The Inside Story Podcast

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Will players in the Gulf establish a new security framework? Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

With the US and Israel signalling possible attacks, and Iran promising to respond, top officials from the Mecca pact nations – Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye – have sat down with Iranian leaders in Tehran. It’s being viewed as the last chance to defuse tensions in the Gulf. Diplomacy has so far failed to secure a peace agreement between Iran and the US. So, with fighting in Yemen spilling over into Saudi Arabia, can the Mecca alliance work with Iran to help secure the region?

In this episode:

Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh, Director of DiploHouse, a Tehran-based think-tank
Khaled Batarfi, Saudi political analyst and academic
Joey Hood, former Acting Director for the Office of Iranian Affairs at the State Department

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Can protests in Europe bring about change? Oct 26, 2026

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Another weekend - another wave of protests in many European countries. But it's in France where some of the largest demonstrations have taken place. It's a similar story across other parts of the continent. So, what would it take for governments to enact the changes protesters are demanding?

In this episode:

Jack Eisner, public law student at Science Po Paris
Rainbow Murray, specialist in French politics and Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London
Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General of European Movement International and a European policy analyst

Host: James Bays

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Has the world ignored the plight of Sudan's war victims? Oct 22, 2026

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Three-and-a-half years of war in Sudan have forced millions of people from their homes. Most remain in limbo in temporary camps and shelters, facing a worsening food crisis, while aid agencies say a sharp global funding shortfall means they can’t reach everyone. So will anyone step in to help the civilians caught up in the fighting?

In this episode:

Cameron Hudson, Former Director for African Affairs at the US National Security Council
Noah Taylor, Head of Operations in Sudan for the Norwegian Refugee Council
Kholood Khair, Founding Director of Confluence Advisory

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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Can a humanitarian crisis in Gaza be averted? Oct 21, 2026

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The US brokered a ceasefire to end Israel's war on Gaza. But since then, Israel has not stopped its attacks. Meanwhile, funding shortages are forcing the World Food Programme to cut back its operations in Gaza, leaving half a million Palestinians without badly needed food aid. So how can that gap be closed?

In this episode:

Tamer Qarmout, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
Mohammed Salah, entrepreneur and founder of Tech From Palestine
Natasha Hall, Senior Advocate for the Middle East with Refugees International and an Associate Fellow at Chatham House

Host: Imran Khan

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How will Europe deal with youth-led protests? Oct 19, 2026

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Weeks of student protests in France have grown into some of the worst unrest in recent years. They started as a call for reforms to the education system. But they've since expanded into demonstrations against the high cost of living and planned cuts to social services. And France isn't alone. Demonstrators have taken to the streets in other parts of Europe. So how will Europe deal with the protests?

In this episode:

Diane de Vignemont, independent journalist and historian
Julius Fintelmann, Co-founder and Editor-in-chief at The European Correspondent
Jaime Velazquez, independent journalist

Host: James Bays

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How will a new alliance affect the conflict in eastern DRC? Oct 15, 2026

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Joseph Kabila, who ruled DR Congo for almost two decades, is making a comeback. He will lead the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a political-military alliance with M23 fighters that opposes President Felix Tshisekedi's government in Kinshasa. Several attempts at a peace deal between government forces, rebels and armed groups have already failed, and many fear the move will worsen the fighting in eastern DR Congo. Is this coalition likely to escalate the conflict?

In this episode:

Henry-Pacifique Mayala, Co-ordinator of the Kivu Security Tracker at Ebuteli institute
Ovigwe Eguegu, Policy Analyst at Development Reimagined, specialising in African geopolitics and great power competition
Vincent Rouget, Head of Political Risk for Africa at Control Risks, a global consultancy

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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Will NATO's theory of victory work? Oct 14, 2026

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NATO says it is ready to fight as it unveils a new defence strategy using low-cost drones, artificial intelligence and rapid strikes to deter potential attacks. With the US planning to withdraw thousands of troops from Europe and concerns growing over Russia, European leaders are increasing military spending. Will NATO’s new strategy be enough to address the perceived Russian threat and protect its members?

In this episode:

Ray Wojcik, Senior Research Fellow at The Saratoga Foundation
Marina Miron, Researcher in Defence Studies at King’s College London
Alexander Bratersky, Political analyst specialising in Russian foreign policy

Host: Rishaad Salamat

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How will Ukraine respond to the growing pressure from Washington? Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

US President Donald Trump has announced a deal to bring Russian diesel into the United States, a move welcomed by the Kremlin. He's accused Ukraine of ignoring his calls to halt strikes on Russian refineries. Ukraine insists it will only stop striking Russian refineries if Moscow ceases attacks on its energy facilities. With Washington and Europe diverging further on Ukraine, how long can European leaders continue their economic and military support for Kyiv?

In this episode:

Lisa Yasko, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament
Andrey Kortunov, Russian affairs analyst
John Lough, Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre

Host: Rishaad Salamat

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Is Zionism a form of racism? Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Zionism should be treated as any other form of racism. That's what members of the Green Party have agreed on at their annual conference in the UK. Israel has condemned the decision, calling it antisemitic. So, what's the motivation? And what impact will the Greens' new policy have on British politics and beyond?

In this episode:

Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London
Yossi Beilin, former Israeli Justice Minister
Jonathan Lis, Journalist and Broadcaster

Host: Neave Barker

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Will elections bring change to multi-ethnic Bosnia and Herzegovina? Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina go to the polls for the 10th time since the end of the war more than three decades ago. They're electing more than 500 members of a complex government structure. But deep political and ethnic divides remain. So, how will it play out, both in Bosnia and in the region?

In this episode:

Jahja Muhasilovic, Assistant Professor at the International University of Sarajevo
Nina Sajic, Professor in the School of Political Science at the University of Banja Luka
Bodo Weber, Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council

Host: Sami Zeidan

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