The Brink

The Brink
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Welcome to your much-needed antidote to centrist dad podcasts. Presented by Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitical analyst Andrew Fox, The Brink brings their wealth of real-life experience to bear upon the most important topics of the day, from Israel to immigration, Ukraine to Islamism, asylum hotels to the rise of Reform UK. With a host of stellar guests and an emphasis on common sense, Jake and Andrew explore what it will take to bring the West back from the brink. A podcast from the edge of what’s coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Trump’s true strategy on Iran | Bonus episode

    4 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    Trump’s true strategy on Iran | Bonus episode

    In this bonus episode Andrew and Jake were on Iran International for a special joint appearance on the London based anti regime television channel, bringing the podcast’s analysis directly to an Iranian audience watching from inside the country and across the diaspora. In a wide ranging conversation with Iranian presenter Negar Mojtahedi, who herself is on the regime’s death list, we discuss the brutal crackdown on protesters, the scale of the killings, and why Iran’s uprising has received so little sustained attention in the West. Drawing on reporting from inside the country, we examine mass executions, torture, internet shutdowns, and the use of fear to crush dissent. The discussion turns to Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, the limits of diplomacy, and what military action would realistically look like. We explore whether the regime can be pressured into collapse, the risks of normalising Tehran through a deal, and why the Iranian leadership’s ideology makes genuine compromise unlikely. We also address the information war now playing out on Western streets and online, where regime propaganda is amplified by activists who frame Iran solely through the lens of opposition to Israel. From protests in London to the exploitation of Western guilt and confusion, we examine how the Islamic Republic uses disinformation to shield itself from accountability. Finally, we ask what a free Iran could actually look like, the role of figures such as Reza Pahlavi, and whether the international community is willing to stand with the Iranian people rather than sacrifice them to geopolitical convenience. This is a sobering and urgent conversation about tyranny, propaganda, and why Iran’s struggle matters not just to Iranians, but to the future of the free world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  2. What Sir Trevor Phillips really thinks about his old friend Peter Mandelson

    5 DAYS AGO

    What Sir Trevor Phillips really thinks about his old friend Peter Mandelson

    In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Sir Trevor Phillips, writer and broadcaster, for a wide-ranging and deeply revealing conversation about power, loyalty, identity, and the moral state of Britain. We begin with the explosive recent revelations surrounding Peter Mandelson and his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Trevor speaks candidly about friendship, loyalty, and where moral lines are drawn when serious allegations emerge. He reflects on why he chose to publicly stand by a long-time friend, and what it reveals about hypocrisy. The conversation then widens to Sir Trevor’s own life and career, from growing up in an immigrant family to becoming one of the most prominent voices in British public life. He explains why he has repeatedly challenged orthodoxies on race, identity, and multiculturalism, and why he believes honesty about integration and cultural difference matters more than political comfort. We explore the failures of multicultural policy, the rise of segregation, and the challenge of extremism in a liberal democracy. Sir Trevor discusses Muslim integration, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and why authorities too often appease the loudest voices rather than enforcing equal standards under the law. He also reflects on Britishness, arguing that a shared civic culture matters more than rigid or performative definitions of identity. The discussion turns to the media and journalism, where Sir Trevor delivers a sharp critique of activism in newsrooms, the loss of curiosity among younger journalists, and the collapse of the distinction between reporting and advocacy. He explains how this has distorted coverage of Israel, antisemitism, and major cultural issues, and why public trust has eroded so badly. This is a frank, challenging, and intellectually rich conversation about loyalty, courage, and what it will take to hold a diverse society together without losing confidence in truth or moral clarity. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/sir-trevor-phillips-i-stand-by-peter?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:35 Sir Trevor Phillips on Peter Mandelson 16:06 Navigating Establishment and Challenging Orthodoxy 22:11 Empathy and Understanding Different Perspectives 36:43 Muslim Integration and Multiculturalism 44:39 Challenges of Extremism and Ghettoization Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  3. Iran Bloodbath: Why is the media silent?

    29 JAN

    Iran Bloodbath: Why is the media silent?

    Don't forget to claim your free one-month trial here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/newyeartrial In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Atbin Moayedi & Haleh Blake to examine the unfolding catastrophe in Iran, where the death toll from the latest nationwide uprising has risen above 30,000 while much of the Western media remains largely silent. They have been working relentlessly to document what is happening inside the Islamic Republic and to get the truth out to journalists, governments, and the public. Drawing on direct contact with people on the ground, they describe mass killings, executions, mass graves, chemical weapons, and the use of hospitals as sites of repression. The conversation explores how the regime has imposed a de facto military lockdown across the country, cutting off internet access, arresting people in the streets, and targeting anyone with signs of protest. We discuss the systematic use of torture, sexual violence, organ removal, and financial extortion of grieving families, as well as the psychological toll this violence is taking on Iranians both inside the country and across the diaspora. We also confront the failure of international institutions, Western governments, and major news organisations to respond with urgency. We ask why Iran receives so little coverage compared to other conflicts, how economic and geopolitical interests shape media narratives, and why the Islamic Republic continues to enjoy impunity despite its actions at home and abroad. Finally, we look ahead to what comes next. We discuss the role of Reza Pahlavi, the possibility of international intervention, and whether this moment represents a genuine chance for the collapse of the regime and the birth of a free Iran. This is a harrowing and essential conversation about courage, hypocrisy, and one of the worst human rights crises of our time. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/iran-bloodbath-why-is-the-media-silent?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:43 – A People’s Revolution, Not a Proxy War 04:09 – 30,000 Dead: What’s Really Happening on the Streets 06:15 – Iran as a Military State 08:36 – Door-to-Door Arrests & Hospital Executions 10:52 – Organ Removal, Silence & Regime Brutality 12:16 – Why the Media Looked Away 14:46 – Oil, Gas & the Money Behind Silence 18:16 – Why Gaza Dominates Coverage 19:43 – The Regime’s Lobbying Network in the UK & US 22:58 – Western Media as Regime Amplifier 25:28 – A Universal Human Rights Struggle 28:07 – Celebrity Silence & Moral Cowardice 32:26 – Who Iranians Really Are Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  4. ‘Final Hostages Are Home’ Palestinian Who Escaped from Hamas Speaks Out About Gaza’s Future

    27 JAN

    ‘Final Hostages Are Home’ Palestinian Who Escaped from Hamas Speaks Out About Gaza’s Future

    Don't forget to claim your free one-month trial here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/newyeartrial In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza-born analyst and one of the most prominent moderate Palestinian voices. Drawing on his upbringing in Gaza and his work today as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, Ahmed offers a rare and deeply personal account of life under Hamas. Ahmed describes how Hamas systematically groomed children through schools, mosques, and summer camps, recounting his own childhood experiences of indoctrination, intimidation, and early encounters with Hamas leadership. He explains how the group transformed religious spaces into propaganda hubs, used violence to impose social control, and built a generational system of radicalisation that many in the West still fail to understand. The conversation turns to Gaza today. Ahmed outlines the existence of two parallel societies, one living in extreme deprivation and another protected by access to salaries, aid networks, and Hamas-controlled taxation systems. He exposes how aid is diverted, how hospitals are used as centres of repression and torture, and how Hamas has rebuilt its finances since the ceasefire through taxation and intimidation. We also examine the Muslim Brotherhood playbook, its influence in the UK and across the West, and why moderate Palestinian voices are often silenced by intimidation from Islamist networks. Finally, Ahmed sets out a stark assessment of Gaza’s future, the failure of the so-called peace mechanisms currently being proposed, and what would actually be required to dismantle Hamas and give Palestinians a genuine chance at a different future. This is a sobering, courageous, and essential conversation about extremism, truth, and the human cost of allowing ideology to triumph over reality. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/final-hostages-are-home-palestinian?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:18 Early Indoctrination & Life in UNRWA Schools 06:35 The Second Intifada & Radicalisation of Children 10:12 Personal Encounters with Hamas Leaders 14:50 Mosques, Schools & the Indoctrination Pipeline 16:53 The Muslim Brotherhood Playbook Explained 21:06 Groomed by Hamas & the Road to Asylum 24:03 Exporting Radicalisation to the West 27:07 Why Moderate Muslims Are Silenced 29:00 The UK’s Blind Spot on Islamist Networks 30:02 Saudi Arabia, Abraham Accords & Regional Power 32:04 Why Gaza Must Reject the “Resistance Narrative” 35:12 A Pragmatic Path Forward for Palestinians Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  5. Brendan O’Neill & Rachel Riley - The West’s Antisemitism Crisis | The Brink Live

    22 JAN

    Brendan O’Neill & Rachel Riley - The West’s Antisemitism Crisis | The Brink Live

    In this special live episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Rachel Riley and Brendan O’Neill for a powerful and often confrontational discussion about antisemitism, Holocaust memory, and the moral collapse of Western institutions since October 7. We begin with the alarming decline of Holocaust education in British schools and ask why Jewish history is increasingly treated as a provocation rather than a warning. Rachel explains how fear, appeasement, and cultural cowardice have led schools and institutions to erase Jews rather than confront antisemitism, while Brendan argues that comparisons between Gaza and the Holocaust represent a dangerous inversion of history and morality. The conversation widens to Britain’s failure of integration, the influence of Islamist ideology, and how appeasement has shaped policing, education, and public life. We examine the Aston Villa and West Midlands Police scandal, exposing how misinformation, institutional bias, and political pressure led to the exclusion of Israeli fans and the creation of what amounted to a Jew-free zone. We also explore the role of the media, social platforms, and NGOs in spreading propaganda, the double standards applied to Israel compared to Iran and other conflicts, and why antisemitism has re-emerged in respectable language under the banner of anti Zionism. The panel reflects personally on why they continue to speak out, despite professional and social costs, and whether there are still grounds for hope. This is a raw, urgent, and unflinching live conversation about truth, courage, and what happens when a society loses the confidence to defend its own values. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-wests-antisemitism-crisis-with?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALSO, don't forget to claim your free one-month trial here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/newyeartrial Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  6. MUST WATCH: Michael Gove Slams “centrist dads” Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell

    16 JAN

    MUST WATCH: Michael Gove Slams “centrist dads” Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell

    In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Michael Gove, former Cabinet minister and one of the most influential figures in modern British politics, for a wide-ranging and unusually frank conversation about power, ideology, and the state of the country. Michael reflects on the dramatic realignment of British politics, from high-profile defections to Reform UK and the collapse of the old centrist consensus, to the internal struggles facing both the Conservative Party and Labour. He shares his thoughts on leadership, loyalty, ambition, and what political life is really like behind closed doors. Michael also reflects on his appearance on The Rest is Politics…where Jake brings up some of the most heated moments… The conversation explores immigration, Islamism, free speech, and the failure of successive governments to confront extremism with honesty and confidence. We discuss the rise of moral relativism, the role of the media, and why difficult conversations about culture, security, and national identity are so often shut down rather than addressed. This is a thoughtful and revealing conversation about politics after the age of certainties, and what Britain must confront if it is to recover confidence in itself and its institutions. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/must-watch-michael-gove-slams-centrist?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALSO, don't forget to claim your free one-month trial here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/newyeartrial Check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  7. Inside Iran: Everything The Legacy Media Won’t Tell You

    13 JAN

    Inside Iran: Everything The Legacy Media Won’t Tell You

    In this episode of The Brink, Iranian researcher and analyst Kasra Aarabi joins us. He has extensive networks within Iran’s protest movement and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, offering a sobering and urgent account of the situation on the ground. Drawing on documents obtained from inside IRGC headquarters and direct contact with protest leaders, our guest explains how the regime’s vast infrastructure of repression operates at every level of Iranian society. We discuss the use of military-grade weapons against unarmed civilians, the scale of arrests and executions, and why the death toll is likely far higher than officially reported. The conversation explores how Iran’s violence is no longer contained within its borders. From regime-sponsored attacks on British soil to the radicalisation of children in the UK, we examine why what happens in Iran directly threatens Britain’s national security. We also confront the failure of Western governments to proscribe the IRGC, the silence of political leaders, and the dangerous double standards applied by the media and international institutions. Finally, we look ahead to what comes next. We discuss the prospects for regime collapse, the role of external pressure, the risks of insurgency, and what a post-Islamic Republic Iran could realistically look like. From a secular republic to a constitutional monarchy, we ask what the Iranian people actually want and what the West should do if it truly believes in freedom and human rights. This is a powerful and unsettling conversation about tyranny, courage, and why Iran’s struggle matters far beyond its borders. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-real-death-toll-in-iran-and-why?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:30 – Death Tolls, Internet Blackouts & Brutal Crackdowns 04:50 – Kasra’s Background & Inside Access to the Regime 06:28 – Understanding the IRGC From the Inside 08:17 – Regime Threats on British Soil 11:10 – Why What Happens in Iran Affects the UK 12:15 – Why Britain Refuses to Proscribe the IRGC 15:30 – Iran’s Infrastructure of Radicalisation in Britain 18:14 – Indoctrination, Antisemitism & Islamist Ideology 20:38 – The Silence of the Western Left on Iran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  8. Kwasi Kwarteng: I’d do a better job than Rachel Reeves!

    8 JAN

    Kwasi Kwarteng: I’d do a better job than Rachel Reeves!

    In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Kwasi Kwarteng, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a wide-ranging and unusually candid conversation about power, politics, and the realities of governing Britain. Kwasi reflects on his dramatic rise and fall in office, the chaos surrounding the mini-budget, and what it was really like to be at the centre of one of the most turbulent moments in modern British politics. He explains what went wrong, what he would do differently, and why he believes the political system struggles to tell the truth about economic trade-offs. We also explore his life beyond frontline politics, from his media work to his interest in business and Bitcoin, as well as his background, education, and journey into Parliament. The conversation ranges across identity politics, meritocracy, the decline of public trust, and why Britain’s institutions feel increasingly disconnected from the people they serve. Finally, we look at the current state of British politics. Kwasi gives his assessment of Labour’s economic direction, the rise of Reform, the breakdown of the two-party system, and what the next election could mean for the country’s future. This is a thoughtful and revealing conversation about ambition, failure, loyalty, and the long-term challenges facing Britain as it once again finds itself on the brink. Enjoy a 30-day free trial of The Brink’s Substack: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/newyeartrial Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/kwasi-kwarteng-id-do-a-better-job?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ 00:00 – Introduction 03:11 – From Power to Private Life 06:08 – The Mini-Budget Fallout 08:44 – Labour, Tax Rises & Public Disillusion 12:06 – Britain’s Fractured Party System 14:50 – Family Background, Education & Identity 18:55 – Rejecting Identity Politics 23:56 – Entering Politics & Street-Level Campaigning 28:11 – Inside Parliament & Political Institutions 33:00 – Becoming a Minister 38:16 – Backing Liz Truss & Becoming Chancellor 40:31 – The Mini-Budget: Pace, Panic & Mistakes 44:46 – Markets, the Bank of England & What Went Wrong 48:16 – Deep State vs Political Responsibility 51:01 – Public Spending, Welfare & Growth 55:00 – Labour’s Economic Direction 58:43 – Immigration, Culture & Political Realignment 1:03:03 – Reform, Conservatives & the Future of the Right 1:06:59 – Loyalty, Power & Stopping the Left 1:07:18 – Final Reflections on Britain’s Political Future Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 12m
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About

Welcome to your much-needed antidote to centrist dad podcasts. Presented by Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitical analyst Andrew Fox, The Brink brings their wealth of real-life experience to bear upon the most important topics of the day, from Israel to immigration, Ukraine to Islamism, asylum hotels to the rise of Reform UK. With a host of stellar guests and an emphasis on common sense, Jake and Andrew explore what it will take to bring the West back from the brink. A podcast from the edge of what’s coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Brink
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Brink
  • Show Website
    The Brink

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