Battleground 355. Battleground Christmas Special 2025
Dec 20, 2025
Richard Foreman, a publicist and historical novelist, shares intriguing insights on Helen Carr's 'Septed Isle' and debates the medieval narrative of the Black Death. Antonia Senior, an expert in espionage history, praises Tim Weiner's 'The Mission', unraveling the CIA's post-Cold War complexities. Together, they engage in discussions about military biographies, including Max Hastings' D-Day analysis and Richard Overy's controversial views on the bombing of Japan. The panel also reflects on 1970s terrorism, culminating in a vote for 'Wolfpack' as Book of the Year.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
CIA Reinvention And Its Costs
- Tim Weiner argues the CIA floundered after the Cold War and reinvented itself with harmful practices like torture in the post-9/11 era.
- Saul David notes ideological purges under Trump have hollowed out the CIA and weakened its effectiveness.
When Intelligence Collides With Politics
- Tim Weiner and Saul argue the CIA faces a no-win if the president is an asset to a foreign power, because overt action risks constitutional crisis.
- That dilemma helps explain Obama's cautious public response to Russian interference in 2016.
Medieval History Told Through Three Kings
- Richard Foreman praises Helen Carr's Septed Isle for bringing 14th-century kings and events to life via focused storytelling.
- He recommends it for both students and casual readers who want an engaging medieval narrative.