The Spectator Podcast: Fire and fury

On this week’s episode, we’re discussing the war of words between President Trump and North Korea, and asking whether it could spill over into an actual war. We’ll also be looking at the plight of the Yazidis, struggling to recover from genocide committed by Isis in 2014, and, finally, wondering whether it’s better to stay in the UK for your summer holidays.

First, North Korea’s increased militarisation was met this week by a threat from President Trump to unleash ‘fire and fury’ against the rogue state. Conjuring up images of nuclear warfare on the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki created something of an international panic, but are we really approaching that point? In this week’s magazine Jacob Heilbrunn warns that Trump’s rhetoric might be spiralling out of control, and he joins the podcast along with Jonathan Fenby, author of Will China Dominate the 21st Century?, and Freddy Gray. As Jacob writes:

“Trump’s madman approach to foreign policy may bring about quick wins — nobody wants to mess with a leader who might do anything at any point, especially when he has easily the most powerful military of all time at his disposal.