The View From Here

Jasmine El-Gamal

The View From Here is a brand-new weekly podcast hosted by former Pentagon official and foreign policy analyst Jasmine El-Gamal. Each Thursday, Jasmine connects the dots between global headlines and the human stories behind them. From war rooms to conflict zones to refugee camps, she draws on her experiences to examine how policy decisions impact real lives, uncovering the unseen costs of power. The View from Here is foreign policy, reimagined: from the people shaping it, to those it impacts. Get in touch with us with your thoughts and questions! You can find us at jasmine@viewfromherepod.com. Disclaimer: The View from Here aims to showcase a wide range of views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its host.

  1. 16 Jul

    Europe's Migration Dilemma: Can Democracies Balance Control and Compassion?

    Migration has become one of the most politically divisive issues facing Europe. Governments are under growing pressure to control their borders, reduce irregular arrivals and restore public confidence in systems many voters see as overwhelmed or open to abuse. At the same time, thousands of people fleeing war, persecution, economic collapse and instability remain caught in inadequate systems that can leave them waiting for years. The European Union’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum is meant to address that crisis of capacity and trust. It promises faster decisions, stronger border procedures and greater cooperation between member states. But human rights organisations warn that the new system could expand detention, weaken protections and place vulnerable people at even greater risk. In this episode of The View From Here, Jasmine speaks with Meghan Benton, Director of Global Programs at the Migration Policy Institute, about what the new pact will mean in practice, why Europe’s migration and asylum system has become so difficult to manage, and whether legal migration pathways could offer a more sustainable alternative to deterrence and irregular movement. They also explore the political narratives shaping the debate, the legitimate pressures migration can place on local communities, and why governments so often imitate the language of the far right rather than articulate a clearer vision of their own. At the heart of the conversation is a question confronting democracies across Europe: can they maintain control, rebuild public trust and still treat people seeking safety with dignity and compassion? Episode Notes: EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en Meghan's recent talks: Home Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Asylum and Returns Policy, HC 1579, Tuesday 16 December 2025, https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/16932/pdf World of Migration: Why Is Immigration Policy So Hard to Get Right? (Podcast), Thursday Apr 02, 2026, https://migrationpolicy.podbean.com/e/world-of-migration-why-is-immigration-policy-so-hard-to-get-right/?utm_source=copilot.com MPI Podcast, World of Migration: Humanitarian Protection at a Crossroads: What Future for the Strained Refugee System?, Friday Sep 19, 2025, https://migrationpolicy.podbean.com/e/wom-humanitarian-protection-crossroads/

  2. 25 Jun

    "The Essence of Childhood Has been Destroyed": How the world failed Gaza's children

    What does it look like when a childhood is stolen? A new UN report accuses Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, documenting what it describes as the destruction of childhood through death, injury, displacement and psychological trauma. The report has already become deeply politicised, with supporters and critics fiercely debating its findings. But beyond the politics are the children themselves. In this episode of The View From Here, Jasmine El-Gamal speaks with humanitarian Arwa Damon, founder of INARA, and pediatrician Dr. Seema Jilani, two women who have spent years caring for children in war zones, including Gaza. Together they discuss what they witnessed on the ground, how Gaza compares with other conflicts they've worked in, what prolonged war does to childhood, and why so many people have become desensitised to images of suffering. They also reflect on the challenge of bearing witness, whether testimony can still change minds, and what they wish every policymaker—and every one of us—could understand about the daily lives of children living through war. Episode Notes: INARA (International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance): https://www.inara.org/ UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry report: "The essence of childhood has been destroyed": Israel's deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023 https://www.un.org/unispal/document/coi-report-23jun26/ Arwa's Substack: https://substack.com/@arwadamon

About

The View From Here is a brand-new weekly podcast hosted by former Pentagon official and foreign policy analyst Jasmine El-Gamal. Each Thursday, Jasmine connects the dots between global headlines and the human stories behind them. From war rooms to conflict zones to refugee camps, she draws on her experiences to examine how policy decisions impact real lives, uncovering the unseen costs of power. The View from Here is foreign policy, reimagined: from the people shaping it, to those it impacts. Get in touch with us with your thoughts and questions! You can find us at jasmine@viewfromherepod.com. Disclaimer: The View from Here aims to showcase a wide range of views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its host.

You Might Also Like