Politics Theory Other

Phil Burton-Cartledge, lecturer in sociology and political commentator and author, discusses Labour's historic local losses and what they mean for Starmer's leadership. He explores the party's long-term trajectory and renewal options. Conversations also cover Reform's rise, Green breakthroughs and media smears, plus surprising outcomes in Wales and Scotland.

Eleanor Janega joins PTO to talk about the Christian right and the role of Christian Zionist ideology in the minds of key figures in the Trump administration and the decision to launch the US-Israeli war on Iran. We chatted about why the religious beliefs of US policy makers are often under-discussed, whether it's conceivable that Donald Trump is undergoing some sort of religious turn under the influence of the various religious fanatics around him, and we talked about the different religious strains of Christian right-thinking that exist within the administration - from Calvinists to Catholic Integralists. And we also talked about Christian Zionism and how attitudes towards Israel, and the role designated to Jewish in the apocalyptic scenarios of the Christian right, has changed over time. And finally we touched the extraordinary spat between the administration and the Vatican and Pope Leo. Notes: Issue three of The Breakdown: https://www.break-down.org/tag/issue-03/ Launch event and party: https://luma.com/3r5t0jyf?tk=jXzIbb

William Figueroa returns to PTO to talk about China's response to the US-Israeli war on Iran and the country's role in the subsequent peace negotiations. We chatted about whether the conflict has substantially changed Chinese foreign policy in West Asia, and whether Iran's ability to withstand the extraordinary violence of the US and Israeli assault has changed the weight China gives to its relationship with the Islamic Republic. We also talked about whether the failings of the US military and the depletion of its weapons stocks changes Chinese calculations regarding Taiwan. Finally, we talked about Chinese soft power and how the Iran war has been portrayed in Chinese media.

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Jennifer Kavanagh, Senior Fellow and Director of Military Analysis at Defence Priorities, explains how a two-week ceasefire looked like a major strategic defeat for the US. She discusses the ceasefire’s regional implications. She examines the vulnerability of Gulf bases and what rivals and Asian allies might learn from the conflict.

A lively discussion about whether Iran can become a regional hegemon. They weigh military and economic constraints against ideas of consensual leadership. The conversation contrasts realist power politics with Gramscian influence and asks if hegemony can cross borders. It also reframes states as ongoing processes shaped by transnational forces.

Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi joins PTO to talk about the US and Israeli war on Iran, as the conflict - apparently expected to last mere days in the Trump White House - approaches its second month. Eskandar explained why the Iranian state and military have proven so resilient despite the overwhelming firepower that the United States and Israel are able to bring to bear, and why in his view the Trump administration made so little apparent effort to prepare for an extended conflict and the closure of the strait of Hormuz. We also talked about the prospect of negotiations and what Iran's red lines might be. And finally, we talked about how the Iranian revolution of 1979 continues to shape how the Iranian regime functions and why it's a mistake to view Iran's allies in the region as mere proxies.

Nathaniel George, a SOAS scholar of modern Arab politics and author on Lebanon, guides listeners through Lebanon’s recent violence. He traces Israel’s repeated violations, Hezbollah’s resilience and motives for entering the Iran conflict. He maps new Israeli tactics, mass displacement and sectarian pressures. He connects historical interventions to likely renewed resistance.

Richard Seymour, writer and political commentator known for sharp analysis of imperialism. He walks through Operation Epic Fury and regional strikes. He discusses who holds military advantage, Iran’s strategic economic targeting, and the fractured aims of U.S. and Israeli policy. He also explores European divisions and the broader signs of U.S. decline.

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