The Spectator columnists & writers

Is CPAC now TPAC?

Freddy Gray, Amber Athey and Matt McDonald discuss 2021's Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida, ahead of Donald Trump's appearance tomorrow.

Americano

The American golden child of pandemic politicians seems to have lost his shine. Matt McDonald, the US managing editor of the Spectator, speaks to Janice Dean, a senior meteorologist at Fox News who has been investigating Cuomo, about how the crisis in New York's care homes ruined the Governor's reputation.

Americano

When will Trump concede?

22 min listen

Americano

When will Trump concede?

22 min listen

Joe Biden edges ever closer to the White House, but the Trump campaign has launched a flurry of lawsuits to aim for recounts of the vote in various states. Will he concede? Freddy Gray talks to Amber Athey and Matt McDonald.

Biden wins Wisconsin and Michigan — is his victory imminent?

The 2020 election results have been rolling in. Joe Biden has won California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Washington DC. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming have been called for the President. CNN called Wisconsin for Biden on Wednesday. The Trump campaign is set to demand a recount of the state, citing ‘reports of irregularities in several Wisconsin counties which raise serious doubts about the validity of the results.

Donald Trump tests positive for Covid-19

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for Covid-19. The President and first lady underwent testing after Hope Hicks, one of his top aides, tested positive on Wednesday. Trump has been campaigning across the country this week. He was in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday night for his first debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden and was in Bemidji, Minnesota. He also appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show last night, where he discussed Hicks’s diagnosis. ‘She did test positive, I just heard about this,’ he said. ‘And I just went out with a test, I’ll see — you know, ’cause we spend a lot of time — and the first lady just went out with a test also. ‘So whether we quarantine, or whether we have it, we don’t know.

Americano

Is this the end of American democracy?

21 min listen

Americano

Is this the end of American democracy?

21 min listen

Joe Biden accepted the Democratic Party's nomination at their virtual convention last night, bringing his three-day coronation to an end with a well-received speech. Throughout this year's DNC, speakers have warned that America's political foundations are at stake in the upcoming election - Barack Obama urged voters not to let the Republicans 'take away your democracy'. Is the country on the brink, and what's the verdict on the Democratic convention? Matt McDonald, managing editor of Spectator USA, speaks to Matt Purple, senior editor at the American Conservative.

Americano

Who is the virtual DNC for?

21 min listen

Americano

Who is the virtual DNC for?

21 min listen

The virtual Democratic National Convention kicked off this week with an agenda packed full of the party's most well-known and experienced figures. But with a controversial appearance from Bill Clinton and a barnstorming speech from Michelle Obama, who is the convention really for? Matt McDonald, managing editor of the Spectator USA, speaks to Emily Larsen, political reporter at the Washington Examiner.

Americano

Is Kamala Harris a good VP pick?

18 min listen

Americano

Is Kamala Harris a good VP pick?

18 min listen

Yesterday evening, Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. While the Californian senator is seen by many as a safe pick, she notably came to blows with Biden in the Democratic primaries for his history of working with segregationists. Is this a good move by the Biden campaign? Freddy Gray speaks to Matt McDonald, managing editor of the Spectator USA.

Americano

Life under lockdown in New York

20 min listen

Americano

Life under lockdown in New York

20 min listen

Americano

Life under lockdown in New York

20 min listen

Americano

Life under lockdown in New York

20 min listen

Bye bye Bloomberg

‘I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions,’ Michael Bloomberg said in a statement as he ended his campaign. ‘After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists.’ And like that, he’s gone. Perhaps the most extraordinary story of the 2020 campaign so far, Michael Bloomberg’s candidacy, has ended. He seemed to have it all: unlimited funds, vast amounts of data, all the political consultants money could buy. But he’s had to give in and endorse Joe Biden, accepting that the former vice president is a much more attractive candidate to voters. Bloomberg has learnt the hard way that there are lies, damned lies, and the application of data in politics.