New Culture Forum
Director of the New Culture Forum, a right-leaning think-tank, and commentator for several British papers, including the Telegraph, Sunday Times and Spectator magazine; author of several books, including Monarchy Matters and Being British: What's Wrong with It?
Olympics Whip Up British Patriotism During the run-up to the London Olympic Games, British irony was in full swing, complete with predictions of gridlocked traffic, frustrated spectators and lapses in security. Then something happened. It all worked out.
Riots in London and Next Year's Olympic Games In London this week, the worst civil unrest since race riots in the 1980's has raised questions about the Conservative government, ethnic tensions, popular culture and disaffected young people. Today, Prime Minister David Cameron told Parliament the London police could have nipped it in the bud.
Riots in London and Next Year's Olympic Games Prime Minister David Cameron says the delayed response by London police helped lead to Britain's worst riots in decades. With 16,000 officers on the streets today, London was quiet, but other parts of the country saw looting and violence, and ethnic tensions are rising. There's debate about root causes. One target is Cameron's " austerity measures ," which are cutting both social services and budgets for the police. There's worry about the future, and Cameron is talking with US police, who have experience with criminal gangs. And, while London has already finished the venues for next year's Olympic Games , will it be safe enough for visitors from all over the world?
A Royal Wedding in an Age of Austerity With two billion people watching around the world, Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today. Among very few surprises were two kisses instead of one a white dress on the bride's sister and the Prime Minister's wife attending without a hat. Some British leftists are refusing to celebrate the marriage of the future King and Queen Consort. There's even a button with the image of a small crown and the slogan, "Stuff the wedding, fight the cuts." What's the attraction of an event with only symbolic importance? With record austerity measures just setting in, was it worth some $80 million? We hear from supporters and skeptics about the British monarchy and the echoes of empire in the modern world.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.