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Chatham House

by Chatham House

Chatham House is an independent policy instute, based in London. We have been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for one hundred years. Today, at the beginning of our second century, we continue to offer solutions to global challenges and actively seek to empower the next generation to change their world.

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Episodes

  1. How will Ukraine get through winter after the Trump-Putin diesel deal?

    President Trump and President Putin’s back-door deal to release hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel into international markets has revitalized the Kremlin’s war effort and left President Zelenskyy incandescent. Is the US president sacrificing Ukraine in the hope that it will help…

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  2. Europe, Brazil and beyond: Is the populist wave gathering momentum?

    The rightward movement in democracies in Europe and beyond shows little sign of slowing. Germany has elected its first far-right regional government in Saxony-Anhalt. In France, voter anger with Emmanuel Macron puts the Rassemblement National’s Marine Le Pen in pole position for the presidency.…

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  3. Why the Houthis’ Red Sea power play makes Iran even stronger

    The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels' capture of Yemen’s port city of Mocha means that Iran now effectively controls two crucial waterways in the region – the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Red Sea and thus the Suez Canal, as well as the Hormuz Strait. Why has this simmering conflict exploded again?…

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  4. Contested waters in international politics

    Bhargabi and Beatrice are joined by Susanne Schmeier and David Michel to examine how climate change and rising demand are putting water systems under strain, emerging contestation over water in international geopolitics, and how global cooperation can help address these mounting challenges.

  5. China rising, America in decline? The Trump-Xi summit

    President Donald Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to Washington with the US-China dynamic in a moment of historic flux. China is rising economically and militarily, while the US is mired in the Iran war, alienating allies and pursuing Trump’s unpredictable trade and tariff disputes. What do the two...

  6. Artificial Intelligence, Real Fears: Is it time to slow down?

    A call by leaders of the tech giants on the frontier of Artificial Intelligence to ‘slow the pace’ of its development has sparked debate over the risks associated with AI. Does AI represent an existential threat, and if so, how urgent are the warnings? Or can humanity harness this powerful...

  7. How did 9/11 shape the world we live in?

    Twenty five years ago the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, on 11 September 2001, saw 2,977 people killed in New York, Washington, and aboard the planes hijacked by 19 members of Al-Qaeda. An immediate response followed with the US-led ‘war on terror’, which saw Western forces occupy...

  8. What is the United Nations for?

    The United Nations convenes for its 81st General Assembly next week amid turmoil around the world that it seeks to bring together. The conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza, and the US, China and Russia’s undermining of the rules-based international order cast a shadow over UNGA. Can the…

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  9. Iran, Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu: Understanding the Middle East’s crises

    It’s been a tumultuous year in the Middle East – and it’s far from over. Six months after the US and Israel launched their offensive against Iran, the conflict continues to disrupt trade, energy and food security. President Trump struggles to escape a deadlock that threatens to seriously damage…

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  10. The summer of '26: A turning point for the climate crisis?

    The climate crisis has seldom been dramatized so vividly as in the summer of 2026. Apocalyptic fires, widespread droughts and drained rivers in Europe made clear a worsening situation that even the most fervent denier can’t wave away. But is there the necessary time, commitment and technology to...

  11. What can Lagos teach us about Africa’s emerging megacities?

    By 2050, many of the world’s fastest-growing cities will be in Africa, and the choices made today will define how hundreds of millions of people will live then. A city like Lagos whose scale, economic dynamism and growth capture the opportunities and complexities of this transformation stands out...

  12. The foreign policy challenges Labour can’t ignore

    Britain’s new prime minister Andy Burnham is not known for his interest in foreign affairs, but foreign affairs are eternally and often unforgivingly interested in Britain. What should Burnham and his new foreign secretary Ed Miliband prioritise on the global front? How can they balance the…

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  13. Is the AI boom about to bust?

    The $2.6 trillion spent on artificial intelligence, data centres and advanced chipmaking dwarfs the cost of previous infrastructure megaprojects. Yet AI has become a money pit for tech giants like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta, and the tech is failing to hit its stratospheric targets. Could…

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  14. DRC’s Ebola outbreak: Local systems, international responses and lessons for Africa

    During the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), clinical breakthroughs with the potential to significantly reduce both the death toll and the duration of the outbreak were made. However, as our guests argued in research conducted for the Congo Research Group in...

  15. If Ukraine is winning the war, why did Zelenskyy fire his defence minister?

    Ukraine’s drone strikes deep into Russian territory coincided with one of Kyiv’s biggest political and military convulsions of the war: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired the popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov only for his decision to spark protests across the country. Why did...

  16. Can Andy Burnham remake Britain at home and abroad?

    Andy Burnham took over as UK prime minister with a vow to restore hope in British politics – and an early volley of voter-friendly policy promises. But are they quite as significant as billed? How much room to manoeuvre does Burnham really have? Will new chancellor John Healey release enough…

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  17. The World Bank scraps its climate finance target. What happens now?

    The World Bank Group (WBG), along with the other multilateral development banks (MDBs), plays a critical role in helping its client countries transition to low-carbon economies and strengthen their resilience to the impacts of climate change. In late June, however, following pressure primarily…

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  18. Has Trump made the presidency too powerful?

    The 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey may represent the pinnacle of soft power for the USA and a moment of global prestige for President Donald Trump. But at home, concerns are growing over his ever-expanding vision of presidential power. Is America now living with an 'imperial presidency'? Has...

  19. NATO in Ankara: Is Europe ready for a Russian attack?

    This year's NATO summit brought together the leaders of all 32 member states in Ankara. President Donald Trump's return to the summit brought renewed controversy, with remarks on Greenland and Iran underscoring the geopolitical tensions that continue to test the unity and purpose of the...

  20. What is COP30’s ‘Just Transition Mechanism’?

    At COP30, Parties agreed to develop a 'Just Transition Mechanism', which many hailed as one of the real bright spots of the conference. Climate Action Network International, for example, called the decision 'one of the strongest rights-based outcomes in the history of the UN climate…

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  21. USA at 250: Soft power, hard power and the future of the American dream

    The United States marks its 250th birthday at a moment of intense division and international uncertainty. At home, President Donald Trump is aggressively remodelling America's governance around expanded White House power and burning through firewalls intended to prevent presidential overreach and...

  22. USA at 250: Soft power, hard power and the future of the American dream

    The United States marks its 250th birthday at a moment of intense division and international uncertainty. At home, President Donald Trump is aggressively remodelling America's governance around expanded White House power and burning through firewalls intended to prevent presidential overreach and...

  23. Can Andy Burnham save Labour?

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves No.10 a decade since the Brexit referendum that began the UK’s cycle of chaos, and Andy Burnham seems set to take over unopposed. Our experts discuss what the new regime will mean for Britain’s future and its role in the world. Will attempts to bring the UK...

  24. It isn’t easy being green: The UK’s net zero trilemma

    Can Labour’s prized plans to decarbonize power generation by 2050 withstand growing demands for extra defence spending – an acrimonious argument that has already claimed two senior defence ministers? Or pressure to preserve and extend welfare benefits from the party’s left and the unions, many of...

  25. Thatcher to Trump: Lawrence Freedman on UK foreign policy in wars and crises

    Lawrence Freedman, author and international relations authority, reflects on the ‘utter chaos’ of the Trump administration, America’s ‘catastrophic’ foreign policy, the likelihood of an international shock to Britain’s politics, the impact of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in his time…

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  26. Defence Investment Paralysis: Why the UK’s defence minister quit, and what it means

    A tumultuous week for Britain’s faltering rearmament plans sees Defence Secretary John Healey resign from Keir Starmer’s cabinet, saying the prime minister and the Treasury lack the will to properly fund the defence of the nation. Al Carns, the armed forces minister, also resigned saying the...

  27. Navigating Somalia’s political stalemate

    As 15 May 2026 drew closer, there was growing uncertainty surrounding Somalia’s next political transition. This date marked the official end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term; yet no election date was set. Instead, the President officially signed a final set of constitutional amendments...

  28. Rules against power: Does the world need a new economic alliance to balance the US and China?

    Would the world benefit from a new economic alliance to stop China and the US from undermining the global rules we all depend on – a new ‘third pole’? That’s the conclusion of a new Chatham House report published this week. How would an economic bloc like this work? Who could build it? And how...

  29. What does AI mean for the climate?

    Attention is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence as its capabilities and influence permeate nearly every sector. AI’s growth raises important questions about its environmental footprint; risks associated with future scale, and how such a globalised industry can be effectively…

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  30. Ebola in DR Congo: A 'catastrophic collision of disease and conflict'

    The major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeast is not just a public health emergency in an already impoverished and violence-beset region. Armed rebellion, fragile government and a collapse in public trust are combining to make outbreaks more frequent – and fostering...

  31. Could Britain really rejoin the EU?

    Almost exactly ten years since Britain’s seismic vote to leave the EU, the debate reopens thanks to early skirmishes in the fight for leadership of the Labour Party and thus the prime ministership. Could a credible bid to rejoin make its way onto Britain’s political agenda? Are the drastically...

  32. Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (part 2 of 2)

    All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US-Israeli war on Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of oil and gas. The first...

  33. The Trump-Xi summit: What does the US want from China and will Trump get it?

    President Donald Trump brings a band of senior US business executives seeking trade deals to China for what is possibly the biggest bilateral summit of 2026. But what does the US hope to achieve? More sales of Boeings, beef and soybeans; an off-ramp from the US-Israel war on Iran; a sense of…

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  34. Is Putin losing control of his war in Ukraine?

    Is the initiative on the Ukraine war slipping out of Russian president Vladimir Putin's hands? And how has the US-Israel war on Iran affected Moscow? The economic crisis is tightening, and Moscow and St Petersburg are increasingly subject to lengthy internet and mobile blackouts. Fearing…

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  35. Making the global circular economy transition happen

    Today’s ‘take–make–dispose’ economy operates in a linear way: resources are extracted, turned into products, used, and then discarded — with severe consequences for the climate and environment. Transitioning to a circular economy means replacing this system with one that keeps materials in...

  36. King Charles in Washington: Did the royal visit save the 'special relationship'?

    King Charles III’s state visit to the US won acclaim as the monarch charmed President Donald Trump. But can it really rescue US-UK relations from their current dire state? The ‘special relationship’ – a term first voiced by Chatham House before becoming widely popularized by Winston Churchill –…

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  37. Is the shock of the US-Iran war helping Europe come together?

    EU expansion, energy shocks, and uneasy alliances: will the conflict in the Gulf – and other crises – force a more unified European strategy? This week’s episode comes from the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, where host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Grégoire Roos, director of our Europe, Russia…

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  38. Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (part 1 of 2)

    All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US-Israel war with Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of oil and gas. How did...

  39. Iran, Pope, Economy: How many battles can Trump fight at once?

    From Hormuz to Hungary and the Vatican to the Federal Reserve, it has been an unusually contentious week for the White House, even by the standards of President Trump’s second administration. This week’s podcast comes from the US, where our analysts assess the political and economic state of the…

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  40. What lessons will China, India and other Asian nations draw from the Iran war?

    China prepared in advance for a US attack on Iran. But many of its Asian neighbours have been hit hard because their economies were heavily reliant on energy imports from the Gulf. In the short-term, the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered rationing, and shortages of diesel, gas…

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  41. Emergency Response Rooms: Sudan’s humanitarian lifeline

    Since the war in Sudan began in 2023, grassroots, volunteer-led mutual aid groups – the Emergency Rooms (ERRs) – have delivered vital humanitarian assistance and played a key role in safeguarding civilian life across the country in the face of the devastating conflict. The work of the ERRs is...

  42. Climate change, energy and geopolitics

    As the conflict in the Middle East rattles energy markets, this episode explores the connections between climate change, energy, and geopolitics. It addresses questions such as: What does the war in Iran reveal about the links between fossil fuels, vulnerability, and power? What lessons can be...

  43. Why are UK energy costs so high? And how to bring them down

    An earlier than usual episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, ahead of the Easter break. In a one-on-one conversation, Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox discusses energy with Sir Dieter Helm, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford, who has been advising governments and...

  44. Iran war: regional shock or global crisis?

    One month on from the start of the US and Israeli war on Iran, governments worldwide are trying to assess the scale of its long-term impact on the global economy and political system. Much will depend on how long the conflict continues, and how long Iran blocks fuel exports and other cargo…

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  45. Can minerals buy peace in the DRC?

    As a key mediator in the ongoing conflict in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States has brokered peace agreements backed by security guarantees and by the investment potential of the country’s vast mineral wealth. However, critics warn this “minerals for...

  46. Is Iran one crisis too many for Trump?

    The US-Israel war on Iran is straining Trump’s alliances, at home and abroad. Three weeks into exactly the kind of war of choice that he spent years decrying, US President Donald Trump is not getting the amount of international support that he seeks for his campaign of air strikes on Iran. There…

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  47. Rebuilding regional order and security in West Africa

    The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS early last year – and the subsequent formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – has posed a critical challenge for regional cooperation, particularly on security. According to the Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel is the “epicentre...

  48. What does China’s new Five-Year Plan mean for the climate?

    China is the world’s largest emitter and dominates global production of green technology. A few days ago, the National People’s Congress approved the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, China’s main economic and policy blueprint for the period 2026–2030. What does the new plan say about China’s…

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  49. AI wars: Anthropic battles the Pentagon as China plans ahead

    The US military's AI provider Anthropic is feuding with the Pentagon after the company tried to impose 'red lines' over the use of its artificial intelligence products for lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of Americans. President Trump accused the US firm of being 'radical left' and...

  50. Iran: Will Trump declare early victory and risk leaving hardliners in charge?

    What does President Trump hope to achieve in Iran – a quick show of force, or long-term regime change? The US and Israel’s long-threatened air strikes on Iran have materialized, and the Middle East is facing widespread disruption and a mounting death toll as the war spills across borders. In this...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Chatham House is an independent policy instute, based in London. We have been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for one hundred years. Today, at the beginning of our second century, we continue to offer solutions to global challenges and actively seek to empower the next generation to change their world.

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Chatham House is an independent policy instute, based in London. We have been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for one hundred years. Today, at the beginning of our second century, we continue to offer solutions to global challenges and actively seek to...

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