x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Coffee House Shots

Daily political analysis from The Spectator"s top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Tim Shipman, Isabel Hardman, James Heale and many others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

news daily news

All Episodes

30:14

Where does Labour's centre of gravity lie?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/30

Patrick Maguire, chief political writer at The Times, sits down with Tim Shipman for a reflection on Labour's odd year so far. From potential leadership challengers, like Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner, to cabinet heavyweights, like Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband – where does power in this Labour government really lie? What does Keir Starmer's interview style and response to the Iran war reveal about him? And what are the implications of the local elections in just over a month – in what could be a

en

15:39

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 29/03/2026

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/29

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.The Iran conflict has reached its second month. Figures from across the political spectrum debate how best to respond to a leap in energy prices.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.ukHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

59:57

LIVE: Should we defund or defend the BBC? | Michael...

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/28

Should we defund – or defend – the BBC?Live from London, theSpectatorhosted a debate on the future of this iconic British institution, compered by associate editor Isabel Hardman. TheSpectator’s chairman – and long-time Beeb-critic – Charles Moore, and theTelegraph’s Allison Pearson went head-to-head with theSpectator’s editor – and former Tory cabinet minister – Michael Gove and the former BBC correspondent – now-podcaster withThe Newsagents– Jon Sopel.Defund: do you agree with Lord Moore that the

en

9:33

Energy crisis: are we in 1973 territory?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/27

The panic has set in around the cabinet table about this energy crisis, and fears of history repeating itself. Tim Shipman writes in the magazine about the comparisons being made to 1973 and the Opec oil shock, with the government preparing for oil prices to reach £150 a barrel. What levers are available to the government to ease the economic fallout and 1970s-style inflation? And why is it that the UK is so uniquely impacted by this crisis?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and Michael

en

19:22

The curious case of Morgan McSweeney's missing phone

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/26

Questions are being asked about Morgan McSweeney's missing phone, which he reported stolen to police last year. What might seem like a minor case of petty theft actually has serious implications for the investigation into Peter Mandelson's appointment. It also raises questions about Keir Starmer's general approach to government. James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and Cleo Watson, former special adviser to Boris Johnson, about the case – and also about how it can hurt public trust in government. Do

en

14:26

To drill or not to drill, that is the question

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/25

In the final Prime Minister's Questions before Easter recess, Kemi Badenoch pushed Keir Starmer to commit to new oil & gas drilling licences. The Conservatives spot an easy win here – cost of living concerns are rising as America's war with Iran continues. Plus, with a burgeoning welfare bill, the trade-offs are even trickier for Labour to resolve. Who should Labour target? Tim Shipman and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to discuss. Come for Tim's impression of the Prime Minister, and stay for

en

14:25

Should we brace for another financial shock?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/24

Britain’s response to the conflict in Iran is dominating Westminster – but is Keir Starmer really keeping the country out of war? After a tense Liaison Committee appearance exposed divisions over defence spending, pressure is also mounting on the government’s economic strategy. With energy prices rising, mortgage products disappearing and fears of inflation returning, how prepared is Labour for the fallout? James Heale speaks to Isabel Hardman and Michael Simmons.Become a Spectator subscriber today

en

22:58

It’s Ed Miliband’s world – and we’re living in it

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/23

Three big stories are on the agenda this morning: the war in Iran has dominated over the weekend, with Trump now failing to conceal his feelings towards Keir Starmer; Ed Miliband is also rising in profile, with those close to the cabinet briefing against him and his influence; and, finally, the Liaison Committee will sit later today, giving select committee chairs the opportunity to grill the Prime Minister. Will Keir Starmer manage to escape this week into a quiet recess?Tim Shipman and James Heale

en

30:30

On the road with Nigel Farage

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/21

This week James Heale and Tim Shipman share a byline to tell the story of Reform since the 2024 election, and where they are going. Nigel Farage reveals he is talking to potential Blue Labour defectors, shifting his leadership style and offering a ‘less is more’ approach on policy. Essex and its resident Tory big beasts – Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Priti Patel – are a major focus. Reform hopes to swallow the Tory vote come the 2029 election – ‘As long as Nigel is ahead of Badenoch,’ an

en

51:37

LIVE: is it time for a Tory-Reform pact?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/20

As Reform chips away at the Tory vote,the Conservatives face a stark choice – join forces with Nigel Farage or fight alone.James Heale, The Spectator’s deputy political editor, will be joined by Conservative peer Daniel Hannan, journalist and politician Paul Goodman, shadow cabinet member Victoria Atkins, and former Brexit secretary David Davis as they lock horns over what a Conservative–Reform pact might look like – and whether it should happen at all.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access

en

48:17

Britain’s decline – and how to reverse it | with John...

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/19

In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, our political editor Tim Shipman is joined by historian, biographer and foreign policy adviser to four different prime ministers, John Bew. In his 7,000-word essay published in the New Statesman last week, John sets out the historical context which has contributed to the malaise and decline of the British state – and hypothesises that we are currently living in the ‘fourth great disruption’ to the political and economic order. He takes Tim through the

en

11:37

Is Angela Rayner staging a coup?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/18

Angela Rayner has entered the chat. Last night she gave a speech to Labour members which many are reading as the soft launch of her leadership bid. She told the room that Labour needs to be more ‘bold’ – echoing Gordon Brown as she called for a more left-wing direction. She took aim specifically at Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms, describing them as ‘un-British’. Is she staging a coup? And is she the viable leader that Labour can rally around?Also today, we had PMQs with lots more difficult

en

16:00

Net Zero vs AI: can Reeves convince Miliband?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/17

The Chancellor will deliver the annual Mais lecture today and is expected to focus on closer alignment with the EU, AI and improving Britain's economic geography ('levelling up' in all but name). While her comments on Europe might gain the most headlines, we're more curious about what she will say over AI – given the current geopolitical context. Given the energy requirements of AI, the Iran crisis has only further exposed the holes in Britain's energy policy – can Rachel Reeves convince Ed Miliband

en

17:53

Is Labour sleepwalking back to the EU?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/16

Two big topics on the agenda today as Keir Starmer has his pitch – again – on the cost of living. He told us towards the start of the year that every minute not spent tackling the cost of living was a minute wasted, so what has he been doing in all that time?Also today, ahead of her Mais Lecture this week, Rachel Reeves has been laying the groundwork for closer ties with the European Union. This does seem like a change of rhetoric from the Chancellor, who is openly suggesting that Brexit was a

en

15:24

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 15/03/2026

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/15

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.As the queue of stationary oil tankers builds up around the Strait of Hormuz, leaders brace for an economic shockwave. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.ukHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

en

22:37

Is the government right to restrict jury trials?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/14

The government's plan to restrict jury trials passed its first parliamentary hurdle this week. It is one measure, amongst many, in a Bill designed to reduce the huge backlog currently facing the Courts. Labour MP Karl Turner and Danny Shaw, a former adviser, join Isabel Hardman to discuss why they have each come to their own, different conclusion about the merits of the Bill. For Danny, it is a pragmatic yet principled measure that will help mitigate an extreme situation. Karl, for his part, is – as

en

14:58

The Mandelson scandal exposes Starmer’s greatest flaw...

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/13

Today we are delighted to be joined by the Sunday Times’ Gabriel Pogrund, whose book – Get In, which details Starmer’s rise to power – is out now in paperback with new revelations on the Peter Mandelson vetting process. It turns out that Keir Starmer did not even speak with his prospective US ambassador before offering him the biggest diplomatic position in Starmer's government. The whole scandal has exposed the prime minister’s startling lack of curiosity and a detachment from important process

en

26:01

How will the Iran war end? | with Shashank Joshi

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/12

In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, Tim Shipman is joined by defence editor at the Economist, Shashank Joshi. Two weeks in to the conflict in Iran, they give the definitive take on where we are at, the range of scenarios that the UK government are preparing for, and – crucially – how it could all end.Produced by Megan McElroy and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator

en

14:20

Starmer should be honest about why he picked Mandelson

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/11

This afternoon we have had the first tranche of documents released by the government relating to the process by which Peter Mandelson was chosen to be US ambassador. Whilst we have got a clearer picture on the big question – how much Starmer and the government knew about Mandelson’s association with Epstein – Labour are not out of the woods. Quotes from Jonathan Powell reveal that the vetting process was rushed and that – he thought – they didn’t dig deep enough. There is also the small matter of

en

9:22

Is the special relationship over?

Coffee House Shots ·

2026/03/10

The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said today will be the most intense day yet of American strikes on Iran. Over the weekend, Donald Trump claimed the war could soon be over – and suggested the US has already effectively won. He also took aim at Keir Starmer, accusing Britain of joining wars America has ‘already won’. Deputy and US editor Freddy Gray joins the podcast to explain what’s really happening in Washington and why he believes the ‘special relationship’ may be over – and not coming

en

3,306 results

Similar Podcasts

iHeartRadio 24/7 News: The Latest

iHeartPodcasts and TTWN

Las Vegas Raiders News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The Daily News Now!

Vancouver News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The Daily News Now!

Manchester News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The Daily News Now!

Open Source News Elements

Element.fm