Cindy Yu

This week, as the Tories continue to lead in the polls, Lara Prendergast speaks to Alastair Campbell about what Remainers can do to turn things around. James Forsyth writes in this issue's cover article that the Remain side's inability to unite may well cost them this election and, if Boris Johnson wins, put the last nail in the coffin for Remain. On the podcast, Alastair Campbell also explains why the People's Vote campaign seems to have imploded in recent weeks. Plus, Venice is holding an independence referendum on December 1 – but will that help with the city’s problems?

The Conservatives like to say that their road to electoral victory is steep and narrow, but has Nigel Farage broadened out that path this week? Plus, is it time to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants? And last, should baby boomers apologise for crimes against young people? Lara Prendergast and Katy Balls talk to James Forsyth, Marcus Roberts, Fraser Nelson, David Goodhart, Cosmo Landesman, and Charlie Nash.

In this volatile election, not much is certain about what will happen. But what you can be sure of is that the Spectator will be releasing one - if not more - Coffee House Shots podcast every day. Last night, the Coffee House Shots team took the podcast on the road - not very far, admittedly - down to the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster for a live recording. Fraser Nelson, Katy Balls, and James Forsyth were joined by Matthew Goodwin, Professor of Politics at the University of Kent and author of National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy. Tune in here to catch up with the discussion; and if you don't already, listen to our daily politics podcast here. On the podcast, Fraser begins with a series of graphs to contextualise how close this election is.

This week, an election has officially been called – so what do the major parties need to do to win? Katy Balls speaks to Stephen Bush and Will Tanner about 'Workington Man' and Labour's electoral strategy. Plus, after America's much-publicised withdrawal from Syria, it looks like Trump is back in, this time to protect valuable oilfields from Isis. Lara Prendergast looks at how pressures back home are shaping up his foreign policy with Sir Christopher Meyer and Sarah Elliott. Sir Christopher tells us about how, of the thousand troops that were withdrawn from northern Syria, 900 of them are back in. And last: does this video give you the shivers? We find out what ASMR is with Mary Wakefield and Dr Giulia Poerio. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?

This week, the government looks close to the finishing line – now all Boris wants for Christmas is an early general election, James Forsyth and Katy Balls write in this week's cover. But will Corbyn let it happen? On the podcast, Katy and James talk to James Mills, former advisor to John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn. Rather hair-raisingly, James Mills tells us that if it were up to him, he wouldn't allow the government to call an election until the spring. Cripes. And as months of grenade attacks blight Swedish neighbourhoods, we get to the bottom of why Sweden doesn’t want to talk about its rise in violent crime.

Boris Johnson wants an election this side of Christmas - the Conservative party is doing well in the polls, he has secured a deal with the EU, and Labour's Brexit message is simply not cutting through, if the polls are anything to go by. But an election is not within his gift. On Monday, MPs will vote again on whether or not to trigger one, but the vital two-thirds majority isn't necessarily there. So why is he trying again? On this evening's Coffee House Shots, James Forsyth explains Boris's cakeism - tonight's announcement means that Boris can be seen to try to get his Brexit deal through the Commons once more, while at the same time potentially paving the way to an early general election.

As Boris Johnson agrees a Brexit deal with the EU, it seems that we really may be leaving the EU on the 31st October. So what does this mean for a general election, and is it imminent? Is the Brexit party still a threat, and would the Tories be able to win over Labour voters? Rod Liddle is not convinced in our cover article this week, and on the podcast Katy Balls speaks to author and journalist Paul Mason, and Theresa May's polling guru at No 10 - James Johnson. On the podcast, they wargame the best scenarios for the two main parties; and James argues that Boris should actually be hoping for the deal not to go through - in order to campaign on a Brexit deal platform. Plus, who are the biggest beneficiaries from the Turkish incursion into Syria?

As the clock ticks down to the European Council, can Boris get a last minute deal with the EU? Until today, this didn't look likely. But the Irish and British governments have gone into the negotiating 'tunnel' - euphemism for a period of intense negotiations with no media scrutiny. But what could the two sides compromise on? In this week's podcast, James Forsyth and Peter Foster discuss the limitations of Boris Johnson's Brexit offer with Katy Balls. Plus, is Extinction Rebellion just the latest iteration of millenarianism? That's what Toby Young argues in his column this week. On the podcast, Toby challenges Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Will Skeaping. And last, what’s the right way to shoot a pheasant?

As the debate about violent language in Westminster rumbles on, have MPs accidentally stumbled on to something? In this week’s episode, we take a look at what’s happened to civilised debate with people you disagree with (00:45). Plus, could Boris Johnson request an extension and still win a general election (17:00)? And last, is recycling all it’s made out to be (31:25)?