Best of the Spectator

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Keir’s reformation. A week on from Labour’s victory in the UK general election, our cover piece looks ahead to the urgent issues facing Keir Starmer. If he acts fast, he can take advantage of having both a large majority and a unified party. The NHS, prisons, planning… the list goes on. But what challenges could he face and how should he manage his party? The Spectator’s political editor Katy Balls joins the podcast, alongside Lord Falconer, Labour peer and former cabinet minister under Tony Blair (2:53). Next: have smartphones revolutionised home working for women? Our very own Lara Prendergast writes in the magazine this week about the eclectic ways women are taking advantage of digital technology to make a living at home. What’s driving this trend? The Spectator columnist and ad guru Rory Sutherland joins the podcast (26:08). And finally: why did the Conservatives struggle so much with their digital messaging? The Spectator’s Mary Wakefield writes in the magazine this week about the emails and messages she was inundated with during the election, saying that at times they had ‘serial killer energy’. Political communicator Sean Topham, co-founder of the creative ad agency Topham Guerin, joins the podcast to try and make sense of the Tories campaign. (37:40).  Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.  Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this week's Book Club podcast is Michael Nott, author of the new biography Thom Gunn: A Cool Queer Life. He tells me about the poet's early trauma, his transatlantic identity, his unconventional family and his compartmentalised life, part teaching and writing, part sex, drugs and rock and roll.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU and US are turning up the pressure on Chinese made electric cars, as Cindy Yu discussed with her guest Finbarr Bermingham on the last episode. This episode is a closer look at how China has come to dominate the global electric car market. Chinese EVs make up 60 per cent of worldwide sales, and a third of global exports. Its leading brand, BYD, now regularly gives Tesla a run for its money in terms of number of cars sold. How much of a role do subsidies play, versus other factors like its control of rare earths or lower labour costs? Is there really an overcapacity issue that suggests a flooding of Chinese cars globally?On this episode, Cindy is joined by Zeyi Yang, China tech reporter at MIT Technology Review, who is an expert on the genealogy of China’s EV industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elbridge Colby, a former national security adviser to the Trump administration, argues that U.S. support for Ukraine is hampering America's focus on the rising threat from China over Taiwan. He believes Europe can manage its own security and urges a strategic pivot towards Asia. The conversation dives into the complexities of international alliances, military readiness, and the need for realistic defense strategies. Colby also discusses how shifting perceptions of Trump's foreign policy may reshape America's global stance in the upcoming years.

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: after President Biden’s debate disaster, Freddy Gray profiles the one woman who could persuade him to step down, his wife Jill (1:05); Angus Colwell reports from Israel, where escalation of war seems a very real possibility (9:02); Matthew Parris attempts to reappraise the past 14 years of Conservative government (14:16); Flora Watkins reveals the reasons why canned gin and tonics are so popular (21:24); and, Rory Sutherland asks who could possibly make a better Bond villain than Elon Musk? (25:00).  Presented by Patrick Gibbons.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.