The Fourcast

Liam Thorp, Liverpool Echo political editor with northern voter insight; Kitty Donaldson, i paper chief political commentator on polling and strategy; Paul McNamara, senior political correspondent on Labour dynamics. They debate Starmer’s standing, local visceral dislike, whether Andy Burnham would have helped, potential replacement options, Reform’s rise and May’s tests for both parties.

Professor Caitlin Regehr, a leading voice in digital humanities and author of Smartphone Nation, joins digital journalist Sophia Smith-Galer to delve into the heated debate over banning social media for under-16s. They discuss the potential isolation of youth and the notion that a ban could alleviate tech companies of responsibility. Caitlin highlights how algorithms amplify harm, while Sophia emphasizes the need for stronger regulation over strict bans. They explore the idea of raising empowered digital citizens and the impact of parental habits on children's online experiences.

In this compelling discussion, Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News International Editor with vast experience from conflict zones, and Lina Khatib, Principal Analyst at ExTrac specializing in Middle East politics, delve into the tumultuous shifts in Syria. They explore the recent military gains of the Syrian government amid Kurdish losses and the implications for regional stability. Key topics include the fate of ISIS detainees, the sense of betrayal felt by the Kurds, and potential risks of continued guerrilla warfare, all while discussing the precarious balance of power in the region.

As Donald Trump marks a year back in office, his threats against Europe and hard-line trade policies are pushing his allies to the edge - while China and Russia, once considered America’s enemies, watch on with apparent glee.And if the UK once thought flattery was the best form of defence, the president has put paid to that with potentially crushing tariffs and a swipe at Keir Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal - an agreement he had supposedly signed off on.So how do we make sense of a global future in flux?On this episode of The Fourcast, Jackie Long was joined by geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan.

Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Helia Ebrahimi, an Economics correspondent, dive into the geopolitical implications of Trump's Greenland ambitions. They discuss potential EU responses, including the 'trade bazooka' to counter economic coercion. Leonard highlights the necessity for Europe to balance short-term dependencies against long-term strategies. Ebrahimi warns of the economic fallout for consumers from tariffs and stresses the importance of measured retaliation to avoid escalation.

Join Paul McNamara, a Senior Political Correspondent delving into Westminster's chaos, and Henry Hill, Deputy Editor of ConservativeHome, as they explore the fallout from Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform. They analyze how this shakeup reflects deeper Conservative Party issues and discuss the potential for Reform to make headway in the next election. From grassroots challenges to leadership credibility, they tackle whether this marks a pivotal moment in UK politics and how it echoes Canada's political splits.

Donald Trump is once again threatening to annex Greenland, but is it different this time? What once sounded like a joke, now feels like a genuine test of how far Europe is willing to stand up to its most powerful ally.So is President Trump actually a bigger threat to Nato than President Putin? And if so, what should Europe do about it?On this episode of The Fourcast, Jackie Long is joined by Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum and former Danish diplomat Jonas Parello-Plesner who led the foreign policy department at Denmark’s embassy in Washington from 2013 - 2017.

The Iranian regime is facing its most serious unrest in years - with protests sweeping Iran despite a near-total internet blackout and a deadly response from security forces. Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs, Western governments are debating whether to escalate sanctions and blacklist the IRGC and the German Chancellor says he believes the embattled Iranian government is in its "final days and weeks".One of the most outspoken voices on what should happen next is the comedian and actor Omid Djalili. Born in London to Iranian parents, he has been sharply critical of the regime, insistent that this is a genuine people’s uprising, and vocal about what he believes the international community must do next. He joined Matt Frei on this episode of The Fourcast.

Iran’s foreign minister insists the situation is “under total control.” But reports inside Iran tell a different story, with human rights groups warning of hundreds killed and thousands arrested as the regime tries to crush a new wave of nationwide protests. Internet blackouts make verification difficult, yet glimpses of the streets show anger not just at the authorities but at the symbols of state-backed power.In this episode of The Fourcast, Matt Frei speaks to Masih Alinejad, the Iranian American journalist and activist, about what she is hearing from inside the country and why she believes the demonstrations represent a deeper rupture with the Islamic Republic, and to Narguess Farzad, Senior Lecturer in Persian Studies at SOAS, to understand the wider cultural picture, the roots of Iran’s cycles of unrest, and whether this moment could mark a turning point. She explains how Iran’s young, highly educated population has reached its limit, why some mosques are now seen as symbols of oppression, and how the regime weighs controlled concessions against total brutality.

A fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis has ignited a battle over the truth. Federal officials say Renee Nicole Good tried to run over an immigration agent. City leaders say she was wrongly killed. And the videos circulating online raise more questions than answersThis confrontation unfolds as President Trump launches one of the largest immigration crackdowns in years, flooding Minneapolis with thousands of federal agents just months before the midterms. Schools have closed, protests are growing, and Washington and Minnesota are locked in a public fight over what happened on that street and why the city has become a political flashpoint.A fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis has ignited a battle over the truth. Federal officials say Renee Nicole Good tried to run over an immigration agent. City leaders say she was wrongly killed. And the videos circulating online raise more questions than answers.