The General & The Journalist

Space is becoming a new military frontline. The US has acknowledged having weapons in orbit, the UK has launched its first dedicated RAF space squadron to counter hostile threats to British satellites, while China and Russia are rapidly expanding their capabilities. But is Britain ready to defend itself in space? Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, a senior officer in the US Space Force, discusses the growing threat from China and Russia, the future of space warfare and the lessons of Starlink's role in Ukraine. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 09:26 - China and Russia’s growing space threats 16:19 - How space attacks disrupted Ukraine and Germany 26:10 - Can Britain defend its satellites? 32:15 - Starlink and the future of warfare 30:22 - How much should Britain spend on space defence? Guest: Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships, United States Space Force Hosts: General 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips: CNN, NEWSNATION Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel votes next week and Benjamin Netanyahu faces a defining election as former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot challenges his grip on power. After three years of war, Israel faces mounting security threats, international isolation and deep political divisions. But even if Netanyahu loses, a new government may struggle to change course. Tom speaks to Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat and adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli Defence Intelligence office to explore whether the election could end the Netanyahu era – and what a change of government might mean for Gaza, Iran and the wider Middle East. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 04:57 Is Netanyahu heading for defeat? 11:28 Will Arab voters decide Israel’s election? 17:27 Is Israel safer after three years of war? 25:02 What would change if Netanyahu loses? 32:30 Could Netanyahu face prison if he loses power? Guests: Alon Pinkas, former Israeli diplomat and Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli Defence and Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies Hosts: General 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month's Q&A, Patrick and Tom examine Donald Trump’s controversial deal to buy Russian diesel, the shifting world order, and the threats facing Western security. Plus, they consider a listener’s idea for bringing veterans closer to the public. Send your questions in to generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a decade, US spies and diplomats have reported mysterious symptoms including strange noises, sudden pressure and debilitating neurological symptoms… but no one has definitively explained why. Now, two investigative journalists say they have uncovered new evidence of a suspected microwave weapon, a Russian connection and a US government failure to confront the truth. Their new book, The Havana Syndrome: Secret Weapons, a Government Cover-Up, and the Greatest Spy Mystery of Our Time, raises fresh questions about intelligence failures, covert warfare and a mystery that may be far from over. Is Russia behind these mysterious events and has the US government been hiding what it knows? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 04:00 The first mysterious attacks 16:57 The alleged Russian microwave weapon 26:29 The scientific evidence and scepticism 29:24 Was there a government cover-up? 35:23 Is the mystery still unfolding? Guests: Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados, investigative producers for CBS’s 60 Minutes 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips : BBC, TODAY, 6 News Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Houthis have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast threatening one of the world’s most important shipping routes through Bab al-Mandab. Yemeni government forces are fighting back, but the Iran-backed group’s ability to disrupt global trade and strike across the region continues to grow. Yemen expert Nadwa Al-Dawsari joins Tom and Patrick to explain how the Houthis became a regional military power, how much control Iran really has over them, and whether Yemen is becoming another front in Tehran’s wider proxy war. So, how far can the Houthis expand, and can they be stopped? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:49 — The Houthis fight to seize Yemen’s Red Sea coast 02:58 — How Iran helped build Houthi military power 07:01 — Why the Bab el-Mandeb threatens global shipping 14:07 — Who are the Houthis and their enemies 22:13 — Can the US stop the Houthi threat? Guest: Nadwa Al-Dawsari, Fellow at the Centre on Armed Groups and Associate Fellow at the Middle East Institute 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. Producers: Julia Webster with help from Robert Wallace Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Denise Kelly, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Russia steps up sabotage, interference and intimidation across Europe, how far is Vladimir Putin prepared to go? Former MI6 chief Sir John Scarlett joins Tom and Patrick to explain what Putin wants in Ukraine, whether Russia could escalate into a direct confrontation with NATO, and why intelligence back channels may be crucial to preventing escalation. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 05:28 - Did the West misjudge Putin? 09:46 - Is Putin under pressure? 15:04 - What does Putin want in Ukraine? 17:30 - Russia’s hybrid war against NATO 23:49 - Why the CIA Chief went to Moscow Guest: Sir John Scarlett, former MI6 Chief and co-founder of SC Strategy 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, Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 problem 00:53 – Delayed ships and ageing carriers 02:24 – Trump’s proposed carrier redesign 03:25 – Longer deployments, greater strain 04:50 – The carrier gap in the Pacific 06:09 – The $25 billion carrier group at risk 07:30 – The cost to the wider fleet 08:38 – Shipyard decline and military power Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Producer: Yasmin Butt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:47 – Inside the SAS 10:24 – Northern Ireland legacy lawfare 16:29 – Loughgall and shoot-to-kill claims 22:15 – How lawfare is damaging the SAS 27:30 – The fight to protect British soldiers Guests: Former SAS Squadron Commander Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major George Simm Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:55 – Nina Khrushcheva on Putin’s Russia 07:50 – Inside Russia’s rigged election 16:37 – Putin’s mobilisation gamble 23:04 – Russia’s war economy and breaking point 30:04 – Putin’s escalating threat to NATO Guest: Nina Khrushcheva, professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York City 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, Shabnam Grewal Executive 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.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 – Who blew up Nord Stream? 02:55 – Why Nord Stream mattered 06:39 – Inside the sabotage mission 17:19 – Russia, CIA or Ukraine? 24:00 – Evidence, arrests and who ordered it Guest: Bojan Pancevski, chief European political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Dan Box Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty Images, Danish Defence Command Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Producer: Jack Feeney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 - Mecca Pact Explained 05:04 - Saudi–Turkey–Pakistan Defence Alliance 13:02 - Why the Mecca Pact Matters Now 23:32 - Is the Mecca Pact a New NATO? 32:53 - Future of Middle East Security Guest: 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 Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 — How the modern Middle East was made 13:15 — 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 wars 36:45 — Six converging theatres—and reasons for hope The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East by Simon Sebag Montefiore is available in stores now Guest: Simon Sebag Montefiore, British historian and author 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 North Korea’s economic boom 08:31 Russia fuels Kim Jong Un 14:18 China, Russia and North Korea 18:32 North Korea’s nuclear threat 26:16 Why denuclearisation failed 33:46 Kim Jong Un’s successor and future Guest: Dr Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Reuters, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Strategy 03:01 - How Mossad Penetrated the Iranian Regime’s Deepest Secrets 09:24 - HUMINT vs. SIGINT: Why Human Spies Outperform Cyber Intelligence 14:16 - Exploding Pagers, Sabotage & The Ethics of Covert Operations 24:28 - The Future of Iran, Regime Change & Yossi Cohen’s Political Ambitions Guest: Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad Host: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips: BBC How should Andy Burnham approach the UK’s relationship with Israel ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 flybys 08:50 — Who is Pete Hegseth? 10:55 — Fitness, testosterone and the “warrior ethos” 14:30 — Diversity, standards and the military beard debate 21:40 — Does machismo belong in the military? Guest: Sean Bell, Former Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & 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: Elle Scott & Julia Webster Exec Producer: Priyanka Deladia Clips: US Department of War. Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 – Zelensky's Political Crisis 01:42 – Why Zelensky Fired Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi 08:56 – Civilian Control vs. Military Command in Ukraine 14:37 – RUSI Expert Natia Seskuria on Kyiv's Power Struggle 32:13 – Listener Q&A: The Red Sea Crisis and China's Role in Djibouti Guest: Natia Seskuria, Head of Russia and Eurasia Programme at RUSI Hosts: General 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 Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 – Is Iran Trump’s Forever War? 05:22 – Why Iran wants to control the Strait of Hormuz 09:41 – US Troop deaths and growing political pressure on Trump 13:23 – Trump’s Iran Options: Diplomacy, Naval Blockade or Escalation 27:14 – Can the US reopen the Strait? Kirsten Fontenrose’s Six-Month Forecast Guest: Kirsten Fontenrose, former Senior Director for Gulf Affairs at the National Security Council Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Clips: C-SPAN, US Central Command, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.