The Crisis Room

In this Q&A episode, Mark explains what is happening to civilians currently in Russian occupied Ukraine and what lies in store for them in the future.Amber replies to claims that she has said it is now safe for Afghan refugees to return back home.Mark, Amber and Marc P all discuss the use of anti-migrant rhetoric and immigration in both US and UK elections.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to thecrisisroom@global.com and follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

In this Q&A episode, Mark opens up about his personal dealings and interviews with former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, before the 2018 Salisbury poisonings. Meanwhile Amber explains why Theresa May was confident in blaming Russia for the attacks so soon afterwards.Marc P speaks about the role that US and UK governments play in protecting and rescuing citizens when at risk from terrorism overseas.Plus - Amber and Mark have their say on the potential prosecutions of SAS soldiers for their role in the war in Afghanistan.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to thecrisisroom@global.comFollow us on social media: @crisisroompod

In this Q&A episode, Amber gives her reaction for the first time to the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's controversial immigration reforms - and the possibility of the UK leaving the ECHR. Are these reforms too harsh? Or is it exactly what the UK needs to stop the far-right from gaining traction? Marc P has his say on issues over in the US in light of a major row over military personnel ignoring potential unlawful orders. Plus, he explains why Iraq is still such a mess and what, if anything, the Trump administration is doing about it.Mark also gives his latest thoughts on the crisis at the BBC - and explains why he was mentioned multiple times by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott when he gave evidence to MPs last week. Later, he responds to a question about whether the MoD needed more funding in last week's Budget, and whether we should all be concerned by the state of Britain's drone and air defence systems. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to thecrisisroom@global.comFollow us on social media: @crisisroompod

Al Carns isn't your average Member of Parliament. After more than twenty years of decorated service in the Royal Marines, last year he became an MP, and days later, he became part of the government. Now the Armed Forces Minister, in this exclusive and extended interview, he opens up to The Crisis Room about what he learned from two decades of special operations and the strategic challenges facing the UK in 2025.Plus, as more and more former top brass speak out over prosecutions of Northern Ireland veterans, the team press Al on whether the government is doing enough to protect our former soldiers from "lawfare" and unfair legacy prosecutions. He also speaks candidly about the idea of bringing back national service and the urgency of increasing defence spending as the threat from Russia refuses to go away. Follow us on social media: @thecrisisroom

After a week where the BBC has dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Mark draws on his 35 years of working for the Corporation to assess what's gone wrong - and whether this latest scandal will damage its brand for good. He also gives his verdict on whether the BBC is to blame for the mess it finds itself in, and assesses how much merit there is to the theory that Director General Tim Davie was the victim of a right-wing coup. Amber reveals the discussions she was party to in government about the BBC and its global soft power - and explains whether this episode will affect the broadcaster's chances of having its Charter renewed in 2027. Plus, Marc relays the impact this story has had in the US - and the team discuss whether this row could even impact Prime Minister Keir Starmer's carefully curated relationship with a furious President Trump. Later, Amber, Mark, and Marc explain why Britain and France have paused intelligence sharing with the US over the controversial strikes on narco-boats in the Caribbean, and give you a heads up about an exclusive interview coming on The Crisis Room feed next week. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

Weeks after Trump's triumphant trip to the Middle East to celebrate what he called a "historic" peace deal - his plan for long-term peace in Gaza is still yet to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2. So what's behind the delay in assembling an International Stabilisation Force? What are Arab nations saying about the idea of being a part of such a Force? And is the US still involved in negotiations, or has the issue already lost the President's attention?In this episode, Mark reveals the details of a conversation he had this week with an Arab official close to negotiations over the Gaza Peace Plan - and explains why momentum appears to have stalled at the crucial moment. Later, Marc P reveals that the newly elected Governor of Virginia is a close friend of his - as well as a former CIA intelligence officer. The team discuss why people still choose to go into politics - and Amber gives her verdict on whether it's worth the personal abuse that comes with the job. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

It's been another week where Amber's old department, the Home Office, has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. So is breaking up the Home Office and creating a separate Department of Immigration the solution? Amber explains what will have gone on behind the scenes of government this week as the Hadush Kebatu saga has lurched from one crisis to another - and why dividing up the Home Office isn't the silver bullet that some are claiming it would be.Later, the team break down Donald Trump's announcement that the US will restart its nuclear weapons testing programme - and whether this means we are entering a new kind of Cold War. Plus, as season two of The Diplomat hits our screens, Amber, Mark and Marc P reveal which TV series offer the most accurate depictions of politics and diplomacy - and Mark does his Jacques Chirac impression. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod

From British colonial rule to Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, tensions have run high on the Durand Line - the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan - since it was first drawn over 100 years ago. And with fighting having once again recently broken out between the two sides, in this episode Mark takes us through the history of what has become known as one of the world's most dangerous borders - and tells the story of when he was thrown in jail for attempting to cross it while embedded with the Soviet Army.Marc P tells his own stories of running US bases in the region during his time in the CIA - and Amber tries to explain the delicate diplomatic calculations that Western governments will be making as they wait to see if the current ceasefire holds.Amber also reveals the surprising safeword she was assigned when she visited Pakistan as Home Secretary - and Marc P recounts what it was like to witness the anti-Trump 'No Kings' protests firsthand last weekend. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompodHave a question for a Q&A episode? Send it on email to thecrisisroom@global.com