In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by French philosopher, writer, and public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy for a wide ranging conversation about the fate of the West, the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and the values now under threat across liberal democracies.

Bernard explains why Ukraine and Israel are fighting the same battle against the same enemies, and why Russia, Iran, Hamas, and radical Islam belong to a single ideological axis. Drawing on years spent on the battlefield and reporting from war zones, he reflects on courage, sacrifice, and what it means for a nation to defend itself when its very existence is at stake.

The discussion turns to the West itself, its Judeo Christian foundations, the crisis of patriotism, and the loss of historical memory that has left many societies unwilling to defend their own values. We explore the rise of radical Islam, the failures of multiculturalism, the dangers of moral relativism, and why Jews are often the first victims when civilisations lose confidence in themselves.

Bernard also reflects on Donald Trump, the fragmentation of the West, and whether American and European values can survive the political turbulence of the coming years.

This is a profound and searching conversation about history, faith, war, and the moral courage required to defend civilisation before it is too late.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/trump-is-splitting-the-west-and-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

08:24 Trump's Support for Israel and Russia's Aggression

11:03 The West's Values and Trump's Impact

15:33 The Role of the West in Countering Radicalism

19:30 The West's Military Challenge and Israel's Resilience

25:04 The Struggle Against Radical Islam in France

38:23 The Role of Ideas and the Importance of Universal Values

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In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by Anne Herzberg, Legal Adviser at NGO Monitor, to examine how international NGOs have become deeply entangled with Hamas in Gaza and how Western taxpayer money has been misused as a result.

Anne walks us through explosive findings based on Hamas documents seized by the IDF, revealing how aid organisations were monitored, infiltrated, and manipulated through so called “guarantors.” We discuss how cash aid programmes were diverted, how humanitarian projects were shaped around Hamas’ military needs, and why many NGOs remained silent despite knowing what was happening on the ground.

The conversation also exposes the role of Western governments, including the UK, and the failure of oversight within institutions like the UN and major charities. We explore the “halo effect” that shields NGOs from scrutiny, the use of lawfare and libel threats to silence journalists, and how propaganda claims around famine and genocide have had real world consequences, from ICC warrants to the prolonging of the war itself.

This is a disturbing but essential conversation about aid, accountability, and how good intentions have been exploited by a terrorist organisation, with consequences that continue to shape the conflict today.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/p/revealed-how-british-and-european?r=63dafp

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:25 Anne Hertzberg's Background and NGO Monitor's Mission

06:14 Influence of NGOs and Media Bias

11:43 Hamas' Control over NGOs in Gaza

24:38 Hamas' Civil Service and Military Interaction

32:00 Cash-Based Programs and Diversion of Aid

37:04 Meetings with Hamas and NGO Officials

43:55 NGOs' Complicity and Long-Term Consequences

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In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by Ed Husain, author of The Islamist and Among the Mosques, to explore the roots of Islamist extremism, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and what has gone wrong inside parts of Britain’s Muslim community.

Ed traces the movement’s origins from Hassan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb through to modern-day Hamas, explaining how fascist ideas, humiliation after empire, and Western missteps helped shape today’s jihadist ideology. He reflects on his own journey out of radical politics, the role of mysticism and Sufi Islam in countering extremism, and why banning alone can’t solve the problem.

The conversation widens to Britain today, from Islamist influence in mosques and the dangers of an official “Islamophobia” definition, to the country’s own moral crisis, where secularism and self-doubt have left a vacuum easily filled by extremism. Together, we ask whether the West can rediscover confidence in its own values while helping a new generation of Muslims find peace within faith, not war against it.

This is one of our most far-reaching conversations yet about faith, identity, and how both Islam and the West might renew themselves.

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In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by Colin Brazier, former Sky News presenter, and Danny Cohen, former Director of Television at the BBC, for an insider look at how Britain’s media lost its way.

Drawing on decades inside Sky and the BBC, Colin and Danny explain how activism crept into journalism, how impartiality was replaced by ideology, and why both institutions now struggle with trust, bias, and credibility. From the BBC’s coverage of Israel and Gaza to Sky’s embrace of “woke” newsroom culture, they reveal the internal pressures and moral failures driving today’s media crisis.

The conversation explores how younger journalists have brought activist politics into the newsroom, the decline of objectivity, and the collapse of impartial standards once taken for granted. We also discuss the future of broadcasting. From the rise of GB News and independent media to the growing influence of social platforms and algorithms that shape what the public sees.

This is a rare, revealing, and deeply honest conversation about the state of British journalism and whether our media can ever win back the public’s trust.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/its-activism-masquerading-as-journalism?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/

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In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by David Patrikarakos, foreign correspondent and author of War in 140 Characters, for a gripping conversation on the end of the Pax Americana, the future of Ukraine, and the rise of a new global order.

David explains why he argues that Putin’s invasion is not just about territory, but about rewriting the rules of the world order. From the fall of Bretton Woods to the decline of NATO, he lays out how the West’s complacency and moral fatigue have opened the door to a new era shaped by autocrats, propaganda, and drones.

We also discuss Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine, his strange admiration for Putin, and how America’s right is fracturing between pro-Israel conservatives and a new populist movement flirting with antisemitism and authoritarianism. David warns that the internet has unleashed a “death of truth,” where social media rewards lies, conspiracy, and outrage over reality.

This is one of the most far-reaching episodes we’ve done. A discussion about war, technology, propaganda, and the collapse of old certainties as the world enters a dangerous new phase.

Watch the full uncut episode here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/podcast

Chapters

0:00 Introduction

03:52 David's Personal Connection to Ukraine

05:37 Trump's Negotiation Tactics and Putin's War Aims

10:33 The Role of NATO and the UK in the Conflict

13:03 The Threat of Russia and the Need for Rearmament

21:32 The Diffusion of Power and the Impact of Technology

26:19 The Future of Ukraine and the Role of Europe

34:11 Trump's Relationship with Putin and the Impact on US Politics

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Alan Mendoza, Executive Director of the Henry Jackson Society and newly appointed Chief Adviser on Global Affairs for Reform UK. Alan reflects on his political journey from lifelong Conservative to joining Reform, and why he believes Britain needs bold, radical change to confront the crises it faces at home and abroad.

We talk about the decline of the Conservative Party, the rise of Reform UK, and whether uniting the right is possible or even desirable. Alan explains what drew him to Reform’s energy, its commitment to national renewal, and its determination to challenge political correctness, restore pride, and defend British values.

The conversation ranges from Reform’s economic vision and its stance on immigration, to foreign policy, Ukraine, and the threat of Islamism in Britain. Alan also addresses criticisms of the party, from questions about Nigel Farage’s leadership to concerns over internal controversies and its relationship with Israel and the Jewish community.

This is a wide-ranging and revealing discussion about politics, ideology, and the future of Britain’s right…

Watch the full interview here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/tory-defector-alan-mendoza-all-i?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:55 Core Beliefs and Political Values

07:06 Transition to the Reform Party

17:07 Reform Party's Potential and Challenges

30:13 Reform Party's Economic Policies and Growth

38:46 Reform Party's Stance on Islamism and Anti-Semitism

46:25 Reform Party's Support for Israel

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Nick Timothy, Conservative MP and former Downing Street adviser, for a powerful conversation about extremism, free speech, and the cultural challenges reshaping Britain.

We begin with the recent Aston Villa controversy, where Israeli fans were banned from attending a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Nick explains what this decision reveals about fear, community breakdown, and the failures of policing. He argues that Islamist influence, weak institutions, and political timidity have allowed extremists to shape the public narrative, leaving both Muslim and Jewish Britons feeling abandoned.

The discussion explores the risks of introducing an official definition of Islamophobia, the growing reach of the Muslim Brotherhood in British life, and how misplaced tolerance has eroded freedom of speech and social unity. Nick calls for a renewed national mission that restores moral confidence, protects liberty, and confronts extremism without losing sight of Britain’s core values.

This is one of the most urgent and thought-provoking conversations yet on The Brink, offering a clear-eyed look at faith, fear, and the struggle to reclaim Britain’s identity.

Watch full interview here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/nick-timothy-mp-we-must-stop-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Nick Timothy's Background and Aston Villa

04:54 The Aston Villa Incident and Police Response

09:15 Palestinian Flags and Extremist Narratives

14:02 Nick Timothy's Confrontation at Aston Villa

18:46 Public Order Offences and Free Speech

22:35 The Islamophobia Definition and Its Implications

28:53 The Muslim Brotherhood

34:29 The Role of State Institutions and the Future of British Society

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Lord Nigel Biggar, theologian, ethicist, and author, for a fearless examination of Britain’s imperial past and the moral panic surrounding slavery, reparations, and “decolonisation.”

We discuss the truth about Cecil Rhodes and the “Rhodes Must Fall” movement, how history has been distorted for ideological ends, and why modern activists are waging war on Britain’s past. Biggar dismantles the myth that British prosperity was built on slavery, exposes the historical illiteracy behind the reparations movement, and reveals how the British Empire ultimately became a global force for abolition and liberal reform.

The conversation also explores the weaponisation of history — how critical race theory, guilt politics, and anti-Western ideology are eroding national pride and being exploited by hostile powers abroad. Biggar warns that this obsession with historical self-loathing is not about justice but about dismantling the moral confidence of the West.

This is a bold and intellectually rigorous defence of historical truth and a vital reminder of the moral complexity behind Britain’s story.

Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/slavery-empire-and-the-tyranny-of?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:49 Cecil Rhodes and the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign

12:48 Historical Context and Misrepresentation of Rhodes

14:24 The Role of Slavery in British Industrial Prosperity

24:21 Universality of Slavery and Comparative Cruelty

29:03 British Efforts to Suppress Slavery

34:25 The Nuanced View of the British Empire

40:24 Critical Race Theory and Historical Narratives

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with historian and writer Niall Ferguson for a sweeping conversation on the West’s cultural and moral decline, from the rise of radical progressivism and Islamist ideology to the erosion of faith, patriotism, and social cohesion.

Ferguson traces how Western elites, having abandoned Christianity and traditional values, opened the door to new forms of ideological extremism, from woke identity politics to anti-Israel movements shaped by Cultural Marxism. He explores the strange alliance between the radical Left and Islamists, the collapse of the political centre, and why both religion and national pride have become taboo.

The discussion moves from the classroom to the battlefield, examining the crisis of Europe’s defences, the threat of a post-NATO world, and Ferguson’s own conversion to Christianity as a moral and cultural necessity for the survival of the West.

A profound, provocative, and unflinchingly honest conversation on what’s gone wrong with Western civilisation and how it might yet be saved.

Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/sir-niall-ferguson-weve-torn-up-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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In this episode of The Brink, Jake sits down with Tom Holland, historian and co-host of The Rest Is History, for a profound conversation about faith, Western civilisation, and the moral roots of our culture.

We explore how Christianity shaped the West’s ideas of compassion, morality, and universal values — and what happens when a society begins to forget those origins. Holland explains how the cultural revolutions of the 1960s mirror past religious upheavals, why our politics still carry a deeply Christian imprint, and how secularism has inherited both the virtues and contradictions of faith.

The discussion also turns to Islam, Judaism, and the tension between universalism and identity — from the invention of the medieval blood libel to modern antisemitism and jihadist ideology. Together, we ask whether the moral framework that built the West can survive without the religion that inspired it.

This is a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation about belief, history, and what remains sacred in a disenchanted age.

Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/a-civilisational-earthquake-tom-holland?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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