Best of the Spectator

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is the author and historian Kathryn Hughes, whose new book Catland tells the story of how we learned to love pusskins. Content warning: contains Kipling, Edward Lear, some stinking carts of offal, and the troubled life and weird art of the extraordinary Louis Wain.

Joel Golby is a journalist who has written for – among others – Vice and the Guardian, where he has a regular column, the watcher, reviewing television. He has since translated his skill for wry observations and self-reflection into the new book Four Stars: A life reviewed which hilariously grapples with our fascination with opinionsOn the podcast Joel tells Lara about his appreciation for square sponge and pink custard, why Mum's roast is always the best roast and where a pint is best enjoyed.

Alan Dershowitz and Freddy Gray discuss Trump's 'hush money' trial, exposing flaws in the American legal system. They delve into the politization of the justice system, Trump's trial strategies, Congress's inefficiency, and Dershowitz's personal challenges in defending Trump.

Guests discuss urgent need for Western support for Ukraine, slow response to Ministry of Defence vandalism, Youth Demand protest tactics, Salman Rushdie's new book, and pay tribute to Michael Tanner in this week's episode.

Dennis B Ross, former advisor under Bush and Clinton, discusses Biden's Middle East policy. Topics include US influence, Iran's aggression, regime change, Russia and China's roles, and the complexities of regional dynamics.

This podcast discusses the dangers of political prosecution, including Trump's trials and the trend in the UK. They also talk about a defecting Labour member running as an independent, and protests by Youth Demand targeting government officials. The episodes highlight the politicized nature of legal actions and the impact on political dynamics.

Author Percival Everett discusses reimagining Huck Finn from the perspective of fugitive slave Jim, highlighting themes of race and resistance. Topics include language in Black resistance, contrasting narrative perspectives, historical recordings of former slaves, exploration of humor in storytelling, and challenging stereotypes in literature.

Former cabinet minister Liz Truss discusses abolishing the OBR and Supreme Court, Trump vs. Biden on Ukraine, and ignoring her husband's leadership bid warning

Historian Jeremiah Jenne, expert in Chinese history, questions if Marco Polo was a 'sexpat' in his travels to China. They discuss Polo's observations at Kublai Khan's court, the impact of his writings on western perceptions of China, and the reliability of European accounts of the country. Exploring myths and stereotypes in travel literature, they shed light on the complexities of cross-cultural observations.

Guests Matthew Parris, Laurie Graham, Rachel Johnson, Laura Gascoigne, and Angus Colwell discuss topics like the Tories, struggles to see a GP, women-only clubs, Caravaggio's last painting, and notes on wild garlic in this entertaining podcast.