Americano

In this episode, US arts editor Luke Lyman is joined by Kate Andrews, formerly of The Spectator, to discuss President Javier Milei’s landslide victory in the Argentinian elections this week. Plus, Luke and Kate discuss who might be the heir to MAGA in 2028: J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio? And what does it say about the state…

In this episode of Americano, Freddy speaks to Tara Reade – the former Senate aide who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault and now lives in Moscow after seeking political asylum. She discusses her allegations, why she left America and how she views the war in Ukraine.

With a Gaza ceasefire deal, President Trump’s attention has turned to ending the war in Ukraine. A meeting with Putin was suggested, before coming to nothing. Owen Matthews joins Freddy to talk about the fundamental differences between Trump and Putin, the limits on Ukraine’s President Zelensky when it comes to negotiation and why the global…

Freddy Gray sits down with academic James Orr at the Battle of Ideas in London for a live Americano podcast to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance. Having been described as “Vance’s British sherpa,” James responds to how likely it is that Vance will be president one day, which weaknesses could hold him back and how…

Was this Donald Trump’s most phenomenal week yet? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss the President’s success in orchestrating a Gaza peace plan, his Mean Girls-style of dealing with world leaders and how to interpret his comments about not being “heaven bound.” They also talk about how Trump might bailout Argentina – but only if…

Following the ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas, Donald Trump arrived triumphantly in Israel and delivered a speech to a rapturous Israeli parliament – some of whom wore red MAGA-style hats adorned with the words “Trump the peace president.” Trump is now in Egypt for further negotiations over securing a long-term peace in Gaza –…

Max Tegmark is an author and professor doing AI and physics research at MIT. He joins Freddy to discuss the moral and spiritual dangers of artificial intelligence, the rise of Silicon Valley’s “tech overlords” and why he believes technology must remain a tool – not a master.

Pete Hegseth has declared war on “fat generals” and DEI in the US army – but why have standards slipped? Chris Caldwell joins Freddy to discuss why the current administration feels so passionately about forcing a “major cultural shift” in the military, plus the legacies of Bill Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and Joe…

Zohran Mamdani is widely expected to win the race to be the next New York City mayor. The contest is now a three-horse race between Mamdani, the Republican candidate Curtis Silwa and Andrew Cuomo, the former Democratic governor. Current Democratic mayor Eric Adams was also running but pulled out this week. David Christopher Kaufman, who…

Freddy speaks to Jacob Heilbrunn, a longstanding friend of Americano to discuss James Comey, violence in Washington and Tucker Carlson’s new series. 

Freddy speaks to The Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons about Trump’s announcement at the Oval Office on Monday night that taking Tylenol, known as acetaminophen paracetamol, “is no good” and that pregnant women should “fight like hell” to only take it in cases of extreme fever. They discuss the data behind the claims, whether the President is…

Donald Trump has arrived in Britain with promises of billions in tech investment. But is this AI boom real growth — or just another bubble? Oren Cass, chief economist at American Compass and editor of The New Conservatives, joins Freddy to discuss whether the Trump administration has been taken over by big tech.

Freddy Gray is joined by Heather Mac Donald, fellow at the Manhattan Institute. They discuss how race and crime grips America, and the epidemic of violence in inner cities.

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from southwest Utah, has been detained over the shooting of Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of Donald Trump. Author and anthropologist Max Horder joins Freddy Gray to discuss the cocktail of online hate and tribal divisions that’s fueling America’s new era of political violence.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot dead while taking questions at Utah Valley University. Kate Andrews speaks to eyewitness and reporter Eva Terry about the chaos on campus, the reaction across America, and what comes next.

In Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, Britain has a double-edged sword: one of the most anglophile US administrations of all time – but a greater awareness of UK domestic politics. From Lucy Connolly to the recent arrest of Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport, there is much chatter in America about free speech in Britain and…

Freddy is joined by Harry Kazianis, editor-in-chief of the National Security Journal, to assess China’s military rise. He argues Beijing aims to dominate the Indo-Pacific with missiles, drones and naval power, posing a growing threat to US influence and Taiwan.

On this episode, Nick Gillespie, Reason’s editor-at-large, joins Freddy to discuss whether Trump 2.0 is really as authoritarian as people say. Is he closer to a gangster than a dictator? They also discuss tariffs, the weaponization of the Justice Department, and the state of free speech in the UK.

Freddy is joined by writer and internet ethnographer Katherine Dee. She’s written about the Minneapolis school shooting and Robin Westman. Two children were killed and 17 others injured by a killer with a bizarre online footprint: a mix of memes, nihilism, politics and gore references. Katherine argues “these shooters are radicalized, but in no particular direction.…

Freddy Gray speaks to Semafor journalist David Weigel about the Democrats’ summer meeting in Minnesota which was cut short following the tragic shooting at a school Wednesday. They discuss what we know about the shooting so far, how the Democrats can reset their stance on law and order and whether they can unify their stance…

Donald Trump has met both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky this week, raising hopes of progress in ending the Ukraine war – but is it really a breakthrough, or a trap? US deputy editor Kate Andrews speaks with associate editor Owen Matthews – author of this week’s cover story Putin’s Trap – and Sergey Radchenko,…

Donald Trump hasn’t left his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska with a deal to end the war in Ukraine. He told reporters that ‘great progress’ was made but ‘we didn’t get there’. To discuss who really got the upper hand, Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator associate editor and Russia correspondent Owen Matthews.

President Donald Trump claims Washington, DC has been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals.” There are lots of stories about crime, including one very bizarre incident involving a sandwich. Just how unsafe is DC? Freddy Gray is joined by US managing editor Matt McDonald and Isaac Schorr, staff writer at Mediaite, who has written…

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are due to meet in Alaska this week. On the table: a discussion on how to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has been pushing hard to end the war. What’s the significance of meeting in Alaska, what are the prospects of the war ending, and what are both sides…

Freddy Gray speaks to podcast host and commentator Candace Owens about her story investigating whether Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte is a man, why she remains firm on her views about Gaza and how Trump is doing in his presidency.

Freddy Gray is joined by US editor at large Ben Domenech. They discuss the return of Russiagate – what’s behind the new inquiry, who could be implicated and what it means for the legacy of the Trump-Russia scandal.

Freddy Gray speaks to Christopher Mondics who is a legal affairs writer about how the left-wing orthodoxy has destroyed Protestantism in America. They discuss the mainline denominations in America, how “wokeness” infiltrated the churches and why, despite some drop off, religion is still so present in America. Read his piece for the August edition of The…

Kate Andrews speaks to Damir Marusic, assignment editor at the Washington Post and co-founder of Wisdom of Crowds. They examine Donald Trump’s surprising foreign policy moves in his second term: his position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, why he’s armed Ukraine despite MAGA frustration, and whether his instincts are reshaping Republican foreign policy for good.

US deputy editor Kate Andrews is joined by author and Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver to assess Donald Trump’s turbulent second term. They discuss the rise of socialism in New York, why fairness is warping immigration policy,and whether Trump’s obsession with lawfare and vengeance is undoing his own presidency.

Freddy Gray is joined by author Ann Coulter in London, to discuss why she backs the rise of Reform UK, how immigration main issue voters care about this election and why she’s supports Trump in his second term. Ann Coulter’s Substack can be found at: anncoulter.substack.com.

Donald Trump promised to release the Epstein Files – so why hasn’t he? Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Kate Andrews to discuss the scandal that won’t go away, what it says about trust in institutions and why even Trump’s most loyal supporters are starting to turn on him.

Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator writer Paul Wood about his piece in the August edition of The Spectator on AI and whether it will soon have rights. This first came about when Paul went to live in Rome and discovered some of the work the Vatican has been doing in AI.

Freddy Gray is joined by US Spectator editor-at-large Ben Domenech. They discuss why Hollywood productions are being drawn away from California to states like Texas, and what this could mean for the future of filmmaking in America. Ben writes about this in the August edition of The Spectator. You can subscribe to the print magazine…

President Trump has said he’s “very, very unhappy” with Russia, and threatened severe tariffs against them if there’s no deal on Ukraine within 50 days. He’s also sending more weapons to Ukraine in coordination with NATO. What’s behind his change of heart on foreign policy, and how’s his MAGA base responding? Freddy is joined by…

The FBI has declared there is no client list linked to Jeffrey Epstein– an announcement that pours cold water on years of speculation about a secret roster of powerful figures tied to his sex trafficking crimes. But what does this mean for Ghislaine Maxwell, who remains behind bars for her role in Epstein’s network? Ian…

In this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks with New York Times writer and debut author Michael Grynbaum about his new book Empire of the Elite, a sweeping history of Condé Nast – the media empire that once dictated American taste, fashion and celebrity. From Anna Wintour’s carefully staged exit to the vanished world of glossy magazine grandeur, Grynbaum charts…

Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, historian, and author of The End of Everything, joins Freddy Gray to discuss Zohran Mamdani’s shock candidacy win, the future of the Democratic party, and rising class tensions in American politics. They also explore third-party prospects, Trump’s economic policies and shifting global dynamics.

Jeff Bezos is getting married in Venice – but not everyone is celebrating. Venetians have staged small protests, accusing the billionaire of symbolizing the city’s takeover by the ultra-rich. But is this anything new? Associate editor Owen Matthews joins Freddy to discuss.

Against all odds, Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblyman and proud “Muslim democratic socialist” won as as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. Aidan McLaughlin wrote about this for The Spectator. On this episode of Americano, Freddy speaks to Aidan about how Mamdani defeated the favorite Andrew Cuomo, whether his success is attributed to TikTok…

Over the weekend, the US conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran is weighing a response, and Trump has raised the possibility of a change in leadership in Iran. To discuss what comes next and why this move seems to counter everything we know about “America First,” Freddy is joined by editor of the National…

Freddy Gray speaks to Kelley Vlahos, a DC-based writer, editor and senior advisor at the Quincy Institute about the developing situation between Israel, Iran and America. The President has warned that despite winning the electorate over on an “America First” mandate, the US armed force may intervene on Iran. Freddy and Kelley discuss who Trump…

Freddy Gray and Daniel McCarthy discuss the LA riots, why they are different to the protests on Capitol Hill and how Trump will respond.

In the July edition of The Spectator, author and anthropologist Max Horder argues the US is experiencing a change in its psyche, and left-wing violence is being normalized. He joins Freddy Gray on the Americano podcast to discuss the various examples attached to this, and what the dereliction of democratic disagreement means for us all.

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have had a very public falling out. Musk, whose time running the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) came to an end last month, publicly criticized Trump’s spending bill (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). The row then erupted onto social media with Trump expressing his disappointment with Musk, Musk…

From the decline of meritocracy to the rise of anti-Western ideology, author Heather Mac Donald joins Freddy Gray to discuss race, merit, and victim hierarchy. Why is the West so desperate to self-cancel? And is now a moment of reckoning considering we’re five years on from the BLM protests?

Freddy Gray speaks to writer and author Karen Hao, whose new book Empire of AI looks at a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI. On the podcast they discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on society and democracy and how OpenAI founder Sam Altman has become a controversial figure. 

Donald Trump exposed South Africa’s leader Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House yesterday over what he referred to as white racism against the farmers in South Africa. Freddy Gray speaks to Errol Musk — father of Elon Musk — from Cape Town about Trump’s confrontation. Errol shares personal experiences of being attacked on a farm,…

Polish émigré Zbigniew Brzezinski – known as “Zbig” – rose to prominence in America during the Cold War as a key intellectual architect of US foreign policy. He was national security advisor to President Carter and was a trusted advisor to many US presidents from John F. Kennedy onwards. Yet, despite helping to shape American…

President Trump is an America Firster, but he has an undeniable affinity for the Arab world. He would have made a good sheikh: he doesn’t drink, he loves developing flashy properties to show off his power and wealth, and he’s brutally realistic about the role of oil (and other commodities) in world politics. On his…

Freddy Gray speaks to Chris Whipple, whose latest book Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History gives an insider’s analysis having spoken to the people closest to both campaigns.

Donald Trump has announced a beautiful new deal with the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the President shared a phone call to congratulate one another. It is the first trade deal agreed after Trump began his second presidential term in January, and after he imposed strict tariffs on countries around the world…

Victor Davis Hanson joins Spectator TV to talk about the first 101 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency, describing it as a bold counterrevolution against decades of cultural, political and economic drift. He discusses Trump’s sweeping agenda – from closing the border and challenging DEI initiatives to confronting foreign policy orthodoxy and trade imbalances –…

Professor John Mearsheimer and Freddy discuss Donald Trump’s foreign policy during his second term, focusing on the Middle East and US relations with Iran. They look at Trump’s instincts versus execution, divisions within the administration, diplomacy with Iran, and the broader geopolitical stakes involving Russia, Israel and China. 

Freddy Gray is joined by US editor-at-large Ben Domenech to discuss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose job appears to be on the line. They explore Hegseth’s outsider status in Washington, his clashes with both hawkish and dovish factions and the growing tensions over US policy on Iran and Israel. 

Freddy Gray speaks to Peter W. Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, about Trump’s decision to block Harvard funding after the university denied the President’s DEI demands. 

Global financial markets are experiencing significant declines following the announcement of new tariffs by President Donald Trump. These tariffs led to widespread panic among investors and sparked debates about their potential impact on the economy.​ In this episode of Americano, host Freddy Gray is joined by Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast, to…

President Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffs, including a 10 percent duty on all UK exports to the United States, as part of his “reciprocal tariffs plan” aimed at addressing trade imbalances and bolstering American manufacturing. This move is expected to impact approximately $75 billion worth of UK exports, with sectors such as automotive…

Freddy is joined by James Fishback – writer, investor and chief executive of investment firm Azoria – on “Liberation Day,” when Donald Trump is set to announce a raft of new tariffs. They discuss the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the market, whether this marks the upending of the neoliberal economic world order – or…

David Holtzman and David Carvalho from Naoris Protocol delve into the recent bankruptcy of 23andMe, a leading genetic testing company. They explore the implications for data security and privacy, discussing how the sale of 23andMe’s vast genetic database raises concerns about the protection of personal information. 

Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Freddy to discuss his recent column on why the JFK conspiracies just won’t die. They also discuss the Moon landing, the emergence of American self-hatred and the return of the post-truth era.

Jeffrey Goldberg’s story in the Atlantic is so mind-blowing it’s hard to know what to say in response. It defies belief that Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, appears to have accidentally added a top journalist to a Signal messaging group with senior government officials – including the Vice President, Secretary of State, Defense…

Kate Andrews and Freddy are in Washington to discuss Trump’s economy, why the Democrats aren’t good opposition and whether the MAGA excitement is still alive.

Russia and Ukraine have launched air attacks on each other, hours after Vladimir Putin told Trump that Russia would stop targeting Ukrainian energy sites. Has Putin outplayed Trump? And will Trump regret bringing Europe’s militaries back to life? Freddy is joined by Americano regular and author Jacob Heilbrunn to discuss.

Is mental health overdiagnosis harming children? Abigail Shrier, author of Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up, joins Freddy on the Americano show to discuss how mental health experts are potentially damaging children. Have our efforts to support our children backfired?

Freddy Gray is joined by Fox News broadcaster Deroy Murdock to discuss Trump’s America. They cover what could be the real reason behind Trump’s tariffs, how concerned Americans should be about a recession, the Ukraine-Russia peace plan and what the Democrats can do to recover from the election defeat. 

Freddy Gray is joined with Michael R. Auslin who is an academic and historian at the Hoover Institution and author of the Substack the Patowmack Packet. They discuss China’s response to Trump’s tariffs, whether China is serious about threats of war and how concerned Trump is about China’s relationship with Russia. 

Donald Trump announced last night he is suspending military aid to Ukraine until Zelensky is “ready for peace.” Following this, Vice President J.D. Vance sparked further international outrage in a Fox News interview referring to Britain as “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in thirty or forty years.” Vance has since come out…

In a wide-ranging conversation at the White House yesterday evening, Donald Trump was in the mood to talk about everything under the Sun — from the speedy success his second administration has had putting fear into the hearts of bureaucrats and Eurocrats, to why he believes there is a path to a balanced budget. He…

Freddy is joined by The Spectator’s deputy US editor, Kate Andrews, and Telegraph columnist, Tim Stanley, to talk about Keir Starmer’s much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Across the board, it has been read as a success — at least domestically, that is. The victories include movement on the Ukraine backstop, some positive discussions around the…

Robert Bryce, an energy expert and author of A Question of Power, discusses the state of global energy, electric vehicles and government policies both in the UK and America. Freddy and Robert look at how government subsidies and mandates have driven automakers toward unprofitable EV production, what is energy humanism and how foreign interference has…

Curtis Yarvin is a political theorist and writer known for his critiques of liberal democracy. Under the pseudonym “Mencius Moldbug” he developed ideas that have influenced the New Right and postliberal political movements. Curtis Yarvin spoke to The Spectator’s Angus Colwell about why Britain is in decline, how far Europe should go to protect itself against Putin,…

Donald Trump attacked the Ukrainian president Wednesday, describing him as a “dictator” and saying he’s done a “terrible job.” This was in response to Zelensky accusing Trump of “living in a disinformation space.” The West has invested a huge amount of capital in the fight against Russia — and failed to secure peace. Is Trump…

Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of think-tank American Compass, sits down with Freddy Gray at the ARC conference in London. They react to the announcement by President Trump over the weekend of reciprocal tariffs: the decision by the US to match import duties levied by other countries.  What’s the strategy behind Trump’s decision? And…

Political commentator, and author of Troubled, Rob Henderson joins Freddy Gray from the ARC conference in London. They discuss the political reaction to the news that Elon Musk has allegedly had his thirteenth child — are there signs of a new, more permissive conservatism? They also discuss Trump’s administration so far — particularly his flurry of…

The fallout continues from Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference. Criticizing Europe over what he sees as the retreat of free speech, he singled out the case of Adam Smith-Connor in the UK as something that worries him about the direction that Britain is heading in. Smith-Connor was arrested in 2022…

Professor John Mearsheimer comes back on the Americano show with Freddy Gray to discuss how seriously we should take Trump’s foreign policy. They cover the president’s plans to rebuild Gaza, why Netanyahu and Trump won’t agree on what to do with Iran and whether Trump can strike a deal with Putin.

Angus Hanton, author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain, joins Freddy Gray to talk about the economic relationship between Britain and America. As the world adjusts to the new US administration, every day seems to bring news of new potential tariffs. Is the UK a prime target for Trump? What could the impact on tariffs…

When Netanyahu visited the White House, Donald Trump said in a press conference that the US could take over the Gaza Strip and suggested the permanent resettlement of its 1.8 million residents to neighboring Arab countries. It has sparked global condemnation raising questions about where the Gaza citizens could be resettled to, and how this…

The Spectator’s economics editor Kate Andrews and Social Democratic Party leader William Clouston join Freddy Gray to try and make sense of Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. He has since threatened the European Union, and has warned the UK. Is this a negotiation tactic or something more? What political…

The first phase of Trump’s presidency has been a whirlwind of news. The president signed a succession of Executive Orders, which overwhelmed and confused the Democratic Party with the amount of “energy in the executive.” But there are signs of life, particularly in opposition to Trump’s attempts to freeze federal grants and loans. What’s going…