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. MI6 Spymaster Reveals The Shadow War in Iran

    22 HR AGO

    MI6 Spymaster Reveals The Shadow War in Iran

    In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Richard Dearlove, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, for a wide-ranging conversation about intelligence, geopolitics, and the mounting confrontation between the West and the Iranian regime. Sir Richard draws on decades of experience at the heart of Britain’s intelligence community to explain how the current crisis with Iran should be understood. We discuss the strategic calculations behind Western and Israeli actions, how intelligence agencies assess regime stability, and why the Islamic Republic remains such a persistent threat to regional and global security. The conversation also explores the role of intelligence in modern conflict, from covert operations and alliance cooperation to the limits of diplomacy when dealing with ideological regimes. Sir Richard reflects on how Western intelligence services interpret signals from Tehran, the risks of escalation in the Middle East, and what the conflict could mean for the wider balance of power. Finally, we look at the long-term future of the Iranian regime and whether internal pressure, economic strain, and external confrontation could ultimately lead to its collapse. This is a rare and revealing conversation with one of Britain’s most experienced intelligence figures about espionage, statecraft, and the high-stakes struggle now unfolding in the Middle East. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/mi6-spymaster-reveals-the-shadow?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  2. What the Royal Navy’s shame says about Britain - Tom Sharpe OBE

    3 DAYS AGO

    What the Royal Navy’s shame says about Britain - Tom Sharpe OBE

    In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by military analyst and former Royal Navy officer Tom Sharpe to examine Britain’s response to the escalating crisis in the Middle East and the deeper problems facing the UK’s armed forces. We begin by looking at the current military situation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, including the role of naval deployments, missile threats, and the strategic importance of keeping global shipping lanes open. Tom explains why the UK’s naval presence matters in this kind of conflict and what capabilities British forces could realistically contribute alongside the United States. The conversation then turns to a wider critique of Britain’s defence posture. From delays in deploying ships to chronic shortages of equipment and personnel, we explore how decades of decline have left the Royal Navy and wider armed forces stretched dangerously thin. Tom also breaks down the failures in defence procurement, the waste within the system, and why Britain struggles to translate a large defence budget into real military capability. Finally, we discuss the strategic choices facing the UK. Should Britain focus on European security and the Russian threat, or continue playing a global role alongside the United States in regions like the Middle East? And what would it actually take to rebuild a military capable of meeting the challenges of an increasingly unstable world? This is a candid and sobering discussion about Britain’s military decline, the realities of modern warfare, and the urgent reforms needed if the UK is to remain a credible power. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/what-the-royal-navys-shame-says-about?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  3. Iran War: How the UN has been hijacked with Hillel Neuer

    6 MAR

    Iran War: How the UN has been hijacked with Hillel Neuer

    In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Hillel Neuer to examine the role of the United Nations during the escalating crisis in Iran and to ask whether the institution is still capable of acting as a moral authority in world affairs. Hillel argues that the UN’s response to the Iranian uprising has exposed deep structural problems within the organisation. While tens of thousands of protesters were reportedly killed during the regime’s crackdown, many UN bodies remained largely silent, yet quickly condemned the United States and Israel when military action was taken against the Iranian regime. We explore how authoritarian states have gradually come to dominate key UN institutions, from the Human Rights Council to special rapporteur positions, and why mechanisms that were originally intended to defend human rights are now often used to advance political agendas. Hillel also explains how propaganda, procedural manoeuvres, and ideological alliances shape the way international law and legitimacy are discussed on the global stage. Finally, we ask whether the UN can realistically be reformed, or whether democracies must find new ways to defend liberal values in a world where authoritarian regimes increasingly shape international institutions. This is a candid and provocative conversation about international law, moral authority, and the struggle over the institutions meant to uphold the global order. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/p/iran-war-how-the-un-has-been-hijacked?r=63dafp Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:21 The UN’s Reaction to the Iran Protests 05:00 Why the UN Condemns the US and Israel 06:36 October 7 and the UN’s Anti-Israel Bias 10:12 Why the UN Still Won’t Condemn Hamas 10:45 How Dictatorships Captured the UN 12:25 Why the UN Still Holds Global Legitimacy 14:14 Is the UN Actually Effective? 15:52 Can the UN Be a Neutral Legal Arbiter? 18:58 Iran’s Long War Against America 20:00 When International Law Undermines National Interest 21:39 Why Moral Action Sometimes Means Ignoring the UN 25:00 How the UN Was Hijacked After Decolonisation 27:00 The Role of the UN Secretariat 29:17 Special Rapporteurs and the Accountability Problem 35:05 The Genocide Accusations Against Israel Explained 40:30 Calling Out Hypocrisy at the United Nations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  4. CIA Iran expert: This war will change global power

    4 MAR

    CIA Iran expert: This war will change global power

    In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Norman Roule to unpack the unfolding war with Iran and the strategic thinking behind the campaign against the Islamic Republic. We discuss how the military operation has unfolded so far, why Iran’s response has followed a predictable pattern of drones and ballistic missiles, and what the campaign reveals about the strengths and weaknesses of the Iranian regime. Norman explains why Tehran may avoid closing the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic miscalculations that may have shaped Iran’s early decisions, and how Gulf states are navigating a conflict happening on their doorstep. The conversation also explores the broader geopolitical stakes. We examine the role of intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel, the limits of air power in forcing regime change, and the difficult question of what a post-conflict Iran might look like. Could the regime collapse, or could the country descend into fragmentation and unrest? Finally, we discuss the long-term implications for the Middle East, from the future of the Abraham Accords to the possibility of deeper security integration among Gulf states. This is a wide-ranging and sobering conversation about war, intelligence, and the uncertain path toward a more stable Middle East. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/cia-iran-expert-this-war-will-change?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 03:24 Inside the US Campaign Against Iran 05:42 Why Iran Won’t Close the Strait of Hormuz 08:00 Strategic Failures Inside the Iranian Regime 10:05 Why This Was the “Moment” to Act 11:54 The Courage of the Iranian People 15:00 Trump’s Strategy: Keep the Enemy Guessing 17:02 The Kurdish Question and Risks of Fragmenting Iran 19:28 Why Iranian Protests Haven’t Overthrown the Regime 22:09 Can Air Power Bring Down the Islamic Republic? 25:37 US–Israel Intelligence Cooperation Against Iran 30:32 The Gulf States’ Real Position on the War 35:33 Why the Gulf Feels Abandoned by the International Community 38:10 Europe, Trump and the Fracturing of the Western Alliance 40:00 Will the Abraham Accords Expand After This War? 42:12 How Defeating Iran’s Proxies Could Transform the Middle East 46:57 The Intelligence Case for War With Iran 49:40 Imminent Threats, Terrorism and the Logic of Military Action Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  5. The War the Mainstream Media Doesn’t Show You: The Brink in Ukraine

    26 FEB

    The War the Mainstream Media Doesn’t Show You: The Brink in Ukraine

    Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-war-the-mainstream-media-doesnt?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true In this special episode of The Brink, recorded in Kyiv to mark the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, Andrew and Jake bring you a powerful double interview from the front line of Europe’s most consequential war. In the first half, we are joined by Colonel Ruslan Miroshnichenko, known by Santa, founder and commander of Ukraine’s Second International Legion. He tells the extraordinary story of building a multinational fighting force from scratch in the first chaotic weeks of the invasion, drawing volunteers from more than 30 countries. From British and American veterans to Colombian, Georgian, and Australian fighters, Santa explains what motivated them to leave their lives behind and fight for Ukraine. He describes the brutal reality of trench warfare in the Serebriansky Forest, the evolution of drone and electronic warfare, and the moral weight of commanding both seasoned soldiers and inexperienced young volunteers. We also hear gripping stories from the front line, including the capture of Russian prisoners, the human cost of the war, and the responsibility he feels towards the families of fallen international fighters. In the second half, we are joined by Heorhii Tykhyi, former war correspondent and now a senior diplomat at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Georgi reflects on the staggering casualty figures on both sides and argues that despite Russia’s vast losses, Vladimir Putin has failed strategically. We discuss the state of the peace process, the role of the United States under President Trump, and whether Washington remains a reliable partner for Kyiv. The conversation broadens to the emerging axis of Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, and why Ukraine sees itself not as a recipient of Western charity but as a battle-hardened asset to European security. Georgi makes the case that Ukraine’s experience, technology, and resilience are essential to the future defence of the West. This is a sobering and urgent episode from the Ukrainian capital, combining battlefield reality with geopolitical strategy, and asking what it will truly take to secure peace in Europe. Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Zelensky’s Call and the Birth of the International Legion 04:55 Who Joined? 30–40 Nations on the Front Line 09:34 Motivation: Idealism, Not Money 13:31 What Modern War in Ukraine Actually Looks Like 16:01 “Now You’re the Taliban” – Firepower Reality Check 17:49 Amateurs at War: Can You Train Civilians Fast Enough? 21:26 Holding the Sebriansky Forest: 13 Months Under Fire 23:18 Russia’s “Meat Grinder” Tactics Explained 24:29 Capturing Russian POWs: Drunk, Lost, and Mobilised 29:06 Respecting the Enemy and Adapting to Russian Tactics 31:42 Electronic Warfare and Intelligence Games 33:47 The Burden of Command: Speaking to Bereaved Families 35:56 Kyiv’s War Memorial and the Cost of Sacrifice 37:10 Casualty Figures: A Million Russian Losses? 39:30 Is This a Strategic Failure for Putin? 40:44 World War II Comparisons and Russian Myth-Making 42:26 The Peace Process: Pressure, Ultimatums and Reality 43:29 America’s Role: Partner, Powerbroker or Problem? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  6. The Real Reason Israel Is Targeted - Haviv Rettig Gur

    19 FEB

    The Real Reason Israel Is Targeted - Haviv Rettig Gur

    In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Haviv Rettig Gur for a wide-ranging and deeply probing conversation about why Israel is so disproportionately hated, and what that hostility reveals about the state of the West. We begin with the disruption of Haviv’s lecture at Haverford College, where keffiyeh-clad activists attempted to shut down a talk on Jewish history and the charge of settler colonialism. Haviv reflects on the ignorance driving campus activism, the collapse of serious historical scholarship, and the failure of elite universities to equip students with intellectual depth or empathy. Haviv argues that Israel’s strength lies in its synthesis of Western democracy and Middle Eastern solidarity, combining liberal institutions with a deep sense of tribal cohesion and shared destiny. We discuss why that social trust has produced military resilience, demographic growth, technological innovation, and high levels of national happiness, even during wartime. The conversation also examines the broader crisis facing Western societies, from cultural self-erasure and collapsing social trust to the information warfare being waged by hostile states and ideological movements. We ask whether the West can rediscover the solidarity that once sustained it, and whether Israel’s model offers lessons rather than condemnation. In the second part of the episode, Andrew joins to discuss his new Henry Jackson Society report, Tactical Lessons from Gaza, and what Western militaries must learn from the war. We examine how Hamas weaponised civilian casualties, how the information battlefield reshaped global opinion, and how Israel adapted its military doctrine in real time to meet the challenge of urban and tunnel warfare. This is a searching and urgent conversation about identity, democracy, and whether the West still has the confidence to defend the civilisation it built. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-real-reason-israel-is-targeted?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
  7. The Brutal & Honest Truth About Warfare in Gaza

    12 FEB

    The Brutal & Honest Truth About Warfare in Gaza

    In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is in the hot seat as we discuss his new report for the Henry Jackson Society, Tactical Lessons from Gaza, a detailed and highly praised analysis of the war and what Western militaries can learn from it. The report has been read and commended by senior military figures around the world, including four-star generals in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Andrew explains why the Gaza war has become the most politicised conflict in modern history, and how Hamas successfully turned battlefield defeat into strategic influence by weaponising civilian casualty figures. We unpack how propaganda, NGOs, international institutions, and the media helped reshape the narrative of the war, often ignoring context, verification, and basic military realities. The conversation moves deep into the realities of combat in Gaza. We explore Hamas’ vast tunnel network, the use of human shields, and the extraordinary bravery required of Israeli soldiers fighting underground. Andrew sets out how the IDF adapted in real time, developing new approaches to combined arms warfare, intelligence fusion, special forces integration, and urban combat under unprecedented conditions. We also examine operational and logistical failures, from ammunition shortages to supply chains under fire, and what these challenges reveal about Western unpreparedness for large-scale war. The discussion covers intelligence failures before October 7, the limits of technology without human intelligence, and why information warfare now plays a decisive role in shaping public support for conflict. Finally, we turn to the most important lessons of all. Andrew explains how Israel dramatically reduced battlefield deaths through medical innovation, forward-deployed doctors, and whole blood transfusion, saving hundreds of lives that would have been lost in earlier wars. We ask whether Britain and its allies are willing to learn these lessons, or whether ideology and propaganda will once again stand in the way. This is a rigorous, challenging, and essential conversation about modern warfare, truth, and what the West must confront before the next major conflict arrives. Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-brutal-and-honest-truth-about?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  8. Trump’s true strategy on Iran | Bonus episode

    6 FEB · 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
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Trailer

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
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Brink
  • Show Website
    The Brink

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