The General & The Journalist

Episod

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  EXPLAINER: How America's aircraft carrier crisis reveals a military decline 27.09.2026 9min

  America has 11 aircraft carriers. So why is the US Navy struggling to deploy more than three at once?In this bonus video explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines the growing strain on America’s carrier fleet. These 100,000-ton floating airfields have long been symbols of US military power, but delayed ships, lengthy repairs and overstretched crews are making it increasingly difficult to keep them at sea. If Washington cannot reliably deploy the fleet it already has, what does that mean for America’s ability to project power around the world – and are aircraft carriers becoming a symbol not of US strength, but of its limits?00:00 – America’s aircraft carrier problem00:53 – Delayed ships and ageing carriers02:24 – Trump’s proposed carrier redesign03:25 – Longer deployments, greater strain04:50 – The carrier gap in the Pacific06:09 – The $25 billion carrier group at risk07:30 – The cost to the wider fleet08:38 – Shipyard decline and military powerGet in touch: [email protected]: Yasmin Butt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is the future of the SAS at risk? 23.09.2026 37min

  More than 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Britain remains bitterly divided over how to resolve legacy cases from the Troubles. The government’s new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would allow some halted inquests to resume and reform the system for investigating legacy cases, with ministers insisting that veterans will be protected from unnecessary repeat investigations.But former senior SAS veterans Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and George Simm argue it could reopen the door to repeated investigations that erode soldiers’ trust in the Government and ultimately weaken the SAS itself. Can Britain deliver justice for the past without undermining the soldiers it may need for the wars of the future?Get in touch: [email protected]:47 – Inside the SAS10:24 – Northern Ireland legacy lawfare16:29 – Loughgall and shoot-to-kill claims22:15 – How lawfare is damaging the SAS27:30 – The fight to protect British soldiersGuests: Former SAS Squadron Commander Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major George SimmHosts: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka DeladiaImage: Kathia Mestanza, GettyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Russia’s war “will last as long as Putin lives” 16.09.2026 37min

  Russia is holding its first State Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the Kremlin has worked to ensure the outcome is never truly in doubt. Nina Khrushcheva, great-granddaughter of the former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, joins us to examine what the vote reveals about Putin’s rule and how the war in Ukraine is mounting pressure on Putin. With public patience under strain and unease growing among the elite, how much longer can Putin keep pressing this war on?Get in touch: [email protected]:55 – Nina Khrushcheva on Putin’s Russia07:50 – Inside Russia’s rigged election16:37 – Putin’s mobilisation gamble23:04 – Russia’s war economy and breaking point30:04 – Putin’s escalating threat to NATOGuest: Nina Khrushcheva, professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York CityHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnPatrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence.Producer: Julia Webster, Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Dan Box, Tim Walklate Image: Dana Chan, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Who really blew up the Nord Stream pipeline? 09.09.2026 44min

  It was one of the most audacious acts of sabotage in modern history - in September 2022, explosions ripped through the Nord Stream pipelines carrying natural gas from Russia underneath the Baltic Sea. The attack reshaped European geo-politics but at the time, no one knew who ordered the bombing, or carried it out. Journalist Bojan Pancevski has spent three years tracing the operation - and says the answers to those questions involve a tiny team of divers, a rented yacht and a former erotic model known only as ‘Freya’. Get in touch: [email protected]:00 – Who blew up Nord Stream?02:55 – Why Nord Stream mattered06:39 – Inside the sabotage mission17:19 – Russia, CIA or Ukraine?24:00 – Evidence, arrests and who ordered itGuest: Bojan Pancevski, chief European political correspondent for the Wall Street JournalHosts: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Dan BoxImage: Kathia Mestanza, GettyClips: Getty Images, Danish Defence CommandHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  EXPLAINER: Could Russia Attack NATO by 2030? 08.09.2026 7min

  Across Nato’s eastern flank, defence planners are increasingly focused on one date: 2030. War games, military assessments and troop deployments are being shaped around a stark question – could Moscow be ready to test Nato within the next few years?The Times’s defence editor Larisa Brown examines why 2030 has become such a crucial deadline for European defence, how Russia could try to probe Nato’s borders and whether the alliance is moving fast enough to deter Vladimir Putin.Get in touch: [email protected]: Jack Feeney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The new Middle East: Can a ‘NATO of the East’ work? 02.09.2026 38min

  Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Pact, a new defence alliance built around the promise that an attack on one is an attack on all.Together they bring Saudi money and religious authority, Turkey’s military strength and defence industry and Pakistan’s army and nuclear power. But would any of them really go to war for the others? Tom and Patrick are joined by Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall to explore why the pact has emerged now. Is it a response to Iran’s decline, growing doubts over America’s reliability or the changing relationship with Israel? Or is the Mecca Pact merely a strategic hedge, or the beginning of a new balance of power in the Middle East?How do you think the Mecca Defence Alliance will impact the region? Get in touch: [email protected]:00 - Mecca Pact Explained05:04 - Saudi–Turkey–Pakistan Defence Alliance13:02 - Why the Mecca Pact Matters Now23:32 - Is the Mecca Pact a New NATO?32:53 - Future of Middle East SecurityGuest: Ltn Gen Sir Simon Mayall, KBE, CB, retired British Army officer and a Middle East Adviser at the Ministry of Defence.Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn.Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence.Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, GettyClips: GettyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The new Middle East: The battle to shape a region 26.08.2026 45min

  For more than a century, the Middle East has been made and remade by collapsing empires, colonial borders, revolutions, wars and powerful rulers. Now, Iran is weakening, Gulf states are becoming more influential and old alliances are shifting again. Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Tom and Patrick to discuss how the modern Middle East was forged and why the forces that shaped it are still at work today. Who is gaining power, who is losing it, and are we watching the birth of a new regional order?Who do you think is reshaping the new Middle East? Get in touch: [email protected]: 00:00 — How the modern Middle East was made13:15 — Colonialism, Sykes-Picot and the birth of “zombie states”23:45 — Is the term “Middle East” now obsolete? 29:30 — Iran’s regional empire and the October 7 wars36:45 — Six converging theatres—and reasons for hopeThe Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East by Simon Sebag Montefiore is available in stores nowGuest: Simon Sebag Montefiore, British historian and authorHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnPatrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence.Producer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, GettyClips: GettyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  EXPLAINER: Why Russia Is Burning Through 35,000 Soldiers A Month 23.08.2026 7min

  Ukraine’s drone campaign is reaching deeper into Russia than ever before, striking oil terminals, ships and targets around Moscow and St Petersburg. As casualties rise and attacks put growing pressure on Russia’s economy and war machine, is Ukraine beginning to change the course of the conflict?In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines how Ukraine’s long-range strikes are testing Russia’s defences – and whether Vladimir Putin is approaching a serious turning point in the war.Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Putin made North Korea richer – and more dangerous 19.08.2026 41min

  North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery rounds, thousands of troops and workers for its drone factories to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Russian money, food, energy and weapons are reviving Pyongyang’s economy, giving it military battlefield experience and potentially advancing Kim Jong Un’s nuclear and missile capabilities.Dr Victor Cha, former White House national security official and one of America’s leading Korea experts, joins The General & The Journalist to explain how Russia has made an isolated regime richer and more dangerous. How powerful has North Korea become? Why have decades of denuclearisation diplomacy failed? And could talks with Washington loosen Kim’s alliance with Putin?Should the West accept a nuclear North Korea? Get in touch: [email protected]: 00:00 North Korea’s economic boom08:31 Russia fuels Kim Jong Un14:18 China, Russia and North Korea18:32 North Korea’s nuclear threat26:16 Why denuclearisation failed33:46 Kim Jong Un’s successor and futureGuest: Dr Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International StudiesHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnPatrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, GettyClips: Reuters, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Inside Mossad: How Israeli spies penetrated Iran 12.08.2026 30min

  Mossad has spent decades building intelligence networks inside Iran, using spies, cyber operations and covert technology to penetrate the regime at the highest levels.Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, joins The General & The Journalist to reveal how Israel’s spies recruit agents, operate behind enemy lines and target Iran’s leadership. How far is Mossad willing to go? And can Israel’s intelligence successes ultimately bring about regime change in Iran? And where does covert action cross the line?The Sword of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War by Yossi Cohen is available at Harper Collins.00:00 - Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen on Israel’s Intelligence Strategy03:01 - How Mossad Penetrated the Iranian Regime’s Deepest Secrets09:24 - HUMINT vs. SIGINT: Why Human Spies Outperform Cyber Intelligence14:16 - Exploding Pagers, Sabotage & The Ethics of Covert Operations24:28 - The Future of Iran, Regime Change & Yossi Cohen’s Political AmbitionsGuest: Yossi Cohen, former director of MossadHost: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia Webster and Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: GettyClips: BBCHow should Andy Burnham approach the UK’s relationship with Israel? Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  EXPLAINER: Britain's £5 billion drone gamble 09.08.2026 9min

  Could Britain replace billion-pound warships with fleets of uncrewed vessels – and what happens when the technology fails?In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines Britain’s £5 billion bet on uncrewed warfare, shaped by the lethal lessons of Ukraine. Military planners hope networks of specialised drones and automated platforms can cut costs, protect personnel and transform the battlefield.But with major conventional programmes still competing for funding, is Britain building the armed forces of the future or creating dangerous new vulnerabilities? Producer: Stephanie Bosset Image: Dana Chan, GettyGet in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is Pete Hegseth’s macho culture fit for the military? 05.08.2026 35min

  Pete Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a stage for warrior bravado – renaming it the Department of War, ordering testosterone screening for troops over 30, and cheering on a US Navy jet's ultra-low flypast over a packed Florida beach.Former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell joins Tom and Patrick to give his verdict on Hegseth's shake-up of the US armed forces and to ask whether a similar culture could take hold in the British military. Chapters:00:00 — Pete Hegseth and the dangerous flybys08:50 — Who is Pete Hegseth?10:55 — Fitness, testosterone and the “warrior ethos”14:30 — Diversity, standards and the military beard debate21:40 — Does machismo belong in the military?Guest: Sean Bell, Former Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air ForceHost: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton DunnPatrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Elle Scott & Julia WebsterExec Producer: Priyanka DeladiaClips: US Department of War.Image: Shaun Parkinson, GettyGet in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Ukraine’s leadership crisis impacts the war 29.07.2026 34min

  President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his defence minister and army chief after a bitter struggle over Ukraine’s military strategy triggered widespread street protests. Natia Seskuria of RUSI examines the clash between reformers and the old guard, and the consequences for Zelensky’s democratic reputation. Could this upheaval at the top change the course of the war with Russia?Should Zelensky reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as minister of defence? Get in touch: [email protected]:00:00 – Zelensky's Political Crisis01:42 – Why Zelensky Fired Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi08:56 – Civilian Control vs. Military Command in Ukraine14:37 – RUSI Expert Natia Seskuria on Kyiv's Power Struggle32:13 – Listener Q&A: The Red Sea Crisis and China's Role in DjiboutiGuest: Natia Seskuria, Head of Russia and Eurasia Programme at RUSIHosts: General Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnPatrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, GettyClips: Getty, ReutersHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz? 22.07.2026 36min

  The collapse of the Iran ceasefire has pushed oil prices higher and left Tehran using the Strait of Hormuz as its most powerful leverage. With American casualties rising and roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply at risk, Washington faces a stark choice – keep bombing, attempt to force the strait open or start looking for a way out.  Kirsten Fontenrose, former White House national security advisor, joins The General & The Journalist to assess Trump’s options. Can the US reopen the strait without triggering a wider war? And can Trump pull back before Iran becomes America’s next forever war?Is a military showdown in the Gulf inevitable? Send in your thoughts to [email protected]: 00:00 – Is Iran Trump’s Forever War?05:22 – Why Iran wants to control the Strait of Hormuz09:41 – US Troop deaths and growing political pressure on Trump13:23 – Trump’s Iran Options: Diplomacy, Naval Blockade or Escalation27:14 – Can the US reopen the Strait? Kirsten Fontenrose’s Six-Month ForecastGuest: Kirsten Fontenrose, former Senior Director for Gulf Affairs at the National Security CouncilHosts: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Shaun Parkinson, GettyClips: C-SPAN, US Central Command, GettyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Crimea under pressure: Will Putin lash out? 15.07.2026 40min

  The pressure is mounting on the Kremlin, both militarily and economically. With Ukraine keeping a stranglehold on Putin's crown jewel, Crimea, the chances of a Russian escalation are growing. Could it become the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin? Russia expert Mark Galeotti joins The General & The Journalist to analyse Russia's capacity to lash out, the likelihood of a new mobilisation wave, and critically, when it might happen.Is an escalation by Putin inevitable? Send in your thoughts to [email protected]: Mark Galeotti, expert on on transnational crime and Russian security affairsHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: John Silva, GettyClips: Reuters, GettyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  NATO, Britain and the middle powers 08.07.2026 40min

  Following the NATO summit in Ankara, American allies face an uncomfortable question – can they still rely on Washington to lead?Donald Trump is demanding more from Europe, NATO is trying to adapt and countries like Britain must decide whether to step up or become spectators in a world shaped by others. This week, John Bew joins The General & The Journalist to discuss NATO, Donald Trump, Britain's defence strategy and the future of transatlantic security. Drawing on his experience advising four UK prime ministers, he explains what the summit means for UK national security, military spending, foreign policy, and Britain's role in a changing world.Should NATO be trying to keep the US on board or should they plan for a future without their support? Get in touch: [email protected]: John Bew, Professor of History and Foreign Policy at the Department of War Studies, King's College LondonHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: GettyClips: Reuters, CBS News, Simon Walker/No 10 Downing StreetHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Does Britain’s defence plan make it NATO’s weak link? 01.07.2026 38min

  Britain says its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan will strengthen its role in NATO. But after months of delays, funding rows and warnings from allies, does the money go far enough? Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO, joins Tom and Patrick to assess what the plan gets right, where it falls short and why Britain risks losing influence in the alliance if it fails to deliver. As NATO leaders prepare to gather in Ankara next week – with Russia threatening Europe, Donald Trump demanding more from the alliance, and countries such as Poland, Denmark and Germany moving faster on defence – is Britain still leading NATO or falling behind? Do you think the government has sufficiently funded UK defence? Get in touch: [email protected]: Admiral Sir Keith Blount, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe to NATOHosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty, Dana ChanClips: Reuters, Forbes, SkyHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is Britain ready for a more dangerous world? Live at Nevill Holt Festival 24.06.2026 55min

  For The General & The Journalist’s first anniversary, Tom and Patrick return to the question at the heart of the podcast – is the world becoming more dangerous? Recorded live at the Nevill Holt Festival, they look at Ukraine’s fightback, Putin’s next moves, the Iran ceasefire, China’s advantage, the threat to Taiwan and the crisis in Britain’s defences. Patrick warns that we may be entering a new Cold War and Tom asks whether Britain is moving fast enough to protect itself. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: William Blakesley-HerbertWhat are your thoughts on the state of British defence spending? Get in touch: [email protected] on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s Art of the Deal – from the man who advised him 17.06.2026 33min

  H.R. McMaster served as Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser and saw firsthand how he makes decisions about war, peace and American power.As his former boss is tested by crises from Iran to Ukraine, China, NATO and Venezuela, he explains how the president really thinks. Does Trump have a grand strategy, or is he driven by instincts, deals and the search for a quick win? And will fragile US-Iran peace deal force a lasting peace or end in disaster?  Guest: LTG HR McMaster, former US National Security Advisor (2017-2018)Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan and GettyClips: PBS, WPLG, Reuters, GettyWhat are your thoughts on the US/Iran deal? Get in touch: [email protected] on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Trump’s Cuba Playbook 10.06.2026 37min

  Cuba is running out of power, fuel and patience. As blackouts spread and anger grows, Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Havana, blaming the regime for the island’s collapse while Cuba points to decades of US sanctions. The historic US indictment of former president Raúl Castro has raised the stakes and a bigger question – is Trump trying to use his Venezuela playbook on Cuba? With US military power visible in the Caribbean, can Washington force change in Havana or would intervention in America’s Caribbean neighbour could end in catastrophe?Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent for The Times & The Sunday TimesWilliam LeoGrande, professor of Government at American UniversityHosts: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Paul Brookbanks and GettyClip: USA TODAY, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.