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The General & The Journalist

The Times
The General & The Journalist
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65 episodes

  • The General & The Journalist

    Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?

    22/07/2026 | 36 mins.
    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.
  • The General & The Journalist

    Crimea under pressure: Will Putin lash out?

    15/07/2026 | 40 mins.
    The pressure is mounting on the Kremlin, both militarily and economically. With Ukraine keeping a stranglehold on Putin's crown jewel, Crimea, the chances of a Russian escalation are growing. Could it become the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin?

    Russia expert Mark Galeotti joins The General & The Journalist to analyse Russia's capacity to lash out, the likelihood of a new mobilisation wave, and critically, when it might happen.

    Is an escalation by Putin inevitable? Send in your thoughts to generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Guest: Mark Galeotti, expert on on transnational crime and Russian security affairs
    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn
    Producer: Julia Webster
    Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia
    Image: John Silva, Getty
    Clips: Reuters, Getty

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The General & The Journalist

    NATO, Britain and the middle powers

    08/07/2026 | 40 mins.
    Following the NATO summit in Ankara, American allies face an uncomfortable question – can they still rely on Washington to lead?

    Donald Trump is demanding more from Europe, NATO is trying to adapt and countries like Britain must decide whether to step up or become spectators in a world shaped by others.

    This week, John Bew joins The General & The Journalist to discuss NATO, Donald Trump, Britain's defence strategy and the future of transatlantic security. Drawing on his experience advising four UK prime ministers, he explains what the summit means for UK national security, military spending, foreign policy, and Britain's role in a changing world.

    Should NATO be trying to keep the US on board or should they plan for a future without their support? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Guest: John Bew, Professor of History and Foreign Policy at the Department of War Studies, King's College London
    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn
    Producer: Julia Webster
    Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia
    Image: Getty
    Clips: Reuters, CBS News, Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The General & The Journalist

    Does Britain’s defence plan make it NATO’s weak link?

    01/07/2026 | 38 mins.
    Britain says its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan will strengthen its role in NATO. But after months of delays, funding rows and warnings from allies, does the money go far enough?

    Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO, joins Tom and Patrick to assess what the plan gets right, where it falls short and why Britain risks losing influence in the alliance if it fails to deliver.

    As NATO leaders prepare to gather in Ankara next week – with Russia threatening Europe, Donald Trump demanding more from the alliance, and countries such as Poland, Denmark and Germany moving faster on defence – is Britain still leading NATO or falling behind?

    Do you think the government has sufficiently funded UK defence? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Guest: Admiral Sir Keith Blount, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe to NATO
    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn
    Producer: Julia Webster
    Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia
    Image: Getty, Dana Chan
    Clips: Reuters, Forbes, Sky

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The General & The Journalist

    Is Britain ready for a more dangerous world? Live at Nevill Holt Festival

    24/06/2026 | 55 mins.
    For The General & The Journalist’s first anniversary, Tom and Patrick return to the question at the heart of the podcast – is the world becoming more dangerous?

    Recorded live at the Nevill Holt Festival, they look at Ukraine’s fightback, Putin’s next moves, the Iran ceasefire, China’s advantage, the threat to Taiwan and the crisis in Britain’s defences. Patrick warns that we may be entering a new Cold War and Tom asks whether Britain is moving fast enough to protect itself.

    Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn
    Producer: Julia Webster
    Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia
    Image: William Blakesley-Herbert

    What are your thoughts on the state of British defence spending? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The General & The Journalist
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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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