Coffee House Shots

The Spectator

4.4 (2K)
DAILY NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

Instant political analysis from the Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Katy Balls, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Cindy Yu and many others.

1 DAY AGO

Was Zelensky ambushed at the White House?

Zelensky's much anticipated meeting at the White House finished in an angry clash between the Ukrainian President, JD Vance and Donald Trump. The Vice President accused Zelensky of leading 'propaganda tours' and culminated in the Ukrainian President leaving the White House without a signed minerals deal. Was Zelensky ambushed? European leaders quickly scrambled to show their solidarity for Ukraine, whilst attempting to maintain good relations with America. How high are the stakes for Starmer ahead of the peace summit held by No.10 on Sunday?

18 min
1 DAY AGO

Coffee House Shots Live with Robert Jenrick and Jonathan Ashworth

The Spectator’s Katy Balls, Michael Gove and Kate Andrews were joined by special guests Robert Jenrick and Jonathan Ashworth for a live podcast, recorded at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. The main topic of discussion is, of course, Donald Trump, whose inauguration has ushered in a new world disorder. His ‘shock and awe’ foreign policy has sent Europe scrambling as it tries to work out who will be responsible for ensuring its security in the future. We have seen a move away from the idealism that has defined foreign policy in the last decade and towards ‘realism’, with countries committing to boots on the ground and greater defence spending. Are Labour right to increase their defence pledge? Is Kemi Badenoch being energetic enough in holding the government to account – not just on its foreign policy, but on its record in government so far? And – closer to home – how worried are the Tories about the rise of Reform? This discussion was originally recorded on Wednesday 26 February.

1h 10m
2 DAYS AGO

How Starmer won over the Donald

Unbelievably, Keir Starmer arrives back from Washington today after a successful meeting with Donald Trump. In fact, it’s hard to see how it could have gone much better. Top of the list of victories: it looks like some headway was made in avoiding tariffs on the UK and, on Ukraine, the pair discussed the prime minister’s call for a security backstop for any deal. Starmer described that part of the talks as ‘productive’ and said that a ‘deal has to come first’. There will also be a second state visit for the President. The greatest victory however is winning personal and effusive praise from the President. The Spectator’s sister magazine in the US was the first to get Trump’s reaction. The president told editor-at-large Ben Domenech: ‘I thought he was very good. I met him twice before – you know, he came to see me twice before – but this time was the best. And I think we got along very well.’ How did he do it? Is this the start of a new bromance? Katy Balls discusses with Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

14 min
3 DAYS AGO

Can Starmer charm Trump?

Keir Starmer is in D.C. for what will probably be one of the most important bilateral meetings of his premiership. The goal is to charm Trump and secure some guarantees for Ukraine's security after a negotiated peace in the war. Can he succeed? Cindy Yu talks to James Heale and Peter Quentin, Rusi Associate Fellow and former policy adviser to Ben Wallace. Produced by Cindy Yu.

12 min
3 DAYS AGO

Why is Kemi struggling at PMQs?

For the second week in a row, the leader of the opposition seemed to struggle at Prime Minister's Questions, ending up accusing Keir Starmer of being 'patronising' after having a couple of her questions rebuffed. Cindy Yu talks to James Heale and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Cindy Yu.

12 min
5 DAYS AGO

Is Kemi Badenoch a 'realist'?

Kemi Badenoch has today given a major speech outlining the Conservatives’ commitment to ‘realism’ in their foreign policy. She said, ‘You cannot help others if you cannot help yourself’, and that the sovereignty and strength of Britain matters 'above all'. She also pressed Keir Starmer to push defence spending north of the 2.5 per cent target and – as if it was all choreographed – the prime minister dutifully has, announcing in the Commons that defence spending will reach 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the next parliament. This will come at the expense of the foreign aid budget, another suggestion that the leader of the opposition made in her speech today. What is realism? Is it right to forgo our commitment to overseas aid? Also on the podcast, we got the news yesterday that MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for 10 weeks after punching a man in his constituency last year. His constituency, Runcorn and Helsby, could be an interesting by-election – could it be a Reform gain? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Katy Balls and Michael Gove. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

15 min
5 DAYS AGO

Ukraine war, three years on

Today marks three years since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. From early fears of a swift Russian victory to the Kharkiv offensive and the slow war of attrition that has played out since, each stage of this war has been hard to predict. None more so than this stage, with the USA drastically changing tack and tearing up the transatlantic alliance by pursuing back-channel peace talks with Putin. Europe has been left scrambling. Where do we go from here? And with an isolationist USA, the breakdown of the European consensus on Ukraine and the UK's armed forces being hollowed out, who is left to defend Europe? James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

13 min
6 DAYS AGO

Cindy Yu's Sunday Roundup - 23/02/2025

Cindy Yu presents highlights from Sunday morning’s political shows. After an extraordinary week of anti-Zelenskyy attacks by Trump, the UK government is standing firmly behind Ukraine, with Starmer announcing new sanctions against Russia. Education Secretary stops short of criticising Trump though, saying she welcomes the US bringing Russia to the table. Meanwhile, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge and Estonia Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna urge Labour to ramp up defence spending past the new aim of 2.5% GDP.

12 min

See All (500)

4.4

out of 5

1,952 Ratings

Interesting and entertaining

16/10/2024

totterdown-res

Can we please have more of Michael Gove doing accents , really brightens my day .
Still fails to ask challenging questions

16 Feb

Hvcfgnj

The tone is veering to the left quite substantially in my observations since Gove took over.
So banal

9 Jan

Yannis04

I have stopped listening this podcast for a while, as it became so banal and generic. I missed the day of Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth, as they provided not just information and commentary, but also counter-arguments often.
Good insider chat

08/12/2024

Senor Flores

Fine journalists with proper contacts. Step forward Katy B and James H both excellent broadcasters with a twinkle in their voice. Sadly, Gove will be all for digital IDs where Fraser was adamantly opposed. Thus it could all go horribly wrong. We shall see.

Instant political analysis from the Spectator's top team of writers, including Michael Gove, Katy Balls, Isabel Hardman, James Heale, Cindy Yu and many others.