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.
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.