The Brink

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com

In this episode of The Brink, Shawn Eni, the man behind the viral Mossad parody account, joins us to reflect on October 7 and the information war that has followed. Shawn explains how humour became a weapon against antisemitism and anti-Israel conspiracy theories, why he believes Israel is losing the battle for the next generation, and what the West still fails to understand about the online war surrounding Gaza. He also reveals what happened when the real Mossad finally got in touch…

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Chapters

00:00 The Man Behind The Fake Mossad

03:17 Remembering October 7th

10:35 Finding Humour After October 7th

13:39 How The Fake Mossad Account Began

17:01 When Reality Became Harder To Satirise

19:12 Israel’s Online Information War

23:00 Is Israel Losing The Next Generation?

25:07 Can Humour Change The Narrative?

32:40 Why Israel Struggled With Online Messaging

39:29 Israel, The West & The Jewish Diaspora

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Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com

In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by former US Marine Lucas Gage to tell the extraordinary story of how he descended into white nationalism and antisemitism, and how he eventually found his way out. Lucas traces his radicalisation from serving in Iraq after 9/11 to conspiracy theories, Mein Kampf and years spent building a huge online following through increasingly extreme rhetoric. He reflects on the damage he caused, the role of social media in fuelling his anger and how his views began to affect his family and personal life. The conversation explores what finally broke his worldview, why he now rejects the conspiracy theories he once promoted and the responsibility he feels to undo some of the damage he caused. They also discuss 9/11 conspiracies, online propaganda, Nick Fuentes and what Lucas believes his experience can teach us about pulling people back from political extremism.

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Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com

In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake react to the Labour Party conference and what it reveals about the direction of the government. They discuss Labour’s increasingly hostile approach to Israel, Ed Miliband’s sanctions policy, Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans and the potential consequences for Britain’s national security. The conversation also turns to defence, political extremism and whether Britain’s political class is putting party interests ahead of the country.

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Chapters

00:00 Labour’s Middle East Problem

02:52 Starmer, Palestine & The Labour Left

05:45 Labour Friends Of Israel vs Palestine

06:11 Is Labour Risking Britain’s National Security?

09:59 Miliband’s Message To Pro-Palestine Activists

14:30 Qatar & Labour’s Double Standards

15:47 Are Sanctions The Start Of A Financial War On Israel?

21:44 Shabana Mahmood’s New Migration Policy

27:41 Is There A Better Way To Handle Asylum?

30:58 Angela Rayner, Protest & Political Double Standards

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Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com

In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by Middle East security expert Michael Knights to explore how the Houthis have grown from a ragtag Yemeni militia into one of Iran’s most heavily armed regional partners. Drawing on his firsthand experience in Yemen, Michael describes the Houthis’ treatment of civilians, their military tactics and the Iranian support behind their rise. The conversation also examines the latest Houthi offensive, the threat to global shipping and Saudi oil infrastructure, and why Michael believes Europe could increasingly find itself in their sights.

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Chapters

00:00 Inside The War Against The Houthis

02:31 From Hezbollah Sympathiser To Houthi Expert

07:20 Why The Houthis Are More Than Underdogs

09:36 The Houthis, Iran & Ethnic Supremacy

12:42 Booby-Trapped Schools, Wells & Homes

14:40 How The Houthis Control Yemen Through Hunger

17:01 What It’s Like To Fight The Houthis

22:04 Who Are The Houthis & Where Did They Come From?

30:00 How The Houthis Learned From Hezbollah

35:33 The Houthis’ Missiles, Money & Iranian Backing

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In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Loay Alshareef to discuss radical Islam, antisemitism, and why he believes the West has failed to understand the threat posed by the Muslim Brotherhood. Drawing on his own journey from radicalism to becoming an outspoken Muslim supporter of Israel, Loay explains why he believes Islam and Zionism are compatible, and why more Muslims must speak out against extremism. The conversation also explores the war with Iran, the future of the Abraham Accords, and why Loay remains optimistic about peace between Israel and the Arab world, while warning against the growing hostility towards Muslims within parts of the pro-Israel movement. Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/

Chapters

00:00 A Muslim’s Warning To Britain

02:17 The “Zionist Brotherhood” & British Extremism

05:20 The Muslim Brotherhood’s Caliphate Ambitions

09:00 What Britain Tolerates That The Gulf Won’t

11:08 Why Loay Calls Himself A Zionist

14:30 What The Quran Really Says About Jews

19:08 Why More Muslims Aren’t Speaking Out

23:47 Sunni Extremism, Iran & The IRGC

27:00 Why Loay Feels Less Safe In Britain

29:54 Iran, Israel & The Future Of The Middle East

38:11 Why Arab Leaders Struggle To Make Peace

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In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by historian Roger Moorhouse to ask what became of fascism after the Second World War, and whether its influence can still be seen in politics today.

From Nazi influence in the Arab world and the rise of Islamism to Putin’s Russia and Donald Trump’s America, Roger explores which elements of fascism have survived and why the label itself may now be doing more harm than good.

The conversation also turns to the populist right, political extremism and the attempts from both left and right to rewrite the legacy of Winston Churchill and the Second World War.

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Chapters

00:00 What Is Fascism?

02:26 How Fascism Became a Political Insult

06:10 Racism, Antisemitism & Nazi Germany

10:05 Humiliation: The Fuel of Fascism

16:08 Fascism’s Influence on the Arab World

20:51 Hitler, Al-Husseini & Political Islam

28:02 Is Putin’s Russia Becoming Fascist?

30:20 Trump & the Fascism Question

40:36 Erdoğan & the Problem with the “Fascist” Label

44:55 What Fascism Can Teach Us Today

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In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Izabella Tabarovsky to explore how some of today’s most powerful accusations against Israel have their roots in Soviet propaganda.

Izabella traces claims of genocide, apartheid, and “Zionism is racism” back to Soviet campaigns designed to portray Israel as racist, colonialist, and even Nazi. She explains how these ideas spread through academia, the UN, and the global left, surviving long after the Soviet Union itself collapsed.

The conversation also examines the growing overlap between the far left and far right, and why the same conspiracy theories about Israel and Jewish power are increasingly appearing across both political extremes.

A fascinating discussion about Soviet propaganda, antisemitism, and why the ideas of the Cold War are still shaping the debate around Israel today.

Chapters

00:00 How Soviet Propaganda Targeted Israel

02:02 Where the “Genocide” Accusation Began

07:01 Why Stalin Turned Against Israel

12:12 How the Soviets Reinvented Anti-Semitism

16:51 The Far Right Roots of Soviet Anti-Zionism

22:39 Mahmoud Abbas & Soviet Propaganda

28:00 Where “Zionism Is Racism” Came From

33:41 How Soviet Propaganda Survived the USSR

36:48 Durban, 9/11 & the New Anti-Zionism

40:55 How the Far Right Adopted the Same Playbook

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In this episode of View from the Brink, Jake Wallis Simons reflects on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and asks how the West has become increasingly confused about the difference between its friends and its enemies.

Jake traces the consequences of September 11th through Afghanistan, Iraq, and the rise of jihadism, arguing that while the West fought Islamist extremism abroad, its propagandists became increasingly effective at exploiting Western institutions, social media, and the progressive left.

Turning to October 7th and Israel, Jake argues that the response to the Hamas attacks exposed the scale of this information war, with misinformation spreading rapidly while sympathy for Israel collapsed.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Jake argues that the West must recover the confidence to recognise its enemies, defend its allies, and resist the propaganda designed to turn it against itself.

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In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by political commentator Dan Hodges for a wide-ranging conversation about Labour’s sanctions against Israel, the growing crisis inside Reform UK and why he believes Nigel Farage’s grip on the party may be approaching its end.

Hodges begins by examining the political calculation behind Andy Burnham’s approach to Israel. He argues that Labour is attempting to shore up its left flank against the Greens and pro-Palestinian challengers, and explains how pressure from activists, backbenchers and senior cabinet figures previously pushed Keir Starmer towards recognising a Palestinian state.

The conversation then turns to Reform and the fallout from the protests in Dover and Portsmouth. Hodges argues that the emergence of Rupert Lowe and Restore has dragged Reform away from its strategy of professionalisation and towards an increasingly populist battle for its own base, while figures including Zia Yusuf and Robert Jenrick position themselves for what could eventually become a leadership contest.

Hodges also discusses the mounting scrutiny of Reform’s finances and Nigel Farage’s response to it. He argues that attempts to portray journalists and parliamentary investigations as part of an establishment conspiracy resemble the playbooks of both Donald Trump and Jeremy Corbyn, and warns that Reform’s once formidable political “force field” is beginning to break down.

Finally, Hodges makes a striking prediction: Reform may have a future, but Nigel Farage may not have one at its head. With Farage increasingly divisive among the wider electorate, he assesses the potential successors and explains why a future leadership contest could ultimately come down to Zia Yusuf and Robert Jenrick.

Chapters

00:00 Introductions

02:19 The Politics Behind Miliband’s Israel Sanctions

07:26 Andy Burnham’s Political Strategy

13:42 Why Israel Is Losing The Propaganda War

19:56 The Dover Protests & Reform’s Response

22:23 Has Rupert Lowe Got Inside Farage’s Head?

25:08 Farage, Reform & The Populist Playbook

31:02 Why Dan Hodges Is Targeting Reform

38:34 What’s Really Going On With Reform’s Finances?

42:45 Can Farage Copy Trump’s Playbook?

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Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com

In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Lord Daniel Finkelstein for a wide-ranging conversation about the rise of populism, the far right, and the growing threat of political extremism across Britain, Europe, and the United States.

Drawing on his own family's experience of Nazism and Stalinism, Finkelstein reflects on his confrontation with Nick Fuentes and the extraordinary antisemitic abuse that followed. He examines Tucker Carlson's role in bringing once-fringe ideas towards the mainstream, and why attacks on the historical understanding of the Second World War and the Holocaust have become increasingly important to parts of the American right.

Turning to Europe, the conversation explores the dramatic rise of Germany's AfD and the role immigration has played in fuelling populist politics. Finkelstein argues that mass migration was a serious political mistake and that governments must regain control, while warning that demonising people who are already British citizens risks making integration harder and pushing politics towards ethno-nationalism.

The discussion also turns to Reform UK, Restore, and the battle over the future of the British right. Finkelstein explains why he believes Nigel Farage has historically drawn an important line against the far right, criticises Matt Goodwin's rhetoric on migrants, and delivers a damning assessment of Robert Jenrick's defence of Reform activists after violence at the party's conference.

Finally, they examine the growing tolerance of political violence on both the left and right, the appeal of Vladimir Putin to populist movements, and whether Britain's frustration with immigration, bureaucracy, and political institutions could drive the country further towards the extremes.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:46 Confronting Nick Fuentes

07:44 Tucker Carlson & The New Right

15:51 The Rise Of Europe’s Populist Right

21:15 The Failure Of Mass Immigration

24:39 Matt Goodwin’s “Goat Herders” Comments

27:00 Immigration, Protest & Vigilantism

33:03 AfD, Reform & The Far Right

36:22 Farage, Reform & Ethno-Nationalism

39:29 Robert Jenrick & Political Violence

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