This week:

In the magazine we look at the Wagner Group’s failed coup and its implications for Putin’s reign. The Spectator’s Russia correspondent Owen Matthews examines why the Kremlin permits the existence of private armies such as Prigozhin’s Wagner Group, and joins the podcast alongside Jim Townsend, former deputy secretary of defence for European and NATO policy under the Obama administration. (01:15)

Also this week:

The Spectator’s special projects editor Ben Lazarus writes this week about the claims made in the recent Mirror Group phone hacking trial, and the man orchestrating many of the accusations, Graham Johnson. He is joined by Neil Wallis, commentator and former deputy editor of the News of the World, to investigate the convicted phone-hacker assembling complaints against the tabloids. (13:39)

And finally:

Harry Mount takes a look at the lewdness and lyricism of ancient Roman graffiti in the magazine, and takes us through some of the most rude and amusing examples that have been excavated in Rome and Pompeii. He joins the podcast alongside street artist Sarah Yates, aka Faunagraphic. (27:24)

Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore. 

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.