The Brink
Welcome to your much-needed antidote to centrist dad podcasts. Presented by Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitical analyst Andrew Fox, The Brink brings their wealth of real-life experience to bear upon the most important topics of the day, from Israel to immigration, Ukraine to Islamism, asylum hotels to the rise of Reform UK. With a host of stellar guests and an emphasis on common sense, Jake and Andrew explore what it will take to bring the West back from the brink. A podcast from the edge of what’s coming. Ho...
“I’m Afraid Of Britain’s Islamists” Moderate Muslim Calls Out Extremism
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Loay Alshareef to discuss radical Islam, antisemitism, and why he believes the West has failed to understand the threat posed by the Muslim Brotherhood. Drawing on his own journey from radicalism to becoming an outspoken Muslim supporter of Israel, Loay explains why he believes Islam and Zionism are compatible, and why more Muslims must speak out against extremism. The conversation also explores the war with Iran, the future of the Abraham Accords, and why...
Islamists, progressives, far-right: who are the real heirs to Hitler?
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by historian Roger Moorhouse to ask what became of fascism after the Second World War, and whether its influence can still be seen in politics today.
From Nazi influence in the Arab world and the rise of Islamism to Putin’s Russia and Donald Trump’s America, Roger explores which elements of fascism have survived and why the label itself may now be doing more harm than good.
The conv...
From The KGB To Gaza: How Soviet Propaganda Survived
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Izabella Tabarovsky to explore how some of today’s most powerful accusations against Israel have their roots in Soviet propaganda.
Izabella traces claims of genocide, apartheid, and “Zionism is racism” back to Soviet campaigns designed to portray Israel as racist, colonialist, and even Nazi. She explains how these ideas spread through academia, the UN, and the global left, surviving long after the Soviet Union itself collapsed.
The conversation also e...
The lies we believed about jihadism after 9/11
In this episode of View from the Brink, Jake Wallis Simons reflects on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and asks how the West has become increasingly confused about the difference between its friends and its enemies.
Jake traces the consequences of September 11th through Afghanistan, Iraq, and the rise of jihadism, arguing that while the West fought Islamist extremism abroad, its propagandists became increasingly effective at exploiting Western institutions, social media, and the progressive left.
Turning to October 7th and Israel, Jake argues that the response to the Hamas attacks exposed the scale of...
Dan Hodges: Is this the slow end of Nigel Farage?
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by political commentator Dan Hodges for a wide-ranging conversation about Labour’s sanctions against Israel, the growing crisis inside Reform UK and why he believes Nigel Farage’s grip on the party may be approaching its end.
Hodges begins by examining the political calculation behind Andy Burnham’s approach to Israel. He argues that Labour is attempting to shore up its left flank against the Greens and pro-Palestinian challengers, and explains how pressure from activists, backbenchers and senior cabinet figures previously pushed Keir Starmer towards recognising a Palest...
Dover Protests, Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Britain's Right – Daniel Finkelstein
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Lord Daniel Finkelstein for a wide-ranging conversation about the rise of populism, the far right, and the growing threat of political extremism across Britain, Europe, and the United States.
Drawing on his own family's experience of Nazism and Stalinism, Finkelstein reflects on his confrontation with Nick Fuentes and the extraordinary antisemitic abuse that followed. He examines Tucker Carlson's role in bringing once-fringe ideas towards the mainstream, and why attacks on the...
Rock ‘n' Roll's disturbing hatred of Israel - David Draiman
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by David Draiman, frontman of Disturbed, for a deeply personal conversation about October 7th, antisemitism, Israel and why he has refused to remain silent despite the potential cost to his career.
Drawing on his own experiences of antisemitism and his family's history, from grandparents who survived Auschwitz and Dachau to relatives who served in the IDF, Draiman explains why defending the Jewish people has always been central to his identity. He reflects on how...
The Dysfunctional Department of War: Pentagon in Disarray Over Explosive Leaks
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of View from The Brink, Andrew Fox examines a growing crisis inside the Pentagon, asking whether Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive for loyalty and ideological control is beginning to undermine the military effectiveness of the United States.
Andrew examines Hegseth’s transformation of the Pentagon itself, from the removal of senior military leaders and interventions in promotion decisions to restrictions on the traditional press and the undisclosed government roles given to sympathetic online influencers. Andrew asks whether a culture inte...
The Arab Case for Israel with Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by Hussain Abdul-Hussain, author of The Arab Case for Israel, for a fascinating conversation about Israel, the Arab world, and why he believes peace requires a fundamental change in the way the Middle East thinks about politics, identity, and prosperity.
Growing up between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Hezbollah-dominated Baalbek, Hussain absorbed the politics of Arab nationalism, sectarianism, and hostility towards Israel. He explains how moving to Beirut, encountering different religious communities, and eventually te...
The Middle East, Zionism and The West’s New “Religion”
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by bestselling historian and author Simon Sebag Montefiore for a sweeping conversation about the history of the Middle East and his new book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.
Sebag challenges many of the assumptions shaping today's debates about Israel, Islam, and the wider region. He explains why Islam cannot be treated as a single political or religious force, why Israel is in many ways more typical of Middle...
“I Was Brainwashed Into Hating Jews” | Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by author and activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali for a wide-ranging conversation about Islam, antisemitism, Israel, and what she sees as a crisis of confidence across Western civilisation.
Drawing on her own journey from growing up as a Muslim to leaving Islam and more recently converting to Christianity, Ayaan reflects on her changing relationship with Jews and Israel. She argues that the West has misunderstood the ideological challenge posed by Islamism and discusses whether meaningful...
Migrant R*pes Old Man Outside a Church…Where’s The Outrage?
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of View from The Brink, Jake tackles one of the most difficult issues facing Britain today: illegal migration, border control, and the growing public anger over the way the system is being managed.
Jake examines the scale and cost of small boat crossings, as well as a series of serious criminal and terrorist cases that have intensified concerns about Britain's asylum and immigration system. He argues that legitimate worries about security, integration, and rapid demographic change can no longer simply...
Allister Heath: Why I’m at war with Restore Britain
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by journalist and commentator Allister Heath for a conversation about the battle for the future of the British right, the rise of Restore, and why he believes conservatism risks being consumed by a new form of ethno-nationalism.
Following his explosive intervention against Rupert Lowe and Restore, Heath explains why he felt compelled to draw a line against racial politics and antisemitism. They discuss Reform, Restore, immigration and integration, and why legitimate anger...
Are White People More British?
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake sit down for a conversation about British identity, immigration, and the growing battle over the future of the political right. The discussion examines the rise of ethno-nationalism and the rhetoric surrounding Rupert Lowe and Restore, asking where legitimate concerns about mass immigration and integration end and racial politics begin. Andrew and Jake explore what it actually means to be British and why identity cannot simply be reduced to ancestry, race, or religion.
They also...
Oxford Professor Exposes The Crisis Inside Britain's Universities
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by historian Lawrence Goldman, former Oxford professor and Executive Editor of History Reclaimed, for a wide-ranging conversation on the crisis facing universities, the rewriting of British history, and the growing influence of ideology in academia.
Drawing on more than four decades at Oxford, Goldman explains how the study of history has shifted away from archival research and evidence towards theory, ideology, and present-day moral judgments. He argues that today's students are increasingly taught to...
The truth behind the Ceuta migrant invasion...
Watch the full uncut monologue HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/
In this solo episode of The Brink, Andrew Fox examines the extraordinary events unfolding in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Spanish territory in just 24 hours. But was this really an invasion of Europe, or something far more calculated?
Andrew breaks down the competing explanations behind the crisis, from social media-driven mobilisation and organised criminal smuggling networks to the possibility of state-backed coercion. He explores Morocco's long history of using migration as political leverage, the strategic importance of Western Sahara...
Former Green Beret: Trump Is Repeating America's Biggest Mistake
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/p/former-green-beret-trump-is-repeating?r=63dafp
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by former United States Army Special Forces officer Mike Nelson for an in-depth assessment of the war with Iran, the strategic dilemmas facing the Trump administration, and whether the United States entered the conflict without a clear plan for success.
Drawing on his military experience and time working on strategy at US Central Command, Mike explains how Washington approached the conflict, why he believes the military presented viable...
Burnham v Thatcher
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this solo episode of The Brink, Jake reflects on the political earthquake following Andy Burnham's rise to the premiership, asking what it means for Britain, the West, and the future of conservatism.
Jake argues that Burnham's vision represents a return to the failed ideas of the 1970s, contrasting Britain's economic decline before Margaret Thatcher with the challenges facing the country today. He explores the growing pressures on the economy, the erosion of national confidence, declining defence capabilities, and why he believes Britain has...
The Myths of Gaza and The End of Bibi
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Israeli author and former Knesset member Einat Wilf for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of Israel, the ideology driving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the country's political future after Benjamin Netanyahu.
Wilf argues that the conflict has never fundamentally been about settlements, borders, or occupation, but about the refusal to accept the existence of a sovereign Jewish state. She explains why the events of October 7th reinforced this belief, examines the...
Are the wheels coming off Reform? Nadim Zahawi
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/are-the-wheels-coming-off-reform?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by businessman and former Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi for a conversation on immigration, political Islam, the future of the British right, and why he made the dramatic decision to leave the Conservative Party for Reform UK.
Drawing on his own experience of arriving in Britain as a Kurdish refugee from Iraq, Zahawi reflects on how immigration and integration have changed...
Muslim Expert Warns: Get Extremists Out Of Britain
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/muslim-expert-warns-get-extremists?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Jake is joined by Emirati journalist, author, and political strategist Amjad Taha for a wide-ranging conversation on the rise of political Islam in the West, the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the growing security challenges facing Britain and Europe.
Amjad argues that Western democracies have underestimated the threat posed by Islamist movements, explaining how organisations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood have embedded...
The Secret Power Struggle Tearing Iran Apart
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Iran expert Kasra Aarabi to examine the state of the Iranian regime after the recent conflict with Israel and the United States, and to ask whether the Islamic Republic is weaker than it appears.
Drawing on sources inside Iran and years of research into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Kasra explains the internal power struggles unfolding within the regime, the growing influence of younger and more radical elements of the IRGC...
Is there a silver lining to Trump’s deal? | The Brink reacts
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/is-there-a-silver-lining-to-trumps?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this bonus episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake unpack the fallout from Donald Trump’s proposed Iran deal and ask whether the United States has just handed a major strategic victory to the Iranian regime.
The conversation explores what went wrong after the 12 Day War, why the original campaign against Iran appeared to lose momentum, and whether a different outcome was possible. We discuss the role of Do...
Media ‘Gazaology’ exposed: Former AP journalist Matti Friedman
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/p/media-gazaology-exposed-former-ap?r=63dafp
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by journalist and author Matti Friedman for a wide-ranging conversation on media bias, anti-Semitism, propaganda, and the growing gap between reality and perception in the coverage of Israel.
Drawing on decades of experience reporting from Israel, Friedman reflects on his time at the Associated Press and explains why he became convinced that much of the Western media no longer seeks to describe reality but to advance ideological narratives...
Gad Saad: Suicidal Empathy and the Slow Death of the West
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/gad-saad-suicidal-empathy-and-the?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by evolutionary psychologist, bestselling author, and podcast host Gad Saad to discuss his new book, Suicidal Empathy, and the ideas he believes are driving the West towards cultural and political self-destruction.
Gad explains the concept of "suicidal empathy" and argues that many of the West’s biggest challenges stem from a well-meaning but ultimately self-defeating inability to balance co...
Francis Foster: Henry Nowak Proves Britain Is Broken
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/francis-foster-henry-nowak-proves?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by comedian, commentator, and Triggernometry co-host Francis Foster for a wide-ranging conversation on identity politics, education, free speech, and the growing cultural divisions shaping modern Britain.
The discussion begins with the murder of Henry Nowak and the debate over two-tier policing. Francis argues that modern Britain has become increasingly divided by race and identity, warning that policies designed...
“America is losing…” Trump’s former Iran expert Elliott Abrams
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by former US Special Representative for Iran Elliott Abrams for a wide-ranging conversation on the aftermath of the Iran war, Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and the future of American power in the Middle East.
We examine the state of Iran’s nuclear programme after the 12-day war and ask whether the current negotiations are simply delaying the problem rather than solving it. Abrams warns that any sanctions relief risks strengthening the regi...
The Brink in Somaliland: Rageh Omar on Israel and the new scramble for Africa
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-brink-in-somaliland-rageh-omar?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by journalist and broadcaster Rageh Omaar for a conversation from Hargeisa on the extraordinary story of Somaliland and why this unrecognised state is suddenly becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical flashpoints.
We explore Somaliland’s history as a former British protectorate, its brutal war for independence from Somalia, and how it rebuilt itself into a rela...
“Which is worse…Piers Morgan or the BBC?” Julia Hartley-Brewer on the media collapse
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/the-real-reason-british-politics?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by broadcaster and journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer.
The discussion begins with the mounting pressure on Keir Starmer, with Julia arguing that his leadership has exposed deeper systemic failures across British politics. From Brexit and the civil service to taxation, public services, and political leadership, we explore why trust in both Labour and the Conservatives has collapsed so dramatically.
<...“I Was No Friend Of Israel… Then I Went There” | Claire Fox On The Collapse Of Britain
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/i-was-no-friend-of-israel-then-i?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Claire Fox for a wide-ranging conversation on Britain’s political realignment, the rise of populism, free speech, and the cultural fallout from October 7th.
Fox argues that both Labour and the Conservatives have become increasingly detached from ordinary people, creating the conditions for populist movements to surge across Britain. From Brexit and the financial crash to identity po...
“We’ve Got to Fight Back” | Katharine Birbalsingh Sounds the Alarms
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/weve-got-to-fight-back-katharine?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Katharine Birbalsingh to discuss education, culture and the pressing crisis facing young people today.
Their conversation begins with a fundamental question: what is education truly for? She warns that many in the West underestimate the profound impact schools and wider culture have on younger generations’ attitudes and behaviours.
The discussion then shifts to the mo...
Can The West Survive Its Own Tolerance? (And can Keir Starmer survive at all?) With Daniel Hannan
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Daniel Hannan for a wide-ranging conversation on freedom, identity, and the political challenges facing Britain today.
The discussion begins with a debate around freedom of worship and the place of Islam in a liberal society. We explore how questions of integration, national security, and cultural confidence are increasingly colliding in modern Britain.
The conversation then turns to the deeper causes behind social division. From economic stagnation to a loss of national identity, we examine why trust in institutions has eroded and...
‘Hezbollah is the enemy of humanity’ | Lebanese expert Makram Rabah
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by Lebanese historian and political analyst Makram Rabah for a deep dive into Hezbollah, Iran’s regional influence, and the fragile state of Lebanon.
The conversation explores how Hezbollah has evolved from a militant group into a dominant political and military force within Lebanon, and what that means for the country’s sovereignty. Rabah explains how Hezbollah operates not just as a proxy of Iran, but as a parallel state, shaping institutions, security, and everyday life.
We examine the wider regional picture, from Iran’s stra...
Who’s the real winner? Air Marshal Edward Stringer on Iran, NATO & Western Decline
Watch the full and ad-free interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/whos-the-real-winner-air-marshal?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Air Marshall Edward Stringer, for a timely and wide-ranging conversation on Iran, NATO, and the future of Western power.
We explore the question at the heart of today’s conflicts: who is actually winning? Against the backdrop of rising tensions with Iran and a shifting global order, Stringer challenges the idea that military strikes alone can de...
Why do feminists have a problem with Jews? | Zoe Strimpel
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake discuss modern feminism, anti-Semitism, and the contradictions in contemporary culture with journalist and academic Zoe Strimpel.
Strimpel shares her shocking experience visiting an anti-Semitic art exhibit in Margate, describing the disturbing imagery and rhetoric. She challenges the artist, raising questions about political expression, hate, institutions, and the normalisation of extreme ideas.
The conversation explores how modern feminist movements have evolved and sometimes lost sight of their original aims. Strimpel argues that while feminism has made gains, its contemporary form is entangled with identity politics...
‘What would Thatcher do?’ Iran, Islam, Trump and Reform with Charles Moore
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/what-would-thatcher-do-iran-islam?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Charles Moore, former editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, and the definitive biographer of Margaret Thatcher, to examine a West in crisis.
With geopolitical tensions rising, the transatlantic alliance under strain, and Britain facing deep internal divisions, Moore offers a sweeping diagnosis of where things have gone wrong and what might come next.
The...
“You Can’t Even Debate This” UK’s Islamism Problem, with former ambassador to Saudi Sir John Jenkins
Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/you-cant-even-debate-this-uks-islamism?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by former British diplomat and intelligence expert John Jenkins for a deep dive into the influence of Islamism, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the growing challenges facing Britain and the West.
The conversation begins with the controversy surrounding public religious displays in Britain, and whether questions around cultural dominance and the use of public space can still be debated...
Lionel Shriver: Sectarian Muslim voting is changing our country
In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Lionel Shriver for a wide-ranging conversation anchored in the results of the Gorton and Denton by-election and what they reveal about the changing political landscape in Britain.
Using the by-election as a starting point, we explore how immigration, identity politics, and cultural division are reshaping British politics. Lionel reflects on the growing disconnect between political elites and the public, and why questions around national identity, integration, and social cohesion are increasingly dominating the political conversation.
The discussion also turns to the wider cultural...
“The West must suffer to wake up”: Ukraine war snapper on the horror he saw first hand
In this bonus episode of The Brink, recorded in Kyiv, Andrew and Jake speak with American photojournalist Christopher Occhicone, who has spent years documenting the war in Ukraine from the front line.
Chris explains what it is like to report from the battlefield with nothing but a camera, capturing the brutal realities of trench warfare, drone attacks, and the human cost of the conflict. Having worked closely with Ukrainian soldiers, medics, and civilians since 2014, he reflects on the desperation faced by those fighting and living through the war, and the difficulty of communicating that reality to...
MI6 Spymaster Reveals The Shadow War in Iran
In this episode of The Brink, we are joined by Richard Dearlove, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, for a wide-ranging conversation about intelligence, geopolitics, and the mounting confrontation between the West and the Iranian regime.
Sir Richard draws on decades of experience at the heart of Britain’s intelligence community to explain how the current crisis with Iran should be understood. We discuss the strategic calculations behind Western and Israeli actions, how intelligence agencies assess regime stability, and why the Islamic Republic remains such a persistent threat to regional and global security.
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