Thomas Wright, director of strategic planning at the National Security Council in the Biden White House, tells Gideon how the war in Ukraine changed US thinking about the need for broader alliances.

Clips: The White House, Channel 4 News

More on this topic:

Xi Jinping’s China and the rise of the ‘global west’

US coal phaseout plan meets divided response at COP27

China and the US remain locked in mutually assured co-operation

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Joe Biden’s Democrats look set to lose control of Congress in this month's elections. But many of the Republicans poised to take office support Donald Trump's claim that the last presidential election was stolen. Gideon discusses his prospects for a return to the White House with journalist Susan Glasser, co-author of The Divider, a history of the Trump presidency.

Clips: CNN, Forbes Breaking News

More on this topic:

Joe Biden fights to revive Democrats one week before midterm elections

This will be the mother of all American midterm elections

Britain and America’s electoral geographies are broken

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

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Gideon talks to economist Linda Yueh of Oxford university about recent dramatic developments at the Chinese Communist party’s congress in Beijing. They discuss what the growing centralisation in China tells us about how Xi Jinping will handle the private sector, the property crisis and international tensions over Taiwan.

Clips: CGTN; CNA

More on this topic:

China’s limitless presidency means limited diplomacy

China’s growth stutters as exports fail to rescue economy

China’s wealthy activate escape plans as Xi Jinping extends rule

Hit film Return to Dust has vanished from China’s cinemas. Why?

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

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There was outrage in Washington over Saudi Arabia’s decision to back Opec output cuts during a global energy crisis. What was the kingdom’s motive for putting its strategic partnership with the US at risk? As a regular visitor to Saudi Arabia, Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London offers his view of the Saudi leader’s calculations and plans for a new global role for the country.

Clips: France 24; CNN; Fox news

More on this topic:

The plight of expat workers at KPMG Saudi Arabia

Joe Biden’s limited room for manoeuvre on Saudi Arabia

The new oil war: Opec moves against the US

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Ukrainian cities have faced an onslaught of missiles from Russia this week in retaliation for the attack on the Kerch bridge that links Russia with occupied Crimea. Russia has threatened to go further and to use tactical nuclear weapons rather than face the defeat of its forces in Ukraine. But would it? Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow for the Carnegie Endowment think-tank, tells Gideon he thinks Putin’s threat is deadly serious.

Clips: BBC

More on this topic:

Putin suggests Nord Stream gas exports to Europe could be restored

Nato allies struggle to secure air defence systems for Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updates

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

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The death of a young woman detained by Iran’s ‘morality police’ has sparked nationwide protests that the government is struggling to control. Gideon talks to Iranian analyst Sanam Vakil about what the unrest tells us about the weakening authority of the regime that has been in place for the past 40 years.

Clips: BBC, France 24

More on this topic:

How Iranian students are shaping anti regime protests

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei blames US and Israel for street protests

Mahsa Amini has become a potent symbol for women in Iran

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Jake Fielding

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Europe’s priorities have undergone a massive shift in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Gideon talks to political scientist Ivan Krastev about how central Europe is gaining influence within the EU as a result of the Ukraine war.

Clips: United Nations; France24

More on this topic:

EU to put price cap on Russian oil in new sanctions package

The 90km journey that changed the course of the war in Ukraine

Denmark, Germany and Poland warn of ‘sabotage’ after Nord Stream leaks

Endless frictions with Brussels risk fuelling Euroscepticism in Poland

The EU should press Hungary hard on rule of law

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

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Britain's new prime minister is facing huge challenges on both the domestic and international stage. Gideon talks to Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London about how Liz Truss will deal with the Ukraine war, Brexit and relations with the US and China.

Clips: Royal Family Channel; France 24

More on this topic:

Liz Truss admits UK trade deal with US is not on the agenda

The economic consequences of Liz Truss

Liz Truss to launch UK defence review as she calls for Russian reparations

Britain enters the era of King Charles III

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

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Ukraine’s rapid recapture of territory in recent days has put Russian forces on the back foot and raised the prospect of an early end to the war. Gideon talks to Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College in London about the dramatic turnaround and what happens next.

Clips from BBC, Russian state TV

More on this topic

Military briefing - Ukraine offensive ‘dooms’ Russia’s aims for Donbas

Russian army hobbled by shortage of soldiers

Ukraine faces ‘tough fight’ even as Russian forces retreat, says US

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps — latest updates

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner

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Polls suggest that the largest single party will be the Brothers of Italy - and its leader Giorgia Meloni will therefore be prime minister. That’s causing consternation in some quarters because the party has roots in the fascist-influenced politics of post-war Italy. Gideon’s guest this week is Nathalie Tocci, the director of the Institute for International Affairs, a think-tank based in Rome.

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Presented by Gideon Rachman.

Produced by Howie Shannon. The sound engineer was Breen Turner. 

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