The General & The Journalist

The Times

How wars start, how they are won and what they leave behind them.

General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn first met in a war zone. Drawing on their real-life experience of armed conflict, they bring you the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and the dozens of other bitter struggles being fought across our increasingly divided planet.

From interviews with key people on the frontlines of modern warfare to discussing the future of nuclear weapons and where Russia will attack next, this podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times also faces up to the biggest question - how ready are we for war, right now, if we had to fight one?

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66 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes66

Newest first

March 12 · 36 min
What is Trump's off-ramp for Iran?
We are in the second week of a war that was supposed to be over by now. Yet the world is facing soaring oil prices, rising inflation and a regime which doesn't seem ready to capitulate. While President Trump continues to threaten Iran, he faces the limits of what air power, alone, can achieve and increasing pressure at home. Recording on Day 12 of the conflict, Patrick and Tom are joined by Sir Simon Gass, former Ambassador to Tehran and Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, to dissect the rise of a new Iranian dynasty and the high-stakes search for an off-ramp that no one seems able to find. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Sir Simon Gass Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Fiona Leach Image: Getty Clips: War.gov Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 5 · 41 min
How does America win a war with Iran?
President Trump has given numerous reasons for America's war on Iran. But if a clear objective cannot be defined, can that war be won? Admiral James 'Sandy' Winnefeld is a former vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Until last year he headed the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, overseeing planning for American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. He joins Tom and Patrick to talk US tactics, Iranian response and a possible end-game. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Admiral James 'Sandy' Winnefeld Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Fiona Leach Image: Getty Clips: Whitehouse.gov, Reuters, USA Today, @WION. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 25 · 35 min
‘War with Russia in three years’, UK defence minister and ex-marine
Two years ago, Al Carns was a colonel in the Royal Marines and, though he can never confirm or deny it, had also commanded the Special Boat Service. He pivoted to politics when he realised that the country's military leadership did not fully grasp the seismic shift in warfare brought about by drones and AI - but he did. Having risen at breakneck speed to become armed forces minister, Al talks candidly to Patrick and Tom about the need for the country to prepare for war with Russia in "three to five years." Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Fiona Leach Image: courtesy of Al Carns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 19 · 34 min
Why Poland is becoming Europe's new superpower
Beginning with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, but accelerated by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has super-charged its military to become the third largest in Nato, behind only Turkey and the US. It spends more on defence as a proportion of national wealth than even America and is soon to have more large tanks than the UK, Germany and France combined. So how did this happen, what are the implications, and are there lessons to be learned for the UK? Host:Tom Newton Dunn Guests: Oliver Moody and Bartosz Kielak Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Fiona Leach Photo: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 12 · 36 min
Reservists: your country needs YOU!
If the UK is to present a credible deterrence to any adversary, its armed forces need to be sufficiently large. They are not. And the fastest, most economical, way of plugging the gap is by growing the reserves. The Chief of the defence staff recently called for an 'all in mentality', urging civilians to step up to the very real threat posed by Russia. Not 'weekend warriors', but people from high-tech industries and professions, skills the regular army lacks. He meant all of us. So, who could join the reserves, how quickly, and what would they get out of it? Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guests: Elisabeth Braw and Peter Apps Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Fiona Leach Photo: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 5 · 53 min
How do wars change when AI takes over?
In the space race and the arms race, only a human could determine an outcome. But what happens in war when AI, and not a human, takes the decision to pull the trigger? If AI can equal human capabilities, Artificial 'superintelligence' is smarter, potentially putting ASI beyond human control. Jon Wolfsthal worked in the Obama White House on nuclear non-proliferation. He, like scores of others in defence, diplomacy and AI, has signed a petition calling for a ban on superintelligence, unless and until it can be controlled. He joined Patrick and Tom from New York to spell out exactly why we must stop our nuclear and biological weapons being run by machines. But, don't worry, it gets lighter. Jon is a massive fan of sci-fi. Turns out, so are Patrick and Tom. The three of them swap film and book faves, from Prometheus to Frankenstein, Alien to Terminator, and talk about how they all foreshadowed this artificial intelligence moment. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Jon Wolfsthal Producer: Sophie McNulty Clip: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Photo: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 1 · 29 min
Trump v Iran: what MAGA and the military are saying
Our colleagues at The Times this week launched an American edition of their superb UK politics pod, The State of It. We thought you might want to hear the fabulous first episode. Welcome to the first ever episode of The State of It: USA. An attack on Iran looks imminent: we reveal what senior military and political figures are saying about it. Also, is Donald Trump taking a softer line on immigration after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis? And get ready for Melania, the movie. Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal Producer: Euan Dawtrey Executive producer: Molly Guinness Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 29 · 35 min
Xi versus his generals
Xi Jinping has effectively removed his last remaining rival power-base in Beijing. Until last weekend, Zhang Youxia was the highest ranking general in the Chinese armed forces and second only to Xi in the military's hierarchy. But having now carried out an almost-total purge of the PLA's leadership, has Xi consolidated his power or, ultimately, undermined it? And what does it mean for a prospective move on Taiwan? Patrick and Tom are joined from Taipei by RUSI's Philip Shetler-Jones, to talk about rumours of a coup and chew over what's left of the PLA's command and control structures. Watching events in Beijing closely will be Japan, which has recently ditched its post-war pacificism to rearm at breakneck speed. Recognising the reality of Xi's ambition to 'reunite' with Taiwan, and mindful of an increasingly unpredictable America, Tokyo has come off the fence and declared that any attack on Taiwan would automatically draw it into a war with China. But is it too late to deter Xi? Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Marnie Duke Executive producer: Fiona Leach Clips: Al Arabiya English Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 22 · 39 min
Are Europe and America divorcing?
In a week that's marked an inflection point in European history and transatlantic relations, Tom and Patrick discuss whether the two continents' world views are, finally, irreconcilable. And, were America to walk away from Nato, what are the military gaps that Europe would rapidly have to fill? Could it do so, and how fast? Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Shabnam Grewal Clips: CNN, Irish Mirror Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 15 · 39 min
Iran: Should Trump intervene, and how?
While President Trump ponders when, whether and how to take action against Tehran, Tom and Patrick discuss the options available to him, ranging from cyber attacks to assassinations, and ask whether any would improve the lot of ordinary Iranians or simply make a bad situation worse. Joining them is the author and journalist, Hooman Majd, to explain why the absence of any viable opposition raises the spectre of civil war, should the regime collapse. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Hooman Majd Producer: Shabnam Grewal Clips: CBS News, Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera English Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 7 · 24 min
Trump's confidante on where he'll go next
With Maduro gone and Venezuela seemingly bending to Trump’s will, the world is now asking who will be next and where will it stop? General Jack Keane knows the President well and has his ear. In a wide-ranging conversation, Tom and Jack discuss the Latin American countries the US now wants to bring to heel, and talk about the likelihood of Trump following through on his threat to take Greenland, by force if necessary. Host: Tom Newton Dunn Guest: General Jack Keane Clip: Fox News Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 1 · 34 min
Why the west has one year to see off a polycrisis
In this New Year edition of The General and the Journalist, Tom and Patrick explore the idea of a looming 'polycrisis', a convergence of geopolitical, economic and technological shocks that could peak around 2027. Joined by intelligence expert and China specialist Sam Olsen, they unpack what a simultaneous crisis involving China, Russia, and potentially North Korea and Iran could mean for the West. The conversation moves from worst-case scenarios to practical mitigations, asking whether governments, businesses and citizens truly grasp the scale of the challenge ahead. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Sam Olsen Photo: Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 25, 2025 · 38 min
Q&A: From rogue Nato states to British fighting power, your biggest questions answered
For their Christmas special, Tom and Patrick turn the entire show over to you. They answer as many listener questions as possible that have landed in the General & Journalist inbox since May. Among them: what to do about wayward NATO members who still help Russia, and the state of Britain’s fighting power, and plenty more. Vote for The General & the Journalist for People's Choice at the 2026 Political Podcast Awards. Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick Sanders Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 26 min
Is the UK finally stepping up to the Russia threat?
This week, we heard two strikingly blunt speeches from the UK’s most senior defence and intelligence chiefs, both aimed at recalibrating how Britain thinks about the threat from Russia. The Chief of the Defence Staff warns that the country is no longer safely distant from conflict, while the new head of MI6 breaks with tradition in her first speech to focus squarely on Putin’s Russia, the “grey zone” between peace and war, and the corrosive impact of technology on truth and power. Tom and Patrick explore what’s changed, why the tone is tougher, and whether this marks a genuine turning point in how the UK talks about war, resilience and national security. Vote for The General & the Journalist for People's Choice at the 2026 Political Podcast Awards. Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Clips: The Mirror & Dailymotion Photo: Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 38 min
How do you prepare a continent for war?
Europe is rearming at a pace not seen in decades, from the Baltics to France, where President Macron has called for a new era of “mobilisation,” short of conscription but aimed at readying the nation for darker horizons. This week, Tom and Patrick ask what the UK should do in response, and whether our volunteer army can meet the moment. They’re joined by Oliver Moody, The Times’s Berlin correspondent and author of Baltic: The Future of Europe, to explore how frontline states are preparing their populations for potential conflict. From Finland’s “Total Defence” model to France’s new voluntary service for teenagers, they break down the shifts already underway, and the uncomfortable questions they raise for Britain. Vote for The General & the Journalist for People's Choice at the 2026 Political Podcast Awards. Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick Sanders Guest: Oliver Moody Clip: Euronews Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 4, 2025 · 26 min
On the frontline of Nato's cyber war with Russia
Cyber warfare is played out in the shadows, never declared and never attributed. But, as the General in charge of Nato's cyber operations tells Tom, the west is fighting what amounts to a war on a daily basis. Patrick agrees, recalling his time as Commander of UK Cyber operations, an experience he likens to living under a 'digital Blitz.' Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Turkish Brigadier General Ümit Ersoy Photo: NATO Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 27, 2025 · 54 min
What's Trump really doing in Venezuela?
The largest deployment of US naval assets since the Cold War has been sent steaming across the Atlantic to the Venezuelan coast. The CIA has reportedly been given the green light to operate inside the country. And now the Cartel de los Soles has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, potentially paving the way for strikes against the man the US claims to be its leader, President Nicolas Maduro himself. But what really sits behind Trump's determination to see him off, and how might he do it? Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Ryan Berg Clips: Associated Press, The Sun, PBS News Hour Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 25, 2025 · 11 min
BONUS: Is peace coming to Ukraine?
The former chief of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, tells Tom that this is the moment Europe needs to “regain its relationship with hard power”, having been caught on the back foot by an American peace plan widely regarded to have been made in Moscow. As we recorded this bonus episode, Ukraine had just accepted America's modified plan, but Moscow had yet to respond. Sir Alex believes that “Ukraine is still in the game.” But for how long? Guest: Sir Alex Younger Host: Tom Newton Dunn Picture: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 20, 2025 · 35 min
Inside the Pentagon's nuclear war game
Journalist Annie Jacobsen joins Tom to discuss her bestselling and harrowing book Nuclear War: A Scenario, which maps out in minute-by-minute detail what would happen if a single nuclear missile were launched at the United States. Drawing on rare on-the-record interviews with senior nuclear experts, she reveals how little time a president has to respond, how unreliable missile defenses truly are, and why even a lone strike could trigger global annihilation. Tom and Annie explore the catastrophic aftermath and the grim reality that no nation, however distant, would be spared. With nuclear tensions rising and key treaties expiring, the episode confronts an urgent question: whether nuclear war is becoming inevitable, and what humanity can still do to prevent it. Host: Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Annie Jacobsen Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Further listening: A new age of nuclear weapons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 13, 2025 · 39 min
The Generals vs The Lawyers
It's warfare or lawfare, but it can't be both. Patrick and Tom chat with General Sir Nick Parker, Patrick's friend and mentor of old, to talk about a letter they and six other four-star Generals signed, calling for an immediate end to retrospective legal cases being brought against former servicemen and women. The cases are not only undermining the very basis of the compact between soldier and state, but it's also jeopardising operations in the field, a fact Patrick and Nick confirm when they discuss the departure of a "significant" number of Special Forces officers who've handed in their weapons rather than risk being dragged before the courts on some as yet unknown charge. Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn & General Sir Patrick Sanders Guest: General Sir Nick Parker Photo: Getty Images Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Further reading: "Ongoing lawfare risks everything" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.