Vladimir Putin is often said to have a tsar-like grip on Russia. He is apparently so powerful that he even has Donald Trump in his pocket. Here, historian and Russia expert Mark Galeotti – author of Forged in War – explains why Putin actually faces far greater challenges than the West seems to realise, from the internal threats to his rule to the war’s rising costs and waning public support. Mark also discusses how the West betrayed Ukraine long before Trump’s arrival.

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Rakib Ehsan, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers discuss Reform’s civil war, the outrageous banning of Calin Georgescu in Romania and Nicola Sturgeon’s toxic legacy.

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Lionel Shriver, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on Donald Trump’s first six weeks, two-tier justice, asylum insanity and the memory-holing of lockdown.

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Labour is about to destroy England’s top-performing state schools. That’s the stark warning of Katharine Birbalsingh, head of the Michaela Community School, often dubbed ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’. Here, Birbalsingh recalls her clashes with Bridget Phillipson, the Labour education secretary. She explains why the government’s new schools bill will drive down academic standards, let bad behaviour slip and make it harder for kids to get into a decent state school. She also discusses the dangers of ‘decolonising’ the curriculum and why schools must cultivate a sense of national belonging. 

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Candice Holdsworth, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on the rise of the AfD, TERF Island’s battle with woke America and the petty authoritarianism of Britain’s thoughtpolice.

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Jacob Reynolds, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers on Britain’s backdoor blasphemy laws, the betrayal of Ukraine and the depravity of Hamas.

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Germany’s ruling Social Democrats (SPD) are facing losses the party has not seen since the 19th century in this weekend’s federal elections, while the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to double its vote share. Here, historian and journalist Katja Hoyer explains how a failing economy, out-of-control migration and intrusive Net Zero policies have led to mass disaffection with the mainstream parties. She also discusses the growing class divide, the rise and fall of ‘left-conservatism’, and why JD Vance’s warnings about free speech resonated with East Germans. 

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Luke Gittos, Tom Slater and Fraser Myers discuss the judicial power-grab behind the Gazan resettlement ruling, why we must kill the assisted-dying bill and the health minister who thinks you can identify as a llama.

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At least 30 people were injured in a suspected Islamist terror attack in Munich on Thursday, when an Afghan asylum seeker ploughed his car into a trade-union demonstration. Here, spiked’s Germany correspondent, Sabine Beppler-Spahl, joins Fraser Myers to discuss the suspect, the recent spate of Islamist attacks in Germany, and how rising public anger could boost the AfD in next week’s elections.

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Ella Whelan, Paul Embery and Fraser Myers discuss how Angela Rayner could silence criticism of Islam, why the UK is ripe for a Reform revolt and Trump’s ban on men in women’s sport.

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