Freddy Gray

Freddy Gray

Freddy Gray is deputy editor of The Spectator and the editor of the US edition. He hosts Americano on YouTube.

What have Britons got against America?

35 min listen

British favourability 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. To discuss this, Freddy Gray is joined by Ed West, who has written about this for his Substack The Wrong Side of History.

What have Britons got against America?

One year of Pope Leo – a promising start?

37 min listen

One year on from when Pope Leo became head of the Catholic church and he remains a bit of an enigma. Is he a Conservative or Liberal? What did we learn from his clash with Donald Trump? Damian Thompson is joined by editor of The Pillar Ed Condon and two Spectator favourites – Freddy Gray and Mary Wakefield.

One year of Pope Leo – a promising start?

How the Declaration of Independence made America

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 King Charles and Trump gave speeches celebrating the special relationship. The event marked 250 years of American independence. Freddy Gray spoke to the author Michael R. Auslin who wrote the book The Declaration of Independence: History, Meaning and Modern Impact, which explores the Declaration of Independence as a revered relic, a symbol of American ideals, and a manufactured cultural icon in his research.

How the Declaration of Independence Made America

The rise of left-wing violence and why we’re all numb to it

The alleged gunman from the White House Correspondents' Dinner has been named as 31-year-old Cole 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, apologising to parents, colleagues and bystanders for what he was about to do. He wrote 'I apologise to everyone... who suffered before I was able to attempt this, to all who may still suffer after, regardless of my success or failure.' He added that he may have given 'a lot of people a surprise today' and, although he did not name Donald Trump directly in the writings, he did criticise him and mentioned targeting the administration.

The rise of left-wing violence and why we're all numb to it

SAS: how Starmer broke the special forces alliance with America

The Pentagon has become concerned with the British government's attitudes towards its special forces. Freddy Gray 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.

SAS: how Starmer broke the special forces alliance with America

How real is the ‘Trumplash’?

Freddy Gray is in DC and is joined by Dan 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 & 'Trumplash'.

How real is the ‘Trumplash’?

Iran-US: how this could end

From our UK edition

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has just come into effect. Iran’s Foreign Minister says 'in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire'. Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator contributor Charlie Gammell, an expert on Iran, to discuss the negotiations and why they originally broke down plus what a post-conflict Iran could look like.

Iran-US: how this could end

Why has Trump picked a fight with the Pope?

From our UK edition

25 min listen

Donald Trump’s latest clash with the Pope has stunned even the more hardened of America-watchers. According to the President of the United States Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV, the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion people, is 'WEAK on crime and terrible on foreign policy.' He also claimed that, 'If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.' Is the war in Iran the only reason the Pope and the President have clashed? And what does it tell us about religious relations in the US today? In a special podcast collaboration, the host of Holy Smoke Damian Thompson and the host of Americano Freddy Gray discuss the dispute. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze.

Why has Trump picked a fight with the Pope?
Trump vs the Pope: Rowan Williams on America's 'demonic' political climate

Trump vs the Pope: Rowan Williams on America’s ‘demonic’ political climate

From our UK edition

50 min listen

The Pope is 'WEAK on crime and terrible on foreign policy' – this was the verdict of the President of the United States this week, as he appeared to deepen his row with the leader of the Catholic Church. In the magazine this week, Damian Thompson reports on why the President appears to have engaged in his own Holy War with the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics around the world. For this week's Edition, host William Moore is joined by deputy editor Freddy Gray, commissioning editor Lara Brown – and the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Baron Williams, now retired from the Lords, fears there is something 'demonic' in the political culture of the United States right now, as people appear to twist Christian teaching to justify their own causes.

Pope vs Trump: why Trump picked a fight with Pope Leo

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 the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” Spectator associate editor Damian Thompson joins Freddy Gray to discuss the dispute.

Pope vs Trump: why Trump picked a fight with Pope Leo

The case for American power

Freddy Gray 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.

The case for American power

End of America’s empire?

30 min listen

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.

End of America’s empire?

Podcast wars, Cuba & Corbyn – with Steven Crowder

33 min listen

Steven Crowder, host of Louder with Crowder, joins Freddy Gray to discuss the warring factions in the podcast world, worsened since Charlie Kirk's assassination; the global leftwing alliance promoting communism in Cuba, whether Trump was wrong to attack Iran & why Mark Carney kowtowed to China.

Postcast wars, Cuba & Corbyn – with Steven Crowder

How Iran will hasten the end of MAGA

31 min listen

The attack on Iran is so wildly inconsistent with the wishes of his own 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, JD Vance vs Marco Rubio, what's left of the Republican party after Trump, and the competing ambitions of Israel and Iran.

How Iran will hasten the end of MAGA

Why King Charles should still visit Trump

22 min listen

King Charles is due to travel to the US on a state visit to see President Donald Trump. Given the turbulence between Starmer and Trump over the war in Iran, some politicians such as Ed Davey have suggested the King should not go. Freddy Gray speaks to royal author and Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman about the history of controversial state visits, why Donald Trump loves the royal family, and how King Charles navigates his royal duties and subtle influence over leaders.

Why King Charles should still visit Trump

Can anyone beat a madman president?

30 min listen

Freddy Gray 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 and its intellectual home in Boston. They also explore how the madman theory is being applied in the Middle East conflict and how regularly the theory can be misapplied.

Can anyone beat a madman president?