Search

Home > The Spectator Podcast > The Edition: Weimar Britain, the war on science & are you a competitive reader?
Podcast: The Spectator Podcast
Episode:

The Edition: Weimar Britain, the war on science & are you a competitive reader?

Category: News & Politics
Duration: 00:35:42
Publish Date: 2025-09-19 04:00:00
Description:

First: a warning from history

 

Politics moving increasingly from the corridors of power into the streets, economic insecurity exacerbating tensions and the centre of politics failing to hold; these are just some of the echoes from Weimar Germany that the Spectator’s editor Michael Gove sees when looking at present-day Britain. But, he says, ‘there are grounds for hope’ – what are they? Michael joined the podcast to discuss.  

 

Next: why did science succumb to the ‘culture wars’?

 

Biologist and peer Matt Ridley bemoans the ‘cultification of science’, arguing that ‘left-wing ideological nonsense’ ended up permeating through all scientific disciplines. Thinking ‘neutral facts’ were safe, Matt admits he – and colleagues – may have been naïve as one by one different battlefields emerged. Matt joined the podcast to discuss. Has science thrown off the shackles of the ‘culture wars’?


And finally: how many books have you read?


Emily Hill delves into the world of competitive reading this week – the rise of people publicising the books they’ve read, particularly through social media. Emily calls this ‘conspicuous’ and notes it appears to be a trend amongst mainly female influencers. But is this solely performative or – in a world of diminishing attention spans – could the trend be promoting the act of reading? Emily joined the podcast alongside BookTok blogger Lucas Oakeley.


Plus: Mark Mason provides his notes on guided walks. Mark will also be hosting a guided walk for the Spectator, for tickets go to www.spectator.co.uk/events


Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.


Produced by Patrick Gibbons.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Total Play: 0

Some more Podcasts by The Spectator

700+ Episodes
Americano 1K+     100+
500+ Episodes
Coffee House .. 10+     4
200+ Episodes
Holy Smoke 30+     5
500+ Episodes
Spectator Bo .. 7     2
400+ Episodes