This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Europe’s most powerful countries are in political crisis. Emmanuelle Macron’s big gamble to halt the progress of Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National seems to have paid off – for now. But Germany’s far right Alternative für Deutschland continues to eat into the national vote and the country’s post-war consensus. What does the rise of extremists who are soft on Putin, or even pro-Russia, mean for the safety of Europe? Gavin Esler asks Economist Paris bureau chief Sophie Pedder about France’s close shave with extreme nationalism, and whether that escape is temporary. And director of eurointelligence.com and New Statesman columnist Wolfgang Munchau explains what’s driving Germany’s dance with the far right. Incogni keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – Go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A recent large-scale attack on an NHS provider by the Russian based criminal group Qilin has exposed lingering vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure - but an ongoing Chinese state sponsored attack, known as Volt Typhoon, has been described by US officials as a game changer in the realm of cyber warfare.Emma Beals speaks to former founding chief executive of the UK National Cyber Security Centre Professor Ciaran Martin and senior fellow for global cyber policy at the Council on Foreign Relations Tarah Wheeler to find out how much is at stake on this digital battleground, and what we can do about it.Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more.Incogni keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – Go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.Written and presented by Emma Beals. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Incidental music by Simon Williams. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did the Ukrainian people face down an invasion of unprecedented savagery from Putin’s Russia? And how did the battle for Ukraine’s capital shape the war that followed? Illia Ponomarenko is the author of the new book I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv and former defence correspondent at the Kyiv Independent. He talks to Oz Katerji about the experience of reporting under fire – and what it’s like for a people to defy subjugation.Buy I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund This Is Not A Drill by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more.Go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan with Incogni Written and presented by Oz Katerji. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters productionpodmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The West’s era of supremacy is over. Britain’s next Prime Minister will face the most dangerous security environment since the Second World War – a new age of critical insecurity. From Ukraine to the Middle East to China/Taiwan and beyond, the threats are piling up: cyberattacks, nuclear intimidation, assassinations on our territory and more. How will the next Prime Minister handle them? And have Brexit and our political instability left us too weakened to withstand them?Gavin Esler find out from Dr Christine Cheng – national security lecturer at King’s College London and chair of the Lib Dems’ National Security Group – and the UK’s first-ever National Security Advisor Lord Peter Ricketts. Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more.Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters productionpodmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boston College professor of American History, Heather Cox-Richardson, discusses Trump's impact on the Republican Party and American democracy. The conversation delves into historical divisions, government evolution, and the implications of Trump's presidency on the nation's narrative and future.

Political analyst Catherine Fieschi discusses the rise of far-right parties in Europe, their impact on EU stability, the defense of Ukraine, and the struggle to halt the populist wave. The podcast delves into the nuances of right-wing ideologies, the surge of anti-establishment parties in Western Europe, and the challenges they pose to traditional politics and democracy.

What’s it like to live next to the world’s worst neighbour: Vladimir Putin’s Russia? In 2024, pro-democracy Georgians are beaten for resisting their pro-Moscow government from enacting a Putinesque “foreign agents” law. Poland is rearming against the Russian threat, and the Baltic states of the former USSR are subjected to hybrid warfare from their former occupiers.Yet instead of terrorising Europe, is Putin’s aggression uniting it behind ideals of democracy and mutual support? Polish historian Karolina Wigura tells Gavin Esler how Russia’s belligerence is turning Poland towards the West. And Russian Studies expert and RUSI fellow Natia Seskuria explains Georgia’s unprecedented pro-EU protests.Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more.Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters productionpodmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Defence Secretary, former Scots Guard Ben Wallace was one of few well-respected ministers during the Johnson years. In office he faced the Afghanistan withdrawal and Russia’s war on Ukraine. As he prepares to leave Parliament, he tells Oz Katerji why Europe must re-arm to support Ukraine and deter Putin’s Russia; how Netanyahu has over-extended Israel in its war with Hamas; and why China is now the economic master of Russia. Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon to get early episodes, merchandise and more.Written and presented by Oz Katerji. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters productionPodmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry Diamond, a 'Godfather of democracy studies,' discusses the battle between democracy and autocracy in the face of election-distorting technology. They explore the challenges of regulating AI, deepfakes, and disinformation in a critical year for democracy. Emma Beals and Katie Harbath join the conversation on the survival of democracy amid technological advancements.

Exploring China's global influence and Xi Jinping's motives, including Taiwan reunification. Discussing the complexities of US-China relations and the challenges faced by the Communist Party. Analyzing Xi's leadership style and goals for China's future. Assessing the impact of censorship and human rights violations in China. Delving into the strategic considerations for global powers regarding Taiwan and China's role on the world stage.