The Fourcast

After around 50,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, far-right politicians across Europe quickly branded the events an "invasion." But with most migrants already returning to Morocco and UK illegal boat crossings dropping to a five-year low—down 43% compared to 2025—what is actually driving the debate around European border control? On this episode of The F...

Despite his job seemingly looking assured just a few weeks ago, Gianni Infantino’s position as President of FIFA is now in jeopardy. With the footballing federations of Europe, North America and Asia all rejecting Infantino’s plans to sell off part of the World Cup to private investors, pressure is piling on Infantino. Even the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Infantino is the “wrong man” to l...

The war between the United States and Iran has spread across the Middle East.  Fresh strikes in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, alongside escalating Houthi attacks on international shipping, have raised fears that the region is entering a dangerous new phase. With Washington intensifying its military campaign and Iran relying on its network of allied militias, is this becoming a wider regional war?...

Social care is the thorny issue which politicians have failed to solve for decades. Today though, the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham put it back on the political agenda as he called for a ‘National Care Service’, saying that social care in the UK is “as unfair” as the healthcare system in the US. On this week’s episode of The Fourcast, Matt Frei is joined by the former Conservative Work and Pensi...

As thousands of people are forced to flee their homes amid devastating wildfires in France, Spain and Scotland, the climate emergency seems closer to people’s lives than ever. Despite this, governments around the world are seemingly rolling back their efforts to end the fossil fuel pollution that is driving the climate emergency. On this episode of The Fourcast, Matt Frei is joined by environmenta...

Months after many of his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs were declared illegal by the Supreme Court, Donald Trump has announced a fresh wave of tariffs against dozens of countries. This time, using the allegation of “forced labour” by America’s trading partners, Trump is hoping his new tariffs will be less open to challenge in the courts. But what will the impact be on American consumers already hit hard...

The US and Saudi Arabia have reportedly signed a landmark deal that could pave the way for a Saudi nuclear programme, sparking fears it could eventually allow the Gulf kingdom to develop its own nuclear weapon. President Donald Trump has denied that the agreement permits Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, and says any deal is dependent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and recognising Israel, a m...

Why has Volodymyr Zelenskyy reshuffled Ukraine's military leadership at a crucial moment in the war against Russia? As Kyiv ramps up its long-range drone campaign deep inside Russia, Ukraine's president has appointed General Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead the country's armed forces. Supporters say he's the innovative commander Ukraine needs for the next phase of the conflict—but why mak...

Andy Burnham is Britain's new prime minister. On his first day in Downing Street, he promised the biggest changes to Britain in 40 years, unveiled his vision for government and began assembling his cabinet. But what do those first decisions tell us about the kind of Prime Minister he wants to be? In this episode of The Fourcast, Anushka Asthana examines Burnham's first speech and the chall...

The World Cup final is here. But could this tournament be remembered more for its politics than its football - from Donald Trump's travel restrictions, to soaring ticket prices and growing criticism of FIFA's relationship with the White House, controversy has followed this World Cup from the very beginning. At the centre of it all is FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Once elected promising...

President Donald Trump has U-turned on his threat to charge cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as much as 20% - but the US and Iran have continued trading strikes as Trump has told the US Congress that war has resumed.  So, can the US gain the upper hand? Will more US bombs and bullets really help? And has this whole episode proven that the memorandum of understanding, which was meant to...

Britain is getting hotter. But is the country ready? After another record-breaking heatwave, experts estimate that thousands of excess deaths may already have been linked to the extreme temperatures. From overheating homes and buckling railways to schools, hospitals and reservoirs struggling to cope, questions are growing over whether Britain's infrastructure was ever designed for the climate...

Christopher Nolan’s newest blockbuster film The Odyssey, with a star-studded line up including Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland, hits the cinemas next week, and it’s already causing a stir.  But what is the film really about?  On this episode of the Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy sat down with Christopher Nolan and Tom Holland and explored the themes of revenge,...

Donald Trump says the ceasefire is over. After fresh US strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on American military bases in the Gulf, hopes that the conflict was winding down have been thrown into doubt.  Trump has declared he no longer wants to negotiate with Tehran, raising fears that the Middle East could be entering a dangerous new phase. So what do these latest attacks tell us? Is diplomacy...

Nigel Farage is trying to take back control of the scandal around his finances. Facing mounting questions and a parliamentary standards inquiry which could prompt a recall petition and by-election he has pre-empted it all and forced one himself. He's pitching it as the people against the establishment - the chance to flick two fingers at the media and political opponents, and prove he's do...

How far would an Andy Burnham government be willing to go to tackle inequality? In this episode of The Fourcast, economist and activist Gary Stevenson told us that the incoming prime minister will “fail” unless he is willing to properly tax wealth. A former trader who made millions in the City, Gary Stevenson has gained a huge online following as one of the left’s foremost campaigners against ineq...

Thousands of killers, rapists and sex offenders are among those who could be released early this September as the Government tries to tackle the crisis facing Britain’s overcrowded prisons. The plans have sparked a political row, with former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips calling for child rapists to be excluded from the scheme, while the Conservatives have accused the Government of putting v...

With Sir Keir Starmer just weeks away from leaving office, his government has finally released its long awaited Defence Investment Plan - but will it be enough to keep the UK safe?  On this episode of The Fourcast Indicators, Matt Frei and Mark Urban are joined by Channel 4's International Editor Lindsey Hilsum.  They discuss how the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have "completely ch...

Andy Burnham is setting out what a Premiership under him could look like. The former Greater Manchester Mayor has said that he would set up a permanent “Number 10 North”, with greater powers handed to England’s regions.  So could the Manchester model work across the country? Why has “levelling up” repeatedly failed? And could moving power out of Westminster really make England richer? To discuss t...

Russia’s stock market has plummeted in recent days, hitting a three year low, mounting pressure on Vladimir Putin while Ukraine ramps up its long range drone attacks on critical infrastructure, including oil facilities around Moscow.  Are the costs of the war becoming unbearable for Russia? Is Ukraine finding new ways to fight back? And if Putin believes time is no longer on his side, will he esca...

Maggie Haberman has spent years covering Donald Trump - from his first presidential campaign to his return to the White House. Now, in her new book Regime Change, written with Jonathan Swan, she examines how Trump has wielded power in his second term: his relationship with loyalty, his desire to shape history, and the people around him who help drive his decisions. On this episode of The Fourcast,...

Keir Starmer is on his way out and Andy Burnham looks set to become Britain's next Prime Minister. After years as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham appears to have cleared the field, with Labour MPs rallying behind him and potential rivals standing aside. But what happens next? Can Burnham turn his popularity into a successful premiership? Does he have a plan for Britain's sluggish econ...

Andy Burnham has won a thumping victory in Makerfield, proving he can, in certain circumstances, beat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK - but what about beating his own party leader Sir Keir Starmer?  The prime minister says he will stand and fight any leadership challenge. So, where does it leave the country? Will Starmer be forced to stand down, despite his defiant tone now? And what will happen if there...

A $300bn plan to rebuild Iran. A ceasefire in the Middle East. And a new test for Donald Trump. But can this peace plan really work, and who is paying for it? In this episode of The Fourcast: Indicators, Matt Frei and Mark Urban examine the signals analysts are watching most closely after the Iran war - from the future of Iran’s economy and nuclear programme, to whether Israel will accept a new re...

A ceasefire has been announced between the US and Iran - but is this the end of the conflict, or just a pause before the next confrontation? After days of missile strikes, threats and escalation, Donald Trump has celebrated the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and declared a diplomatic success. Iran says it has forced the US and Israel to accept defeat. Both sides claim victory - but who really got...