Best of the Spectator Spectator Out Loud: Piers Morgan, Melanie McDonagh, Matt Ridley & Rachel Johnson
10 snips
Feb 9, 2026 
Rachel Johnson, journalist and author, shares a cringe-worthy tale from Dame Jilly Cooper's memorial. Matt Ridley, science writer, challenges climate narratives with a take on thriving polar bears. Piers Morgan, broadcaster and columnist, recounts his hip replacement and an exchange with Donald Trump. Melanie McDonagh reflects on the longevity of electronic correspondence.
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Hip Replacement And Trump Phone Calls
- Piers Morgan recounts breaking his femur and needing a total hip replacement after tripping in a hotel restaurant.
- He describes calls and texts with Donald Trump while recovering, including Trump giving practical step-colour advice and offering to golf together.
Emails Leave Long Shadows
- Melanie McDonagh highlights how Jeffrey Epstein's archived emails reveal that digital messages persist and resurface years later.
- She warns that emails are not ephemeral and can expose private communications decades after being sent.
Polar Bears Thriving Amid Less Ice
- Matt Ridley argues polar bears are thriving in many regions despite declining sea ice, challenging standard climate alarm narratives.
- He notes increased Arctic productivity from less ice can boost seals and bears, creating an 'inconvenient truth' for net-zero advocates.
