The Fourcast

David Yellen, former Sun editor and media commentator, offers sharp takes on press strategy and reputational risk. Dan Snow, historian and broadcaster, brings historical context on the monarchy. They discuss the arrest’s turning point for royal reputations. They explore palace communications, potential wider implications, generational shifts in public opinion, and whether the institution can be slimmed down.

Andrea Miotti, CEO of Control AI, warns about long-term risks and urges regulation of powerful AI. Helia Ebrahimi, Channel 4 Economics Correspondent, explains rising UK unemployment and youth job losses. They discuss which white-collar and service roles AI is already affecting, the limits of current adoption, policy choices for governments and the risks of unchecked advanced AI.

Manon Garcia, French philosopher and author of Living With Men, observed the Gisèle Pelicot trial and writes on gender, masculinity, and sexual violence. She discusses how sexual violence can be ordinary, not monstrous. She explores class, entitlement and the cultural roots of male dominance. She urges self-reflection on everyday complicity and how family socialization shapes boys’ attitudes.

Professor Jeremy Horder, LSE criminal law expert, explains legal liability, immunity and prosecutorial thresholds. Dr Tessa Dunlop, royal historian and broadcaster, explores public opinion, palace handling and archival secrecy. They debate investigations into alleged document leaks, evidential hurdles for historic sexual claims, royal finances and whether the monarchy can weather a reckoning.

Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist known for progressive commentary; Tom Baldwin, former Labour communications chief and Starmer biographer; Luke Tryl, public-opinion expert at More in Common. They debate Starmer’s survival, the public sense that politics is rigged, risks of removing a leader, who might replace him, and how a successor could avoid contagion while appealing to disillusioned voters.

Scarlett Maguire, pollster and strategist, explains how public opinion could shift. Zoe Williams, left-leaning commentator, delivers a sharp moral critique of the party’s choices. Tom Baldwin, Starmer biographer and political journalist, provides detailed context on Mandelson’s appointment. They debate vetting, media handling, public trust, potential backbench revolt and whether distancing measures will repair Labour’s standing.

Jacob Silverman, author and critic of Silicon Valley power, and Helia Ebrahimi, an economics correspondent tracking markets and valuations, unpack Musk’s SpaceX–xAI tie-up. They discuss the space-based AI vision, whether rockets can subsidize loss-making AI, the fundraising and valuation dynamics, and the regulatory and geopolitical risks of a mega tech consolidation.

Kate Williams, historian of the British monarchy, gives concise historical context. Andrew Lownie, biographer of the Windsors, brings sourced research on private royal life. They discuss fresh Epstein revelations about Prince Andrew, what undisclosed files might hold, questions over palace involvement, Sarah Ferguson’s emails and finances, and how these disclosures damage the monarchy’s reputation.

David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst who covered Syria, Iraq and Iran and now writes espionage novels, breaks down looming US moves toward Iran. He discusses naval deployments, the challenge of predicting Trump, how Israel and allies penetrate Iranian targets, and what precision strikes or asymmetric Iranian responses might look like.

Nathalie Tocci, European policy expert focused on Europe-China ties. Amitav Acharya, scholar of Asian diplomacy and global governance. Robert Kagan, American foreign‑policy commentator on great‑power politics. They discuss Starmer’s Beijing visit and whether Western allies are shifting away from the US, Trump’s impact on China’s opportunities, and what a more multipolar world means for Europe’s choices and defence.