Best of the Spectator

So, it’s the end of the year, and we can safely say 2018 hasn’t been any less loopy than its recent predecessors. In this year’s final Spectator Podcast, we’ll be taking a look at some of the major political and cultural events of the year, with a star-studded cast of commentators and experts, and casting a look forward at 2019. We’ll be talking about Labour – it hasn’t had a great year, but is it closer than ever to government? Plus, what have been the divides splitting Europe, and how has Trump settled in to the second year of his tenure? But before all this, a little bit of Brexit.With James Forsyth, Stephen Bush, Rory Stewart, Katy Balls, Paul Mason, Jess Phillips, Douglas Murray, Anne McElvoy, Freddy Gray, Christopher Meyer, and Kate Andrews.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Katy Balls and James Forsyth.Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s books podcast Sam Leith talks to the great trivia expert Mark Mason about his new The Book of Seconds: The Incredible Stories of the Ones Who Didn’t (Quite) Win. Here’s the Christmas present for all the Tory frontbenchers in your life. Who remembers the Christmas number two in the pop charts? Who got silver at the Olympics? Who was the second man to walk on the moon? Mark — my second choice of guest for this week’s podcast — masterfully pulls together the psychological and social implications of not quite cutting the mustard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks passed away last week at the age of 63. A long-term fan, Dominic Green talked to Pete in November this year. They talk about experimenting with punk, performing live, and the power of music. This interview was first released as a podcast on November 27 on Spectator USA's The Green Room podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Katy Balls and James Forsyth.Presented by Fraser Nelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katy Balls talks to Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury, about her shameful Lib Dem past, why she loves cheese, and how The Thick Of It made her life harder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Daniel McCarthy, Editor of Modern Age.Presented by Freddy Gray. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just days to go till the meaningful vote, the government looks set to lose it by a humiliating margin. What next for Theresa May? We ask one of the MPs opposing her deal – former universities minister, Sam Gyimah (00:50). And over on the continent, France buckles down for another weekend of riots from the gilet jaunes – can Macron give them what they want (19:05)? And last, has Britain become a country of show-offs (28:35)?With James Forsyth, Sam Gyimah, Gavin Mortimer, Sophie Pedder, Harry Mount, and Cosmo Landesman.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's books podcast, Sam is speaking to the Pulitzer-prizewinning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin about her new book Leadership: Lessons from the Presidents for Turbulent Times -- in which she describes what Lincoln, two Roosevelts and LBJ had in common, and didn't. Obviously, they talk a bit about that nice Mr Trump -- as well as hearing how Doris had perhaps history's classiest pyjama party at the White House with Hillary Clinton, and how as a young woman she worried at one point that she was going to be #metooed by Lyndon Johnson. Tune in, kids. Doris is remarkable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dominic Green talks to cinema historian Jay Glennie, author of a definitive account of the legendary and still alarming making of Performance, a 1970 release starring Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, and James Fox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.