Ten Minutes On...

With incoming US President Donald Trump threatening tariffs on both rivals like China as well as American partners like Canada and Mexico, what does it all mean? Why is he doing this and what may be the likely consequences? And can the US come out well from it? Looking at evidence from Trump's previous presidency, the prospects aren't good for the US economy and American consumers. But it is unlikely that Trump will be punished politically for them. Why? Have a listen and find out!

On Monday, the rebel group M23 announced it had seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since reigniting its armed campaign in 2022, M23 has displaced over 3 million people, including 400,000 in January 2025 alone. In this episode, we try to answer s everal pressing questions: Who is M23, and what drives their rebellion? Who is backing them? Why has the government in Kinshasa struggled to contain the crisis? And, importantly, what can be done to address the escalating humanitarian challenges in the region?

On Monday Reuters reported the headline grabbing figure of 60% surveyed for the the Edelman Trust Barometer survey could justify the use of violence to bring about change. Digging deeper, Guy finds that the survey reveals growing public frustration and grievances, which is fueling distrust in key institutions like business, government and the media. But as Guy points out, the recommendations made by Edelman in the report present their own challenges, even contradictions, given the prevailing nature of the wider political and economic environment. Guy concludes that without any apparent change from within or without, this could lead to further erosion of trust, resulting in more drastic results in the medium- to long-term.

The Edelman Trust Barometer survey can be read here.

In this week's episode we look beyond the current wildfires taking place in California over the past week to look at the broader themes and challenges associated with them and other extreme weather events, from their increasing frequency and intensity and the options for responding to them. 

In the first episode of the year, Guy examines Elon Musk's controversial commentary on British politics over the New Year. Why do we give figures like Musk so much attention despite their apparent ignorance? Drawing on insights from his holiday reading, including Anthony Seldon's Prime Ministers series and academic studies on the disconnect between scholars and public servants, Guy unpacks the broader implications of these dynamics.

Listen now for a thought-provoking exploration of influence, expertise, and the narratives that shape public discourse.

In this week’s episode, we unpack the political turmoil in South Korea. After President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law, only to see it voted down by the legislature on December 3rd, events quickly spiraled. The past week has seen the police attempt to raid his office and the National Assembly vote to impeach him. So, how did Yoon miscalculate so badly?

We compare his self-coup attempt to similar cases in the US, Tunisia, Peru, and Brazil. By analyzing why such efforts succeed or fail in other places, we explore key lessons on preventing them in the future.

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria caught many by surprise, including seasoned regional analysts. As attention turns to what might happen next, Guy decides to take a side step and instead look at what the research and data on post-civil war settings tell us; whether peace through government or rebel victories and negotiated settlements or military victories are more durable. Understanding these broader trends could provide insights for what is presently an extremely fluid situation for Syria.

Since 2018, Syria has largely been viewed as a frozen conflict, with neither the government nor rebel factions showing the capacity or willingness to make significant moves. However, this dynamic shifted at the end of November when the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham advanced against government forces in the northern city of Aleppo, forcing them to retreat.

While it’s unclear if this marks a turning point in the conflict, the developments have prompted renewed attention to what many had considered a forgotten war.

This week, Guy takes a look at the present state of affairs in Syria. He examines the war's devastating impact on the country's people and economy, analyzes the current balance of power among the major rivals, and explores what this resurgence in violence could mean for Syria’s future.

In the episode Guy refers to an article he wrote on the situation in Syria from 2020. It is available here. In addition, Guy references Marc Lynch's The New Arab Wars, which can be found here.

On Thursday, November 21, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and several Hamas leaders for their roles in the conflict that escalated on October 7 and the ongoing war in Gaza. This episode examines the implications of these warrants, providing context on the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza. Host Guy unpacks the conditions under which the ICC can act, exploring the intersection of international law and the political realities of power dynamics as well as the some of the challenges the ICC faces in pursuing justice

This week Guy looks at the dramatic rise in users on the BlueSky app and explores whether some of Twitter's user base has finally had enough of Elon Musk’s ownership and management.

He takes a look at the current social media landscape, examining Twitter's role within it and the significant changes it has undergone over the past two years. Guy discusses why users have been hesitant to leave Twitter, despite its controversies, and what has helped them to maker the move to alternatives like BlueSky and Threads.

Through a comparison of the three platforms, Guy reflects on the evolving social media ecosystem, the potential shift away from monolithic entities, and the impact of echo chambers on user behavior.