The Crisis Room

After the horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach, Marc P and Amber explain what precautions are taken by governments to try and prevent similar attacks from happening. What will life look like after Donald Trump's presidency in terms of international relations and will the US carry the same weight internationally?Mark debates whether the BBC is facing an existential crisis with a potential multi billion dollar lawsuit looming.

It's rare that the head of MI6 and the head of the Armed Forces both speak publicly in the same week. But that's what's happened in the past few days, with both warning of the imminent threat the UK faces from Russia. In this episode, The Crisis Room asks: is it time for the UK - and the West as a whole - to admit that we are at war with Russia?Amber explains the conversations she was involved in about how to deal with Russia during her time as Home Secretary - and whether enough has changed since then for Keir Starmer to take a tougher approach now. Meanwhile, Mark and Marc P unpick Putin's grey-zone warfare tactics - from sending drones to disrupt European airspace, to deploying spy ships in British waters - and discuss which specific measures the UK should take to prepare for more Russian hostility in 2026.Later, the team each choose their defining crisis of 2025 - and look ahead to the crises we can expect in the year ahead.Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

In this Q&A episode, Mark explains what is happening to civilians currently in Russian occupied Ukraine and what lies in store for them in the future.Amber replies to claims that she has said it is now safe for Afghan refugees to return back home.Mark, Amber and Marc P all discuss the use of anti-migrant rhetoric and immigration in both US and UK elections.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to [email protected] and follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

After a week where Trump has left Europe wondering if it faces a future where it can't rely on America to protect it - The Crisis Room debates whether Britain will come good on Keir Starmer's promise to massively increase defence spending, and what it will mean if he fails to hit his own targets. Philip Hammond, the former Foreign Secretary and Chancellor, joins the podcast for an exclusive interview - and questions whether the government is really prepared to cut spending on other departments to fund national security. The team also debate why the US is appearing to take such a reconciliatory tone with Russia, while taking a hostile approach to its European allies. Plus they ask: is the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker the start of a full-blown attempt at regime change in Latin America?Later, Mark reports on the latest failures of the UK's controversial Ajax armoured vehicles - and why the MoD should be so concerned by leaked videos of the faulty kit appearing all over social media.Follow us: @crisisroompod

In this Q&A episode, Mark opens up about his personal dealings and interviews with former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, before the 2018 Salisbury poisonings. Meanwhile Amber explains why Theresa May was confident in blaming Russia for the attacks so soon afterwards.Marc P speaks about the role that US and UK governments play in protecting and rescuing citizens when at risk from terrorism overseas.Plus - Amber and Mark have their say on the potential prosecutions of SAS soldiers for their role in the war in Afghanistan.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to [email protected] us on social media: @crisisroompod