The Rachman Review

Lloyd Austin, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and retired four-star Army general, reflects on modern warfare. He discusses how drones and AI are reshaping reconnaissance, fires and maneuver. He talks about low-cost drone defenses, mixing high-end and expendable systems, interagency strategy, Middle East operational choices and a tense nuclear de‑escalation with Russia.

Dmytro Kuleba, former Ukrainian foreign minister known for rallying global support and wartime speeches. He discusses Ukraine’s resilient frontline and the struggle to break the stalemate. He explains how drones, interceptors and munitions shape modern combat. He warns about mass emigration and outlines Ukraine’s push for full EU political membership.

A lively intro linking financial history to modern markets. Short previews of stories about AI-driven fraud, bank defenses and data leaks. Teases recurring patterns in finance and how past experiments shape future risks. Quick, intriguing setup for deeper historical dives.

Dana Stroul, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and regional military strategist. Michael Singh, former White House Iran policy lead and Middle East diplomat. They debate why the Iran conflict is so hard to end. They explore US military options, the costs of blockades and escorts, the Strait of Hormuz, regional mediation and the diplomatic limits at the UN.

Suzanne Maloney, director of Brookings’ Foreign Policy program and Iran specialist, outlines Tehran’s aims to survive and strengthen its deterrent. She discusses Iran’s negotiating limits, use of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, the role of time and sanctions, and how regional and global powers might shape a long, stop-start path toward a settlement.

Baroness Catherine Ashton, former EU foreign policy chief who led Iran nuclear talks, joins to discuss diplomacy with Iran. She describes whether negotiation is possible and what core issues would need resolving. She assesses US–Europe relations, European military restraint, who might convene talks and what guarantees Iran might seek.

Philip Gordon, a Middle East policy expert who advised the Obama White House and Vice President Harris, breaks down the Iran conflict. He discusses whether the fighting is winding down or escalating. He outlines what the campaign has achieved militarily. He examines the challenge of securing the Strait of Hormuz and the diplomatic and geopolitical fallout.

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.