The General & The Journalist

By The Times

How wars start, how they are won and what they leave behind them.

General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn first met in a war zone. Drawing on their real-life experience of armed c

... more

4.8

55 ratings

FAQs about The General & The Journalist:

How many episodes does The General & The Journalist have?

The podcast currently has 75 episodes available.

Best of The General & The Journalist

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: EXPLAINER: Why Russia Is Burning Through 35,000 Soldiers A Month
Ukraine’s drone campaign is reaching deeper into Russia than ever before, striking oil terminals, ships and targets around Moscow and St Petersburg. As casualties rise and attacks put growing pressure on Russia’s economy and war machine, is Ukraine beginning to change the course of the conflict? In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines how Ukraine’s long-range strikes are testing Russia’s defences – and whether Vladimir Putin is approaching a serious turning point in the war. Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 23, 20268min
Number 2: The new Middle East: The battle to shape a region
For more than a century, the Middle East has been made and remade by collapsing empires, colonial borders, revolutions, wars and powerful rulers. Now, Iran is weakening, Gulf states are becoming more influential and old alliances are shifting again. Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Tom and Patrick to discuss how the modern Middle East was forged and why the forces that shaped it are still at work today. Who is gaining power, who is losing it, and are we watching the birth of a new regional order? Who do you think is reshaping the new Middle East? Get in touch: [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 — How the modern Middle East was made 13:15 — Colonialism, Sykes-Picot and the birth of “zombie states” 23:45 — Is the term “Middle East” now obsolete? 29:30 — Iran’s regional empire and the October 7 wars 36:45 — Six converging theatres—and reasons for hope The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East by Simon Sebag Montefiore is available in stores now Guest: Simon Sebag Montefiore, British historian and author Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 26, 202646min
Number 3: How Putin made North Korea richer – and more dangerous
North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery rounds, thousands of troops and workers for its drone factories to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Russian money, food, energy and weapons are reviving Pyongyang’s economy, giving it military battlefield experience and potentially advancing Kim Jong Un’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Dr Victor Cha, former White House national security official and one of America’s leading Korea experts, joins The General & The Journalist to explain how Russia has made an isolated regime richer and more dangerous. How powerful has North Korea become? Why have decades of denuclearisation diplomacy failed? And could talks with Washington loosen Kim’s alliance with Putin? Should the West accept a nuclear North Korea? Get in touch: [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 North Korea’s economic boom08:31 Russia fuels Kim Jong Un14:18 China, Russia and North Korea18:32 North Korea’s nuclear threat26:16 Why denuclearisation failed33:46 Kim Jong Un’s successor and future Guest: Dr Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Reuters, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 19, 202642min
Number 4: Inside Mossad: How Israeli spies penetrated Iran
Mossad has spent decades building intelligence networks inside Iran, using spies, cyber operations and covert technology to penetrate the regime at the highest levels. Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, joins The General & The Journalist to reveal how Israel’s spies recruit agents, operate behind enemy lines and target Iran’s leadership. How far is Mossad willing to go? And can Israel’s intelligence successes ultimately bring about regime change in Iran? And where does covert action cross the line? The Sword of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War by Yossi Cohen is available at Harper Collins. 00:00 - Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen on Israel’s Intelligence Strategy03:01 - How Mossad Penetrated the Iranian Regime’s Deepest Secrets09:24 - HUMINT vs. SIGINT: Why Human Spies Outperform Cyber Intelligence14:16 - Exploding Pagers, Sabotage & The Ethics of Covert Operations24:28 - The Future of Iran, Regime Change & Yossi Cohen’s Political Ambitions Guest: Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad Host: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips: BBC How should Andy Burnham approach the UK’s relationship with Israel? Get in touch: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 12, 202631min
Number 5: How Ukraine’s leadership crisis impacts the war
President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his defence minister and army chief after a bitter struggle over Ukraine’s military strategy triggered widespread street protests. Natia Seskuria of RUSI examines the clash between reformers and the old guard, and the consequences for Zelensky’s democratic reputation. Could this upheaval at the top change the course of the war with Russia? Should Zelensky reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as minister of defence? Get in touch: [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 – Zelensky's Political Crisis 01:42 – Why Zelensky Fired Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi 08:56 – Civilian Control vs. Military Command in Ukraine 14:37 – RUSI Expert Natia Seskuria on Kyiv's Power Struggle 32:13 – Listener Q&A: The Red Sea Crisis and China's Role in Djibouti Guest: Natia Seskuria, Head of Russia and Eurasia Programme at RUSI Hosts: General Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 29, 202635min