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 Gray is joined by James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners, on why the midterms are looking increasingly grim for the Republicans. Trump’s approval is trending down, the war is dragging on it, and James expects differential turnout to hand the Democrats the House, possibly with more than 230 seats. Freddy and James discuss why
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Andrew Cockburn, Washington editor of Harper’s magazine, to discuss the state of the US Navy as the USS George Washington arrives in the Arabian Sea to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose crew have sent home photographs of blocked lavatories, rotting rations and sailors who have lost a stone or more.
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, for a tour around the houses of Trumpworld. Karoline Leavitt has resigned as White House press secretary, officially to spend more time with her young family, and Washington is busy deciding whether to believe it. Freddy
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Americano
Freddy speaks to physicist and Spectator contributor Steve Hsu about the uncomfortable realities of modern warfare. Why are cheap missiles and drones so difficult and expensive to intercept? Freddy asks Steve about just how depleted America’s missile stocks are, and if the West can rebuild its defense industry quickly enough. They also discuss China’s dominance
Play 25 mins
Americano
The left-wing insurgent Abdul El-Sayed is slightly ahead of the establishment-backed congresswoman, Haley Stevens, with more than 90 percent of the votes counted in the Michigan primaries. Freddy speaks to Alex Castellanos who has written a piece for The Spectator explaining why the DSA’s success could be a triumph for Trump, how they reflect a
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Americano
Gus Carter is joined by Peachy Keenan to talk about the end of Hollywood as we know it. They discuss how the traditional Hollywood business model is faltering, overtaken by the rise of streaming giants. They also highlight how these platforms, initially seen as the new frontier for film, are now grappling with their own
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Americano
Gus Carter is joined by Geoffrey Cain to speak about the ongoing developments in Chinese AI, and how it stacks up to its American rivals. Gus and Geoffrey talk about the emergence of Kimi K3, and how Chinese models will become inherently more competitive to global audiences, not just those the United States. They also
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Americano
As Gianni Infantino pursues a new future for FIFA, Matt McDonald is joined by Vanity Fair senior editor Jack Holmes to discuss whether the FIFA President is turning into Donald Trump. Just weeks after the end of a highly controversial World Cup, Infantino plans to shake up the foundations of global football (or soccer, if
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Americano
Freddy Gray is joined by Ben Judah, a former Labour Special Advisor to discuss the new government’s outlook on foreign affairs. Freddy and Ben examine how Andy Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary will shape the way Britain builds on its special relationship with the United States and the Trump White House. They
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Americano
Freddy Gray is joined by David Weigel to discuss the Democratic primary battle taking place in Michigan between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens. Freddy and David examine how the contest has become a proxy for the wider battle over the Democratic Party’s future, pitting the Obama-era moderates against the ascendant progressive left. They discuss how
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Americano
On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham died suddenly having just return from a trip to Ukraine. It is believed he suffered from a sudden heart problem. Spectator contributor Daniel McCarthy reflects on Graham’s political career which was heavily involved in foreign policy, his relationship with Trump and sense of humor, plus how Lindsey Graham represented the
Play 30 mins
Americano
Both Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe have been in the America, telling the political elite all about Britain’s demise. Freddy is joined by the Times of London’s Washington editor Katy Balls to discuss how the right-wing insurgence in British politics translates to an American, the difference between how the online right, versus a typical Republican,
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Americano
As the NATO summit in Ankara draws to a close today, it wouldn’t be a Donald Trump summit without a few shocks. The ceasefire between the US and Iran has collapsed, and Trump has branded the Iranians “scum.” But what does this mean for NATO and the rest of the world? Freddy and Owen Matthews
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Americano
To mark the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, Anthony Scaramucci joins The Spectator to provide his assessment of the health of the nation. As we approach the halfway point of the second Trump presidency, what’s his impact been on America’s reputation? Will the Democrats’ attempts to emulate Trump help or hinder them?
Play 37 mins
Americano
Gavin Newsom has spent the last two years building a national profile for himself beyond his controversial governorship of California. But does he have what it takes for a presidential run in 2028, something that would take him far outside the left-wing political bubble of the Golden State? Freddy speaks to Christopher Rufo, author of
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Americano
After success in the New York Democratic primaries for far-left candidates, President Trump says “the game is on. Enjoy Watching.” Freddy speaks to Spectator columnist, Roger Kimball, about how Trump plans to deal with the radical left, the lawlessness of New York under Zohran Mamdani and how artificial intelligence is changing politics. Learn how to
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Ken Silva, author of The Trump Assassination Plots and editor of Headline USA. They discuss the mysteries around Trump’s assassins, how they came so close to killing him, and whether or not it was an inside job. Learn how to earn yield on gold, paid in gold, at Monetary-Metals.com/Americano
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Americano
Vice President J.D. Vance is returning from the Swiss Alps having concluded the opening phase of the Iran talks with a view to achieving a peace deal. Are critics right to claim that the whole war has been a humiliation for America? Freddy speaks to Stanford professor Victor Davis Hanson about MAGA foreign policy, the
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Daniel McCarthy, US columnist for The Spectator and the editor of Modern Age: A Conservative Review. They discuss the US-Iran peace deal, whether a lasting peace is possible in the region, and what’s at stake for Iran and leaders in the Persian Gulf.
Play 22 mins
Americano
Farm bankruptcies in the US have risen by 50 percent in the past year. Soybean farmers lost an average of $100 per acre in 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture, while corn growers are set to lose $150 per acre this year. Meanwhile, the national beef herd is at its lowest level since 1950
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Cenk Uygur after he and Hasan Piker were banned from entering Britain. They discuss free speech, debate Cenk’s position on criticizing Israel, Britain’s censorious turn and what the Henry Nowak case reveals about policing and anti-racism.
Play 50 mins
Americano
Freddy Gray is joined by JL Partners pollster James Johnson to discuss the current state of the polls: what recent election results mean, why the Republicans have become a victim of their own immigration success, Trump’s popularity with Latinos and why Kamala Harris could still be the Democratic nominee in 2028.
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Americano
Freddy is joined by Sarah Beth Spraggins to discuss her piece on Usha Vance, the wife of J.D. Vance who could be in line to be the next first lady.
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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