Best of the Spectator

When the tennis star Peng Shuai had a row with her former lover, the retired Party cadre Zhang Gaoli, she took to Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, where she had half a million followers. It was in that statement that she accused Zhang of starting their affair with sexual assault.The statement was taken down within minutes, demonstrating the power, speed – and, arguably, the manual nature – of China’s online censors. On this podcast, we’ve previously talked about the nature of journalism in China – but what about social media, that inherently decentralised medium? What role does the digital space play in Chinese lives, how reliable is it as a source of Chinese public opinion, and how do people feel about being monitored and, potentially, censored?On the podcast, Cindy Yu speaks to Manya Koetse, the founder of whatsonweibo.com, which collates and translates the latest trends and topics from the platform into English; as well as Shen Lu, a reporter for Protocol who covers China and tech.With Manya, they muse about what censorship does to a nation's online discussion: the focus turns to policy issues like health and safety standards, or more superficial discussions like pets and travel. Yet during the early days of the pandemic last year, we both witnessed an incredible night where, on Weibo, WeChat, and other platforms, Dr Li Wenliang's death prompted a universal outpouring of grief. Manya tells Cindy that:  ‘Dr Li was a story that was too big to censor... censoring all of those discussions would have actually caused more unrest’.Since the pandemic, the digital sphere has also become more nationalistic: 'The Hong Kong protests definitely was the moment when I saw this new wave of nationalism online, which you’ve always had, but especially the last two years it’s been so clear. Covid-19 has only strengthened the wave that started back then’Cindy also speaks to Shen Lu, who tells her about her experience being censored on Weibo when reporting on China's MeToo movement. Censorship has only become worse in recent years – she says: ' I can no longer tell which friend is which, because we started to self-censor'. More optimistically though, Lu tells Cindy that all the same political conversations among liberal minded young Chinese are still happening – simply offline, these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, we’ll hear from Douglas Murray on the political fate of US vice president Kamala Harris. (00:58)Next, Mary Wakefield on her experience during storm Arwen and subsequent media coverage. (09:39)And finally, Peter Hitchens on his fears regarding the future of the city of Oxford.  (15:58)Produced and presented by Sam HolmesSubscribe to The Spectator today and get a £20 Amazon gift voucher:www.spectator.co.uk/voucher  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell has gripped the world, a woman accused of truly horrendous crimes. But have we as a society thrown out the cardinal rule of innocent until proven guilty? Freddy Gray sits down with her brother Ian Maxwell who believes that her treatment pre-trial has been nothing short of torturous.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Glasgow climate jamboree ended after two weeks, COP26 President Alok Sharma broke down in tears and seemed to apologise for his failure to get countries like China and India on side. But now that the dust has settled from Glasgow's COP26 summit, but how will this one be remembered? There were protestors, no shows from state leaders and new commitments were made whilst backroom wrangling had mixed results.What are the key factors that make these summits a success? Given the mammoth task ahead of the countries that have committed to tacking climate change, is it realistic to expect real change?In this podcast, Cindy Yu is joined by seasoned professionals in climate change and sustainability. Harriet Lamb, CBE and CEO of Ashden which is an organisation that supports and promotes sustainable energy enterprises. Emily Thornberry MP who is shadow attorney general but was Labour's shadow international trade secretary at the time of recording this podcast. Finally, Simone Rossi, who is the CEO of EDF Energy.This podcast is kindly sponsored by EDF Energy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode: Is there any substance to the government’s new drugs agenda?In The Spectator this week Fraser Nelson writes the cover story on the government’s new 10 years drugs plan and finds that while on the surface this seems like a new war on drugs, it might actually have some thoughtful and effective policies buried within it. Fraser is joined on the podcast by Christopher Snowden, the head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs. (00:52)Also this week: Can Islam save Britain’s churches?Britain has for a long time now has been becoming a more and more secular nation. This has meant that many churches that used to have full pews are at risk of turning into luxury flats or another Tesco Express. But in this week’s Spectator, Tanjil Rashid highlights another destiny for these buildings. Conversion into mosques. In the piece, he argues these buildings should continue being a place of faith even if that faith is not Christian. He joins Lara along with Christopher Howse, the author of many a book about religious history and architecture. (13:46)  And finally: Are we witnessing the twilight of the necktie? Lockdowns meant we all got used to working from home, which resulted in a much more casual dress code. It feels very strange to wear a suit around your own house. But Jonathan Miller is worried that this may lead to the end of the necktie, a fashion accessory he believes is an important symbol of traditional masculinity. He joins Lara to expand on that idea along with fashion historian Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell. (25:47)Hosted by Lara PrendergastProduced by Sam HolmesSubscribe to The Spectator today and get a £20 Amazon gift voucher:www.spectator.co.uk/voucher Listen to Lara's food podcast Table Talk:https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/table-talk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam's guest in this week's Book Club podcast is Kevin Birmingham, whose new book The Sinner and The Saint: Dostoevsky, A Crime and its Punishment, tells the extraordinary story of how Dostoevsky came to write Crime and Punishment – and the under-explored story of the real-life murderer whose case inspired it. Physical agony, Siberian exile, vicious state censorship, old-school nihilists – and the astonishing personal resilience of one of Russia's greatest writers... it's all here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Alf Dubs is a politician. He moved to the UK as a child when the Nazis invaded what was then Czechoslovakia, and went on to become an MP, a parliamentary under secretary for Northern Ireland, and a member of the House of Lords. He is a campaigner for refugee rights.On the podcast, he tells Lara and Olivia about his evacuation from Prague, eating langoustine straight from a loch in Northern Ireland, and putting on a 'Stormont stone'.If you enjoyed this episode, then sign up to Olivia's newsletter, The Take Away. You'll get her delicious recipes, and The Spectator's best food and drink writing. Go to spectator.co.uk/oliviapotts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, we’ll hear from Wolfgang Munchau on the political situation in Germany. (00:49)Next, Andrew Watts on his year long battle against a parking ticket. (11:01)And finally, Hannah Tomes on her love of Baileys. (15:33)Produced and presented by Sam HolmesSubscribe to The Spectator today and get a £20 Amazon gift voucher:www.spectator.co.uk/voucher  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bridget Phillipson is the shadow education secretary and MP for Houghton and Sunderland South. On this episode, recorded just before Labour's last reshuffle where Bridget was promoted, she talks to Katy about what it was like to go to Oxford from a humble upbringing, how Labour can win the next election, and why she didn't take career advice from school telling her to be a fence-builder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode: Is the current NHS crisis a bug or a feature?In the Spectator’s cover story this week, our economics editor Kate Andrews writes about the state of the NHS and why even though reform is so clearly needed it's nearly politically impossible to try to do so. She joins the podcast with Isabel Hardman who is currently writing a book on the history of the NHS. (00:53)Also this week: How is the nation feeling about the Omicron variant?The news of the Omicron variant has not only worried the public about what may become of their Christmas plans, but the government has also reacted by bringing in new travel restrictions and mask mandates. Two of our columnists Lionel Shriver and Rod Liddle have both given their views on the latest pandemic precautions in week’s magazine and on the podcast they continue those conversations. (16:25)  And finally: Now it’s December can we open the Baileys?Now it’s December, Christmas celebrations can begin. Our own Hannah Tomes has written about one of her favourite festive delights. Baileys. She joins the podcast along with another Irish cream connoisseur, Lara Prendergast, and the Spectator’s Deputy Editor Freddy Gray who heard we were drinking Baileys and couldn’t resist.  (33:02)Hosted by Lara PrendergastProduced by Sam HolmesSubscribe to The Spectator today and get a £20 Amazon gift voucher:www.spectator.co.uk/voucher Listen to Isabel's podcast on the NHS post Covid, Aftershock:https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcast/The-NHS-edition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.