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The General & the Journalist

The General & the Journalist

By: The Times
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Summary

How wars start, how they are won and what they leave behind them.


General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn first met in a war zone. Drawing on their real-life experience of armed conflict, they bring you the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and the dozens of other bitter struggles being fought across our increasingly divided planet.


From interviews with key people on the frontlines of modern warfare to discussing the future of nuclear weapons and where Russia will attack next, this podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times also faces up to the biggest question - how ready are we for war, right now, if we had to fight one?

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The Times Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Trump-Xi summit: Has Iran flipped the balance of power?

    Trump-Xi summit: Has Iran flipped the balance of power?
    May 13 2026

    As President Trump lands in Beijing for his summit with Xi, Patrick and Tom are joined by China analyst, Sam Olsen, to discuss whether Iran has flipped the balance of power between the rivals.


    Sam argues the war has degraded America's weapons stockpile, recast China as the reliable global partner, and given Beijing a ringside seat on the US military playbook - gifting China with the strategic edge.


    And, if Trump needs Xi's help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, will be be willing to sell-out Taiwan in return, with potentially even greater consequences for the balance of power?


    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn

    Guest: Sam Olsen

    Producer: Shabnam Grewal

    Executive producer: Fiona Leach

    Image: Getty


    Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Putin ‘will flood Europe with criminals and fighters after the war’

    Putin ‘will flood Europe with criminals and fighters after the war’
    May 6 2026

    Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, says Putin will flood Europe with the criminals he recruited to fight in Ukraine once the war ends.


    With Russia unable to reintegrate thousands of 'psychologically crazy' ex-combatants, they will be used for Wagner-style sabotage operations on a scale European governments have yet to grapple with.


    In Patrick's words, 'the moment of maximum danger could be when the fighting ends.'


    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn

    Guest: Foreign Minister of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna

    Producer: Shabnam Grewal

    Executive producer: Fiona Leach

    Image: Getty



    Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Why America needs NATO - US's Supreme Allied Commander

    Why America needs NATO - US's Supreme Allied Commander
    Apr 29 2026


    General Christopher Cavoli was NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) until July 2025. He was responsible for the defence and security of 981 million people across 32 countries. Ooph.


    While on a flying visit to London, he dropped into the General and the Journalist studio to see his old friend Patrick and get grilled by Tom on the UK's parlous defence expenditure.


    But, mostly, he was here to talk about NATO and why, as a proud and patriotic American, he sees the Alliance as critical to America's own defence and security.


    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn

    Guest: General Christopher Cavoli

    Producer: Shabnam Grewal

    Executive producer: Fiona Leach

    Image: Getty

    Clips: Fox news


    Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
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Great insight in today's global issues by two fantastic presenters, with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Insight in today's unstable world.

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