The Inside Story Podcast

Donald Trump's administration said it will revoke the visas of Chinese students studying at US universities. US embassies have also been instructed to pause new interviews. So, how much of this is politics? And what fallout could US universities suffer? In this episode:  Clay Harmon, Executive Director, Association of International Enrollment Management.  Alexandra Miller, Immi...

Chaos at aid distribution sites in southern Gaza. The UN has distanced itself from the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that's backed by the US and Israel. What’s behind this move to establish a separate aid mechanism? And what needs to change to help desperate Palestinians? In this episode:  Chris Gunness, Former Director of Communications, UNRWA.  Amjad Shawa, Direc...

Donald Trump brands Vladimir Putin 'absolutely crazy' after Russia launched its largest aerial attack of the war on Ukraine. The Kremlin is downplaying Trump’s remarks, describing them as 'emotional overload'. So, is the US President emboldening Putin? Or will Trump’s fiery words be put into action with sanctions? In this episode:  Mark Storella, Former US Ambassador.&nb...

Spain hosts European and Arab nations as Israel's aid blockade fuels a famine in Gaza. 'The Madrid Group' is calling for an arms embargo and condemned silence as complicity. So why is Israel facing pressure from some of its allies now? And can it be effective without US support? In this episode:  Lynn Boylan, Member, European Parliament; Chair of the Delegation of Relations wit...

260 miners trapped in a South African gold mine have been rescued after more than 24 hours. Countries across Africa are seeing a rise in mine-related accidents, exploitation and environmental damage. So, what lessons are being learned from past tragedies? And are Africans getting a raw deal? In this episode:  Claude Kabemba, Executive Director, Southern Africa Resource Watch. Christ...

US President Donald Trump is threatening to impose 50% tariffs on European Union imports starting June 1st. The EU says it stands ready to defend its interests. But is Trump genuinely seeking a deal with the European Union? And is Europe about to pay a high price for not settling with Trump sooner? In this episode:  Paolo Von Schirach, President, Global Policy Institute. Will H...

Israel was quick to label the killing of two of its embassy staff in Washington DC this week as antisemitic. Other officials in the West have followed suit. But as its war in Gaza expands, does criticising Israel amount to antisemitism? And does this narrative serve any purpose? In this episode:  Phyllis Bennis, International Adviser at Jewish Voice for Peace. Saba-Nur Cheema,...

Will a Golden Dome protect America? It's an ambitious and unprecedented defence project that president Donald Trump says will shield the country from advanced missile threats, including those launched from space. But could it also trigger a new global arms race? In this episode:  Micheal O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution. Youngshik Bong, Research Fellow, Yonsei University In...

Traditional allies are putting pressure on Israel. The UK has paused trade talks and sanctioned West Bank settlers. And the EU is threatening to review its entire relationship with Israel. Is this a turning point in international policy? And will it make any difference for Palestinians?  In this episode:  James Moran, Former EU Ambassador to Egypt and Jordan. Yossi Mekelberg, Senior Cons...

As Israel expands its war on Gaza, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are again forced from their homes. Israel's prime minister has vowed to seize all of the strip. So as its humanitarian crisis worsens, who can stop Benjamin Netanyahu's plans? In this episode:  Afif Safieh, Former Palestinian Diplomat.  Lex Takkenberg, Senior Adviser, Question of Palestine Program, Arab Renaissance...

Europe's Super-Sunday elections see a pro-EU candidate defeat a hard-right rival in Romania, a centrist win in the first round of Poland's presidential election, and a victory for the incumbent government in Portugal. So can Brussels breathe a sigh of relief? Or is the far-right still rising as a political force? In this episode:  Pieter Cleppe, Editor-in-Chief, BrusselsReport.eu. Piotr Buras...

Global hunger has hit a new high. The United Nations says nearly 300 million people faced acute hunger last year. And the outlook for 2025 is bleak due to wars and cuts in aid. So which countries are experiencing the worst of the global food crisis? And who are the most vulnerable? In this episode:  Chris Gunness, Former Director, Communications, United Nations Relief and Works...

A Russian drone strike hit Ukraine's Sumy region just hours after the first direct talks in three years. The warring sides agreed to a prisoners exchange in those talks. But will it lead to a lasting ceasefire? And can the two sides narrow the gap between them? In this episode:  Peter Zalmayev, Executive Director, Eurasia Democracy Initiative. Pavel Felgenhauer, Independent Defense and Russia...

Trillions of dollars were pledged during the US president’s three-nation tour of the Gulf this week. So, are the Gulf nations now in sync with Washington on some of the biggest challenges in the region? And is Donald Trump re-shaping the Middle East, or will the Gulf states dictate future US foreign policy? In this episode:  Giorgio Cafiero, CEO at Gulf State Analytics. Hassan Barari, P...

US President Donald Trump has signed record-breaking agreements during his state visit to Qatar. It's part of a three-nation tour of the region. A trip that's expected to fetch America billions in new investments. But what do the Gulf states gain from this trip?  In this episode:  Faisal Al Mudahka, Editor In Chief, The Gulf Times Andreas Krieg, Senior Lecturer, King’s College Lond...

Celebrations in Syria after the US president announced that he's lifting decades of sanctions. Donald Trump says his decision will give the nation a chance at greatness after years of civil war. So, can Syria's new leadership deliver on the hopes of the people and rebuild the country? In this episode:  Sinan Hatahet, Non-Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council's Syria Project.  Joshua Landis,...

A ceasefire between the two main rivals of a global trade war. The US and China have struck a complicated deal to de-escalate a soaring tariff face off that had nations on the edge. So will the agreement reverse fears of a global recession? And can it revive world business sentiment? In this episode:  William Lee, Chief Economist, Milken Institute.  Huiyao Wang, Founder, Center for China...

A twist in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Russia's President pitches direct talks with Ukraine. That's after Kyiv's EU allies propose a 30-day ceasefire. Donald Trump backs Vladimir Putin's plan for talks first and negotiations later. So can this meeting in Istanbul stop the fighting?  In this episode:  Olesia Horiainova, Co-founder, Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre. Vasily...

The guns have gone silent along the India-Pakistan line of control. After the most intense exchanges in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbours, a ceasefire is in place. But will it hold? And what lessons can be learned from this conflict? In this episode:  Walter Ladwig, Senior Lecturer, International Relations, King’s College, London. Elijah Magnier, Military and Political Analys...

A ceasefire has been announced to stop a bitter conflict over one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Kashmir has repeatedly been troubled by a dispute dating back nearly eight decades between India and Pakistan. Will the latest truce resolve differences going back to colonial times?  In this episode:  Victoria Schofield, British Biographer and Historian.  Radha Kumar, Negotiator...

A new Pope has been elected, the first from the US to lead the Catholic Church. It's church that's divided between progressives and traditionalists, and in a world polarised by conflict and widening political division. So, what role might Pope Leo XIV play within his church and on the world political stage? In this episode:  Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor of World Catholicism at DePaul Univ...

International concern is mounting over the India-Pakistan conflict - as both are armed with substantial nuclear arsenals. Atomic bombs have only been used twice - eighty years ago on Japan. What nuclear risks do the current hostilities pose? In this episode:  Dan Smith, Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Susi Snyder, Programme co-ordinator at the Inte...

The US president has announced he'll stop attacks on Yemen. Donald Trump says he made the decision after the Houthis assured him they'll end their strikes on American ships in the Red Sea. They had been targeting vessels after Israel launched its war on Gaza. But will Israel also stop its air strikes? And what does this mean for Yemen?  In this episode:  Maysaa Shuja Al Deen, Senior Rese...

Donald Trump says Hollywood is 'dying fast'. The US President blames foreign countries for the crisis. And he has ordered a 100% tariff on imported films and those produced outside the United States. But how will the tariffs work? And what will be their larger impact? In this episode:  Jonathan Handel, Entertainment Lawyer and Journalist.  Chris Southworth, Secretary General, Internation...

Cardinals of the Catholic Church gather in Rome to elect the next Pope. Whether a moderniser or conservative wins, big challenges await them within the church and on the global political stage. So what are they? And what could be the future direction of the Church? In this episode:  Gerard O'Connell, Vatican Correspondent, America Magazine.  Michel Mondengele, Country Director, Sierra Le...