Americano

The war in Ukraine is only bogging America down, says Elbridge Colby, a former national security advisor to the Trump administration. On this episode of Americano, Colby tells host Freddy Gray why the US should — and likely will — reduce its support to Ukraine and Europe, to focus on the increasing threat China poses…

The dust has settled from a catastrophic TV debate for Joe Biden. What are the possible options going forward? Are things changing behind the scenes? Freddy Gray assesses the situation with Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest. 

Freddy Gray speaks to pollster Patrick Ruffini about the first 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Just how bad was it and can Biden survive his performance? They discuss the reaction to the debate, including a surprising theory going around Republican circles. 

Freddy Gray speaks to academic and Spectator writer Charles Lipson about what to expect from tonight’s presidential debates and whether Trump or Biden’s performance could influence the election. 

Freddy speaks to Jacob Howland, provost and dean of the Intellectual Foundations Program at the University of Austin, about the spread of college protests across American universities in response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. How have campuses become such hotbeds of anti-Israeli sentiment and what has the influence of Marxism been? They also discuss the intersection…

Freddy is joined by Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS and columnist for the Washington Post. They discuss liberalism, the state of America, and identity politics. They also cover Fareed’s new book, Age of Revolutions, which asks one central question: what are the causes of the seismic social disruptions we are going through and…

Kate Andrews speaks to Michael Cannon, the director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, to discuss how the US government prevents medical professionals and entrepreneurs from offering higher-quality, lower-cost care. Michael explains what policies can improve access to healthcare — both in America and Europe.

Freddy Gray speaks to Jeremy Carl, senior fellow at the Claremont Institute. They discuss his book, The Unprotected Class: How Anti-White Racism is Tearing America Apart. They also cover affirmative action and where America goes from here.

Freddy Gray speaks to Haz al-Din, one of the leading theorists of MAGA Communism. They ask, what does the term mean, is it feasible and how would they like to change America? 

Freddy Gray is joined by Alex Castellanos, a Republican strategist who has served as media consultant to seven US presidential campaigns. They discuss Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, his search for a vice president and if there’s any way Joe Biden can tarnish his image. 

Freddy Gray is joined by Christopher Butler who is executive director at Americans for Tax Reform to discuss what Trump’s trade policy might look like in a second term. Should economists be worried about a 10 percent tariff?

Freddy Gray speaks to Ben Smith and Nayeema Raza from the Mixed Signals podcast. They discuss the state of American media, whether the US has any appetite for public service broadcasting and whether America is too cynical about the press.

Professor John Mearsheimer joins Freddy Gray to talk about the powder keg situation in Eastern Europe, why Putin is possibly the least hawkish of possible Russian leaders and why Israel has lost escalation dominance.

Donald Trump has been found guilty of thirty-four counts of falsifying business records. The Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver joins Freddy Gray to respond to the news. Was it a fair trial? What could it mean for the 2024 presidential election? And what are the wider implications for American democracy?

Freddy Gray speaks to author and Spectator contributing editor Jacob Heilbrunn about what another term in office for Donald Trump might mean for America’s foreign policy, its relationship with Israel and the war in Ukraine. How have his views changed since last time? And what will his relationship with Putin be like?

Next week the world may know whether Donald Trump becomes the first US president to receive a criminal conviction. But could this verdict help or hinder him? Tom Lubbock, co-founder of pollsters JL Partners, joins Freddy Gray to discuss. They also analyze the dynamics at play in current polling: why is Trump doing better in…

New York Post writer Miranda Devine joins Freddy Gray to discuss Joe Biden’s unpopularity. Why are Americans increasingly not supporting him? And how have Biden family scandals and rumours affected trust in the president? In a week that Biden gave a commencement speech, they also discuss the recent controversy over NFL kicker Harrison Butker’s speech.…

Matt McDonald, managing editor of the US edition of The Spectator, joins Freddy Gray to discuss whether Biden is losing the swing states, the potential outcome of the Trump-Biden TV debates and who the polls are spelling trouble for. 

Freddy Gray talks to columnist and commentator Guy Benson about who is in the running to be Trump’s VP. Who does Trump want? But more importantly what does the Trump ticket need? Also: Biden/Trump debates appear to have been confirmed. Who will the debates benefit most? And how relevant are they in the digital age?

Freddy Gray talks to writer Curtis Yarvin about how Alexander Hamilton was America’s Napoleon, why Putin is more of a royal than King Charles and why Yarvin admires FDR. Yarvin is voting for Joe Biden at the next election, but not for the reasons you might think. Could Biden 2024 strengthen the case for American isolationism?

Freddy Gray speaks to the journalist Nellie Bowles about her new book: Morning After the Revolution: Dispatches From the Wrong Side of History. As someone who had fit into the progressive umbrella, her book recounts issues that arose when she started to question the nature of the movement itself. Freddy and Nellie discuss the challenges of the progressive-conservative…

Freddy speaks to Norman Ornstein, political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. They discuss the possibility of Donald Trump becoming a dictator, his ongoing court cases and if there’s a double standard in the treatment of Trump versus Biden.

Freddy speaks to Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, military historian and political commentator. They discuss his new book The End of Everything and ask whether the west should be taking note of history in order to avoid annihilation, and where the US is heading. 

Freddy Gray speaks to writer, podcaster and musician Coleman Hughes. His latest book The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America put forward Martin Luther King’s teachings for a colorblind society. On the podcast they discuss Coleman’s recently appearance on The View; whether Coleman thinks Trump is racist and how the Israel-Gaza war exposed the failings of…

Freddy speaks to Angus Hanton, entrepreneur and author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain, and William Clouston, leader of the Social Democratic Party. They discuss the “Special Relationship” between the US and the UK, and ask whether it might be detrimental to British business. 

Freddy speaks to the diplomat and author Dennis B. Ross, who worked under presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He was a special advisor on the Persian Gulf. They discuss the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the flak that Joe Biden has come under for his response. Can the US…

Freddy Gray is joined Alan Dershowitz, American lawyer and author of Get Trump: The Threat to Civil Liberties, Due Process and Our Constitutional Rule of Law. They discuss Trump’s “hush money” trial, what it means for the election and what it tells us about the flaws in the American legal system. 

This week, the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a law from 1864 that bans nearly all abortions in the state. But where do Trump and Biden stand on abortion — and will it be a deciding factor in the 2024 election? Freddy is joined by Inez Stepman, fellow at the Claremont Institute, and Daniel McCarthy, editor of…

Today Freddy is joined by Sarah Elliott, senior advisor for the US-UK special relationship unit at the Legatum Institute. They discuss Lord Cameron’s visit to America this week and the news that speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson snubbed a meeting with the UK foreign secretary. Is the special relationship still special? 

Suspected Israeli air strikes were launched on targets in Syria this week and Israel’s war in Gaza has entered its seventh month. Americano regular Jacob Heilbrunn joins Freddy to discuss what an escalating situation in the Middle East could mean for Joe Biden. What’s the Democrats’ strategy? And how could this impact the 2024 election?

Freddy is joined by evolutionary biologist and host of The DarkHorse Podcast Bret Weinstein. They discuss the Darien Gap, an area of Panama which has become a focal point for America’s migrant crisis. Bret has spent some time investigating the area: what’s going on? 

Freddy speaks to pollster Cliff Young about Biden’s recent gains. Is Florida becoming more of a swing state again? Does Robert F. Kennedy Jr. take more votes away from Biden or Trump? And how much pressure do pollsters feel to get things right?

Freddy Gray speaks to editor-at-large of the Wall Street Journal Gerard Baker about why the media’s wrong reporting of Trump’s “bloodshed” comments have played to his advantage; why America has lost trust in its institutions; and whether voters think the economy was better off under Trump. 

Freddy Gray speaks to political science researcher Richard Hanania about his (relative) optimism regarding the future of America, and how exactly Sydney Sweeney might have “ended wokeness.”

Freddy speaks to Rob Henderson, author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, in which he coins the term “luxury beliefs.” These are certain beliefs held by a section of the elite which confirm and elevate the status of those who hold them. As a consequence, they can cause harm to those…

Freddy Gray talks to political science lecturer Damon Linker about the latest developments in the Biden and Trump campaigns. Why did Biden’s fiery State of the Union Address provide him no uptick in the polls? In what ways does Trump fatigue affect each candidate’s chances? And does Trump’s greater popularity with non-white low propensity voters…

Freddy Gray speaks to Matt McDonald, The Spectator World’s managing editor about the campaign to ban TikTok and who from the Republican Party supports the bill.

Freddy Gray speaks to author Robert Bryce whose recent docuseries Power Politics & The Grid explores the growing vulnerabilities of America’s electric grid. On the podcast they talk about Trump versus Biden energy policy; why Europe needs America’s energy and what environmentalism could look like in 2024. 

Freddy Gray is joined by John R. MacArthur, president and publisher of Harper’s magazine, to discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his candidacy in the presidential election.

For this Super Tuesday discussion, Sarah Elliot, head of the Special Relationship Unit at the Legatum Institute, joins Freddy to chat about the predicted Trump-Biden victory; what Nikki Haley will do next and who could be Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick. 

Freddy talks to political technologist Eric Wilson about the role technology and media will play in the 2024 election. They cover the differences in strategy between the Democrats and the Republicans, why television is still the best medium for reaching voters, and the role of social media influencers. 

In this special episode of Americano, The Spectator‘s UK editor Fraser Nelson explores Trump’s candidacy with political commentator Deroy Murdock, and The Spectator‘s economics editor Kate Andrews.  They debate the influence of his rhetoric on American politics. How important is language? Will his achievements as president be enough to secure his re-election? Does personality Trump…

Freddy Gray speaks to James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at Focal Data, about the state of the polls. They discuss why vaccines have become a polarizing topic for this election; why bookmakers might be underestimating Joe Biden and the importance of the cost of living.

Freddy speaks to Christopher Caldwell, journalist and author of The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties, about the human rights movement. Can America’s influence be considered imperial? Is how we think of human rights outdated? And, what does the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2011 intervention in Libya tell us about the state of…

Freddy speaks to philosopher Slavoj Žižek ahead of what we understand will be Julian Assange’s final court appeal against extradition back to the US. The WikiLeaks founder has been wanted by the US authorities after he leaked tens of thousands of highly sensitive documents. On the podcast they discuss the parallels between Assange and Navalny,…

Freddy Gray speaks to JL Partners Director Scarlett Maguire about the swing states which could decide the 2024 election. 

Freddy is joined by Todd Bensman, fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and author of Overrun: How Joe Biden Unleashed the Greatest Border Crisis in US History. They discuss how to solve what is perhaps the issue of our time, why meaningful reform doesn’t seem to happen on immigration, and the extent of Biden’s physical…

Freddy Gray is joined by pollster and writer Patrick Ruffini. They talk about why the strengthening economy isn’t improving Biden’s numbers, and the other factors that will influence the 2024 election.

Last month Donald Trump was ordered to pay more than $83 million to E. Jean Carroll, the writer who accused him of sexual assault. Freddy speaks to Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver about some of the oddities of this case against the former president. 

Freddy Gray is joined in the office by Mike Baker a former CIA operations officer, CEO of the global intelligence and security firm Portman Square Group and host of the popular news podcast The President’s Daily Brief. 

Freddy Gray sits down with host and producer of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast Galen Druke to discuss whether a Taylor Swift endorsement could sway the general election.

Freddy speaks to Jonathan Askonas, assistant professor of politics at the Catholic University of America about Jon Stewart’s return to TV, and what role, albeit inadvertent, he played in Tucker’s media success.

Freddy Gray is joined in New Hampshire by Ben Domenech, Fox News contributor and editor-at-large of The Spectator World. On the podcast they discuss the pro-Trump establishment of the Republican Party; how the Republican cohort have changed since the Obama election and what issues Trump can identify that appeal to voters. 

For this special Americano podcast, Freddy Gray is in New Hampshire with The Spectator World team, Matt McDonald and Zack Christenson, covering the chilly primaries. Are both Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley’s defeats a foregone conclusion?

Freddy Gray speaks to Republican strategist Luke Thompson about Trump’s landslide Iowa win; how much Trump’s legal proceedings will interfere with his campaign and who could be his deputy.

Freddy Gray speaks to Daniel McCarthy, editor of the conservative review Modern Age, about all things Donald Trump. Do his ongoing trials help or hinder his campaign? Do the Democrats want him to be the Republican candidate or not? And is there a bureaucratic “permanent power” that Trump would overthrow if he succeeds?

Freddy Gray is joined by pollster James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners. They speak about the upcoming Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary and whether Trump’s opponents have any chance of beating him. They also discuss the impact of Trump’s trials, and JL Partners’s viral word cloud which both Biden and Trump have been attempting…

For the first Americano episode of 2024, Freddy Gray is joined by Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, to discuss Claudine Gay’s resignation from Harvard University. On the podcast Freddy and Peter discuss Gay’s accusations of plagiarism; how the row has became wrapped up in racism, and what this means for the…

Freddy Gray speaks to classicist, military historian and author Victor Davis Hanson. In an end of year review, they talk about antisemitism in the US today, the battle between right and left since 2016 and a potential future Trump presidency. 

Freddy Gray speaks to Robert Bryce who is an author and expert on energy, power and politics. On the podcast, Robert talks about the economic implications of Europe’s net zero targets; why we should push for nuclear energy; and shares the human stories behind electricity.

Freddy Gray is reunited with Charles Lipson and Jacob Heilbrunn to debate the impact of Biden’s Middle East policy, and his shaky reputation at home. Is he a Cold War liberal, out of touch with the modern Democratic Party?

Amber Athey and Daniel McCarthy editor of Modern Age Journal and columnist at The Spectator join the Americano podcast to breakdown the long House speaker battle which has finally culminated in Trumpist Mike Johnson getting selected.  

This week Freddy speaks to Dennis Ross, former Middle East coordinator under President Clinton and current professor of the practice of diplomacy at Georgetown University. They discuss Biden’s visit to Israel this week, how his policy towards the Middle East borrows from Trump and Obama, and how we can discern between the public posturing and…

This week Freddy speaks to Andrew Cockburn, Washington editor of Harper’s magazine, about America’s response to the developments in the Middle East. On the podcast they discuss the “Squad” (a section of Democrats who have been making pro-Palestinian noises), how America and Israel’s surveillance system allowed the attack to happen and the importance of the…

Freddy Gray is joined by Charlie Gammell, a historian and former diplomat who was on the Iran desk at the foreign office. On the podcast they discuss the new Iran-US deal where six prisoners have been released on either side and $6 billion sent back to Iran. There has been political backlash with the Republicans…

This week Freddy Gray speaks to politics lecturer and writer Damon Linker about the ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden. With Trump facing his own criminal charges, will stories about potential Biden corruption muddy the waters for voters?

This week Freddy speaks to Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest, about Vivek Ramaswamy. What does he stand for? Could he be the ideal candidate for Trump’s vice president? 

Freddy Gray speaks to Inez Stepman, a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute who was last on Americano to discuss the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. As seen in the November midterms, could this be a winning issue for the Democrats who are gearing up for the general election?

Kate Andrews speaks to Freddy Gray and CEO of Truth Social, Devin Nunes in the week that Donald Trump refused to attend the Republican Fox News debates. Instead, the presidential candidate who is leading in the polls was interviewed by Tucker Carlson on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Only 72 percent of Americans can read to a sixth-grade level. Freddy is joined by Peter W. Wood to talk about how this has happened — and why it is getting worse. What political and cultural factors have diminished the importance of reading and writing in education — and with students already using AI, where…

The US government is apparently hiding a program to capture and reverse-engineer UFOs. At a congressional hearing last month, David Grusch, a former intelligence official who worked with a Pentagon team looking into UFOs, said “non-human” objects had been recovered by the government. Are they finding aliens, or Chinese and Russian drones? What’s behind the…

Freddy Gray sits down with The Spectator’s Washington editor, Amber Athey to discuss the USWNT’s defeat in the World Cup and why some are fed up with their politics.

Freddy is joined this week by Roger Kimball, editor of the New Criterion and Spectator contributing editor and columnist, to talk about the diminishing power of Ron DeSantis. It wasn’t so long ago he looked like a serious challenger that could beat Donald Trump to the Republican nomination. Where did it all go wrong?

Freddy Gray sits down with Jacob Heilbrunn to discuss Donald Trump’s latest indictment over January 6. The former president faces seventy-eight charges which, if found guilty, could mean he faces several years in prison. 

On his recent visit to the UK, Spectator World columnist and Modern Age editor Daniel McCarthy sat down with Freddy to discuss what lessons American Republicans should learn from the doldrums into which the Tory Party has steered itself.

Freddy Gray speaks to Joel Kotkin who is the author of The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class. On the podcast, they discuss the collapse of Silicon Valley. With mass layoffs in the tech sector and a post-pandemic real estate downturn, Kotkin argues the Valley is entering a period of long-term decline…

Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator columnist Douglas Murray who wrote in the UK magazine about Joe Biden’s endless gaffes and the incompetence which Douglas argues has spilled into the rest of the party.

This week Freddy is joined by Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest, and Charles Lipson, professor of political science at the University of Chicago. They discuss Charles’s recent piece in The Spectator’s US edition where he argues that the walls are closing in on old Joe, in relation to the Hunter Biden story. Is the president’s involvement…

Freddy is joined by a great American filmmaker, Oliver Stone, and a great Argentinian filmmaker, Fernando Sulichin. Their new documentary Nuclear Now proposes nuclear energy as the solution to the climate crisis. On the podcast, they address global concerns about adding nuclear to the energy mix, compare the nuclear policy of Presidents Biden and Trump and discuss…