The General & the Journalist

Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro, a political scientist and expert on China, shares her insights on the escalating tensions surrounding Taiwan. She discusses the likelihood of a military confrontation as China's capabilities grow under Xi Jinping's leadership. Mastro explores the strategic importance of Taiwan, the implications of U.S. policies, and why the year 2027 is a pivotal benchmark. Delving into military strategies, she examines potential invasion scenarios and the significant costs of U.S. intervention, underscoring the complexities of this geopolitical issue.

While Nato looks up at the skies to Russian drones buzzing its airspace, a far more serious threat lurks below, on our ocean beds. And evidence is mounting that Moscow is already mapping the frontlines in a putative, deniable, attack. As our guest, the former British Defence Secretary, John Hutton, tells Tom, undersea cables are the means by which the economy and society itself survives. And they are vulnerable to sabotage in the form of 'accidental' cutting by shadow-shipping vessels. This could, at a stroke, kill the UK's sources of data, disabling banking, business, communications, and even the UK's 'ability to defend itself.' John Hutton is now a member of the House of Lords and sits on the National Security Strategy committee. Last month, it published a report into the potentially 'catastrophic' consequences of just such an attack and laid bare the UK's lack of preparedness. As John tells us, this would be a 'world of utter chaos, where civil order hangs by a thread.' And hoping for the best, while failing to plan for the worst, would be an absolute derogation of duty on the part of the Government. Host: Tom Newton Dunn Guest: John HuttonPhoto: Getty ImagesClips: DW News, 60 Minutes, CBC NewsGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.ukFurther reading: Joint Committee on National Security Strategy Report: “Subsea telecommunications cables: resilience and crisis preparedness” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As President Trump orders the Texas National Guard into Chicago, America stands poised on the brink of a constitutional crisis. With troops already stationed in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., critics charge that the president is wielding the military as a political weapon. At the same time, Trump is reshaping the upper ranks of the armed forces, sidelining those who have challenged his authority. Authoritarianism and democracy look more finely balanced than at any time in living memory. So, how far does presidential power truly extend when it comes to deploying soldiers on home soil? And to whom do America’s generals ultimately answer? Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick SandersPhoto: Getty ImagesClips: 10 News, BBC, The New York Times, AP, CBS News, The White House, MSNBC Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A wave of drones targeting airports, threatening critical infrastructure and potentially endangering the lives of civilians brought a number of Nato countries briefly to a standstill this past month. The presumed gift of President Putin, this deniable activity was straight out of the Kremlin playbook. But was the primary purpose to disrupt for disruption's sake, to probe the weaknesses in Nato's defensive lines or - ultimately - to sow the seeds of a split within the Alliance? As Nato ponders its response, Tom and Patrick explain the 'vertical' and 'horizontal' options available to it, debate whether the West should deter or punish Russia, and ask whether we are now effectively at war?Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick SandersPhoto: Getty ImagesClips: Sky NewsGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Patrick and Tom turn their attention to India - the world’s most populous country, a rising military power, and a state determined to hold its ground between East and West. As President Xi Jinping courts Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Washington’s ties with Delhi fray, India’s long-cherished “strategic autonomy” is looking increasingly fragile. With Britain’s Prime Minister preparing a visit and global rivalries intensifying, which way might India lean, and what are the stakes here for the West? To explore these questions, Patrick and Tom are joined by a uniquely placed guest: General Manoj Naravane, India’s former Chief of the Army Staff.Guest: General Manoj NaravaneHosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick SandersPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Tom is joined by award-winning war correspondent Anthony Loyd for a special “Journalist & Journalist” edition. Together, they explore why some wars capture global attention while others, equally devastating, remain largely ignored. Drawing on three decades of frontline reporting from the Balkans to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, Anthony offers a unique insight into how compassion fatigue, geopolitics, history, and media dynamics shape public awareness. The conversation contrasts Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Sudan’s overlooked civil war. Anthony also reflects on the personal toll of covering forgotten wars, and what it means to keep telling these stories, even when the world isn’t listening.Recorded August 2025.Guest: Anthony LoydHost: Tom Newton DunnGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Olsen, a seasoned geopolitical strategist and former military intelligence officer, delves into China's strategies for global dominance. He emphasizes China's vital control over the military supply chain, highlighting how the West's dependence on Chinese resources could cripple its defense capabilities. Olsen discusses the complexities of the Chinese economy, including demographic challenges and reliance on exports. He also examines the implications of China's military strategies, especially in the context of global conflicts like Ukraine.

Timothy Heath, a senior international and defense researcher at RAND and former US intelligence analyst, joins the hosts to discuss China's recent military display marking World War II. The conversation dives into the rising strategic threat of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) compared to Russia, the implications of Taiwan ambitions, and advancements in hypersonic technology. Heath highlights the PLA’s challenges regarding combat readiness and its dual role as a military and political tool under Xi Jinping, raising questions about its effectiveness in future confrontations.

This week, Tom and Patrick take you inside Ukraine’s railways, the country’s lifeline since the full-scale Russian invasion began. With over 20,000 kilometres of track, they’ve evacuated millions, ferried troops and supplies to the front, and turned carriages into mobile hospitals. At the heart of this effort is Oleksandr Pertsovski, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways, who shares how his “Iron People” have kept the nation moving under daily bombardment. From evacuation scenes echoing Dunkirk, to VIP trains shuttling world leaders in and out of the capital, Kyiv, this is the untold story of logistics, resilience and national pride. The interview was recorded in July 2025.Guest: Oleksandr Pertsovskyi Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick SandersPhoto: Getty ImagesGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff in the UK, shares his expertise on global political dynamics, particularly focusing on the implications of the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin. He argues that a security guarantee for Ukraine without American troops is futile, drawing parallels to the Bosnian War. Carter also highlights Trump's historical misunderstandings encountered during D-Day commemorations, emphasizing the need for political clarity in military strategies and the importance of enhanced defense spending to ensure national resilience.