The Edition: America's Iran gamble – why the Royals could be Britain's Trump card
Best of the Spectator
The Spectator
4.3 • 826 Ratings
🗓️ 13 March 2026
⏱️ 47 minutes
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Summary
As oil prices rise, the Spectator’s cover story this week – written by deputy editor Freddy Gray – wonders if Trump’s gamble has backfired, and Operation Epic Fury could end up more like Operation Epic Fail. What does it mean to describe Trump’s plan as ‘failing’? And can we judge him by the same metrics that we have judged other presidents?
For this week’s Edition, host William Moore is joined by political editor Tim Shipman, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Adrian Wooldrodge and actress and campaigner Sophie Winkleman. Adrian, author of Centrists of the Worlds Unite!, explains why comparisons with the 1930s might not be as hyperbolic as they seem – while Sophie sees logic in using the diplomatic power of Britain’s monarchy. Could the King be Britain’s ’Trump’ card?
As well as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, they discuss: if Starmer’s inexperience has hindered Britain’s defence policy; why the decline of the textbook spells trouble for Britain’s students – and the prevailing sense that smartphones should be banned for children; and that, while boasting might be human nature – it’s much harder for those of with left-wing sensibilities.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On Tuesday the 24th of March, our speakers will debate the motion, |
| 0:04.0 | this House believes we should abolish the licence fee. |
| 0:07.2 | Spectator Chairman Charles Moore and the telegraphs Alison Pearson |
| 0:10.2 | will propose the motion with Spectator editor Michael Gove |
| 0:13.4 | and former BBC America editor John Sopel opposing. |
| 0:16.8 | I'm Isabel Hardman and I'll be in the chair to maintain decorum and take your pressing questions. |
| 0:22.2 | Join us on Tuesday the 24th of March at 7pm and book your tickets at spectator.com |
| 0:27.7 | forward slash debate. |
| 0:35.7 | Hello and welcome to the edition from The Spectator. |
| 0:38.3 | I'm William Moore, the Spectator's Features Editor. |
| 0:41.3 | The latest issue of the magazine has just gone to print and to talk about what's in it. |
| 0:45.3 | I'm delighted to be joined by Tim Shipman, our political editor, the opinion columnist for Bloomberg, Adrian Walbridge, and the campaigner and actress Sophie Winkelman. |
| 1:00.6 | So our cover this week is Epic Fail, and in it, Freddie Gray explores the idea that Trump may have |
| 1:06.8 | misfired with his strategy, such as it is, over Iran. So, Tim, let's start with you. |
| 1:12.6 | So Freddie in his piece, he argues that Epic Fury has started to look quite a lot like |
| 1:16.9 | epic fail. Do you think that he's right that Trump has exposed the limits of American power? |
| 1:23.3 | Yeah, I think to a degree, but I think mostly what he's exposed the limits of is Donald Trump. |
| 1:27.6 | And this is a sort of fairly perspicacious and depressing read. |
| 1:31.4 | It's sort of what we all knew a week ago, but wondered whether events themselves would sort of force a strategy upon Trump. |
| 1:38.4 | And Freddie's conclusion is that this is a complicated man with simple ideas, which makes him stand out for most politicians. |
| 1:48.1 | That's a quote from Kelly Ann Conway, one of his former sort of press advisors. |
| 1:52.6 | And the thing with Trump is, you know, he operates on his wits, on his nerves. |
... |
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