The Brink

Kwasi Kwarteng, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative politician, dives into his journey through the chaos of the mini-budget and personal reflections on his political career. He examines the current state of Britain's fracturing party system and critiques Rachel Reeves' tax policies, asserting higher taxes hinder growth. Kwarteng also addresses identity politics, emphasizing meritocracy and the importance of street-level voter engagement. His insights on economic trust and potential political realignments paint a compelling picture of the challenges ahead for Britain.

Reflecting on a tumultuous 2025, the hosts delve into key interviews, tackling leadership insights from Yoav Gallant and Yossi Cohen's strategic frictions in Gaza. They explore extremism in Britain with Nick Timothy and discuss the role of immigration and social media in cultural fragmentation. The crisis of trustworthiness in media is highlighted, contrasted with moments of hope for Western resilience. From pivotal events like Operation Midnight Hammer to the influence of AI on misinformation, the discussion paints a vivid picture of our current landscape.

In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by French philosopher, writer, and public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy for a wide ranging conversation about the fate of the West, the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and the values now under threat across liberal democracies.Bernard explains why Ukraine and Israel are fighting the same battle against the same enemies, and why Russia, Iran, Hamas, and radical Islam belong to a single ideological axis. Drawing on years spent on the battlefield and reporting from war zones, he reflects on courage, sacrifice, and what it means for a nation to defend itself when its very existence is at stake.The discussion turns to the West itself, its Judeo Christian foundations, the crisis of patriotism, and the loss of historical memory that has left many societies unwilling to defend their own values. We explore the rise of radical Islam, the failures of multiculturalism, the dangers of moral relativism, and why Jews are often the first victims when civilisations lose confidence in themselves.Bernard also reflects on Donald Trump, the fragmentation of the West, and whether American and European values can survive the political turbulence of the coming years.This is a profound and searching conversation about history, faith, war, and the moral courage required to defend civilisation before it is too late.Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/trump-is-splitting-the-west-and-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueDon't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/Chapters 00:00 Introduction 08:24 Trump's Support for Israel and Russia's Aggression11:03 The West's Values and Trump's Impact15:33 The Role of the West in Countering Radicalism19:30 The West's Military Challenge and Israel's Resilience25:04 The Struggle Against Radical Islam in France38:23 The Role of Ideas and the Importance of Universal Values Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Herzberg, a legal adviser at NGO Monitor, dives deep into the troubling connections between international NGOs and Hamas in Gaza. She reveals how aid efforts have been manipulated to serve terrorist objectives, with shocking insights from seized Hamas documents. The discussion highlights the 'halo effect' that often shields NGOs from scrutiny, and the chilling impact of libel threats on media reporting. Herzberg shares alarming examples of how financial aid has been diverted and discusses the complicity and silence of various humanitarian organizations.

In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by Ed Husain, author of The Islamist and Among the Mosques, to explore the roots of Islamist extremism, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and what has gone wrong inside parts of Britain’s Muslim community.Ed traces the movement’s origins from Hassan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb through to modern-day Hamas, explaining how fascist ideas, humiliation after empire, and Western missteps helped shape today’s jihadist ideology. He reflects on his own journey out of radical politics, the role of mysticism and Sufi Islam in countering extremism, and why banning alone can’t solve the problem.The conversation widens to Britain today, from Islamist influence in mosques and the dangers of an official “Islamophobia” definition, to the country’s own moral crisis, where secularism and self-doubt have left a vacuum easily filled by extremism. Together, we ask whether the West can rediscover confidence in its own values while helping a new generation of Muslims find peace within faith, not war against it.This is one of our most far-reaching conversations yet about faith, identity, and how both Islam and the West might renew themselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Brink, we’re joined by Colin Brazier, former Sky News presenter, and Danny Cohen, former Director of Television at the BBC, for an insider look at how Britain’s media lost its way.Drawing on decades inside Sky and the BBC, Colin and Danny explain how activism crept into journalism, how impartiality was replaced by ideology, and why both institutions now struggle with trust, bias, and credibility. From the BBC’s coverage of Israel and Gaza to Sky’s embrace of “woke” newsroom culture, they reveal the internal pressures and moral failures driving today’s media crisis.The conversation explores how younger journalists have brought activist politics into the newsroom, the decline of objectivity, and the collapse of impartial standards once taken for granted. We also discuss the future of broadcasting. From the rise of GB News and independent media to the growing influence of social platforms and algorithms that shape what the public sees.This is a rare, revealing, and deeply honest conversation about the state of British journalism and whether our media can ever win back the public’s trust.Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/its-activism-masquerading-as-journalism?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueDon't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation with David Patrikarakos, a foreign correspondent and author with deep insights from Ukraine, listeners explore the implications of Putin's invasion on global order. He argues this isn't merely territorial; it's a challenge to rewrite the world's rules. Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine and his admiration for Putin are also dissected, highlighting the fractures within American politics. David warns of a 'death of truth' in the social media era, where lies thrive. The future of Europe and the effectiveness of NATO amidst these challenges is critically examined.

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Alan Mendoza, Executive Director of the Henry Jackson Society and newly appointed Chief Adviser on Global Affairs for Reform UK. Alan reflects on his political journey from lifelong Conservative to joining Reform, and why he believes Britain needs bold, radical change to confront the crises it faces at home and abroad.We talk about the decline of the Conservative Party, the rise of Reform UK, and whether uniting the right is possible or even desirable. Alan explains what drew him to Reform’s energy, its commitment to national renewal, and its determination to challenge political correctness, restore pride, and defend British values.The conversation ranges from Reform’s economic vision and its stance on immigration, to foreign policy, Ukraine, and the threat of Islamism in Britain. Alan also addresses criticisms of the party, from questions about Nigel Farage’s leadership to concerns over internal controversies and its relationship with Israel and the Jewish community.This is a wide-ranging and revealing discussion about politics, ideology, and the future of Britain’s right…Watch the full interview here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/tory-defector-alan-mendoza-all-i?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueChapters00:00 Introduction 01:55 Core Beliefs and Political Values07:06 Transition to the Reform Party17:07 Reform Party's Potential and Challenges 30:13 Reform Party's Economic Policies and Growth38:46 Reform Party's Stance on Islamism and Anti-Semitism46:25 Reform Party's Support for Israel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Nick Timothy, Conservative MP and former Downing Street adviser, for a powerful conversation about extremism, free speech, and the cultural challenges reshaping Britain.We begin with the recent Aston Villa controversy, where Israeli fans were banned from attending a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Nick explains what this decision reveals about fear, community breakdown, and the failures of policing. He argues that Islamist influence, weak institutions, and political timidity have allowed extremists to shape the public narrative, leaving both Muslim and Jewish Britons feeling abandoned.The discussion explores the risks of introducing an official definition of Islamophobia, the growing reach of the Muslim Brotherhood in British life, and how misplaced tolerance has eroded freedom of speech and social unity. Nick calls for a renewed national mission that restores moral confidence, protects liberty, and confronts extremism without losing sight of Britain’s core values.This is one of the most urgent and thought-provoking conversations yet on The Brink, offering a clear-eyed look at faith, fear, and the struggle to reclaim Britain’s identity.Watch full interview here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/nick-timothy-mp-we-must-stop-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueChapters 00:00 Introduction02:45 Nick Timothy's Background and Aston Villa04:54 The Aston Villa Incident and Police Response09:15 Palestinian Flags and Extremist Narratives14:02 Nick Timothy's Confrontation at Aston Villa18:46 Public Order Offences and Free Speech22:35 The Islamophobia Definition and Its Implications28:53 The Muslim Brotherhood34:29 The Role of State Institutions and the Future of British Society Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Lord Nigel Biggar, theologian, ethicist, and author, for a fearless examination of Britain’s imperial past and the moral panic surrounding slavery, reparations, and “decolonisation.”We discuss the truth about Cecil Rhodes and the “Rhodes Must Fall” movement, how history has been distorted for ideological ends, and why modern activists are waging war on Britain’s past. Biggar dismantles the myth that British prosperity was built on slavery, exposes the historical illiteracy behind the reparations movement, and reveals how the British Empire ultimately became a global force for abolition and liberal reform.The conversation also explores the weaponisation of history — how critical race theory, guilt politics, and anti-Western ideology are eroding national pride and being exploited by hostile powers abroad. Biggar warns that this obsession with historical self-loathing is not about justice but about dismantling the moral confidence of the West.This is a bold and intellectually rigorous defence of historical truth and a vital reminder of the moral complexity behind Britain’s story.Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/slavery-empire-and-the-tyranny-of?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueChapters 00:00 Introduction02:49 Cecil Rhodes and the Rhodes Must Fall Campaign12:48 Historical Context and Misrepresentation of Rhodes14:24 The Role of Slavery in British Industrial Prosperity24:21 Universality of Slavery and Comparative Cruelty 29:03 British Efforts to Suppress Slavery34:25 The Nuanced View of the British Empire 40:24 Critical Race Theory and Historical Narratives
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