The General & The Journalist

How wars start, how they are won and what they leave behind them. General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn first met in a war zone. Drawing on their real-life experience of armed conflict, they bring you the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and the dozens of other bitter struggles being fought across our increasingly divided planet. From interviews with key people on the frontlines of modern warfare to discussing the future of nuclear weapons and where Russia will attack next, this podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times also faces up to the biggest question - how ready are we for war, right now, if we had to fight one? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The General & The Journalist is a news podcast hosted by The Times, with 69 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Times hosts The General & The Journalist, a news show with 69 episodes published.

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  The General & The Journalist

  Inside Mossad: How Israeli spies penetrated Iran

  Aug 12, 202630 min

  Mossad has spent decades building intelligence networks inside Iran, using spies, cyber operations and covert technology to penetrate the regime at the highest levels. Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, joins The General & The Journalist to reveal how Israel’s spies recruit agents, operate behind enemy lines and target Iran’s leadership. How far is Mossad willing to go? And can Israel’s intelligence successes ultimately bring about regime change in Iran? And where does covert action cross the line? The Sword of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War by Yossi Cohen is available at Harper Collins. 00:00 - Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen on Israel’s Intelligence Strategy 03:01 - How Mossad Penetrated the Iranian Regime’s Deepest Secrets 09:24 - HUMINT vs. SIGINT: Why Human Spies Outperform Cyber Intelligence 14:16 - Exploding Pagers, Sabotage & The Ethics of Covert Operations 24:28 - The Future of Iran, Regime Change & Yossi Cohen’s Political Ambitions Guest: Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad Host: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia  Image: Getty Clips: BBC How should Andy Burnham approach the UK’s relationship with Israel ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  The General & The Journalist

  EXPLAINER: Britain's £5 billion drone gamble

  Aug 9, 20269 min

  Could Britain replace billion-pound warships with fleets of uncrewed vessels – and what happens when the technology fails? In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines Britain’s £5 billion bet on uncrewed warfare, shaped by the lethal lessons of Ukraine. Military planners hope networks of specialised drones and automated platforms can cut costs, protect personnel and transform the battlefield. But with major conventional programmes still competing for funding, is Britain building the armed forces of the future or creating dangerous new vulnerabilities?  Producer: Stephanie Bosset  Image: Dana Chan, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  The General & The Journalist

  Is Pete Hegseth’s macho culture fit for the military?

  Aug 5, 202635 min

  Pete Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a stage for warrior bravado – renaming it the Department of War, ordering testosterone screening for troops over 30, and cheering on a US Navy jet's ultra-low flypast over a packed Florida beach. Former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell joins Tom and Patrick to give his verdict on Hegseth's shake-up of the US armed forces and to ask whether a similar culture could take hold in the British military.  Chapters: 00:00 — Pete Hegseth and the dangerous flybys 08:50 — Who is Pete Hegseth? 10:55 — Fitness, testosterone and the “warrior ethos” 14:30 — Diversity, standards and the military beard debate 21:40 — Does machismo belong in the military? Guest: Sean Bell, Former Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Elle Scott & Julia Webster Exec Producer: Priyanka Deladia Clips: US Department of War. Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  The General & The Journalist

  How Ukraine’s leadership crisis impacts the war

  Jul 29, 202635 min

  President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his defence minister and army chief after a bitter struggle over Ukraine’s military strategy triggered widespread street protests.  Natia Seskuria of RUSI examines the clash between reformers and the old guard, and the consequences for Zelensky’s democratic reputation. Could this upheaval at the top change the course of the war with Russia? Should Zelensky reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as minister of defence ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 – Zelensky's Political Crisis 01:42 – Why Zelensky Fired Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi 08:56 – Civilian Control vs. Military Command in Ukraine 14:37 – RUSI Expert Natia Seskuria on Kyiv's Power Struggle 32:13 – Listener Q&A: The Red Sea Crisis and China's Role in Djibouti Guest: Natia Seskuria, Head of Russia and Eurasia Programme at RUSI Hosts: General Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence.  Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia  Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  The General & The Journalist

  Can Trump force open the Strait of Hormuz?

  Jul 22, 202637 min

  The collapse of the Iran ceasefire has pushed oil prices higher and left Tehran using the Strait of Hormuz as its most powerful leverage. With American casualties rising and roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply at risk, Washington faces a stark choice – keep bombing, attempt to force the strait open or start looking for a way out.  Kirsten Fontenrose, former White House national security advisor, joins The General & The Journalist to assess Trump’s options. Can the US reopen the strait without triggering a wider war? And can Trump pull back before Iran becomes America’s next forever war? Is a military showdown in the Gulf inevitable? Send in your thoughts to generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters:  00:00 – Is Iran Trump’s Forever War? 05:22 – Why Iran wants to control the Strait of Hormuz 09:41 – US Troop deaths and growing political pressure on Trump 13:23 – Trump’s Iran Options: Diplomacy, Naval Blockade or Escalation 27:14 – Can the US reopen the Strait? Kirsten Fontenrose’s Six-Month Forecast Guest: Kirsten Fontenrose, former Senior Director for Gulf Affairs at the National Security Council Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia  Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Clips: C-SPAN, US Central Command, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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