The spiked podcast

Rakib Ehsan, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers discuss Reform’s civil war, the outrageous banning of Calin Georgescu in Romania and Nicola Sturgeon’s toxic legacy. Celebrate 25 years of spiked. Donate £25 or more to get a year’s membership of spiked supporters for half the usual price: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/  Surfshark VPN keeps your internet use private, secure and unrestricted. Use spiked's link to get four months extra of Surfshark: https://surfshark.com/spiked  Take your business to the next level with Shopify. Sign up now and get a £1-per-month trial period: https://shopify.co.uk/spiked

Lionel Shriver, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on Donald Trump’s first six weeks, two-tier justice, asylum insanity and the memory-holing of lockdown. Celebrate 25 years of spiked. Donate £25 or more to get a year’s membership of spiked supporters for half the usual price: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/  Surfshark VPN keeps your internet use private, secure and unrestricted: surfshark.com/spiked 

This is the audio from a video we have just published on our YouTube channel – an interview with Katharine Birbalsingh. To make sure you never miss great content like this, subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spiked  Labour is about to destroy England’s top-performing state schools. That’s the stark warning of Katharine Birbalsingh, head of the Michaela Community School, often dubbed ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’. Here, Birbalsingh recalls her clashes with Bridget Phillipson, the Labour education secretary. She explains why the government’s new schools bill will drive down academic standards, let bad behaviour slip and make it harder for kids to get into a decent state school. She also discusses the dangers of ‘decolonising’ the curriculum and why schools must cultivate a sense of national belonging.  Celebrate 25 years of spiked. Donate £25 or more to get a year’s membership of spiked supporters for half the usual price: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/  Support spiked:   https://www.spiked-online.com/support/  Sign up to spiked’s newsletters: https://www.spiked-online.com/newsletters/  Order Brendan O’Neill’s After the Pogrom now from: 🇬🇧 📕 Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Pogrom-October-Israel-Civilisation/dp/1068719303/  🇺🇸 📕 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/After-Pogrom-October-Israel-Civilisation/dp/1068719303/

Candice Holdsworth, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on the rise of the AfD, TERF Island’s battle with woke America and the petty authoritarianism of Britain’s thoughtpolice. Celebrate 25 years of spiked. Donate £25 or more to get a year’s membership of spiked supporters for half the usual price: https://www.spiked-online.com/donate/  Take your business to the next level with Shopify. Sign up now and get a £1-per-month trial period: https://shopify.co.uk/spiked  Take your personal data back with Incogni. Use code SPIKED at the link below and get 60 per cent off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/spiked

Jacob Reynolds, a contributor from the Academy of Ideas, delves into controversial topics reshaping political discourse. He discusses the alarming rise of blasphemy laws in the UK, examining their effect on free speech. The conversation shifts to the U.S. stance on Ukraine, challenging current sentiments and predictions for future relations. Reynolds also tackles the brutal realities of Hamas and the Western responses that often overlook the gravity of its actions. His insights spark a critical analysis of the fine line between freedom and societal ethics.

Katja Hoyer, a historian and journalist specializing in German history, dives into the rising political tides in Germany. She discusses the significant decline of the Social Democrats amidst mounting support for the populist AfD, fueled by economic struggles and immigration issues. Hoyer highlights the growing class divide and the tension between political elites and citizens, particularly regarding free speech. She also evaluates the shifting landscape of political movements and the frustrations of voters seeking genuine change in a stagnant system.

The podcast dives into the judicial implications of a recent ruling affecting asylum laws and critiques judicial activism's growing role in politics. It raises pressing questions about the assisted dying bill, particularly the shift from judicial oversight to expert panels, and warns of potential ethical dilemmas. A scandal involving leaked messages from a Labour health minister brings attention to the risks of speech policing. The discussion also navigates complex identity issues, including controversial claims about gender and even identifying as animals.

In this discussion, Sabine Beppler-Spahl, Spiked's Germany correspondent, sheds light on a recent Islamist terror attack in Munich that left over 30 injured. She delves into the suspect's troubling journey from illegal immigrant to radicalization. The conversation highlights the growing public insecurity from rising Islamist attacks and critiques the government's focus on far-right threats. Lastly, it explores how these events could influence the upcoming federal elections, potentially boosting support for the populist AfD party as security concerns take center stage.

Ella Whelan, a Spike columnist, and Paul Embery, a trade unionist, dive into the contentious topic of Labour's potential blasphemy laws surrounding Islam. They discuss the implications for free speech and the societal risks of such regulations. The conversation shifts to Labour's declining popularity, linking it to a disconnect from working-class voters, and the rise of the Reform Party. They also tackle Trump's controversial order banning male athletes from women's sports, raising questions about fairness in competition amid changing gender policies.

Jennifer Sey, a former US national-champion gymnast and ex-Levi’s brand president, shares her dramatic fall from corporate grace after speaking out against Covid school closures. She discusses the 'awokening' of corporate America and how cancel culture impacted her life. Sey also introduces her new venture, XX-XY Athletics, highlighting the contentious fight over women’s sports. The conversation critiques corporate hypocrisy and dives into the cultural implications of gender identity legislation, advocating for fairness and safety in athletics.