This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
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This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler is a news podcast hosted by Podmasters. It has 217 episodes, with the latest published April 2026.
Exploring threats to global stability from Ukraine to China to the Middle East with host Gavin Esler – former BBC News presenter, Washington correspondent and host of Newsnight – plus Ukraine-based war reporter Oz Katerji and independent conflict analyst Emma Beals. This Is Not A Drill dives deep into the dangers, corruption, conflicts, disinformation, rivalries and ruthless realpolitik that are making our world ever more dangerous.Support This Is Not A Drill on Patreon from just £3 per month to get each episode early plus bonus material and exclusive merchandise. From Podmasters, the team behind Oh God, What Now?, Paper Cuts and The Bunker.
news ·en ·217 episodes
China vs America – Who will be the soft power superpower?
After Iran, A New Age of Terror?
Iran vs. the Gulf – Is there any going back to normal?
Trump says he wants to end the Iran war. Can he?
Despatch from Beirut – Oz Katerji reports as Trump's Iran war rocks the Middle East
Trump's Iran doom spiral – Where does this end?
Trump’s deadly Iran gamble – Emergencycast with Paul Salem in Beirut
Does Putin really think he can still win in Ukraine?
Friend or foe? – Do Rubio's words in Munich change anything for Europe?
AI vs. The World – Can we handle the threats of artificial intelligence?
The Winter War — How Ukraine is facing Russia’s cruelty
Xi's world – Will China control the future?
Rage against the regime – Will Iran's government fall?
Destroyer in chief – Is Trump breaking the world?
Trump, Venezuela and 2026 – A new era of chaos
2025 has already shaken the world. What’s next?
Critical Mass – The new battle for energy supremacy
Russia-Ukraine deal – Can anyone force Putin to change course?
Trump on the world stage – Deal maker or faker?
War on the world – Are conflicts leading us to climate oblivion?
Can we stop the fall of Europe?
Europe's drone wall – Could it hold back Russia?
Big Tech, A.I. and the dictators – Inside the future of authoritarianism
The Populist Playbook – How does the right wing connect globally?
China and Russia vs. You — Inside the new cyber war
Gaza Peace Plan explained – Everything you need to know
What happens if China wins over Russia and India?
Trump backs Ukraine – What does this mean for Zelenskyy and Putin?
Trump's economic warfare – Are there any winners?
The Gen Z protests – Inside Nepal’s ‘Discord revolution’
‘A cascade of dreaded events’: The conflicts reshaping the Middle East
Russia, Poland and drones – What next for Putin and Europe?
Trump, Putin and Xi – Conflict or collusion?
Is China unstoppable? – How Beijing is fighting to own the future
Special edition: Ukraine at the crossroads – with Kyiv’s ex-foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba
Trump, Putin and the fate of Ukraine – Where next?
Trump, cartels and the war on fentanyl
Iran vs. Israel and America – What next after the 12 day war?
Why are peace deals so hard to reach?
How Putin stole Russia's future
Trump’s Putin ultimatum — Can he force an end to the war?
Appetite for corruption – How Trump is letting kleptocrats destroy the world
Inside the battle for truth – with Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins
Iran-Israel ceasefire – Will Trump's truce hold?
Israel-Iran — Will Trump drag America into the conflict?
‘Rising Lion’ – What Israel’s onslaught on Iran means
Shadow war – Can Britain face down the Russian threat?
Aerial assault – How drones changed warfare forever
Operation Spiderweb – How Ukraine stunned Russia and changed the war
Israel-Gaza – Will anybody stop Netanyahu?
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