The Rachman Review

Zsuzsanna Végh, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund focused on Hungarian politics and EU relations. She discusses polling shifts that could unseat Viktor Orbán. She outlines how media control, state capture and frozen EU funds shape the race. She maps Budapest’s deepening ties to Russia and the tactics used to weaponize Ukraine in domestic politics.

Jack Watling, defence analyst at the Royal United Services Institute and author, explains why the Strait of Hormuz is central to global oil flows. He outlines staged military options to reopen the strait and the limits of naval escorts. He examines drone and uncrewed threats, allied roles and whether targeted strikes or infrastructure seizures can end the conflict.

A season opener that probes a controversial Catholic organisation and its cultural reach in America. Short segments explore its elite image, emphasis on orthodoxy and discipline. The series traces the group’s presence in chapels, universities and even the White House. It questions official claims of non-political activity versus real-world influence.

Sir Simon Gass, former British ambassador to Iran and ex-chair of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee, offers his seasoned take on Iran’s wartime resilience. He explains why hardline leadership rose, how Iran’s power centres operate in conflict, and why strikes have not neutralised its asymmetric options. He also discusses the Strait of Hormuz, oil-price pressures on US strategy, and prospects for diplomacy and Gulf recalibration.

Emile Hokayem, Director of Regional Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, provides expert analysis on Middle East security. He discusses the likely intense initial weeks followed by a long, messy tail. They weigh missile versus interceptor endurance, Gulf vulnerabilities compared with Israel, divergent US and Israeli aims, and the risks of deeper Western entanglement and regional instability.

Boris Johnson, former UK prime minister known for leading Brexit and backing Ukraine, argues more pressure on Putin is essential. He discusses why territorial concessions fail, the need for US military support, tougher sanctions and using frozen Russian assets. He warns against timidity and urges stronger Western commitments.

Chrystia Freeland, former Canadian deputy prime minister and unpaid economic adviser to Ukraine, brings trade, diplomacy and wartime perspective. She discusses negotiating with unpredictable leaders, when to push back against bullying, Europe's shifting stance with the US, and her role advising Ukraine amid a brutal, grinding conflict. Tough sanctions and coordinated pressure are central themes.

Stephen Walt, Harvard international relations scholar famous for coining 'predatory hegemon', discusses how an aggressive US posture reshapes alliances and global order. Short takes cover how leverage can yield quick gains, why allies pivot, the openings this creates for China and Russia, and the political and corruption risks that follow such a strategy.

Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House and Iran expert. She walks through US-Iran tensions, regional diplomacy to avert war, and Tehran’s domestic legitimacy crisis. Short takes on nuclear negotiations, the risk of strikes provoking fragmentation, and how Iranian society’s aspirations clash with theocratic rule.

Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist focused on global health and tech, discusses aid cuts and why philanthropy cannot replace government funding. He outlines a $50m OpenAI collaboration to bring AI into 1,000 African clinics and talks about AI aiding non-doctors and disrupting jobs. He also reflects on a climate of fear in US business and his past meetings with Jeffrey Epstein.