All Episodes — Best of the Spectator

Trump vs Iran: what comes after the end of the deal?

We discuss Donald Trump’s latest foray into foreign policy (1:01) – in taking the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. Is it worthy of a Nobel peace prize, or the act of a maniac?We also talk about the young Londoners who regularly take cocaine, despite the drug’s violent supply chain (13:20), and ask, are emojis ruining children’s abilities to communicate (22:04)?With Christopher de Bellaigue, Dr Roham Alvandi, Alastair Thomas, Dr Adam Winstock, Lara Prendergast, and Professor Vyv Evans.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

May 9, 201832 min

Podcast Special: The really dark side of Cambridge Analytica

From 2009 to 2010 Sven Hughes worked for SCL group, the parent company of the controversial — now deceased — Cambridge Analytica. In this Spectator Podcast Special, Sven, now the CEO of a company called Verbalisation, talks to Freddy Gray about his work for Nix. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

May 4, 201847 min

Mayday! How trapped is the Prime Minister?

In this week’s episode, we talk about Theresa May’s impossible situation, and ask, how can she get out of this bind created by her friends and enemies? We also discuss the hostile environment policy, and ask, is Ireland going to repeal its Eighth Amendment?With James Forsyth, Chris Wilkins, David Goodhart, Ash Sakar, Melanie McDonagh, and Una Mullally.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

May 2, 201834 min

The New Arrival: Meghan and the Monarchy

Is Meghan Markle good news for the Establishment, and what do we make of her anyway? We also discuss the potential for Tory rebellion on the customs union, and ask, does economic research back up higher government spending?With Jan Moir, Sophia Money-Coutts, Ken Clarke, Tim Shipman, Liam Halligan, and Michael Jacobs.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Apr 25, 201832 min

The Wrong Brexit: what happened to global Britain?

Why is Theresa May pulling up the drawbridge to Britain, exactly when she should be advertising Britain’s openness in a post-Brexit world? We also discuss why charities are working to shut down schools in Africa, and hear from Quentin Letts on his experience of being pursued by the Establishment.With Fraser Nelson, Joey Jones, James Tooley, Sylvain Aubry, and Quentin Letts. Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Apr 18, 201831 min

War Games: will airstrikes on Syria work?

How do we know Assad did it, and will counterstrikes work? We also look at the impact of drill music on young people and rising crime in London, and ask, is Beyonce's feminism better than the Spice Girls'?With Paul Wood, James Forsyth, Harriet Sergeant, Jermaine Lawlor, Cosmo Landesman, Ayesha Hazarika, and a special guest.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Apr 11, 201835 min

Red London: Is socialism taking the capital?

Just how badly will the Tories do in the upcoming local elections, and why do people love Sadiq Khan? We also talk about the end of Macron's political honeymoon, and follow the trail of a new Grand Tour.With Will Heaven, Andrew Gilligan, Pippa Crerar, Gavin Mortimer, Luke Baker, Harry Mount, and Laura FreemanPresented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Apr 4, 201833 min

How to Rig an Election: the Democracy Delusion

With Nic Cheeseman, Brian Klaas, Dan Hitchens, Rupert Shortt, Alastair Thomas, and Michael Segalov.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Mar 28, 201838 min

Overdosed: Can pills heal our mental health?

With Angela Patmore, Simon Wessely, James Ball, Jamie Bartlett, and Aidan Hartley.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Mar 21, 201833 min

Putin's Toxic Power: What can be done about the Russian leader?

With Owen Matthews, Tom Tugendhat, Radek Sikorski, Laura Hughes, Katy Balls, Charlie Campbell and James Forsyth.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Mar 14, 201832 min

Prince Charming: Is Mohammad Bin Salman too good to be true?

With Christopher de Bellaigue, Sherard Cowper-Coles, Paul Mason, Andrew Adonis, Damian Reilly and Tom Peck.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Mar 7, 201839 min

Me! Me! #MeToo! Has Hollywood hijacked feminism?

With Helen O’Hara and Joanna Williams, Katy Balls and James Forsyth, Paul Wood and Johnny Mercer. Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Feb 28, 201833 min

Germany's Nightmare: Is Angela Merkel facing a democratic crisis?

With Thomas Kielinger, Anne McElvoy, Sam Leith, Steven Pinker, and Roger Alton.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Feb 21, 201828 min

Bad Charity: Does aid do more harm than good?

With Deborah Doane, Jonathan Foreman, Munira Mirza, Shaun Bailey, Freddy Gray and Henry Jeffreys.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Feb 14, 201836 min

The Crash We Need: Is this the end of the easy-money era?

With Liam Halligan, George Magnus, Matthew Parris, James Forsyth, Polly Morgan and Mary Wakefield.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Feb 7, 201828 min

Lead or go: What choice does Theresa May have?

With James Forsyth, Giles Kenningham, Simon Ings, Sanbot, Cosmo Landesman and David Brockway.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jan 31, 201830 min

The Fight for Europe: Is it East vs West?

With Sean Hanley, John O'Sullivan, Mikolaj Kunicki, James Forsyth, Katy Balls, Marcus Berkmann and Mark Mason.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jan 24, 201833 min

The Truth About Plastic: Are the alternatives worse?

With Fraser Nelson, Jonathan Bartley, James Forsyth, Louis Coffait, Harry Mount and Damian Thompson.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jan 17, 201832 min

The Digital Inquisition: Are we facing trials by Twitter?

With Brendan O'Neill, Dawn Foster, Owen Matthews, Roger Alton and Mary Wakefield.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jan 10, 201833 min

Iran's Uprising: Is this a rebellion the world wants to ignore?

With Douglas Murray, Nazenin Ansari, Nigel Jones, Sam Leith, Mark Mason and Freddy Gray.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jan 3, 201827 min

Christmas Special: 2017 In Review

With Tim Shipman, Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls, James Forsyth, Stephen Bush, Jonathan Fenby, Freddy Gray and Douglas Murray.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Dec 19, 20171h 18m

Divided We Fall: Can we resist the Brexit strain?

With Robert Tombs, James Forsyth, Christian Wolmar, Rory Sutherland, Mary Killen and Freddy Gray.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Dec 13, 201733 min

Carry On Brexit: Is the long haul just beginning?

With James Forsyth, Yanis Varoufakis, Mark Forsyth, Sam Leith, Harry Mount and Sophia Money-Coutts.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Dec 6, 201730 min

For Richer, Not Poorer: Is marriage becoming an elite institution?

With Frank Young, Rosie Wilby, James Forsyth, Fraser Nelson, Peter Hitchens and Christian Wolmar.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Nov 29, 201733 min

Merkel's Crack-up: Is Europe on thin ice?

With James Forsyth, Thomas Kielinger, Fraser Nelson, Sylvi Listhaug, Tom Ball and Graham Kirby.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Nov 22, 201729 min

Corbyn 2.0: Have Labour mastered social media?

With Robert Peston, Joe Todd, Jamie Bartlett, James Forsyth, Torsten Bell, and Jeffrey Archer.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Nov 15, 201736 min

Desert Storm: Are Saudi Arabia and Israel uniting against Iran?

With Vali Nasr, Jane Kinninmont, James Forsyth, Fraser Nelson, Iain Hollingshead and Eleanor Shaw.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Nov 8, 201731 min

The Sexual Reformation: Are there new rules of engagement?

With Douglas Murray, Katy Balls, Paul Wood, Freddy Gray, Jenny Coad and Stephen BayleyPresented by Lara Prendergast <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Nov 1, 201728 min

Save the Children: Are protective parents destroying a generation?

With Rod Liddle, Lenore Skenazy, James Forsyth, Anne McElvoy, Jonathan Maitland and Phil Harding.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Oct 25, 201731 min

All Hail Papa Xi: Does China have a new personality cult?

With Cindy Yu, Jonathan Fenby, Kerry Brown, Damian Thompson, Elisa Segrave and Sophia Money-Coutts.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Oct 18, 201730 min

Tech vs Trump: Is this the great struggle of our time?

With Niall Ferguson, Freddy Gray, James Forsyth, Iain Dale, Claire Fox and Sam Leith.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Oct 11, 201733 min

Fear and Loathing: How do we respond to the latest American tragedy?

With Lionel Shriver, Rod Liddle, Daniel Hannan, Mark Mason and Andrew Hunter Murray.Presented by Freddy Gray. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Oct 4, 201730 min

Corbyn's Big Chance: Could Tory paralysis prove fatal?

With James Forsyth, Isabel Hardman, Harriet Sergeant, Andy Elvin, Henry Jeffreys and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Sep 27, 201728 min

Brexit Wars: The new Tory battle line

With James Forsyth, Henry Newman, Owen Matthews, Kim Sengupta, and Henry Blofeld.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Sep 20, 201730 min

Playing the Race Card: Is this Theresa May's cynical new strategy?

With Munira Mirza, Richard Garside, James Forsyth, Richard Angell, Damian Reilly and Sean Ingle.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Sep 13, 201736 min

Fat Britannia: How should we solve the obesity crisis?

With Toby Young, William Cook, Henry Newman, Freddy Gray, Christopher Snowdon, Professor Graham MacGregor and Professor Francesco Rubino.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Sep 6, 201735 min

Can you forgive her? Theresa May's fate

With Isabel Hardman, Fraser Nelson, Camilla Swift, Jim Barrington, Laura Freeman and Thomas Marks.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Aug 30, 201725 min

Campus Tyranny: Have the students become the masters?

With Brendan O'Neill, Justine Canady, Madeleine Kearns, Mary Kissel, Andrew Bacevich, Freddy Gray, Brigid Keenan and Shrabani Basu.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Aug 23, 201733 min

The Real Modern Slavery: Is there a 'sex worker' myth?

With Julie Bindel, Rachel Moran, Katy Balls, Paul Goodman, Tibor Fischer and Jake Hurfurt.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Aug 16, 201729 min

Fire and Fury: Could this war of words turn ugly?

With Jacob Heilbrunn, Freddy Gray, Jonathan Fenby, Tom Holland, Gareth Browne and Mark Mason.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Aug 9, 201727 min

Riot Chic: How violent protest became fashionable

With Cosmo Landesman, Tom Gash, Ross Clark, Isabel Hardman, Roger Alton and Carrie Dunn.Presented by Katy Balls. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Aug 2, 201732 min

Macron's Vanity Fair: Is the French President serving up reheated Blairism?

With Gavin Mortimer, Marie Le Conte, Ed West, James Forsyth, Lloyd Evans and Matt Forde.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jul 26, 201735 min

Madness in the Med: Is there a migrant taxi service from Libya to Italy?

With George Graham, Douglas Murray, Will Heaven, Tom Slater, and Julie Burchill.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jul 19, 201729 min

Get Boris! Is there a Tory plot against the Foreign Secretary?

With James Forsyth, Harry Mount, Paul Wood, Freddy Gray and Simon Barnes.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jul 12, 201730 min

The Myth of British Decline: Is the end really nigh?

With Professor Robert Tombs, Fraser Nelson, Jenny McCartney, Siobhan Fenton, Liz Brewer and Cosmo Landesman.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jul 5, 201731 min

The Corbyn Delusion: How Britain was gripped by a modern mania

With Hugo Rifkind, Ellie Mae O'Hagan, James Fergusson, Pragna Patel, Sam Leith, John McEntee, and Professor Richard Bateman.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jun 28, 201740 min

The Dying of the Right: Why are Conservatives giving up on conservatism?

With Fraser Nelson, Michael Heseltine, Danny Kruger, Dawn Foster, Lara Prendergast and Nick Hilton.Presented by Isabel Hardman. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jun 21, 201740 min

Rebooting the Maybot: The Tories' new mission

With James Forsyth, Andrew Rawnsley, Matt Zarb-Cousin, James Bloodworth, Damian Thompson, and Evgeny Kissin.Presented by Freddy Gray. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jun 14, 201737 min

The Jihadi Next Door: What are the origins of Islamist terror?

With Tom Holland, Christopher de Bellaigue, James Forsyth, Polly Toynbee and Laura Freeman.Presented by Freddy Gray. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Jun 7, 201735 min

General Shambles: Why no one is a winner in this election

On Theresa May's stuttering campaign, Jeremy Corbyn's prospective premiership, and the dying art of handwriting.With James Forsyth, Tim Shipman, Nick Cohen, Katy Balls, David Butterfield and Simon Jenkins.Presented by Lara Prendergast. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

May 31, 201734 min