Best of the Spectator

Inez Stepman and Daniel McCarthy discuss Trump's abortion strategy, the impact of Christian nationalism on the 2024 election, and the complexities of the abortion debate in America. They explore varying party reactions to anti-abortion laws and the challenges faced by the pro-life movement in a polarized climate.

Laura Farris, MP for Newbury, shares her political journey from journalism to law to politics. She discusses her time working for Hilary Clinton, goals for the next election, and perspectives on the ECHR. Topics include influences from her political family, experiences studying PPE at Oxford, and reflections on the challenges faced by new MPs.

Owen Matthews discusses Ukraine's successful drone offensive strategy targeting Russia, causing tension with the US. Lionel Shriver debates Biden vs. Trump's threat to democracy. David Whitehouse reflects on Voyager 1's cosmic journey and potential alien encounters.

Sarah Elliott, senior advisor at Legatum Institute, discusses Mike Johnson's snub of David Cameron, highlighting the complexities of the US-UK relationship, contrasting views on China between Biden and Cameron, and shifting perceptions of Donald Trump among political elites.

Author Dorian Lynskey discusses apocalyptic themes throughout history, from literature to movies, exploring societal fears and human psyche. He delves into the impact of the atomic bomb on science fiction and the evolution of the last man genre, highlighting the fascination with destruction and the end of the world.

Jacob Heilbrunn discusses Biden's strategy in the Middle East amidst Israeli air strikes and the ongoing Gaza war. They explore the Democrats' approach, potential impact on the 2024 election, challenges in the two-state solution, and Biden's foreign policy decisions. The conversation also touches on abortion as a political strategy, swing state polling analysis, and the intensity of election campaigns in the US.

Analyzing the London mayoral race with insights on candidate strategies. Advocating for babies with Down's syndrome rights. Reporting from Jerusalem on Israel's war. Revealing a surprising commonality with Kim Jong Un.

Labour MP Harriet Harman discusses the potential challenges of achieving a record landslide at the next election for Labour. The podcast also explores topics like parents not worrying about picky eating, human fascination with apocalyptic scenarios, luxury beliefs, family values, and career beginnings.

Annie Jacobsen, investigative reporter and author of 'Nuclear War: A Scenario', discusses the terrifying realities of nuclear warfare. She reveals the swift and intricate processes of nuclear command and control, highlighting the president's six-minute decision window in a crisis. Jacobsen exposes the vulnerabilities in the chain of nuclear command and sheds light on the grim aftermath of a potential nuclear armageddon.

Over the last week the UK has been rocked by allegations that China was responsible for two cyber attacks in recent years – one on the Electoral Commission, where hackers successfully accessed the open register, which has the details of 40 million voters; and a set of attempts to access the emails of a number of China critics within parliament. So what do we know about China’s cyber capabilities? What are its goals? And now that the UK knows about these attacks, what should we be doing?Joining Cindy Yu on the podcast today is Nigel Inkster, senior advisor for cyber security and China at the think tank IISS, formerly director of operations and intelligence at MI6, and author of China’s Cyber Power, a 2016 book on precisely this question.You can also join Cindy Yu at The Spectator's Chinese wine lunch on June 14th. To find out more and buy tickets, visit spectator.co.uk/chinesewine.