The Fourcast

Kate Williams, historian of the British monarchy, gives concise historical context. Andrew Lownie, biographer of the Windsors, brings sourced research on private royal life. They discuss fresh Epstein revelations about Prince Andrew, what undisclosed files might hold, questions over palace involvement, Sarah Ferguson’s emails and finances, and how these disclosures damage the monarchy’s reputation.

David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst who covered Syria, Iraq and Iran and now writes espionage novels, breaks down looming US moves toward Iran. He discusses naval deployments, the challenge of predicting Trump, how Israel and allies penetrate Iranian targets, and what precision strikes or asymmetric Iranian responses might look like.

Nathalie Tocci, European policy expert focused on Europe-China ties. Amitav Acharya, scholar of Asian diplomacy and global governance. Robert Kagan, American foreign‑policy commentator on great‑power politics. They discuss Starmer’s Beijing visit and whether Western allies are shifting away from the US, Trump’s impact on China’s opportunities, and what a more multipolar world means for Europe’s choices and defence.

Liam Thorp, Liverpool Echo political editor with northern voter insight; Kitty Donaldson, i paper chief political commentator on polling and strategy; Paul McNamara, senior political correspondent on Labour dynamics. They debate Starmer’s standing, local visceral dislike, whether Andy Burnham would have helped, potential replacement options, Reform’s rise and May’s tests for both parties.

Professor Caitlin Regehr, a leading voice in digital humanities and author of Smartphone Nation, joins digital journalist Sophia Smith-Galer to delve into the heated debate over banning social media for under-16s. They discuss the potential isolation of youth and the notion that a ban could alleviate tech companies of responsibility. Caitlin highlights how algorithms amplify harm, while Sophia emphasizes the need for stronger regulation over strict bans. They explore the idea of raising empowered digital citizens and the impact of parental habits on children's online experiences.

In this compelling discussion, Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News International Editor with vast experience from conflict zones, and Lina Khatib, Principal Analyst at ExTrac specializing in Middle East politics, delve into the tumultuous shifts in Syria. They explore the recent military gains of the Syrian government amid Kurdish losses and the implications for regional stability. Key topics include the fate of ISIS detainees, the sense of betrayal felt by the Kurds, and potential risks of continued guerrilla warfare, all while discussing the precarious balance of power in the region.

As Donald Trump marks a year back in office, his threats against Europe and hard-line trade policies are pushing his allies to the edge - while China and Russia, once considered America’s enemies, watch on with apparent glee.And if the UK once thought flattery was the best form of defence, the president has put paid to that with potentially crushing tariffs and a swipe at Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal - an agreement he had supposedly signed off on.So how do we make sense of a global future in flux?On this episode of The Fourcast, Jackie Long was joined by geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan.

Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Helia Ebrahimi, an Economics correspondent, dive into the geopolitical implications of Trump's Greenland ambitions. They discuss potential EU responses, including the 'trade bazooka' to counter economic coercion. Leonard highlights the necessity for Europe to balance short-term dependencies against long-term strategies. Ebrahimi warns of the economic fallout for consumers from tariffs and stresses the importance of measured retaliation to avoid escalation.

Join Paul McNamara, a Senior Political Correspondent delving into Westminster's chaos, and Henry Hill, Deputy Editor of ConservativeHome, as they explore the fallout from Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform. They analyze how this shakeup reflects deeper Conservative Party issues and discuss the potential for Reform to make headway in the next election. From grassroots challenges to leadership credibility, they tackle whether this marks a pivotal moment in UK politics and how it echoes Canada's political splits.

Donald Trump is once again threatening to annex Greenland, but is it different this time? What once sounded like a joke, now feels like a genuine test of how far Europe is willing to stand up to its most powerful ally.So is President Trump actually a bigger threat to Nato than President Putin? And if so, what should Europe do about it?On this episode of The Fourcast, Jackie Long is joined by Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum and former Danish diplomat Jonas Parello-Plesner who led the foreign policy department at Denmark’s embassy in Washington from 2013 - 2017.