6. The Real Godfather: Assad’s Syrian Mafia (...

Has the past finally caught up with MI6 officer and KGB spy Kim Philby? His best friend has been sent out to confront him - but who will win out? Listen as David and Gordon reach the penultimate episode in the wild life of MI6’s greatest traitor, Kim Philby. ------------------- S ...  Show more

What really happened at RAF Fairford? Are Russia and Iran escalating their attacks on the UK? And could AI help terrorists develop deadly bioweapons? Listen as David and Gordon dissect the key stories from MI5’s annual threat briefing and delve into the true story behind the inci ...  Show more

This episode brings us to one of the most complicated conflicts raging in the Middle East. Thomas and Aimen both know the country well and walk us through the actors and their motives. They’ll also explain how Syria became such a killing field as a result of the Arab Spring and h ...  Show more

After eight years of civil war in Syria, with hundreds of thousands of its citizens dead and millions more fleeing the country, one question looms large: how did things get so bad? During those early days of peaceful protest, what prompted a shoot-to-kill order from the highes ...

Featuring Bassam Haddad on the historical and geopolitical origins of Assad’s rise and fall—and what might happen next. We think through the contradictions: honoring the joy felt by Syrians at Assad’s ouster while simultaneously taking stock of a truly bad geopolitical outcome. W ...  Show more

Saddam consolidates his own power base, appointing friends and relatives to key positions. We hear a remarkable account from a woman whose own family was targeted by his secret police. Soon, the deputy will be in pole position to move against his mentor. And after that, Saddam wi ...  Show more