Battleground

In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Saul David sits down with prize-winning, internationally bestselling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss his book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.

Montefiore shares the intense, challenging process behind crafting a fact-based, source-grounded history of the region from 1900 to the present day—a project designed to cut through modern social media disinformation, anti-factual discourse, and toxic polarisation. He highlights the importance of moving beyond a narrow, traditional lens to recognise neglected humanitarian crises in North Africa, Syria, and Sudan, emphasising that every human life carries equal moral weight.

The conversation explores key historical turning points across four distinct phases of modern Middle Eastern history:

• The agency of local regional leaders, contrasting self-made figures like King Abdulaziz Al Saud with traditional top-down imperial narratives.
• The complex collapse of the Ottoman Empire, early nationalist movements, and the tragic targeting of minorities such as the Armenians.
• Strategic military lessons drawn from historical operations like the 1976 Entebbe raid and why lasting security requires political compromise alongside military capability.
• The deeper, overarching battle of ideas within Islam, contrasting radical revolutionary Islamism with more open-minded, cosmopolitan visions.
• The forgotten origin story of the region's modern borders, explaining how most Middle Eastern nation-states were created in the wake of the two World Wars.

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground Ukraine, Saul David and Patrick Bishop examine the latest geopolitical fallout following Jared Kushner’s controversial peace deal statements and Donald Trump’s calls for Ukraine to halt energy strikes. They unpack the domestic political implications—including the passing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act—and analyse whether the administration's stance crosses the line into treason.

• Geopolitical & Diplomatic Turbulence: The hosts discuss Jared Kushner's claims that an agreement has been reached on all issues except territorial ones, why his logic is fundamentally flawed, and how Russian officials contradicted his claims. They also examine the funding behind Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding by a Russian oligarch.
• US Legislative Action: A look at the Senate and House passing aggressive new sanctions against Russia's energy, defence, and shadow fleet sectors, overriding opposition despite pressure on Ukraine.
• Front-line Dynamics & Deep Strikes: According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces have contested the initiative and launched successful counter-attacks in Kupiansk, Oleksandrivka, and Lyman. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched its deepest strike yet—hitting gas facilities nearly 3,000 kilometres inside Russia.
• Escalations Near NATO Borders: Analysis of Russian hybrid warfare, including a drone downed in Lithuania by Italian NATO jets, a strike on a Ukrainian train station just after Boris Johnson passed through, and a Russian frigate firing flares at a Danish helicopter.
• Russian High Command Losses: The elimination of two more senior Russian officers—Lt. Gen. Sergei Milshukov and Maj. Gen. Anton Grunis—bringing the total to 24 generals lost in the conflict.
• Cyber Updates & Disinformation: How pro-Ukrainian operations hit Russian networks with massive DDoS attacks, and how the Russian group Matryoshka launched targeted disinformation campaigns following German regional elections.
• Listener Questions: Saul and Patrick answer questions about EU-China trade tit-for-tats over sanctions, the military and ethical pitfalls of targeting Russian oligarchs, Ukraine's growing domestic ballistic missile capabilities, and why casualty figures haven't sparked a domestic uprising in Russia.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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

In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by publisher and military historian Iain MacGregor to explore how the past illuminates the present and future of warfare. Drawing from his book Battle: The Moments That Transformed Warfare From Ancient Greece to Ukraine, MacGregor discusses the enduring principles of war—morale, leadership, innovation, subterfuge, and numbers—across history's pivotal conflicts.

Key Highlights

• The Human Element & Family History: MacGregor shares how his family's military lineage inspired his focus on the lived experiences of ordinary soldiers rather than just high-level strategy.
• Morale on the Battlefield: A comparative look at the Ukrainian defence of Kyiv versus Russian public sentiment. MacGregor offers first-hand insights into how ordinary Russians endure conflict and view state patriotism.
• Leadership in Modern Conflict: The conversation examines modern political and military leadership, contrasting domestic command structures with international coalition responses.
• Game-Changing Innovation: MacGregor discusses the evolution of war-altering tech—from historical turning points like radar and armour to the cost-effective, high-impact role of drones on the modern battlefield.
• Subterfuge & Satellite Surveillance: Why traditional mass-scale military deceptions are yielding to modern intelligence, drone technology, and digital information warfare.
• Democracies and Casualty Tolerances: An exploration of how public information and civilian backing shape military capabilities in Western democracies compared to authoritarian regimes.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this special standalone edition, host Roger Moorhouse and co-host Patrick Bishop speak with intrepid war reporter Boldizsár "Boldi" Győri following his latest trip to Ukraine. Boldi provides a vivid look into the current atmosphere in Kyiv, where residents face modified S-300 and S-400 Russian missile strikes with minimal warning and a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles. Despite the air campaign, he highlights that civilian morale remains intact, supported by local preparations for the coming winter and a deep connection to those serving at the front.

Boldi recounts his experiences on the front line in the east, detailing the extreme isolation of infantrymen supplied by expendable, Mars-rover-like ground drones in the grey zone. He describes travelling with the 24th Brigade near Kramatorsk, following middle-aged green recruits—former miners, taxi drivers, and salesmen—as veteran "reconnaissance infantrymen" give them crash courses before navigating heavily targeted, drone-saturated terrain.

The episode also covers the gradual evacuation of Kramatorsk under the threat of Russian FPV drones and glide bombs, the harsh economic realities for internally displaced families and pensioners, and the inspiring story of former Mariupol POWs who survived captivity and returned to Kyiv to build their own veteran-run clothing brand.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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Hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse examine the latest US-led diplomatic efforts following meetings between Donald Trump's envoys—Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff—and leaders in Moscow and Kyiv. They unpack the lack of concrete diplomatic breakthroughs, Witkoff's controversial comments to Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky's calls for winter air defence support.

The hosts also analyse Owen Matthews’ bleak assessment of Ukraine's war efforts in The Spectator, contrasting his pessimistic outlook with tactical Ukrainian successes around Lyman, where forces liberated 200 square kilometres. They discuss the "pervasive culture of lying" within the Russian military identified by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), $27 billion in unexpected budget shortfalls reported by Kyiv, and potential mass mobilisation rumours driving young Russian men to flee.

Finally, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Patrick and Roger reflect on how global perception of US leadership has transformed since 2001. In the Q&A section, they respond to listener inquiries regarding the rise of far-right political parties in Europe and their stance on Ukraine, the current status of the military campaign in Crimea, escalation risks in cyber warfare, and shifting youth attitudes towards military service and national defence.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture, Roger Moorhouse is joined by Bojan Pancevski, Chief Political Correspondent for Europe at The Wall Street Journal and author of The Nord Stream Conspiracy. Together, they unravel the audacious plot behind the autumn 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, examining how a small team of operatives allegedly carried out the most significant act of modern industrial sabotage on a shoestring budget. Pancevski reveals details from inside both the Ukrainian team and the German investigation, exploring how the CIA caught wind of the plan, why Western allies tried to stop it, and how Poland attempted to derail the German probe.

They also break down the collapse of Germany’s long-standing Wandel durch Handel energy policy, analyse the upcoming high-stakes trial in Hamburg, and confront the wild conspiracy theories—from Seymour Hersh to Russian false-flag narratives—that surrounded the attack. Finally, Pancevski offers his sharp assessment of Donald Trump's diplomatic stance toward Putin and Zelenskyy, and discusses what this dangerous precedent means for the future of global critical infrastructure.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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

In this episode, Saul David and Roger Moorhouse analyze the recent escalation in long-range aerial strikes, including Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian logistics sites, as well as severe Russian missile raids on Kyiv and Odesa's power infrastructure. They discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct comments to Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit, Germany's official findings on the Russian hybrid drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport, and the complex legal parallel of the upcoming Nord Stream trial in Hamburg. They also examine Ukraine's significant counterattack near Lyman and report on heavy Russian military losses in Donetsk.

Later, cybersecurity expert David Alexander joins the podcast to explore the history of state-sponsored cyber operations—from the 2007 attack on Estonia to pre-positioned malware in critical infrastructure. He discusses NATO's legal frameworks under the Tallinn Manual, the realities of offensive cyber capabilities, and the emerging risks posed by AI-driven tools like Mythos. Finally, Saul and Roger answer listener questions regarding thermobaric weapons, civilian evacuations, and Belarus’s precarious strategic position.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of The Big Picture, host Patrick Bishop is joined by former soldier, military entrepreneur, and author Tim Spicer.

Patrick and Tim discuss Tim’s latest book, An Axe and Four Balloons, which tells the story of Brian Franks—the former Etonian and hotel manager who became a wartime commando and is credited with saving the SAS from extinction after the Second World War. Tim explores Franks’s military career, from his early days in the Middlesex Yeomanry and commando raids in the desert, to leading 2 SAS during the perilous Operation Loyton in the Vosges Mountains and his post-war hunt for German war criminals.

The discussion broadens into big-picture concepts of military philosophy and modern society. Tim reflects on the nature of leadership and shares his definition of courage as "the management of fear." They also examine the qualities of historical mavericks, whether modern political leadership is lacking, and whether the youth of today would step up to defend their country if called upon.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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In this episode of Battleground, Patrick Bishop and Saul David delve into high-stakes diplomacy and the gruelling realities of life on the front lines.

First, the hosts analyse the sudden, clandestine visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow. What brought a US military aircraft to Russia's capital for an eight-hour stay, and what does it mean for the future of Western support for Ukraine? Patrick and Saul debate whether the trip was a stern warning against Russian sabotage in NATO countries or an attempt by Washington to enlist Moscow’s help in resolving tensions with Iran.

They also look at Europe's shifting defence posture, including news of joint nuclear deterrence talks between Germany, Britain, and France.

Then, Patrick and Saul are joined by Hungarian journalist and filmmaker Emma Strauss, fresh off a reporting trip to the frontline city of Kherson. Emma delivers an extraordinary and harrowing eyewitness account of a civilian population living under constant terror. Located just three kilometres from Russian positions, Kherson is bombarded daily by FPV and fibre-optic drones targeting movement in the streets. Emma shares stories of local hospital workers walking to work in constant fear, the hidden danger of air-dropped mines, and her own heart-stopping experience coming under direct drone attack.

You can find Emma Strauss on Instagram by following her: @emastrauss

Finally, the hosts answer listener questions covering political rifts within Kyiv's top leadership, the strategic viability of Russian mobilisation efforts, and potential Ukrainian targets on Russian supply lines.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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

In this instalment of Battleground: The Big Picture, host Julius Strauss takes a deep dive into Hungary’s seismic political shift following the April elections. After 16 years of rule, Viktor Orbán was swept aside by political newcomer Péter Magyar and his Tisza party. Now nearly 100 days into Magyar's mandate, we examine what this historic transition means for Hungary, the European Union, and the remnant of the old regime.

Julius is joined by Nick Thorpe, the BBC’s long-standing Budapest correspondent with four decades of reporting experience across Eastern Europe. Together, they analyse Magyar’s energetic start, his aggressive strategy using Orbán’s own constitutional tools to dismantle the system, and early missteps like the "Polgár fiasco".

Key Topics Covered:

• The Fall of Orbán: Why the long-serving strongman conceded quietly on election night and what became of his political apparatus.
• 100 Days of Tisza: How Péter Magyar’s inexperienced government is navigating parliamentary marathons, social media diplomacy, and high public expectations.
• Dismantling the Machine: The controversial use of majoritarian powers to overhaul public broadcasting, oust key regime figures, and replace the presidency.
• Accountability vs. Retribution: The delicate legal and political tightrope of prosecuting past corruption while avoiding a cycle of revenge.
• Immediate Crisis & Future Outlook: Economic strains, energy challenges, and whether Tisza can deliver a true "civic Hungary"

Julius Strauss writes the blog Back from the Front and also owns and runs Wild Bear Lodge, a bear-viewing lodge, in Canada. Check out both in the links below:

Substack: https://backfromthefront.substack.com/

Wild Bear Lodge: https://wildbearlodge.ca/

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at [email protected]

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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