TrumpWorld

‘UNREAL CORRUPTION’ - Has Trump gone too far with crypto billions? 02.07.2026 47p

Donald Trump reported earning more than $2.2 billion last year, with huge sums linked to cryptocurrency, licensing deals and his growing business empire. At the same time, fresh questions are being asked about thousands of stock trades, government ethics and where the line between public office and private profit should be drawn.This week on TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana ask whether America has entered a new era, one where presidential power and personal wealth are becoming increasingly intertwined.They also examine a landmark week at the Supreme Court, where rulings expanded presidential authority while preserving birthright citizenship, and discuss whether Trump's growing power could reshape the presidency long after he leaves office. They also speak to Justin Florence, co-founder of Protect Democracy and former Special Counsel in the Obama White House, to explain what these developments mean for American democracy.

‘SHAMEFUL, UNQUALIFIED, DISASTROUS’ - what swing state voters think of Trump 26.06.2026 46p

Trump's polling numbers have plummeted since his return to office - with the Iran war and soaring cost of living hurting the most. Now some say he's the most unpopular president ever - but is that really true? When you step outside of the Washington bubble, a different story emerges. On this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana worked with pollsters Public First to hear what voters in the key Georgia swing state think about the state of their country under president Trump ahead of the mid-term elections. She also spoke to Seb Wride, the head of opinion research at Public First.

Is JD Vance becoming Trump's Iran scapegoat? 23.06.2026 29p

If Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer in Downing Street, as is expected, how will he approach the US UK relationship with Donald Trump in the White House? A growing number of leaders around the world have concluded that they have to stand up to Donald Trump, even if he threatens tariffs - including recently Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. On this episode of TrumpWorld Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei discuss the so-called special relationship and look at whether Trump is gearing up to throw his vice president under the bus if the Iran deal turns sour.

Trump accused of ‘COMPLETE CAPITULATION’ as Iran deal LEAKED 17.06.2026 25p

A leaked copy of Donald Trump’s deal with Iran appears to show the president facilitating a $300 billion fund for the Islamic Republic, but Trump has denied that the US will be putting even “10 cents” into the fund as he spoke to reporters at the G7 summit in Evian. Either way, he has faced a fierce backlash from hawkish Republicans, with Senator Lindsey Graham comparing the deal to a marshall plan for Germany “with the Nazis still in charge”. So, what is exactly in the memorandum of understanding and what’s next for Iran, America and the rest of the world watching on?

Iran crisis: can “SLEEPY TRUMP’ stop Netanyahu? 09.06.2026 37p

In the past week in Trump’s world, the US president stormed out of an NBC interview, appeared to have been caught napping at the New York Knicks game and in the Middle East, Israel and Iran exchanged missiles in a move that further threatened the fragile ceasefire. President Trump has tried to assert a sense of control over events in the Middle East, telling reporters that he “calls the shots” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have to accept any deal he strikes. But, as Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire, is that really true? On this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei discuss whether the US president has control in the Middle East and at home.

Has Netanyahu Trump relationship hit ‘ROCK BOTTOM’ after ‘EXPLOSIVE’ call? 02.06.2026 41p

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu had a very tense and fraught conversation on the phone - that much is clear, but did the US president really tell the Israeli prime minister that nobody likes him or his country and call him ‘f***ing crazy’ as Axios reported?On this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana explore the fallout from this explosive call and ask what it means for the war in Iran and Israel’s long term relationship with America. Matt Frei also speaks to Israeli journalist and chief political commentator on Channel 12 Amit Segal who was briefed by senior sources in Netanyahu’s government who dispute the claims made in the Axios report.

Trump’s Iran GAMBLE - can the US strike Iran and still make a deal? 26.05.2026 34p

Tensions between the United States and Iran have entered an unstable holding pattern, with fresh American strikes on Iranian missile sites and patrol boats near the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran reportedly shooting down a US drone, fuelling renewed uncertainty across the region.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Lindsey Hilsum examine the latest escalation, from President Trump’s shifting negotiating tactics to his revived Abraham Accords pitch, and what this strategic brinkmanship means for Iran’s leverage, Lebanon’s fragility, and the wider Middle East.Anushka also speaks to Dina Esfandiary, Middle East lead at Bloomberg Economics, about why Tehran may be less hungry for a diplomatic breakthrough than Washington hopes, and the deep structural obstacles that still stand in the way of progress.

‘If Trump wins mid-terms, IT’S GAME OVER’ - top democrat says democracy at stake 19.05.2026 53p

Donald Trump’s approval ratings have hit a new low amid anger over the Iran war and soaring gas prices - raising fresh fears for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.In this episode of TrumpWorld Anushka Asthana speaks to former US congressman Beto O'Rourke, who also ran to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2020 and he warns that the mid-terms “will decide the future of the country” and that if Trump wins “it;s game over”.Channel 4 News’ Kiran Moodley also joined Anushka to discuss what chances Democrats have and if there’s any sign about who could be their next leader.

Trump heads to China after ‘JAW DROPPING’ remarks about Americans’ finances 13.05.2026 43p

Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for the first US presidential visit to China in nearly a decade - but it’s his comments on Iran that are dominating headlines.Asked whether Americans’ financial struggles were influencing his negotiations with Iran, Trump gave a strikingly blunt answer: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.” The comments have sparked fresh questions about his priorities as tensions in the Middle East continue to rattle global markets.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana discuss Trump’s high-stakes China trip, the pressure surrounding Iran negotiations, and what the President’s remarks reveal about how he sees power, diplomacy and America’s role in the world.

Iran war: is Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ DOOMED? 05.05.2026 40p

The first ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom”, a US-led operation to escort commercial ships after Iran’s blockade disrupted global oil supplies and stranded hundreds of vessels. Tehran has warned it will treat any unauthorised military presence in the strait as a hostile act, and America says there has been some ‘low level kinetic’ activity in the Strait - despite reports of renewed backchannel diplomacy.So is this a masterstroke from Trump - break Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait while devastating Tehran’s economy with his own blockade? Or is this whole endeavour doomed to fail? On this episode of TrumpWorld Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana are joined by analyst Trita Parsi who is co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

Who really has a special relationship with Trump - Israel or the UK? 28.04.2026 30p

Another assassination attempt on Donald Trump, relations between the president and Keir Starmer have hit rock bottom and the spectre of Jeffrey Epstein hanging over the White House and Buckingham Palace. King Charles III’s state visit to America is happening at one of the most turbulent periods to hit the so-called “special relationship”, and now the leaked footage obtained by the Financial Times appears to show the UK ambassador to the US Christian Turner saying that the only country to have a special relationship with the US is “probably Israel”. A Government spokesperson says: "These were private, informal comments made to a group of UK sixth-form students visiting the US in early February. They are certainly not any reflection of the UK government’s position.”So, will the state visit stay on track or could it all unravel? And does Israel really have a more "special relationship" with America than Israel? In the latest episode of TrumpWorld Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana pick apart all the latest news from DC and the Palace and analyse exclusive polling about what Americans feel about the monarchy, the special relationship and Trump himself where almost a fifth of people polled said they supported Trump running for a third term.

White House says ‘3-5 day limit’ on Trump Iran ceasefire - what next? 22.04.2026 43p

Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but only for around 3-5 days the White House told Fox News. At the same time, Trump has maintained the naval blockade while unleashing fresh threats against Iran, as Tehran signals it will not back down.So, is there any hope for the peace negotiations? Or are we on the brink of a fresh round of military action? On this episode of TrumpWorld Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana are joined by former Pentagon official and Middle East expert Jasmine El-Gamal.

Pope, China, blockade: has Trump lost the plot? 15.04.2026 26p

Donald Trump says his war with Iran is “close to over” and there’s reports of more peace talks coming soon, but this isn’t the first time the US president has said an end to the war is imminent - so what’s actually going on? This comes off the back of a week where the president has picked a fight with the Pope, he then went on the attack against Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for cancelling a defence agreement with Israel and to top it off his other European ally, Viktor Orban of Hungary, was ousted after 16 years of power. So, is this the week it all went wrong from Trump? Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana discuss.

US-Iran ceasefire: what we don’t know 08.04.2026 40p

It’s the morning after the night before - when - just 90 minutes before his deadline for Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz or “a whole civilisation will be destroyed”, President Trump announced a two week ceasefire.Iran has signed on and both sides have claimed victory.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei discusses what we don’t know about the ceasefire and the control of the Strait of Hormuz with the Brookings Institution’s Suzanne Maloney, a leading voice on US policy on Iran, who’s advised both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Is the Iran war about to end? 01.04.2026 45p

Donald Trump says the United States could be “out of Iran pretty quickly”, with the option of returning for “spot hits”, even as he escalates his criticism of Nato allies and questions America’s future in the alliance. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is amplifying that message despite having backed legal safeguards preventing a US exit from Nato only two years earlier.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana examine why this rupture feels different, how Trump’s frustration over the Iran war is driving the rhetoric, and what diplomats in London and Washington are saying privately about the strain. They also speak to lawyer and political scientist Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and former State Department official under Hillary Clinton.

Trump reveals 15-point peace plan but Iran says US ‘negotiating with itself’ 25.03.2026 45p

As Israel and Iran exchange fresh attacks, President Donald Trump says a 15-point peace plan has been sent to Tehran via Pakistan and claims negotiations are underway. Iran publicly rejected Trump's proposal and said the US is negotiating with itself, but did respond with demands of its own.In this episode of TrumpWorld Matt Frei, in Jerusalem, and Anushka Asthana, in Washington, try to make sense of the contradictions. Is there really a diplomatic off-ramp - or is the US trying to calm markets while escalating militarily? And what does Trump actually want from Iran after weeks of war and rising tensions across the Middle East?They’re joined by Matthew Miller, former US State Department spokesperson under Joe Biden, to unpack the strategy, the politics in Washington, and the global stakes. From Trump’s shifting messaging to Israel’s role and the pressure on Gulf states, we ask the key question: is this the start of peace talks - or the next phase of the war?

Israel strike Iranian gas field - is Trump locked into an escalating war? 18.03.2026 38p

In week three of the Iran war, Donald Trump faces the consequences of a campaign he believed he could control. As Israel strikes the South Pars gas field and Tehran vows retaliation across the Gulf, the regional balance is shifting in real time. With turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, a spiraling energy shock, and a widening conflict stretching into Lebanon, TrumpWorld asks one central question: What did Donald Trump think would happen, and does he now regret it?Matt Frei reports from Jerusalem where Israel insists everything is going to plan after the killings of senior Iranian officials, and Anushka Asthana joins from Washington DC, where the administration is scrambling to contain the fallout. We speak to Professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago about the ‘escalation trap’, the logic that pulls presidents into wars they cannot easily end.

Trump’s Iran war: “pretty much” over, or just beginning? 10.03.2026 41p

The Trump administration is sending a blizzard of mixed messages about the war in Iran; yesterday Trump insisted it was “pretty much” over - today U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that today would be the “most intense day of strikes inside Iran.”Behind the scenes, global markets are jolting, oil prices are surging and the White House appears to be scrambling to contain the political and economic fallout.This is a conflict Trump never fully explained, a war of choice launched with no clear end point and no obvious definition of victory. Now voters are feeling the impact at the petrol pump and allies are trying to decipher whether the President is winding down the war, or simply reacting to the panic he helped unleash.What does all this reveal about Trump’s strategy, the pressure he is under at home, and the risks he is willing to take in the Gulf?On today’s TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei are joined by Dana W. White, who was the Pentagon’s chief spokeswoman during Trump’s first term, to break down the military messaging, the political calculations and the reality behind the White House’s shifting story.

Who’s really behind Trump’s Iran war - and how does it end? 04.03.2026 38p

As the war between Iran, Israel and the United States enters its fifth day, Donald Trump is facing mounting pressure as his MAGA base tears itself apart over his decision to launch another conflict in the Middle East despite his promises to end America’s “forever wars”. Trump has now hit out at influential MAGA voices like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly after they condemned the war and suggested Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu was the real driving force behind the decision to attack. But with Trump’s ratings hitting rock bottom, polls showing little support for a prolonged war in the Middle East and mid-term elections looming, could domestic pressure on Trump help bring the war to a swift conclusion? If not, then what else could bring this bloody conflict to an end?

What Trump got wrong in the State of the Union 25.02.2026 21p

Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in American history, a two hour speech packed with dramatic claims, partisan attacks and a full political show of force. With approval ratings falling and Republicans increasingly anxious about the midterms, Trump used the moment to sell an economic turnaround and portray a country “winning again,” even as many of his assertions strained credibility.From repeated standing ovations by Republicans to a fiery confrontation with Democratic representatives over immigration and the killings in Minnesota, this was a speech designed to energise his base and provoke his opponents. But did it persuade the voters he needs? And what does it reveal about the future of the Republican Party, potential 2028 contenders and America’s standing on the world stage?On today’s TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana is joined by Republican commentator and strategist Tara Setmayer, who is a long-standing opponent of Donald Trump, to discuss all of this and more.