Podcast
The next chapter in American politics has begun, but is it going to be any less crazy? The Spectator’s Americano podcast delivers in-depth discussions with the best American pundits to keep you in the loop. Presented by Freddy Gray.
The next chapter in American politics has begun, but is it going to be any less crazy? The Spectator’s Americano podcast delivers in-depth discussions with the best American pundits to keep you in the loop. Presented by Freddy Gray.
Americano
Freddy is joined by Nate Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, to discuss the risks posed to humanity by AI. Warning that sufficiently intelligent AI may stop following human instructions entirely, Soares tells Freddy what, if anything, could keep AI from spiraling out of control.
Play 42 mins
Americano
Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the most vocal Republican critics of Donald Trump lost his fight for re-election in Kentucky to a Trump-backed challenger. Freddy is joined by Spectator contributors Daniel McCarthy and Christopher Caldwell to discuss where Thomas Massie went wrong, how corruption centered around the campaign, whether or not Trump’s success is a
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Americano
After Trump visited Xi Jinping last week, Putin is now expected to meet the Chinese leader in Beijing. Freddy speaks to Francis Pike about these meetings, and Francis makes the case that despite the Iran war, America – thanks to Trump – remains the global superpower. Also on the podcast, they discuss Modi’s attempts to
Play 35 mins
Americano
Freddy speaks to Jacob Heilbrunn about China, Trump and America’s foreign policy.
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Americano
British favorability dropped sharply sometime around 2016 and then further declined in 2024. Trump is clearly the main driver of negative feelings, although not the only one. There was much antipathy in 2020, which may have been related to the election but seems more likely due to the chaotic scenes that followed George Floyd’s death.
Play 35 mins
Americano
Freddy is joined by Josef Palermo, who formerly worked for the Kennedy Center, to discuss the historical building and whether its cultural and ethos has been ruined by the Trump administration.
Play 22 mins
Americano
Freddy is joined by Geoffrey Cain, author of Steve Jobs in Exile, to discuss the significance of China has a global player in international conflict and what could come from Trump’s visit to Beijing next week.
Play 26 mins
Americano
King Charles III and his wife Camilla have been on a state visit to the White House meeting Donald Trump and the First Lady. At a state banquet in the evening, both Charles and Trump gave speeches celebrating the special relationship. The event marked 250 years of American independence. Freddy Gray spoke to the author
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Americano
The alleged gunman from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been named as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. He was arrested at the scene armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. It later emerged the suspect sent a note to family members before the shooting, apologizing to parents, colleagues and bystanders for what he was
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Americano
The Pentagon has become concerned with the British government’s attitudes toward its special forces. Freddy speaks to Richard Williams and David Davis MP about the historical significance of the special forces relationship and how America is now considering withdrawing the invitation to participate in and benefit from this combined military machine.
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Americano
Freddy is in DC and is joined by Daniel McCarthy from the Heritage Foundation to discuss why the Iran war is unpopular in America; the significance of China ahead of Trump’s visit; plus NATO, Europe and “Trumplash.”
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Americano
Donald Trump’s latest clash with the Catholic Church stunned even the most hardened veterans of culture-war X. According to the President of the United States, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV, the conspicuously holy spiritual leader of 1.3 billion people, is “WEAK on crime and terrible on foreign policy.” He also claimed, “If I wasn’t in
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Americano
Freddy speaks to Shadi Hamid, author of the book The Case for American Power, which explores – and puts forward – the case for American power in spite of Donald Trump.
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Americano
Artemis II departed on the most ambitious mission yet, something which has not been tried for 50 years. Four astronauts were launched into the air on a ten-day expedition with the aim of traveling 5,000 miles past the far side of the Moon. Natasha Feroze is joined by David Whitehouse, astroscientist and writer to discuss
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Americano
Freddy Gray is joined by Jacob Heilbrunn, Americano regular and editor of the National Interest. They discuss the Strait of Hormuz, rising energy prices and whether the US can extricate itself from a conflict it may not be able to win – and whether we’re watching the end of Trumpism.
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Americano
Steven Crowder, host of Louder with Crowder, joins Freddy to discuss the warring factions in the podcast world, worsened since Charlie Kirk’s assassination; the global left-wing alliance promoting communism in Cuba, whether Trump was wrong to attack Iran and why the Mark Carney kowtowed to China.
Play 33 mins
Americano
The attack on Iran is so wildly inconsistent with the wishes of Trump’s base that it is likely to mark the end of Trumpism as a project. Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator columnist Christopher Caldwell to discuss Trumpism, J.D. Vance vs Marco Rubio, what’s left of the Republican party after Trump and the competing
Play 31 mins
Americano
King Charles is due to travel to the US on a state visit to see President Trump. Given the turbulence between Keir Starmer and Trump over the war in Iran, some politicians such as Ed Davey have suggested the King should not go. Freddy speaks to royal author and Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman about
Play 22 mins
Americano
Freddy speaks to James D. Boys, author of the new book US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory. He is also a senior research fellow at UCL. They discuss the origins of the madman theory – which applies insights from psychology to understand how your enemies think. James covers it from from Nixon to Trump
Play 30 mins
Americano
Freddy speaks to Roger Kimball, editor of the New Criterion and Spectator writer, about Trump’s SAVE Act – a bill to tackle voter integrity soon to be voted on in the Senate.
Play 30 mins
Americano
President Trump has signaled that the Middle East war could be “over soon” and pledged to lift sanctions after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Freddy is joined by Jacob Heilbrunn and Robert Bryce to discuss why Trump was potentially unprepared for Iran’s retaliation, what could come from the talks with Putin, and why Britain
Play 26 mins
Americano
As the crisis in the Middle East has escalated, Donald Trump’s posturing has led many to question his strategy – and if he even has one. Geoffrey Cain, former foreign correspondent, expert on authoritarian regimes – and the author of this week’s cover piece in The Spectator, joins Freddy to explain why Trump’s ultimate target
Play 30 mins
Americano
Spectator columnist and Heritage Foundation fellow Daniel McCarthy joins Freddy to explain how Trump’s war with Iran could mark the end of an era, that of neoconservatism. For Daniel, there is no contradiction between Trump’s “America First” policy and its overseas interventions: Trump is pursuing a version of hegemony that will reduce the need for
Play 45 mins
Americano
Today NATO forces intercepted an Iranian missile headed for Turkey. While it remains unclear where that missile was intended to land, questions have emerged over whether President Erdoğan can continue his strategy of geopolitical pragmatism. So far the Turkish leader has managed to appeal to China, Russia, Europe and the US. But will he be
Play 34 mins
Americano
Freddy is joined by historian and former diplomat Charlie Gammell. They discuss the situation in Iran, whether the US is heading for a decisive confrontation, and examine the regional consequences: proxy warfare, Gulf energy security, Pakistan’s delicate position, and migration pressures on Europe.
Play 33 mins
Americano
Donald Trump has urged Iranians to “take over” their government after the United States and Israel struck targets across the country. A multitude of Iranian military and government targets were hit by missiles in what is turning out to be a joint operation far more comprehensive than the 12-day air campaign last June. Freddy and
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Americano
Americano
Kellie-Jay Keen joins Americano to discuss the disturbing rise of trans killers. Freddy Gray and Kellie discuss why she doesn’t like to call them “trans,” what role the internet and hormone medication have played in their violent outbreaks, and why the left holds some responsibility for encouraging violence.
Play 20 mins
Americano
Freddy is joined by Tina Brown, former editor of several publications including Vanity Fair, Tatler, the New Yorker, and the founding editor-and-chief of the Daily Beast. She now writes her own Substack FRESH HELL. They discuss the staff massacre which has unfolded at the Washington Post, why Jeff Bezos is wrong to be led by
Play 24 mins
Americano
Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Freddy to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela. Over a month on from the “bold and spectacular raid” and capture of Maduro, Daniel explains the reasons why he has hope in the government of Delcy Rodríguez and the changes that have occurred since – from
Play 24 mins