The Crisis Room

Global

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, renowned journalist Mark Urban, and decorated former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos team up to present The Crisis Room.

"The Journalist, The Politician, and The Spy" might sound like the start of a John le Carré thriller - but what’s unfolding in today’s world is all too real. Step inside The Crisis Room where power, politics, and espionage collide.

Each week, the team unpicks the biggest crises shaping the UK and the world. With insider perspectives drawn from the gritty underbelly of investigative reporting, the corridors of Westminster, and the shadowy realm of intelligence, they’ll help you understand what’s really happening behind the headlines - and what’s at stake for our future.

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50 episodes
Updated February 2

Episodes50

Newest first

Nov 6, 2025 · 31 min
What’s happened to the Peace Plan for Gaza?
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
Nov 3, 2025 · 24 min
Q&A: Maccabi Tel Aviv, New York Mayor & Le Carré's view on spies
What does it say about the UK's police and the country more generally that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from attending their match against Aston Villa? Amber and Mark break down why the authorities reached the wrong decision - and Marc P explains why the story has made news in America as part of this week's Q&A episode. Amber also reveals how a massive emergency service response is co-ordinated at an incident like the Manchester Arena bombing, while Mark and Marc discuss whether it's time to give Russia a taste of their own medicine and deploy some grey-zone warfare against them. Plus Marc P gives his view on whether Zohran Mamdani will win this week's Mayoral election in New York - and the team give their response to John Le Carré's view that the intelligence services are 'incompetent scavengers of the public purse'! Have a question for a future episode? Email it to thecrisisroom@global.com Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Oct 30, 2025 · 36 min
Omnishambles at the Home Office: what next?
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
Oct 27, 2025 · 20 min
Q&A: Prince Andrew's titles & is Brexit to blame for the small boats crisis?
In the latest Q&A episode, the team tackle your questions on a variety of crises. Amber analyses what has been achieved through stripping Prince Andrew of his titles, while Marc P gives us an update on when we might finally see the Epstein Files published. Meanwhile, Amber and Mark discuss whether it's fair to say that Nigel Farage and Brexit are largely responsible for the small boats issue about which Farage and Reform UK are so unhappy. Plus Mark explains the challenges facing journalists in a world where generative AI and misinformation are so prevalent, and Marc P tries to work out what is influencing Trump's attitude towards Putin and the war in Ukraine, as the US President veers from one position to another with every passing week. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrisisroom@global.com Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Oct 23, 2025 · 39 min
The reality of the world’s most dangerous border
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: @crisisroompod Have a question for a Q&A episode? Send it on email to thecrisisroom@global.com
Oct 20, 2025 · 21 min
Q&A: Can Tomahawk missiles win the war for Ukraine?
Amber, Mark and Marc P are answering your questions in this first ever Q&A episode of The Crisis Room! Mark and Marc analyse how damaging it could be for Russia if Trump gives Ukraine Tomahawk missiles - and they also break down why Hamas' violent reprisals against rivals in Gaza is such an obstacle to the peace plan continuing into phase two. Amber gives her verdict on the political purpose of the UN - and whether this year's General Assembly played a key role in bringing about the Middle East ceasefire - and the team are also asked about how great a threat China and climate change pose to national security. Have a question for a future episode? Email thecrisisroom@global.com Or follow us on social media and leave a question there: @crisisroompod
Oct 16, 2025 · 36 min
What does the MI5 boss really think about the collapse of the China spy trial?
Today, the MI5 boss has spoken out about his 'frustration' at the recent collapse of the China spy trial. But how will he really be feeling about this saga which has caused so much controversy for Keir Starmer and in national security circles? Amber reveals what Ken McCallum said when she saw the spy chief this week - and why the security services will be furious that the case has fallen apart. Mark also explains why there is so much risk attached to any trial involving spying and national security - and what he learned about the scale of Chinese espionage from his trip to FBI HQ 20 years ago. Plus Marc P gives his forthright view on whether Hamas can be persuaded to give up their weapons - and on whether Gaza's Arab neighbours really have the 'cojones' to provide a stabilising force to keep the peace in Gaza. Later: why is Trump talking openly about the CIA's supposedly covert action in Venezuela? Is the US heading for war with the Latin American nation? Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Oct 9, 2025 · 34 min
Dealing with Trump and the Taliban: the Mark Sedwill interview
How do you handle President Trump? Is China a national security threat to the UK - and should it be allowed its new 'Super Embassy' in central London? And could a future government potentially strike a migrant returns deal with the Taliban? These are just some of the questions Amber, Mark, and Marc put to Mark Sedwill - the UK's former National Security Adviser and Ambassador to Afghanistan - in a rare and wide-ranging interview. Hear his candid view on the recent collapse of the Chinese spy trial, the terror threat to the UK in light of events in the Middle East, and anecdotes about how previous governments stopped migrants illegally entering Britain through the Channel Tunnel - and what this administration can learn when it comes to stopping the boats. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Oct 3, 2025 · 32 min
Special episode: Manchester terror attack - what happens next?
Yesterday's terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester left three people dead, several more injured, and an entire community shaken. But what happens in the immediate aftermath of such an incident? Amber calls on her experience of responding to five terror attacks as Home Secretary in 2017 to explain what happens at COBRA, and what the security services do next to try and prevent any further attacks. Plus Mark gives his personal response to the rising levels of anti-Semitism in the UK, Marc describes the role the intelligence agencies will be playing in the investigation, and the team debate whether Pro-Palestinian protests planned for this weekend should be allowed to go ahead in light of the tragedy in Manchester. Later, Andy Hughes from The Crime Agents dials in from the scene of the attack to break news of a major development in this story. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Oct 2, 2025 · 35 min
Antidotes and assassinations: how Middle East spycraft really works
In light of Benjamin Netanyahu's recent apology to Qatar, The Crisis Room takes a look back at 1997 - and a previous occasion when Bibi was forced to apologise for a botched assassination attempt on foreign soil. Mark and Marc unknowingly almost crossed paths when Mossad tried to take out a former Hamas leader in Jordan 28 years ago - and here they explain how that episode unfolded and give us a unique insight into spycraft in the Middle East. The team also react to the latest proposal for a Gaza peace plan, and discuss the merits of former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair being involved in running the territory in the future. Later, they unpack the controversial speeches made by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth to America's top brass at a summit this week - and warn of the consequences of the US military becoming overly politicised under President Trump. With this in mind, Amber reveals why British troops were forced to help police the streets of the UK in the wake of the Manchester bombing while she was Home Secretary in 2017. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Sep 25, 2025 · 35 min
Is NATO letting itself be bullied by Russian drones?
From fighter jets in Estonia, to drones in Poland, Romania - and possibly now Denmark too - Russia has been taunting NATO for weeks. So is it time for the alliance to take a tougher stance? Is NATO suffering a crisis of confidence? Amber, Mark, and Marc discuss whether Russian jets should be shot down the next time they enter NATO airspace - and what the consequences might be if they are. Later, Amber gives her verdict on the growing rumours of Andy Burnham's leadership challenge to Keir Starmer as Labour Party Conference approaches - and tells stories of how Boris Johnson would attempt to derail Tory Conferences while David Cameron was party leader. Plus Marc P explains whether we can trust the new Syrian President after he was welcomed to the UN with open arms this week - and why we could be close to a historic security deal between Israel and Syria on the horizon. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Sep 18, 2025 · 36 min
Was Britain right to roll out the red carpet for Trump?
Trump’s State Visit has come to a close, and it seems to have come off without any hitches. As he soaked up the glory of state banquets and royal guards, today brought less of the pageantry and more of the politics. But was the UK right to host Trump for an unprecedented second State Visit? And how is his visit being viewed here, and back in the US? Later, we’re joined by Former US Former National Security Advisor under Kamala Harris, Phil Gordon to talk about how different things might have been under a Kamala Harris presidency. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Sep 11, 2025 · 43 min
Why is the Home Office the ultimate political poisoned chalice?
Another week, another Home Secretary - so what makes this great office of state so difficult and treacherous for politicians of all parties? This week, Amber reveals how a reshuffle really works - and takes us inside the government's most troublesome department to explain why the Home Office has ended so many ministerial careers, and why Shabana Mahmood has such a daunting in-tray. Later, Amber, Mark, and Marc are joined by Gerard Araud - the former French Ambassador to the US and Israel. He explains the importance of starting a meeting with Donald Trump with a compliment, why Anthony Scaramucci once asked President Macron to call the White House at five o'clock in the morning, and why Europe won't be able to rely on American support even after Trump's second term comes to an end. Ambassador Araud also discusses whether Emanuel Macron can cling to power in France after yet another government collapse, and why Benjamin Netanyahu is 'doomed' if he continues to expand Israel's military operations in the Middle East. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Sep 4, 2025 · 31 min
Robot wolves & underwater drones: should we fear China's military might?
World leaders - including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un - flocked to Beijing this week to hold hands with President Xi and watch a massive military parade. China showed off an arsenal including nuclear weapons, 'robot wolves' and underwater drones - so is the West taking the threat posed by China seriously enough? Amber, Mark, and Marc unpick what we learned from this week's summit, why Trump is playing into China's hands at every turn, and how close we are to a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. They also analyse the controversial - and lethal - strike by US forces on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean. Is Trump trying to start a war with the Latin American drug cartels that he calls 'narco-terrorists'? And has the President thought through the consequences of a potential conflict? Marc gives his verdict on whether these groups are terrorists like Al-Qaeda or ISIS, and whether this strike was done by fair means or foul. Later, Amber recalls her own high-profile resignations from ministerial roles, and reveals whether she thinks Angela Rayner's position is untenable given the ongoing inquiry into her tax affairs. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Aug 28, 2025 · 39 min
The end of the rules-based order: is Trump leading the charge?
Does the idea of a rules-based world order still cary any weight? Or, in the age of Donald Trump, is it just a comforting but outdated concept? This week, Amber, Mark, and Marc debate whether Trump's unique style is convincing more and more politicians to break the rules - and if the world's post-1945 system is close to collapse. And in a week when the US President once again hinted that he likes the idea of becoming a dictator, the team look at what the consequences of a global rise in authoritarianism will be. Later, General Sir Nick Carter, the most recent former Chief of the Defence Staff, joins The Crisis Room. He discusses whether Trump's America is a reliable ally, if the UK government understands the level of threat posed by Putin's Russia, and the idea of bringing back national service to fix the armed forces' recruitment woes. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Aug 21, 2025 · 36 min
Does Labour have a solution to the asylum hotel crisis?
Europe's leaders averted a disaster in their White House summit with President Trump. But what comes next in the West's efforts to end the war in Ukraine? Can the UK's hollowed-out armed forces really provide a meaningful security guarantee if there's a peace deal? How will Vladimir Putin react if we do send peace-keeping troops to Ukraine? And is Keir Starmer ready for a possible public backlash if he does put boots on the ground? These are just some of the questions that Amber, Mark, and Marc discuss in this week's episode, as they lay bare just how stretched the British military is, and why the West can't rely on Trump and the US to deter future Russian aggression. Later, Amber gives her verdict on the issue of asylum hotels, as the government faces a crisis at home over where to house immigrants who have arrived in the UK illegally. Is Nigel Farage becoming the next Prime Minister inevitable if Labour can't get a grip of this problem? Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Aug 14, 2025 · 39 min
Who is playing who? Trump, Putin, and the Alaska ‘Peace Summit’
The world is holding its breath as Presidents Trump and Putin prepare to meet in Alaska - but will the leaders take a step towards a landmark peace deal, or will this go down as a diplomatic disaster? Just how worried should Ukraine and President Zelensky be about what might unfold? Amber, Mark, and Marc reveal what will be happening behind the scenes in a desperate attempt to make the event go to plan - and share their memories of the trickiest summits they've ever been involved in. Plus the team are joined by Fiona Hill - Trump's former Russia adviser and part of the US delegation the last time the two Presidents met one-to-one back in 2018 - who explains how Putin will be trying to play Trump against Zelensky, and why the press conference is where her old boss is most vulnerable to slipping up. Later: is Washington DC really more violent than Baghdad? That's what Donald Trump claimed this week as he deployed the National Guard to America's capital. As someone who worked in Iraq and now lives in DC, Marc provides a unique insight into whether there's any justification for his President's decision. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Aug 6, 2025 · 45 min
The future of espionage: is AI making spies redundant?
In a time of AI, facial recognition and rapid technological advances - is the era of human intelligence-gathering over? Could AI soon put James Bond out of a job? This week, in a special episode, The Crisis Room looks at how espionage is grappling with the challenges posed by modern technology. After all, in a world of UTS - Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance - can anyone really be expected to successfully go undercover? Marc explains how he and his colleagues used to recruit agents to act as human intelligence sources during his time in the CIA - and why it's almost impossible for his successors to use the same methods now. Amber, Mark, and Marc are also joined by Ed Bogan - a decorated former CIA station chief - to find out how intelligence agencies all around the world are changing how they work. Follow us on social media: @crisisroompod
Jul 31, 2025 · 41 min
What will Trump make of Starmer's decision to recognise Palestine?
This week, Keir Starmer followed in the footsteps of President Macron and declared that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state by September, unless Israel holds to a ceasefire. Did he make the right call? Or will he regret breaking from the Americans on this major foreign policy issue? And, is Britain really ready for war with China? We'll take a look at recent comments by the British Defence Secretary John Healey, who declared the UK is ‘ready to fight’ if Taiwan is invaded by China. Later, Mark Urban reveals why he was once considered a threat to UK National Security!
Jul 24, 2025 · 49 min
Should the UK follow France in recognising Palestine?
As famine spreads in Gaza, the team discuss whether the international community - and particularly the US and the UK - should be taking stronger action against Israel. And they ask: would officially recognising the State of Palestine make any difference to the lives of ordinary Gazans? Amber, Mark, and Marc are joined by the former British Ambassador to the US, Lord Darroch to discuss this, and whether there is still any hope for a two-state solution. Mark also recalls watching the Jewish settlements being cleared from Gaza in 2005, and wonders how far the peace process has been set back in the time since October 7th 2023. Amber explains why it's politically so difficult for the UK to change its Middle East policy without American support, plus Marc gives his view on Israel's recent airstrikes on Syria. And the team discuss how badly impacted President Trump will be by the crisis he's facing over The Epstein Files. Will this damage his relationship with the MAGA base for good?