The Brink

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...

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,...

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...

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with historian and writer Niall Ferguson for a sweeping conversation on the West’s cultural and moral decline, from the rise of radical progressivism and Islamist ideology to the erosion of faith, patriotism, and social cohesion. Ferguson traces how Western elites, having abandoned Christianity and traditional values, opened the door to new forms of ideolo...

In this episode of The Brink, Jake sits down with Tom Holland, historian and co-host of The Rest Is History, for a profound conversation about faith, Western civilisation, and the moral roots of our culture. We explore how Christianity shaped the West’s ideas of compassion, morality, and universal values — and what happens when a society begins to forget those origins. Holland explains how the cul...

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Lord Walney (John Woodcock) and MP Tom Tugendhat, former Security Minister, for a deep dive into Britain’s growing national security crisis. From Russian assassination plots and Chinese espionage to Iranian influence and homegrown extremism, this conversation exposes the threats the UK can no longer afford to ignore. We discuss how Britain’s instituti...

In this Rapid Response clip, we react to Aston Villa’s shocking decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their upcoming Europa League match — a move that has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about double standards, fear, and antisemitism in Britain. Andrew and Jake unpack how a combination of local politics, police weakness, and community intimidation led to this decision —...

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Yossi Cohen, former Director of Mossad and one of the world’s most renowned spymasters. From leading the 2018 raid on Iran’s nuclear archive to brokering the Abraham Accords, Cohen has shaped some of the most pivotal moments in recent Middle Eastern history. We discuss the art of intelligence, emotional control under extreme pressure, and the secrets...

In this Rapid Response episode of The Brink, we react to the breaking news that Israeli hostages have finally been freed after two years in Hamas captivity. A moment of relief, sorrow, and reckoning for Israel and the wider West. We discuss the emotional weight of their return, the moral clarity of this moment, and what it reveals about the divide between those who stand for life and those who jus...

In this episode of The Brink, we sat down with General Yoav Gallant, former Israeli Defence Minister during October 7th and the first year of the war, to discuss the future of Gaza, Britain’s stance under Keir Starmer, and the survival of Israel in the face of unprecedented threats. Gallant reflects on the horror of October 7th, the necessity of military force to bring hostages home, and why he be...

Something different today… this is our Substack Rapid Response , where we break down the horrific events in Manchester, a suspected terror attack leaving victims injured and now dead and a community shaken. We break down the CST’s frontline role in protecting synagogues, to the toxic propaganda climate fuelling antisemitism, to Britain’s wider counter-terror failures. We dig into what this means f...

In this clip from The Brink’s Rapid Response, we break down Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan and what it means for Israel, Hamas, and the wider Middle East. We look at why Trump put hostages first, how his plan contrasts with Europe’s approach, and why even countries like Qatar and Turkey are backing it. We also discuss the risks of Hamas playing for time, the possibility of infiltration after th...

In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with journalist and media entrepreneur Bari Weiss to talk about the collapse of trust in our institutions, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the future of journalism in America and the West. Bari reflects on leaving The New York Times at the height of 2020’s cultural upheaval, why she founded The Free Press, and what it takes to build media that people can ac...

Was the Tommy Robinson rally a good or bad thing? What did it say about the state of British politics, Christianity and the West? Is there true evidence of “genocide” in Gaza? And what happened when Andrew was engaged in a firefight with Taliban jihadis outside a mosque? Join Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitic...

Sometimes the world feels like it’s on the edge—from conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East to culture wars dividing us here at home. From Israel to immigration, it can feel like the West is losing its way. That’s why we created The Brink. Hosted by Jake Wallis Simons and Andrew Fox, the podcast aims to cut through the noise to uncover the real implications, hidden angles, and the tough questions...