his old work and making it new, his not-so-serious outlook on the future of Poetry Please, and a narrow miss on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. He reflects on themes in his over 65-year poetic career, the evolution of his poems, working with musicians, and the importance of humor in poetry.

Journalist Christopher Caldwell and Freddy Gray discuss JD Vance's shift to Trumpian politics, exploring his background, Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump's strategic choice. They analyze Vance's appeal, connection to populism, and potential impact on Ohio's political landscape. The conversation also covers Trump's attempt at unifying, RFK Junior's potential endorsement, and Vance's views on trade and tax cuts.

Writer Roger Kimball and Freddy Gray discuss the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, analyzing his behavior and the concept of projection in anti-Trump sentiment. They critique news networks and the Secret Service, highlighting concerns about security lapses. They also explore potential Vice Presidential picks and evaluate Biden and Trump's strengths and weaknesses.

Former US President Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt while speaking at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania. Freddy Gray speaks to The Spectator's economics editor Kate Andrews about what we know so far, and where the Presidential campaign goes from here. 

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale analyses the state of the Conservative leadership race (1:09); Svitlana Morenets reports from the site of the Kyiv children’s hospital bombed this week (5:56); Philip Hensher examines the ‘Cool Queer Life’ of Thom Gunn (12:13); Francis Beckett reviews ‘The Assault on the State’ arguing in favour of bureaucracy (21:20); and, Rupert Christiansen reveals why he has fallen out of love with Wagner (27:05).  Presented by Patrick Gibbons.  

The Spectator’s Freddy Gray sits down with author and professor of politics Eric Kaufmann. They discuss the dangers of DEI, why Eric blames the bleeding heart liberals for the woke contagion and why it is possible much worst than originally thought.You can also watch this episode on SpectatorTV.