On the podcast:

In his new year’s address this year Vladimir Putin made no mention of the war in Ukraine – despite missile strikes over the Christmas period – and now Owen Matthews reports in The Spectator this week rumours that Putin could be looking to broker a land-for-peace deal. Unfortunately – Owen says – this deal would mean freezing the conflict along its current lines and the de facto partition of Ukraine. Owen joins the podcast alongside The Spectator’s Svitlana Morenets who gives her own take on Putin’s 'peace' deal in the magazine this week. (01:21)

Next: Former Sky News and GB News broadcaster Colin Brazier writes a farmer’s notebook in The Spectator this week about his new life as a farming student. He brings to light how the culture wars have percolated into the world of agriculture and is joined by farmer and former Tory MP Neil Parish, to discuss. (26:18)

And finally: are video games really a waste of time?

The Spectator’s literary editor Sam Leith explains – in advance of his first video games column for the magazine – that video games are not in fact a waste of time but an artform which should be appreciated as such. He joins the podcast alongside Simon Parkin, writer, contributor to the New Yorker and the host of the My Perfect Console Podcast. (39:10).

Hosted by William Moore.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

The Spectator is hiring! We are looking for a new producer to join our broadcast team working across our suite of podcasts – including this one – as well as our YouTube channel Spectator TV. Follow the link to read the full job listing: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/wanted-a-broadcast-producer-for-the-spectator-2/