The Brink

In this bonus episode Andrew and Jake were on Iran International for a special joint appearance on the London based anti regime television channel, bringing the podcast’s analysis directly to an Iranian audience watching from inside the country and across the diaspora.

In a wide ranging conversation with Iranian presenter Negar Mojtahedi, who herself is on the regime’s death list, we discuss the brutal crackdown on protesters, the scale of the killings, and why Iran’s uprising has received so little sustained attention in the West. Drawing on reporting from inside the country, we examine mass executions, torture, internet shutdowns, and the use of fear to crush dissent.

The discussion turns to Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, the limits of diplomacy, and what military action would realistically look like. We explore whether the regime can be pressured into collapse, the risks of normalising Tehran through a deal, and why the Iranian leadership’s ideology makes genuine compromise unlikely.

We also address the information war now playing out on Western streets and online, where regime propaganda is amplified by activists who frame Iran solely through the lens of opposition to Israel. From protests in London to the exploitation of Western guilt and confusion, we examine how the Islamic Republic uses disinformation to shield itself from accountability.

Finally, we ask what a free Iran could actually look like, the role of figures such as Reza Pahlavi, and whether the international community is willing to stand with the Iranian people rather than sacrifice them to geopolitical convenience.

This is a sobering and urgent conversation about tyranny, propaganda, and why Iran’s struggle matters not just to Iranians, but to the future of the free world.

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In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Sir Trevor Phillips, writer and broadcaster, for a wide-ranging and deeply revealing conversation about power, loyalty, identity, and the moral state of Britain.

We begin with the explosive recent revelations surrounding Peter Mandelson and his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Sir Trevor speaks candidly about friendship, loyalty, and where moral lines are drawn when serious allegations emerge. He reflects on why he chose to publicly stand by a long-time friend, and what it reveals about hypocrisy.

The conversation then widens to Sir Trevor’s own life and career, from growing up in an immigrant family to becoming one of the most prominent voices in British public life. He explains why he has repeatedly challenged orthodoxies on race, identity, and multiculturalism, and why he believes honesty about integration and cultural difference matters more than political comfort.

We explore the failures of multicultural policy, the rise of segregation, and the challenge of extremism in a liberal democracy. Sir Trevor discusses Muslim integration, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and why authorities too often appease the loudest voices rather than enforcing equal standards under the law. He also reflects on Britishness, arguing that a shared civic culture matters more than rigid or performative definitions of identity.

The discussion turns to the media and journalism, where Sir Trevor delivers a sharp critique of activism in newsrooms, the loss of curiosity among younger journalists, and the collapse of the distinction between reporting and advocacy. He explains how this has distorted coverage of Israel, antisemitism, and major cultural issues, and why public trust has eroded so badly.

This is a frank, challenging, and intellectually rich conversation about loyalty, courage, and what it will take to hold a diverse society together without losing confidence in truth or moral clarity.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/sir-trevor-phillips-i-stand-by-peter?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:35 Sir Trevor Phillips on Peter Mandelson

16:06 Navigating Establishment and Challenging Orthodoxy

22:11 Empathy and Understanding Different Perspectives

36:43 Muslim Integration and Multiculturalism

44:39 Challenges of Extremism and Ghettoization

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In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Atbin Moayedi & Haleh Blake to examine the unfolding catastrophe in Iran, where the death toll from the latest nationwide uprising has risen above 30,000 while much of the Western media remains largely silent.

They have been working relentlessly to document what is happening inside the Islamic Republic and to get the truth out to journalists, governments, and the public. Drawing on direct contact with people on the ground, they describe mass killings, executions, mass graves, chemical weapons, and the use of hospitals as sites of repression.

The conversation explores how the regime has imposed a de facto military lockdown across the country, cutting off internet access, arresting people in the streets, and targeting anyone with signs of protest. We discuss the systematic use of torture, sexual violence, organ removal, and financial extortion of grieving families, as well as the psychological toll this violence is taking on Iranians both inside the country and across the diaspora.

We also confront the failure of international institutions, Western governments, and major news organisations to respond with urgency. We ask why Iran receives so little coverage compared to other conflicts, how economic and geopolitical interests shape media narratives, and why the Islamic Republic continues to enjoy impunity despite its actions at home and abroad.

Finally, we look ahead to what comes next. We discuss the role of Reza Pahlavi, the possibility of international intervention, and whether this moment represents a genuine chance for the collapse of the regime and the birth of a free Iran.

This is a harrowing and essential conversation about courage, hypocrisy, and one of the worst human rights crises of our time.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/iran-bloodbath-why-is-the-media-silent?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:43 – A People’s Revolution, Not a Proxy War

04:09 – 30,000 Dead: What’s Really Happening on the Streets

06:15 – Iran as a Military State

08:36 – Door-to-Door Arrests & Hospital Executions

10:52 – Organ Removal, Silence & Regime Brutality

12:16 – Why the Media Looked Away

14:46 – Oil, Gas & the Money Behind Silence

18:16 – Why Gaza Dominates Coverage

19:43 – The Regime’s Lobbying Network in the UK & US

22:58 – Western Media as Regime Amplifier

25:28 – A Universal Human Rights Struggle

28:07 – Celebrity Silence & Moral Cowardice

32:26 – Who Iranians Really Are

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In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza-born analyst and one of the most prominent moderate Palestinian voices. Drawing on his upbringing in Gaza and his work today as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, Ahmed offers a rare and deeply personal account of life under Hamas.

Ahmed describes how Hamas systematically groomed children through schools, mosques, and summer camps, recounting his own childhood experiences of indoctrination, intimidation, and early encounters with Hamas leadership. He explains how the group transformed religious spaces into propaganda hubs, used violence to impose social control, and built a generational system of radicalisation that many in the West still fail to understand.

The conversation turns to Gaza today. Ahmed outlines the existence of two parallel societies, one living in extreme deprivation and another protected by access to salaries, aid networks, and Hamas-controlled taxation systems. He exposes how aid is diverted, how hospitals are used as centres of repression and torture, and how Hamas has rebuilt its finances since the ceasefire through taxation and intimidation.

We also examine the Muslim Brotherhood playbook, its influence in the UK and across the West, and why moderate Palestinian voices are often silenced by intimidation from Islamist networks. Finally, Ahmed sets out a stark assessment of Gaza’s future, the failure of the so-called peace mechanisms currently being proposed, and what would actually be required to dismantle Hamas and give Palestinians a genuine chance at a different future.

This is a sobering, courageous, and essential conversation about extremism, truth, and the human cost of allowing ideology to triumph over reality.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/final-hostages-are-home-palestinian?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:18 Early Indoctrination & Life in UNRWA Schools

06:35 The Second Intifada & Radicalisation of Children

10:12 Personal Encounters with Hamas Leaders

14:50 Mosques, Schools & the Indoctrination Pipeline

16:53 The Muslim Brotherhood Playbook Explained

21:06 Groomed by Hamas & the Road to Asylum

24:03 Exporting Radicalisation to the West

27:07 Why Moderate Muslims Are Silenced

29:00 The UK’s Blind Spot on Islamist Networks

30:02 Saudi Arabia, Abraham Accords & Regional Power

32:04 Why Gaza Must Reject the “Resistance Narrative”

35:12 A Pragmatic Path Forward for Palestinians

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In this special live episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Rachel Riley and Brendan O’Neill for a powerful and often confrontational discussion about antisemitism, Holocaust memory, and the moral collapse of Western institutions since October 7.

We begin with the alarming decline of Holocaust education in British schools and ask why Jewish history is increasingly treated as a provocation rather than a warning. Rachel explains how fear, appeasement, and cultural cowardice have led schools and institutions to erase Jews rather than confront antisemitism, while Brendan argues that comparisons between Gaza and the Holocaust represent a dangerous inversion of history and morality.

The conversation widens to Britain’s failure of integration, the influence of Islamist ideology, and how appeasement has shaped policing, education, and public life. We examine the Aston Villa and West Midlands Police scandal, exposing how misinformation, institutional bias, and political pressure led to the exclusion of Israeli fans and the creation of what amounted to a Jew-free zone.

We also explore the role of the media, social platforms, and NGOs in spreading propaganda, the double standards applied to Israel compared to Iran and other conflicts, and why antisemitism has re-emerged in respectable language under the banner of anti Zionism. The panel reflects personally on why they continue to speak out, despite professional and social costs, and whether there are still grounds for hope.

This is a raw, urgent, and unflinching live conversation about truth, courage, and what happens when a society loses the confidence to defend its own values.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-wests-antisemitism-crisis-with?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Michael Gove, former Cabinet minister and one of the most influential figures in modern British politics, for a wide-ranging and unusually frank conversation about power, ideology, and the state of the country.

Michael reflects on the dramatic realignment of British politics, from high-profile defections to Reform UK and the collapse of the old centrist consensus, to the internal struggles facing both the Conservative Party and Labour. He shares his thoughts on leadership, loyalty, ambition, and what political life is really like behind closed doors.

Michael also reflects on his appearance on The Rest is Politics…where Jake brings up some of the most heated moments…

The conversation explores immigration, Islamism, free speech, and the failure of successive governments to confront extremism with honesty and confidence. We discuss the rise of moral relativism, the role of the media, and why difficult conversations about culture, security, and national identity are so often shut down rather than addressed.

This is a thoughtful and revealing conversation about politics after the age of certainties, and what Britain must confront if it is to recover confidence in itself and its institutions.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/must-watch-michael-gove-slams-centrist?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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In this episode of The Brink, Iranian researcher and analyst Kasra Aarabi joins us. He has extensive networks within Iran’s protest movement and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, offering a sobering and urgent account of the situation on the ground.

Drawing on documents obtained from inside IRGC headquarters and direct contact with protest leaders, our guest explains how the regime’s vast infrastructure of repression operates at every level of Iranian society. We discuss the use of military-grade weapons against unarmed civilians, the scale of arrests and executions, and why the death toll is likely far higher than officially reported.

The conversation explores how Iran’s violence is no longer contained within its borders. From regime-sponsored attacks on British soil to the radicalisation of children in the UK, we examine why what happens in Iran directly threatens Britain’s national security. We also confront the failure of Western governments to proscribe the IRGC, the silence of political leaders, and the dangerous double standards applied by the media and international institutions.

Finally, we look ahead to what comes next. We discuss the prospects for regime collapse, the role of external pressure, the risks of insurgency, and what a post-Islamic Republic Iran could realistically look like. From a secular republic to a constitutional monarchy, we ask what the Iranian people actually want and what the West should do if it truly believes in freedom and human rights.

This is a powerful and unsettling conversation about tyranny, courage, and why Iran’s struggle matters far beyond its borders.

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-real-death-toll-in-iran-and-why?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – Death Tolls, Internet Blackouts & Brutal Crackdowns

04:50 – Kasra’s Background & Inside Access to the Regime

06:28 – Understanding the IRGC From the Inside

08:17 – Regime Threats on British Soil

11:10 – Why What Happens in Iran Affects the UK

12:15 – Why Britain Refuses to Proscribe the IRGC

15:30 – Iran’s Infrastructure of Radicalisation in Britain

18:14 – Indoctrination, Antisemitism & Islamist Ideology

20:38 – The Silence of the Western Left on Iran

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In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Kwasi Kwarteng, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a wide-ranging and unusually candid conversation about power, politics, and the realities of governing Britain.

Kwasi reflects on his dramatic rise and fall in office, the chaos surrounding the mini-budget, and what it was really like to be at the centre of one of the most turbulent moments in modern British politics. He explains what went wrong, what he would do differently, and why he believes the political system struggles to tell the truth about economic trade-offs.

We also explore his life beyond frontline politics, from his media work to his interest in business and Bitcoin, as well as his background, education, and journey into Parliament. The conversation ranges across identity politics, meritocracy, the decline of public trust, and why Britain’s institutions feel increasingly disconnected from the people they serve.

Finally, we look at the current state of British politics. Kwasi gives his assessment of Labour’s economic direction, the rise of Reform, the breakdown of the two-party system, and what the next election could mean for the country’s future.

This is a thoughtful and revealing conversation about ambition, failure, loyalty, and the long-term challenges facing Britain as it once again finds itself on the brink.

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Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/kwasi-kwarteng-id-do-a-better-job?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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00:00 – Introduction

03:11 – From Power to Private Life

06:08 – The Mini-Budget Fallout

08:44 – Labour, Tax Rises & Public Disillusion

12:06 – Britain’s Fractured Party System

14:50 – Family Background, Education & Identity

18:55 – Rejecting Identity Politics

23:56 – Entering Politics & Street-Level Campaigning

28:11 – Inside Parliament & Political Institutions

33:00 – Becoming a Minister

38:16 – Backing Liz Truss & Becoming Chancellor

40:31 – The Mini-Budget: Pace, Panic & Mistakes

44:46 – Markets, the Bank of England & What Went Wrong

48:16 – Deep State vs Political Responsibility

51:01 – Public Spending, Welfare & Growth

55:00 – Labour’s Economic Direction

58:43 – Immigration, Culture & Political Realignment

1:03:03 – Reform, Conservatives & the Future of the Right

1:06:59 – Loyalty, Power & Stopping the Left

1:07:18 – Final Reflections on Britain’s Political Future

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In this special end of year episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake look back on 2025, reflecting on the moments, conversations, and events that defined the year and shaped the world we are heading into in 2026.

We revisit some of the standout interviews from the past twelve months, including conversations with Yoav Gallant, Yossi Cohen, Bari Weiss, Tom Holland, Neil Ferguson, and Nick Timothy. From Israeli intelligence and the war in Gaza to extremism in Britain, media failure, and the collapse of Western confidence, we discuss what these guests revealed about the moment we are living through.

The conversation ranges across the year’s biggest themes, including leadership, war, antisemitism, media bias, protest movements, and the growing instability in the Middle East and the West. We also give our picks for moments of the year, figures of the year, and the decisions that left us shaking our heads.

Finally, we look ahead to 2026. We discuss what gives us hope, what worries us most, and whether the West still has the moral and cultural foundations to recover from the crises it faces.

This is a wide ranging and honest reflection on a turbulent year, and a look at what may lie ahead as the world stands once again on the brink.

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Chapters

00:00 – Looking Back on 2025

04:28 – Israel, War Leadership & October 7

06:07 – Extremism in Britain & Political Failure

09:47 – Immigration, Social Media & Cultural Fragmentation

11:57 – Gaza Protests & Progressive Radicalism

15:06 – Media, Antisemitism & the Trust Crisis

19:43 – Sh*t of the Year

25:17 – Man of the Year

31:13 – Woman of the Year

36:06 – Moment of the Year

39:27 – WTF of the Year: Strategic Blunders

44:04 – Laughter in a Dark Year

45:23 – Hopes, Fears & the World Heading into 2026

52:28 – Final Reflections & What Comes Next

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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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