Podcasts about Britain

Talk Art season 27 continues with British painter GEORG WILSON!!! Hosted by Robert Diament.A spirit of place informs #GeorgWilson's practice. Drawing inspiration from ancient English folklore, poetry and painting, the artist depicts bountiful landscapes that exceed the natural; devoid of human presence, they are instead inhabited by wildling creatures that live harmoniously with the land. Wilson's world-building is enriched by her unique approach to texture and mark-making that unifies all surfaces, forms and beings.Painting with the seasons, Wilson's work captures the cyclical rhythm of our existence, where birth meets growth, growth meets death and death awaits resurrection. Vibrant reds and bright greens shift to vivid yellows and deep browns as the seasons turn, and the land that was once overflowing with abundance is ready to lie dormant as the year comes to an end. This new series of paintings explores the folklore and historic uses of uncultivated poisonous plants, species such as henbane, thorn-apple and nightshade that grow abundantly across the UK, that have long but frequently forgotten histories in both folk and modern medicine. Drawing on historic texts about poisonous flora, Wilson highlights the gradual erosion of plant knowledge in Britain, a process that began as early as the fifteenth century, following the enclosure of common land and the subsequent rise of industrialisation. Against Nature, a solo exhibition of new works by Georg Wilson, runs at Pilar Corrias until 7th March on Savile Row, London, and Georg's debut institutional exhibition The Earth Exhales runs until 1st March at Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh.

February 2026Even amongst the distinguished ranks of WW2 codebreakers, Emily Anderson stood out. Recruited into military intelligence during WWI, her stellar career in diplomatic codebreaking lasted into the 1950s. Her greatest achievement came with the breaking of high-level Italian ciphers during the East African Campaign of 1940-41. It was called 'the perfect example of the cryptographers' war' and earned her the OBE in 1943.Anderson was also a renowned musicologist - her translations of the letters of Mozart and Beethoven are still considered authoritative. Yet until recent years, her life and intelligence work remained under the radar.This episode helps to set the record straight, and kick off a new occasional series focusing on key personalities in codebreaking and intelligence. Bletchley Park's Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham is joined by Jackie Uí Chionna from the University of Galway to discuss the subject of her 2023 biography Queen of Codes: The Secret Life of Emily Anderson, Britain's Greatest Female Codebreaker.Our thanks go to Sarah Langston for voicing our historical documents.The Marriage of Figaro - K. 492   CC PDM 1.0   www.classicals.de Image: © Dr. Dagmar von Bushe-Weise#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #WW2, #Enigma, #Italy, #Galway

Britain's banks have a hold over Rachel Reeves, declares Michael Simmons in the Spectator's cover piece this week. Almost two decades on from the 2008 financial crash, the UK has failed to reform the system and – as ordinary people face a cost-of-living crisis – Labour is in hock to big business. Is the Chancellor too close to the City?For this week's Edition, host Lara Prendergast is joined by economics editor Michael Simmons, columnist Lionel Shriver, and columnist from the Daily Mail Robert Hardman.As well as Labour's relationship with the banking industry, they discuss: the hit BBC show Industry; how the Royals have frozen out (former Prince) Andrew – and whether removing him from the line of succession is ‘performative' or not; Lionel's new book on immigration A Better Life; why young Brits increasingly want to be more Australian; and finally, what's so good about a moustache?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Catch up with Industry S4 now on BBC iPlayer. Watch the season finale on Monday 2nd March on BBC One. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Wait a Second…, Jason Concepcion and Tyler Parker are joined by Ringer legend Chris Ryan, who offers some insight into British politics, tabloid culture, and the still spreading ripple effects of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal for members of Parliament and the royal family.In this episode:00:00: Before Jeffrey, there was Jeffries06:22: Who is Peter Mandelson?13:28: Diving into the Epstein files20:56: The fall of Prince Andrew43:52: A true/false quiz on historical punishments for royal indiscretions50:30: The LUSID score54:21: The Doomscroll: Rogue vacuums, Sam Altman, and El MenchoHosts: Jason Concepion and Tyler ParkerGuest: Chris RyanProducers: Cory McConnell, Donnie Beacham, and Justin SaylesArt direction: David ShoemakerMotion graphics and animations: Chris CalletonEngineering: Sarah ReddySet design: Hannah Leiken and Jonathan Ratliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cannock Chase, a 26-square-mile stretch of Staffordshire woodland already infamous for child murders and ghostly apparitions, has logged more paranormal sightings in the first eight weeks of 2026 than in all of 2025 combined.*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/cannock-chase-bigfoot-2026WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

When villagers in a remote Thai forest heard screams echoing from the woods every hour for three straight days, they were convinced the legends of ancient spirits haunting those trees had come to life. In Taiwan, a woman and her young daughter walked into an elevator, rode to the top floor of an 11-story building, and seemingly vanished, feeding into the internet's most haunting urban legends, “The Elevator Game”. And in England, a prisoner they call "Hannibal the Cannibal" has been locked in a glass cell underground for over 40 years, but how much of his legend is actually true? TW: Suicide Subscribe on⁠ Patreon⁠ to become a member of our Rogue Detecting Society and enjoy ad-free listening, monthly bonus content, merch discounts and more. Members of our High Council on Patreon also have access to our weekly after-show, Footnotes, where I share my case file with our producer, Matt. You can also enjoy many of these same perks, including ad-free listening and bonus content when you subscribe on Apple Podcasts . Follow on⁠ Tik Tok⁠ and⁠ Instagram⁠ for a daily dose of horror. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 1,463.Today, after a mass Russian aerial bombardment struck multiple regions across Ukraine, we report from Kyiv and eastern Ukraine on what it was like on the ground during the latest wave of drone and missile attacks. We then hear about Dom's visit to a Ukrainian HUR military intelligence base in Zaporizhzhia, and examine reports that Vladimir Putin has been forced to curb the recruitment of foreign fighters to avoid diplomatic fallout with key allies. We also discuss the battlefield “kill ratio” that could undermine Russia's war effort, and new air defence systems being developed that claim the capability to intercept nuclear missiles.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest).Rozina Sabur (National Security Editor, The Telegraph).Svitlana Morenets (Freelance Ukrainian Journalist).NOW AVAILABLE IN VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://youtu.be/1fIYPjtdNa8?si=B7tHxw3CxQGAy3OGCONTENT REFERENCED:How Ukraine turned hobby drones into precision killing machines (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/ukraine-fpv-drones-evolution-precision-killing-machines/ Russia's air defences could shoot down Britain's nuclear missiles (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/26/russia-air-defences-could-shoot-down-britain-missiles/ First Ukrainian drone factory opens in Britain (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/26/first-ukrainian-drone-factory-opens-in-britain/ The kill ratio that can sink Putin's war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/the-kill-ratio-that-can-sink-putin-war/ Putin bans recruitment of foreign soldiers to placate African allies (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/25/putin-bans-foreign-soldiers-to-placate-african-allies/ Allies bow to Putin over Ukraine peace troops (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/allies-bow-to-putin-over-ukraine-peace-troops/WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Hours and 23 MinutesNSFWThomas, Stormy, Karl and Pete sit down to talk about everything from Britain to Iran to the homefront.Faction: With the CrusadersKarl's SubstackKarl's MerchStormy's Twitter AccountThomas' SubstackRadio Free Chicago - T777 and J BurdenThomas777 MerchandiseThomas' Book "Steelstorm Pt. 1"Thomas' Book "Steelstorm Pt. 2"Thomas on TwitterThomas' CashApp - $7homas777J's YouTube ChannelJ's Find My Frens PagePete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

This week we concentrate on the key subject of immigration - from a Christian perspective.   We use seven basic propositions about immigration; what kind of immigration do we need; the dangers of Islamic immigration; the role of the Church;  Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Jim Ratcliffe and Colonisation;  Birmingham the benefits capital of Britain; Immigration in Sweden; Glasgow the Asylum capital of Europe; The Coalitions new immigration policy in Australia;  Spains new policy on immigration;  Japan's new policy on immigration; the rise of anti-semitism in Scotland;  The changing face of London;  Muslim call to prayer in Liverpool; Ahmed Mohammed attacks Christian at Speakers Corner; Labour MP Nazir Ahmed; Mosques as polling centres; Christopher Hitchens on the dangers of Islam; Steve Chalke and Islam; the Final Word- Hebrews 13. With music from Tom Petty, Woody Guthrie;  Boney M; the Proclaimers; Ralph McTell and the Gettys 

Mary-Ellen McTague is one of the driving forces behind Manchester's modern food scene: a chef, restaurateur and community builder whose cooking is rooted in place, craft and proper hospitality. In this episode, she joins the go-to food podcast to talk about the city she helped shape, the dishes she can't stop thinking about, and the hard-won lessons behind building restaurants that people genuinely love.Her story runs from cooking for touring bands at Manchester's Roadhouse as a student, to breaking barriers at the Michelin-starred Sharrow Bay Country House, and then into Heston Blumenthal's inner circle at The Fat Duck. From the intensity and precision of a two-then-three-star kitchen to an R&D role exploring Britain's food history at The Hind's Head, Mary-Ellen's career has been defined by curiosity, grit, and an obsession with flavour that actually means something.Back home, she became synonymous with Manchester's dining renaissance—opening trailblazing restaurants, earning national acclaim, and feeding not just thousands of happy punters, but (as the hosts proudly put it) well over 150,000 people across the city. She shares what it's really like to build a “rotation” of ambitious young chefs in Manchester, why a dish like Lancashire hotpot can carry identity and memory, and how her love of simple, brilliant produce started with a life-changing stint in rural Provence.The conversation also goes deeper: burnout, resilience, an ADHD diagnosis that “explained a lot,” and the purpose-led work of Eat Well MCR—turning surplus food and community energy into meals for people who need them most. Expect big laughs, kitchen war stories, and plenty of menu envy—especially when Mary-Ellen breaks down her PIP snack essentials and that signature hotpot (with oyster ketchup) that might just be the most “her” dish of all.Pre Order Ben's Incredible Book - All You Can Eat - By Clicking Here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-You-Can-Eat-British/dp/1805221523Get 2 Months of Blinq For Free - With Code - GOTOBLINQ - https://blinqme.com/Order The Greatest Meat In The Country From HG Walter Here & Have Restaurant Quality Meals From Home - www.hgwalter.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A government with a thumping majority that can't seem to run the country. U-turns every week and a permanent sense of crisis. And none of this is new - Johnson, Truss, Sunak, May. The country doesn't seem to be able to find a set of politicians who are able to get on with running things. Or is it just that we won't let them, because every problem becomes a social-media-fuelled crisis? Is the Starmer administration just a symptom of a system that doesn't work? Tom Skinner, a former special adviser to five Conservative prime ministers, tells Phil and Roger what it feels like inside a Number Ten under siege, and what needs to change to make the UK governable again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 2025, multi-award-winning Canadian photographer and environmental artist Marlene Creates is in Brighton, England, and Andrew Stuck takes the opportunity to meet her there. They are walking in woodland not far from Preston Park train station and Andrew invites her to compare their surroundings to where she lives on the island of Newfoundland off the east coast of mainland Canada. Marlene uses the 6-acre patch of old-growth boreal forest where she lives as an outdoor studio and now spends much of her time there observing how it changes with the seasons, photographing what she sees, and writing poetry to describe the unseen. She's been sharing this forest with primary school children, inviting them to go on multidisciplinary guided walks to learn about the nature of their local ecosystem, as well as concurrently bringing back to light terms in the Newfoundland dialect through video-poems. Andrew and Marlene chat about her unusual field research back in the 1980s, when she came to Britain and rode thousands of miles on a 1968 Vespa motor scooter, and they discuss her walking art practice. The podcast ends with her reading a list poem composed of over 100 verbs that describe ways of walking. We retreated indoors to make the recording of Marlene reciting the poem. She also shared other words and phrases related to walking that she found in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English that she would like to be brought back into common parlance. 39’43” 21MB Marlene Creates_podcast notesDownload

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, lots of Democrats are boycotting the State of the Union address. The truth is they'd be more comfortable sitting in UN seats listening to some Marxist or Islamist dictator spewing hate about our country. This ​is ​a ​party ​that ​accepts ​no ​traditions ​or ​customs. The Democrat Party is radical and intent on destroying the economy, citizenship, and national sovereignty. They want to dismantle the American system through policies like open borders, no deportations, treating illegal aliens as citizens, and eliminating voter ID. Also, Tucker Carlson is an evil traitor. He's stabbing the president in the back to foreign countries and undermining our country and our military. He's promoting anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, defending Sharia law and Islam while attacking Christians and Jews, and giving aid to enemies amid potential war with Iran. Later, secularists, Marxists, and Democrats hypocritically enforce strict separation of church and state, which has banned displays of the Ten Commandments and even silent prayer in schools while expunging Christian influences from classrooms. In contrast, over the last 10–15 years, Islamists have gained influence, with schools distributing Qurans, Sharia law materials, and allowing Muslim prayers. The core problem is weakness among American institutions and ruling class figures who are intimidated, frightened, or sympathetic believers. Islamists exploit the federalist system's local sovereignty by heavily organizing and attending meetings to push their agenda, while Democrats view them as a new voting constituency. Finally, Tommy Robinson calls in with a warning to America – don't make the same mistake Britain, Germany or France did. Robinson describes his personal experience growing up in a town 30 miles north of London, where the Muslim population has dramatically increased since his birth in 1982 turning White English people into a minority. He warns that mass immigration from Muslim-majority countries has planted similar destructive seeds in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new year has been rung in and, for Formula 1, 2026 is here at last. The landmark year of change that the teams have been chasing for months. Inside the closely-guarded F1 factories, there are whispers of speculation about the redesigned cars and the potential for a new competitive order. But only when the cars break cover at the first race in Australia will the secret be out at last.For Kimi Antonelli, a fresh start for 2026 began a little closer to home as the teenager flew the nest and moved into his own house in San Marino. The next milestone in his preparations for the new Formula 1 season is a training camp in Florida with his performance coach Sergi Avila, who already has a long list of physical goals for the Mercedes star.Back at base, Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti has been putting in the work on the driver-simulator to unlock the secrets of the 2026 car. Holly Samos and Sarah Holt went to meet the Danish driver at the team's Brackley HQ to find out what he's learned about the new car so far. For Haas driver Ollie Bearman planning for the race season ahead is also now in full swing. He's on a flying visit back home to Britain to don his 2026 race suit and the new Haas kit at a series of photoshoots. But, like all F1 drivers, he's already thinking about getting back inside the car and is seeing the new set of technical rule changes as an opportunity.At Cadillac's Silverstone base the fledgling team are also counting down to the looming season. There are just over 50 days until the team makes its F1 race debut in Australia and the hustle-and-bustle at the factory is now in fifth gear as Sarah and Holly found out on their latest visit. There is an air of concentration in the race bays as the car build begins, overseen by chief mechanic Nathan Divey. Cadillac Formula 1 team's CEO Dan Towriss wants to bring an American spin to Formula 1 - and it doesn't get any bigger than the Super Bowl. The team will unveil the livery for its 2026 car in a TV advert aired during American football's season showdown - watched by hundreds of millions around the world.F1: Back at Base is an IMG Production for the BBC, hosted by Rosamund Pike Co-hosts & Executive Producers are Sarah Holt and Holly Samos

Nigel Farage was supposed to be the new right-wing option to the U.K. Conservative Party, but Rupert Lowe has taken the nation by storm. His Reform Britain party is gaining momentum and dominating the public conversation. Is Lowe the man for the job, or will he simply split the right-wing vote in Britain? Harry Robinson of the Lotus Eaters joins me to discuss.   Follow on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-auron-macintyre-show/id1657770114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S6z4LBs8Fi7COupy7YYuM?si=4d9662cb34d148af Substack: https://auronmacintyre.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuronMacintyre Gab: https://gab.com/AuronMacIntyre YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/AuronMacIntyre Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-390155 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@AuronMacIntyre:f Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auronmacintyre/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel's lighting campaign in the Sinai in 1956 resulted in a routing of the Egyptian forces and capture of the entire Sinai Peninsula in less than 100 hours. The threat of Egypt deploying its brand-new military hardware from the Soviet Union had been averted. But in a fluke of history, President Eisenhower, instead of siding with his natural allies, Britain, France and Israel, sided with the Soviet Union and Nasser's Egypt and demanded immediate Israeli withdrawal in return for nothing – or else! Eventually Israel received guarantees of right of passage through the Staits of Tiran and that the United Nations Expeditionary Force would be stationed in Gaza to prevent the penetration of Fedayeen terrorists into Israel. Israel's case against the unaccommodating Eisenhower administration, most notably Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, was assisted by Lyndon Johnson, Democratic leader in the Senate, and members of the press and Congress who were friends of Israel. The United States was employing a painful double standard by not doing anything as Hungarian protestors demanded freedom from Soviet oppression, and were murdered wholesale for their dissidence; yet the United States demanded with the threat of immediate sanctions, that Israel, which had gone to war for legitimate grievances, immediately withdraw from the entire Sinai. Israel gained from the battle a decade of quiet which was so necessary to build the State, and in the process demonstrated that the Middle East had a new military power. Credits Welcome Back Kotter theme song – The Great Take Royal Entrance Fanfare - Randy Dunn Ben Power Amen (official video) The Soviets Crushed the Hungarian Revolution by Trickery - USSR Decoded  The Suez Crisis (1956): Eisenhower's Response to the Anglo-French-Israeli Action – History Central Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com Don't forget to subscribe, like and share! Let all your friends know that that they too can have a new favorite podcast. © 2026 Media Education Trust llc

The rise of the grooming gangs in Great Britain and the refusal of Britain's Labor government to intervene speaks volumes about the contempt that British political elites have for their laws and the people who must live under a regime of anarcho-tyranny.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/anarcho-tyranny-and-uk-grooming-gangs-scandal

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we're joined by writer Susan Barrett to discuss her new novel, *All Cats Are Grey*—a dark and compelling work of historical fiction set against the backdrop of the London Blitz.The book tells the story of four very different people, each of whom has committed what might be called a "necessary murder" in their past. They come together during the chaos of the blackout to use their lethal skills against a serial rapist and murderer who is exploiting the wartime disruption to terrorise the bomb-scarred streets of London. This villain is inspired by a real figure: Gordon Cummings, an infamous but largely forgotten serial killer of the Blitz era.But our conversation ranges far beyond the plot. Susan, whose background is in film and television research, shares fascinating insights into how historical research has changed—and what we lose in the age of the internet. She discusses the serendipity of physical archives, the power of handwritten ledgers and Victorian photographs, and the surprising voices uncovered by the Mass Observation project that challenge our assumptions about "respectable" wartime behaviour.We also delve into the mythology of the Blitz itself. How does the reality of crime, class division, and social disruption sit alongside the cherished national story of plucky unity? What did people actually think and do when the bombs were falling? And why does Britain have such a peculiar fascination with poisoners and serial killers?From the tragic case of Timothy Evans and Reginald Christie to the Jack the Ripper industry, from the origins of the welfare state to the echoes of COVID—this is a wide-ranging conversation about history, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves.*All Cats Are Grey* is published on 24th April by Bathwick Hill Press, a small independent publisher. Please consider supporting independent bookshops and publishers.**Topics covered:**- The changing nature of historical research in the internet age- The Gordon Cummings case and wartime crime- Mass Observation and authentic voices from the past- The mythology of the Blitz versus historical reality- Britain's fascination with serial killers and poisoners- How COVID helps us understand wartime disruption- The importance of independent publishing---*If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon for ad-free listening and exclusive content.*Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Michael is joined by Munira Mirza. Raised in Oldham and educated at Oxford, Munira worked at Policy Exchange before serving as Deputy Mayor of London under Boris Johnson and later as Director of the No.10 Policy Unit, where she helped shape the Conservatives' 2019 election manifesto. She now leads Civic Future and the think tank Fix Britain.In the first of this two-part interview, Munira reflects on Labour's vulnerability in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, and the ‘serious threat' it faces if the Muslim votes flees to the Greens. She discusses the politicisation of religious identity, the influence of Islamism in Britain, and what she sees as a failure of public authorities to confront hard truths.They also discuss the news this week that Valdo Calocane – the man who killed three people in Nottingham in 2023 – was released from hospital in 2020 because health professionals were concerned about the disproportionate number of black men who were being detained in the mental health system. Munira argues that fear of being accused of institutional racism has distorted decision-making, a scandal of potentially greater magnitude than the grooming gangs and with serious consequences for public safety.Finally, she revisits Brexit and the 2019 realignment, defending the decision to leave the EU and arguing that levelling up was an attempt to fix a broken economic model built on high immigration and weak productivity.Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Britain entered a new ice age — or is it simply Tuesday in Cornwall?In this episode of Mark & Pete, we examine reports that Cardinham in Cornwall has experienced around 50 consecutive days of measurable rainfall, with nearby Liscombe on Exmoor also recording persistent winter deluges. Northern Ireland has likewise seen one of its wettest Januarys in recent memory. The wellies are weary. The umbrellas are questioning their calling.But what does it actually mean?We explore UK Met Office data, regional rainfall trends, and the difference between weather events and long-term climate patterns. Is this evidence of global cooling? Climate collapse? Or just Britain doing what Britain has historically done — namely, rain with commitment?We discuss:Cardinham and Liscombe rainfall recordsNorthern Ireland's unusually wet JanuaryThe science of winter precipitation in the UKClimate change vs short-term variabilityWhy human memory is spectacularly unreliable when it comes to weatherAlong the way, we ask a bigger cultural question: why do we turn meteorology into theology? Every storm becomes a sign. Every cold snap becomes a thesis. And every puddle becomes proof of something ideological.With Mark's original poetry and Pete's biblical reflection from Ecclesiastes, this episode offers calm commentary in a climate of overreaction.Because rivers have always run into the sea. And Britain has always been damp.Faith. Culture. Calm commentary — even when the forecast is dramatic.#MarkAndPete #Cornwall #Cardinham #Liscombe #NorthernIreland #UKWeather #ClimateDebate #BritishNews #MetOffice #ChristianPerspective

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 25th February, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of Mark 13:34: “…and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.” The Lord was talking about the man who went away and told each of his workers to do their work. Now I read something interesting from an unknown writer. This is what it says: “He does the most for God's great world who does the best in his own little world.” Maybe you are thinking today, “What do I contribute to God's kingdom? Nobody knows who I am. What is the point of my being alive?” Oh my dear friend, to everyone his own work for the Lord. I want to tell you a little story. My mom's brother was a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Now, the Merchant Navy had no way of defending itself against the enemy. They had no way of fighting back. What was their job? To bring food to Britain, because Britain was an island, and they had to bring food from America and Canada and all over, and they had no way. Those boats were so old and so rickety that they travelled so slowly that they were sitting ducks for the enemy. Now, my uncle was a Chief Engineer, so he never, ever came to the top when there was an alarm that there were submarines in the water. He had to stay under the water level with all his men and keep the engines going, because if the engines stopped, the boat would sink. No-one saw him. They all saw the Captain. The Captain was on the bridge. He was at the top, he was directing operations. Everyone saw the Captain, but no one saw the Engineer. They were under the water level.I want to tell you that God sees every single thing that you do. Maybe nobody else sees, but you don't want anybody else to see, do you? Because you want to get your reward when you get home to Heaven. So do your little bit. Do not despise small beginnings. Jesus Christ knows exactly what you are doing, and He loves you, and He is so proud of you. Remember, without the engine room that ship is going nowhere. Maybe that is your job. Keep the engine room going - intercessors, prayer warriors, workers in the background, because we love you very much.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

Once A DJ is brought to you by:https://www.vinylunderground.co.uk - 10% off your next order using code onceadjhttps://www.sureshotshop.com/ - Record adapters (including customs) & accessorieshttps://myslipmats.com/ - Custom and off the shelf Slipmats, dividers and more.Once A DJ is a https://remote-ctrl.co.uk productionOther ways to support the showFollow the show on Spotify or Apple PodcastsAny feedback or questions? Hit up the Once A DJ Instagram PageSubscribe to the Once A DJ PatreonBuy your Once A DJ Sureshot 45 adapter clamps6-time snooker champ and lifelong record collector Steve Davis took the mainstream by surprise when he started DJing...his career blossomed quickly, but he'd been paying his dues with digging and collecting for decades previous...In this interview we get into the day job and also the new hustle, and how they complement each other, and also how they're very different.In this fascinating episode, we sit down with one of Britain's most famous sporting icons - six-time world snooker champion Steve Davis - to explore his journey into electronic music, DJing, and his band The Utopia Strong.Steve shares incredible stories about the golden age of snooker in the 1980s, including the legendary 1985 World Championship final against Dennis Taylor that 18.5 million people watched until the early hours of the morning. But more importantly, we dive deep into his lifelong love of music, from discovering prog rock and psychedelic music as a teenager, to becoming a respected DJ on the alternative electronic music scene, to creating experimental instrumental music with The Utopia Strong.This conversation explores the parallels between elite sport and creative pursuits, the importance of obsession and dedication, dealing with success and failure, the power of humor and perspective, and why at 68, Steve feels like Peter Pan with no intention of retiring.Whether you're interested in snooker history, electronic music, or the mindset of elite performers, this episode offers unique insights from someone who's mastered multiple crafts.GuestSteve Davis OBE - Six-time world snooker champion (1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989), BBC snooker commentator, DJ, and member of electronic music trio The Utopia Strong.Known as the "Romford Terminator" during his dominance of snooker in the 1980s, Steve has become equally respected in the alternative electronic music

Ni un grand militaire, ni un homme d'État, ni un artiste remarquable, Sake Dean Mahomed était pourtant, à son époque, une célébrité. Né fils de soldat en Inde, il a réussi à s'élever dans les rangs de l'armée du Bengal. À noter: à 14 minutes on parle de pamphlet, il aurait fallu dire dépliant! Rien de pamphlétaire là-dedans. Adhérez à cette chaîne pour obtenir des avantages : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4TCCaX-gqBNkrUqXdgGRA/join Avec la participation de Catherine Tourangeau, merci Catherine https://www.facebook.com/LaPetiteHistorienne/ Script Catherine Tourangeau Pour soutenir la chaîne, au choix: 1. Cliquez sur le bouton « Adhérer » sous la vidéo. 2. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hndl Musique issue du site : epidemicsound.com Images provenant de https://www.storyblocks.com Abonnez-vous à la chaine: https://www.youtube.com/c/LHistoirenousledira Les vidéos sont utilisées à des fins éducatives selon l'article 107 du Copyright Act de 1976 sur le Fair-Use. Sources et pour aller plus loin: Bayly, C. A. Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Fisher, Michael, The First Indian Author in English: Dean Mahomed (1759-1851) in India, Ireland, and England. Oxford University Press, 1996. Teltscher, Kate, « The Shampooing Surgeon and the Persian Prince: Two Indians in Early Nineteenth-century Britain ». Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies. 2 (3): 2000, 409–23. Ansari, Humayun. The Infidel Within: The History of Muslims in Britain, 1800 to the Present. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2004. Das, Alok, « Life and Legacy of Sake Dean Mahomet: A Forgotten Enigma ». Communication Studies and Language Pedagogy. 2(1–2): 2016, 199–211. Clarke, Sir Arthur. An Essay on Warm, Cold, and Vapour Bathing, with Practical Observations on Sea Bathing, Diseases of the Skin, Bilious, Liver Complaints, and Dropsy. London: Henry Colburn, 1813. Cochrane, Basil. An Improvement on the Mode of Administering the Vapour Bath, and the Apparatus Connected with It. London: John Booth, 1809. Cotton, Sir Evan. “`Sake Deen Mahomed' of Brighton.” Sussex County Magazine 13 (1939): 746–50. Feltham, John. Guide to All the Watering and Sea Bathing Places. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1806–15. Mahomet, Dean. The Travels of Dean Mahomet: An Eighteenth-Century Journey through India. Berkeley: University of California Press, c1997. Mahomed, S. D. Cases Cured by Sake Deen Mahomed, Shampooing Surgeon, And Inventor of the Indian Medicated Vapour and Sea-Water Baths, Written by the Patients Themselves. Brighton: The Author, 1820. ——————. Shampooing, or, Benefits resulting from the use of the Indian medicated vapour bath: as introduced into this country by S. D. Mahomed…containing a brief but comprehensive view of the effects produced by the use of the warm bath, in comparison with steam or vapour bathing. Brighton: The Author, 1822, 1826, 1838. Pratt, Mary Louise. Imperial Eyes: Travel Writing and Transculturation. London: Routledge, 1992. History of champissage de London Centre of Indian Champissage™ https://champissageinternational.com/history-of-champissage/ The Shampooing Surgeon of Brightonm March/April 2018 by Gerald Zarr https://www.aramcoworld.com/Articles/March-2018/The-Shampooing-Surgeon-of-Brighton Autres références disponibles sur demande. #histoire #documentaire #deanmohamed #champissage

Endurance adventurer Sean Conway has lived a life defined by adventure, resilience and a relentless desire to do hard things. Driven by curiosity and an appetite for pushing beyond what most consider possible, Sean has built a career out of testing the very edges of human endurance. He is the man who completed 105 full distance triathlons in 105 consecutive days, breaking the world record for the most consecutive full Iron distance triathlons. He became the first person to swim the length of Britain, a 900 mile journey from Land's End to John o' Groats.  He has cycled 4,000 miles self-supported across Europe from Portugal to Russia faster than anyone before him. He completed the world's longest triathlon, a continuous 4,200 mile ultra triathlon around the coast of Great Britain. He has cycled around the world, yes around the world, completed multiple marathon and ultra runs including 15 marathons in 15 national parks in 15 days. And that is only a tiny snapshot of an extraordinary endurance resume he has achieved since first delving into the wonderful world of endurance sport. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa on vast wildlife conservation parks, Sean didn't grow up sporty. His first dream was to travel the world as a National Geographic photographer. When that ambition didn't materialise, he pivoted, choosing endurance as his vehicle for exploration and purpose.  In doing so, he wrote himself into the record books on multiple occasions, becoming the first person to complete an Endurance Grand Slam; achieving a world's first, world's longest, world's fastest and world's most. Inspired by boundary breakers who redefined what endurance could look like, Sean has not only chased records himself, he now coaches, mentors and encourages others to test their own limits. A motivational speaker and author of multiple books, in this episode, we explore his philosophy of deliberately choosing difficult paths, what fuels his fear of living an ordinary life and how he continues to test what he's truly capable of. This is an incredible conversation on resilience, reinvention and building a life exploring the hard road, on purpose. An episode well worth tuning into. To find out more about Sean and his incredible achievements go to www.seanconway.com

Tom Slater, editor of spiked, joins Julia Hartley-Brewer to slam the Green Party's policy programme — and why it's the ultimate “gift” to anyone arguing Britain needs common sense back in politics.Julia and Tom break down proposals that would effectively wipe out the idea of “illegal migrants” — including instant access to public services, the right to work with no restrictions, and, most controversially, the promise of a free house (or private room) and a taxpayer-funded basic living wage with no requirement to work or even look for work. Julia brands it “sixth-form politics” dressed up as compassion — warning it would supercharge pull factors while Britons already struggle with housing, jobs, school places and falling living standards.They also tackle the bigger picture: the political double standard where mainstream views on borders and safety are smeared as “extreme” — while genuinely radical ideas are waved through.Then Julia is joined by Karl Turner MP (Labour, Hull East) for an equally blunt conversation about accountability and the justice system. Karl Turner reacts to the extraordinary developments around Lord Mandelson's arrest connected to allegations relating to Jeffrey Epstein (Mandelson denies wrongdoing and has not been charged), and questions the secrecy around what the public is allowed to know.And on Labour's plan to curb jury trials for most offences, Turner calls it “outrageous”, says it won't fix court delays, and warns it risks ripping up a hard-won safeguard dating back to Magna Carta — with a serious Commons rebellion brewing.Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM.Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With help from the U.S., Mexican special forces killed longtime Jalisco Cartel leader “El Mencho,” sparking violence across 20 Mexican states, President Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address tonight, and another high-profile name is arrested in the U.K. over their connection to Jeffrey Epstein. - - - Ep. 2648 - - - Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 - - - Today's Sponsors: Lean - Get 20% off when you enter code WIRE at https://TakeLean.com Vanta - Get started at https://Vanta.com/MORNINGWIRE - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy morning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russian strikes on Ukraine have continued on the 4th anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion. But in recent days Kyiv has been recapturing territory it lost in the first weeks of the war. Also: Mexico has deployed thousands of troops to maintain order after the country's most wanted cartel leader - known as "El Mencho" - was killed by the army. Britain's former ambassador in Washington, Peter Mandelson, has been arrested over his links with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A powerful storm is battering the northeastern US, leaving thousands without power. A study into so-called "weasel words" reveals just how misleading they can be. And could daily meditation reduce the risk of cancer spreading?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Day 1,461.Today, as world leaders gather in Kyiv to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we report live from two different regions of the country, covering the latest attacks from air and land and assessing the current battlefield picture. We reflect on the resilience of Ukrainians after years of war, and bring updates on an explosion in Moscow as well as reports suggesting that Moscow is now losing more soldiers on the frontline than it can recruit to sustain Vladimir Putin's war effort.ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @adeliepjz on X.The Lord Dannatt (former head of the British Army)Orysia Lutsevych OBE (Head of the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House)NOW AVAILABLE IN VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbOESRLia8oCONTENT REFERENCED:The kill ratio that can sink Putin's war (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/the-kill-ratio-that-can-sink-putin-war/ Moscow train station explosion kills police officer (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/explosion-outside-moscow-train-station-kills-police-officer/ Russian soldiers being killed faster than Kremlin can recruit them (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/24/russian-soldiers-killed-faster-than-kremlin-can-recruit/ Britain on ‘collision course' with Russia, head of Army warns (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/24/britain-on-collision-course-with-russia-head-of-army-warns/WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a posting on his Truth Social website that he plans to "begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)," and related information. Following the announcement, the internet has been buzzing with speculation about UFO disclosure and what such a historic release might potentially reveal.  In this week's installment of The Micah Hanks Program, we break down the events leading up to the President's announcement, what any formal release of UFO documents would entail, but also why there is still a case for caution when it comes to our expectations regarding UFO disclosure under the Trump administration. Want to advertise/sponsor The Micah Hanks Program? We have partnered with the AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. If you would like to advertise with The Micah Hanks Program, all you have to do is click the link below to get started: AdvertiseCast: Advertise with The Micah Hanks Program Show Notes Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode: NEWS: At least 73 people died in attempt to capture a Mexican cartel leader and its aftermath  Pentagon Flags Risks of a Major Operation Against Iran - WSJ  EPSTEIN: Former Prince Andrew arrested following Epstein files revelations Police in Britain arrest former ambassador to US Peter Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties  Jeffrey Epstein: An American Haunting - Middle Theory TRUMP ON TRUTH SOCIAL: Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) | Truth Social  Trump has prepared speech on extraterrestrial life, Lara Trump says AUDIO: https://x.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2019800968829734973  Karoline Leavitt asked at press conference about Trump's alleged speech Peter Doocy asks Trump about Obama's "aliens" comment  TRUMP'S PAST RECORD ON UFOS: UAP Transparency Under Trump 2.0: What the New Administration Could Mean for UFO Disclosure BECOME AN X SUBSCRIBER AND GET EVEN MORE GREAT PODCASTS AND MONTHLY SPECIALS FROM MICAH HANKS. Sign up today and get access to the entire back catalog of The Micah Hanks Program, as well as "classic" episodes, weekly "additional editions" of the subscriber-only X Podcast, the monthly Enigmas specials, and much more. Like us on Facebook Follow @MicahHanks on X. Keep up with Micah and his work at micahhanks.com.

This week we talk about Trump's tariffs, the Supreme Court, and negotiating leverage.We also discuss trade wars, Greenland, and the IEEPA.Recommended Book: Smoke and Ashes by Amitav GhoshTranscriptI've spoken on this show before about tariffs and about US President Trump's enthusiasm for tariffs as an underpinning of his trade policy. Last October, back in 2025 I did an episode on tariff leverage and why the concept of an ongoing trade war is so appealing to Trump—it basically gives him a large whammy on anyone he enters negotiations with, because the US market is massive and everyone wants access to it, and tariffs allow him to bring the hammer down on anyone he doesn't like, or who doesn't kowtow in what he deems to be an appropriate manner.So he can slap a large tariff on steel or pharmaceuticals or cars from whichever country he likes just before he enters negotiations with that country, and then those negotiations open with him in an advantageous spot: they have to give him things just to get those tariffs to go away—they have to negotiate just to get things back to square one.That's how it's supposed to work, anyway. What we talked about a bit back in October is TACO theory, TACO standing for Trump Always Chickens Out—the idea is that other world leaders had gotten wise to Trump's strategy, which hasn't changed since his first administration, and he has mostly been a doubling-down on that one, primary approach, to the point that they can step into these negotiations, come up with something to give him that allows him to claim that he's won, to make it look like he negotiated well, and then they get things back down to a more reasonable level; maybe not square one, but not anything world-ending, and not anything they weren't prepared and happy to give up.In some cases, though, instead of kowtowing in this way so that Trump can claim a victory, whether or not a victory was actually tallied, some countries and industries and the businesses that make up those industries have simply packed up their ball and gone home.China has long served as a counterbalance to the US in terms of being a desirable market and a hugely influential player across basically every aspect of geopolitics and the global economy, and this oppositional, antagonistic approach to trade has made the US less appealing as a trade partner, and China more appealing in comparison.So some of these entities have negotiated to a level where they could still ship their stuff to the US and US citizens would still be willing to pay what amounts to an extra tax on all these goods, because that's how tariffs work, that fee is paid by the consumers, not by the businesses or the origin countries, but others have given up and redirected their goods to other places. And while that's a big lift sometimes, the persistence of this aggression and antagonism has made it a worthwhile investment for many of these entities, because the US has become so unpredictable and unreliable that it's just not worth the headache anymore.What I'd like to talk about today is a recent Supreme Court decision related to Trump's tariffs, and what looks likely to happen next, in the wake of that ruling.—Ever since Trump stepped back into office for his second term, in January of 2025, he has aggressively instilled new and ever-growing tariffs on basically everyone, but on some of the US's most important trade partners, like Mexico and Canada, in particular.These tariffs have varied and compounded, and they've applied to strategic goods that many US presidents have tried to hobble in various ways, favoring US-made versions of steel and microchips, for instance, so that local makers of these things have an advantage over their foreign-made alternatives, or have a more balanced shot against alternatives made in parts of the world where labor is cheaper and standards are different.But this new wave of tariffs were broad based, hitting everyone to some degree, and that pain was often taken away, at least a little, after leaders kowtowed, at times even giving him literal gold-plated gifts in order to curry favor, and/or funneling money into his family's private companies and other interests, allowing him to use these tariffs as leverage for personal gain, not just national advantage, in other cases giving him what at least looked outwardly to be a negotiating win.Things spiraled pretty quickly by mid-2025, when China pushed back against these tariffs, adding their own reciprocal tariffs on US goods, and at one point extra duties on Chinese imports coming into the US hit 145%.Shortly thereafter, though, and here we see that TACO acronym proving true, once again, Trump agreed to slash these tariffs for 90 days, and around the same time, in May of 2025, a federal appeals court temporarily reinstated some of Trump's largest-scale tariffs after a lower court ruled that they couldn't persist.The remainder of 2025 was a story of Trump trying to strike individual deals with a bunch of trade partners, like South Korea, Indonesia, and India, in some cases via direct negotiation, in others with a bunch of threats that eventually led to a sort of mutual standoff that no one was particularly happy about.2026 was greeted with a threat by Trump to impose a huge wave of new tariffs on eight major European allies, those tariffs sticking around until these nations agreed to allow the US to buy Greenland, which was an obsession of Trump's at that point, but a lot of Trump's tariff posturing was derailed by a Supreme Court decision that landed in mid-February, in which the justices decided, 6 to 3, that Trump's reciprocal tariffs are unconstitutional, as setting and changing tariffs is a Congressional power, not a Presidential one.This was a serious blow to Trump and his stated policies, as pretty much all of his economic plans oriented around the idea—which most economists have said is bunk and based on fantasy, not reality, but still—that putting a bunch of tariffs on everything will allow the US to earn so much additional revenue that the deficit can be paid down.It's worth noting here that, just as those economists predicted, the deficit has only gotten larger under both Trump administrations, and in fact the growth of the US debt has sped up, not declined, despite the additional billions being pulled into government coffers by these tariffs, because the Trump administration's spending is massive, and because the losses related to tariffs are also significant. But tariffs remain center to his policy nonetheless, so this was a major blow.This ruling also seemed likely to defang a lot of Trump's threats and drain his leverage at the negotiating table, as he could no longer threaten everyone with more tariffs, practically booting them from or weakening them on the US market.So Trump was pissed, and as he tends to do, he publicly raged about the decision, which was made by a Supreme Court that is heavily stacked in his favor; which gives an indication of just how unpopular and unconstitutional all of this has been.But immediately after that decision landed, he announced that, using alternative authorities—different powers—he would be imposing a blanket 10% tariff on everything coming into the US, and the following day announced that it would be a 15% tariff on everything, instead.This does seem to be something Trump has the power to do, but he can only do it under the auspices of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, and these tariffs will only last for 150 days, max, and might also be challenged in court.Also notably, some entities, like Britain and Australia, will face higher rates than they faced under the previous tariff setup, because of how they are applied and compound with other trade barriers, or the nature of what they export to the US market, while others, including China, will see their tariffs substantially drop.Which could make things tricky, as that implies some of the previously negotiated deals have changed post-deal, or in some cases mid-negotiation; which means a lot more work to get things where everyone wants them, but also a loss of legitimacy and credibility for this administration, as they seem to be negotiating using powers they don't actually have and making promises they can't keep.All of which, rather than simplifying and clarifying things for the US market and our international trade partners, actually further complicates them, at least for now, until the dust settles.It does seem likely Trump's administration will continue to try to leverage whatever power they can in this matter, grabbing at levers that haven't been previously used, or used in this way, and those attempts will almost certainly be legally challenged, which could lead to more court cases, and a lot more uncertainty in the meantime, until those cases are figured it.It's also created new rifts within the Republican party, as Trump seems to be going after those who voted against his tariffs, or in any other way supported their removal, and he's raged against the Supreme Court justices, even those he put into place and who are ideologically aligned with the Republican party almost always, which could also lead to more fracturing within his base, leading up to the November 2026 Congressional elections.One more thing that's worth noting here is that Trump's usual tactic of trying to distract from things he doesn't want people to pay attention to is in full operation following this court case: as all this has been happening, and against the backdrop of increasingly serious allegations related to his abundant presence in the Epstein files, he's been talking more about potentially attacking Iran and releasing files on aliens, on extraterrestrials on Earth and in the US.So we're likely to see a lot more of that sort of thing in the coming months, especially if things continue to not go his way in regards to these tariffs and the hubbub surrounding them, but this story will shape global and US economics for years to come, not to mention on-the-ground realities for many people today, which should substantially impact Trump's popularity and voter behavior come November.Show Noteshttps://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/supreme-court-trump-energy-tariffshttps://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariff-plan-section-122-trade-acthttps://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-scotus-tariff-refund-battlehttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/economy/trump-tariffs-trade-war.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/business/trump-tariffs-japan-indonesia.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-tariffs-takeaways.htmlhttps://apnews.com/live/supreme-court-tariff-ruling-updateshttps://www.bbc.com/news/live/c0l9r67drg7thttps://heatmap.news/economy/clean-energy-tariff-rulinghttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/20/us/trump-tariffs-supreme-courthttps://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/supreme-court-blocks-trumps-emergency-tariffs-billions-in-refunds-may-be-owed/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/20/what-will-happen-to-trump-tariffs-after-supreme-court-verdicthttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/economy/tariffs-supreme-court-global-busines-reaction.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/business/trump-deminimis-loophole-closed.htmlhttps://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-5b34aa80-2020-453a-bef1-8cf648e9b3c3.htmlhttps://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariff-plan-section-122-trade-acthttps://www.scotusblog.com/2026/02/supreme-court-strikes-down-tariffs/https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-supreme-court-tariffs-ieepa-john-roberts-brett-kavanaugh-90daf559https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdfhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/us/politics/supreme-court-tariffs-conservatives.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/economy/u-s-manufacturing-is-in-retreat-and-trumps-tariffs-arent-helping-d2af4316https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/state-us-tariffs-scotus-ruling-updatehttps://www.kielinstitut.de/fileadmin/Dateiverwaltung/IfW-Publications/fis-import/92fb3f30-07b8-4dcf-b2bc-fbefb831f1a1-KPB201_EN.pdfhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-a-temporary-import-duty-to-address-fundamental-international-payment-problems/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/tariff-refunds-supreme-court-trump-rcna259968https://www.wsj.com/opinion/its-the-end-of-the-beginning-of-the-tariff-war-88a08d37https://www.axios.com/2026/02/21/trump-tariff-supreme-court-increasehttps://www.axios.com/2026/02/21/alien-files-conspiracy-theories-usa This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Carl and Dan discuss how Farage trying to copy Rupert Lowe's policies signals the end of the Blairite paradigm.

Britain's Cast are enjoying quite the second chapter. The last few years have seen a creative burst that rivals, if not exceeds, their early work. The result of this is some of their best music including their latest album, Yeah Yeah Yeah produced by former guest Youth. This technicolor masterpiece sees the lads expanding their sound in ways only Youth could inspire. Plus, you might have noticed them opening many shows for the little band Oasis on their monstrous reunion tour last year. Frontman John Power shares stories about releasing one of the biggest debuts in UK rock history, the lean solo years, as well as his time in the La's and why he thinks that band's frontman Lee Mavers has stayed put all this time. Great band - great guy!  Cast – Cast Band Tour 2025 The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

It's Tuesday, February 24th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Early Rain Covenant Church Hit Again China Aid reports of more communist persecution of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China.   Pastor Wang Yi is entering his seventh year in prison -- of a nine-year sentence.   But now, elder Li Yingqiang and his wife have been arrested for their commitment to Christ. His wife was released on bail, and encouraged friends on social media that “God's arrangements are always good.” Multiple churches in North America, and an organization in Australia, have designated the ninth of each month as a “Day of Fasting and Prayer for the Persecuted Church in China.”  Mexican National Guardsmen killed the most wanted cartel leader in the country Mexico is in turmoil this week, after Mexican National Guardsmen killed the most wanted cartel leader in the country, Nemesio Cervantes, a criminal known as “El Mencho.” So far, 34 drug cartel members are dead. Sadly, another 25 federal troops were killed in the ongoing conflict. European immigration numbers down Immigration numbers have dropped sharply in Europe. Britain records only 200,000 immigrants in 2025, down from 900,000 in 2023.  Eurostat's Migration and Asylum report indicates a 13% drop in asylum applicants to European Union countries in 2024. That's the first drop since 2020.  And October 2025 numbers indicate a 28% drop compared with October 2024. European Parliament refused to affirm only women can get pregnant The Parliament of the European Union voted 340-141 to artificially redefine the definition of what a woman is. The Parliament also refused to affirm the biological fact “that only women can become pregnant.” German Parliament member Tomasz Froelich blasted the new guidance. He said, “This isn't about courtesy or pronouns. It's about law, language, and the destruction of biological clarity in public policy.” The new law opens the continent up to “the full recognition of trans women as women,” directly opposing God's created gender roles. In Matthew 19:4, Jesus asked, “Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female?” Reform UK lacked traction; Will Restore Britain thrive? As The Worldview reported on February 19th, Britain has a new populist political party called the Restore Britain party. The previous nationalist party, Reform UK, gained 14% of the vote in the 2024 election, but only holds eight seats which is a little over 1% of the seats in parliament. Back in 2002, the UK populist parties had only 2% of the national vote. More debt and more inflation for the U.S. In President Donald Trump's first year in office in his second term, the US Debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio spiked to 122%. That's the highest since Joe Biden's first year in office during the COVID spend-a-thon.   Today's U.S. federal debt stands at $38.7 trillion — exactly double what it was 10 years ago during the first Trump term, and quadruple the size of the debt 18 years ago during the 2008 recession.   Also in economic news, despite all the political noise and hand waving coming out of Washington, inflation is up in the U.S. The core Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation index is up to 3% — back up to where it was two years ago.   The GDP inflator reached 3.7%, the worst it's been in three years. And yet, the average 30-year mortgage rate has dropped to 6%, That's the lowest it's been in two and a half years. Deuteronomy 15:6 ties in here. It says, “For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.” Kansas legislature overturns veto on transgender Law KANSAS LEADER: “The motion prevails and the bill passes.” (Gavel comes down) And with that announcement, the Kansas Legislature, dominated by Republicans, voted to overturn Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's veto on a bill that banned men, including men pretending to be women, from entering women's spaces. The Kansas House voted 87-37 and the Kansas Senate voted 31-9 to overturn the veto.  Republican Kansas State Senator Virgil Peck, Jr. spoke from the Senate floor. PECK: “I'm amazed that we're not hearing from more of those who are, if you will, feminists standing up for young ladies.” The bill allows for criminal charges to be brought against biological men who intrude on women's bathrooms and locker rooms, and holds to the birth gender or biological definition of male and female. 118,000 applications submitted for tax-funded school vouchers Texas parents have submitted 118,000 applications since Texas Freedom Education Accounts opened up on February 4th. The Houston public school district is looking at closing down 12 of its schools for the next school year, reports The Chronicle. The Texas Homeschool Coalition estimates there are 500,000 homeschooled students in the state. Add to that 422,000 children enrolled in Texas charter schools, and another 279,000 children enrolled in Texas private schools. That adds up to 1,200,000 Texas students not attending public school, representing 21% of school-aged children in Texas. Study reveals cancer linked to COVID-19 shot A new scientific study has linked the rise in certain types of cancer to the mRNA COVID-19 shots.  The study, published by Oncotarget, marks the spike in cancers, including highly aggressive cancers, in correspondence with certain lipid nanoparticles that were in the COVID vaccines.  The study evidenced that the modRNA in the COVID shot, along with the lipid nanoparticles, could “affect various tissues and organs, including the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs.”  The study also found a link between rising mortalities worldwide and the rollout of the COVID shot. In one Italian province, for example, “vaccination was associated with a 23% increased risk of cancer hospitalization after receiving one or more doses.”  U.S. Men's Hockey team wins gold in overtime And finally … (Audio of Olympic theme song) Norway has captured the highest number of gold medals in the 2026 Winter Olympics this year — taking home 18 medals (so far). The United States comes in second with 12 golds. That's a record for America — this time including a top medal for the Men's and Women's Hockey competition.   The U.S. Men's Hockey Team won the gold medal for the first time in 46 years in a 2-1 overtime win on the final golden goal knocked in by Jack Hughes, who played center. Listen. ANNOUNCER: “Jack Hughes wins it. The golden goal for the United States. For the first time since the 1980 Miracle, the United States takes the gold.” Jack will be remembered for having taken a high stick and losing multiple teeth before scoring the winning goal. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, February 24th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra print stories Elderly farmer refuses to sell farm to data company 86-year-old farmer Mervin Raudabaugh refused to sell his Pennsylvania farm to data company developers, even though his farm was valued at over $15 million. Raudabaugh has lived in Silver Springs Township in Cumberland County and been a farmer for more than 60 years. He exclaimed, “I was not interested in destroying my farms. That was the bottom line. It really wasn't so much the economic end of it. I just didn't want to see these two farms destroyed.”  Raudabaugh instead sold his property for a much lower price to the Silver Springs Township's Land Preservation Program, which protects farmland, woodland, and wetlands. He explained, “I love this land. It's been my life. And I realized… if it wasn't built on or dug up, another set of families could live here—and that's what I wanted to do. And I got it done.” Micah 4:4 promises, “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.” 10 major British cities have Muslim mayors 46 million Muslims now live in Europe, as migrants from third world countries continue overwhelming the European system.  Muslims are taking over political offices in European nations, including in the United Kingdom, where 10 major cities now have Muslim mayors. The massive influx in illegal immigration to Europe, while condemned and hated by its people, is being celebrated by its leaders. Newsmax reports, “They've chosen to stand with radical Muslims over their own people. It's because of all of these reasons these countries are falling apart and failing as the attack on Western civilization continues.” Muslim infiltration has also reached the United States, evidenced by Muslim influence in states like Texas and Minnesota. Chase Bank admits to debanking Trump JPMorgan Bank has admitted to freezing President Donald Trump's bank account following the January 6, 2021 protests. Trump had sued the bank for $5 billion in damages. The admission came after JPMorgan initially dodged the question of whether it debanked the President, and is yet another confirmation that conservatives were in fact targeted and persecuted under the Biden administration.  CNBC reported, “This is not the first lawsuit Trump has filed against a big bank, alleging that he was debanked. The Trump Organization sued credit card giant Capital One in March 2025 for similar reasons and allegations.” However, some have pointed out that the Trump administration is working towards digital currencies, which run a large risk of being controlled.

In 597, a party of forty missionary monks, led by St Augustine of Canterbury (May 28), was sent to Britain by the holy Pope Gregory the Great, to bring the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ to the English people. Aethelberht, who had been King of Kent for thirty-six years, received the monks favorably, allowed them to preach in his kingdom, and invited them to establish their headquarters in Canterbury, his capital city, which already contained a small, ruined church dedicated to St Martin of Tours in Roman times.   The king himself was converted and received holy Baptism at the hands of St Augustine; a crowd of his subjects followed his example. When St Augustine was consecrated bishop, Aethelberht allowed him to be made Archbishop of Canterbury and gave his own palace to serve as a monastery. The king worked steadily for the conversion of the neighboring kindoms, and in 604 established an episcopal see in London. Unlike some Christian rulers, he refused to see anyone converted forcibly.   Saint Aethelberht reposed in peace in 616, after reigning for fifty-six years. He was buried in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which he had established. Many miracles were worked at his tomb, where a lamp was kept lit perpetually until the monastery was disbanded by the Protestants in 1538.

Tourists remain stranded in Mexico after cartel violence in the wake of the killing of drug kingpin “El Mencho”. Ukraine marks four years since Russia's invasion. Britain's former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, is released on bail after his arrest over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, the East Coast beds in as a powerful blizzard hits.  Listen to On Assignment on Ukraine here. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. Find the Recommended Read ⁠here⁠. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things get timey-wimey as we enter the TARDIS and travel through the lore of Britain's great sci-fi export, Doctor Who!Follow us on Instagram!Submit your topics and vote on others on our subreddit!Get even more content from us on Patreon!Proudly part of The Sonar Network! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the agonizing political and strategic choices faced by Great Britain in the 1930s.Why did the British government delay rearmament for so long? Drawing on Daniel Todman's Britain's War: Into Battle, we examine how the shadow of the First World War and the Great Depression shaped the policy of appeasement. Nick argues that the "caution" of the Baldwin and Chamberlain governments wasn't just cowardice; it was a desperate attempt to avoid the "total war" that would require the complete subordination of freedom and prosperity to the state.From the technological leap from biplanes to monoplanes to the "imperial overstretch" that left Singapore and Palestine vulnerable, we delve into the global chessboard of the late 30s. How did the need to defend an empire spanning the globe leave Britain dangerously exposed in Europe? And why was the fall of Singapore written into the strategic compromises of the 1920s?Plus: Details on our upcoming Nazi Germany Masterclass in March!Key Topics:The Rearmament Debate: Why a "Churchillian" surge in 1935 might have failed.Technological Change: The shift from fabric biplanes to the Spitfire and Hurricane.Imperial Overstretch: The impossible task of defending the UK, the Mediterranean, and the Far East simultaneously.The Palestine Mandate: How the Arab Revolt of 1936 tied down British troops needed elsewhere.Books Mentioned:Britain's War: Into Battle (1937-1941) by Daniel TodmanEnglish History 1914-1945 by A.J.P. TaylorForgotten Armies by Christopher Bayly and Tim HarperExplaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026-02-16 | UPDATES #133 | Russian losses now outpacing recruitment (again) — and why Moscow is leaning harder on foreign fighters. The military math in Moscow does not add up – the tally between bodies in, bodies out. The difference between vodka fueled recruits and sunflower fodder. And for a war being fought at drone-speed and trench-distances, that's arithmetic Putin can't spin. Multiple streams of reporting and official claims over the last week — capped by fresh remarks out of Munich — point to the same brutal conclusion: Russia is bleeding manpower faster than it can refill the trenches, and it's increasingly padding the gap with foreign fighters — some recruited under false pretenses, some coerced, some simply disposable. Let's unpack what we know, what we can't independently verify, and why the Kremlin's recruitment logic is starting to look less like “strategic endurance” and more like a meat-processing plant with a military payroll department attached. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: The Straits Times (via Bloomberg), 16 Feb 2026, “Russia's losses in Ukraine boosting reliance on foreign fighters, Britain says.” Bloomberg, 15–16 Feb 2026, “Russia's Losses Boost Reliance on Foreign Fighters, UK Says.”Ukrinform (citing Bloomberg), 15 Feb 2026, “Russia's losses increase its reliance on foreign fighters.” AP News, 13 Feb 2026, “Ukraine says 2 Nigerians fighting for Russia found dead in Luhansk after drone strike.” The Kyiv Independent, 12 Feb 2026, “Russian losses exceeded recruitment for second month in a row, Ukraine says.” Ukrainska Pravda (Eng.) (citing Bloomberg), 12 Feb 2026, “Russian losses in January exceeded number of new recruits.” Al Jazeera, 13 Feb 2026, casualty/recruitment reporting and Syrskyi Telegram quote.EuroMaidan Press, 13 Feb 2026, Brovdi drone-verified loss/recruitment discussion (context and claims).Reuters, 14 Jan 2026, “Ukraine's new defence minister vows innovation…” (Fedorov appointment background). Ukraine Ministry of Defence (official bio page), “Mykhailo Fedorov” (appointment details). NATO transcript, 12 Feb 2026, remarks with Ukraine Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Financial Times, 10 Feb 2026, “Russian army casualties in Ukraine surge” (attrition context).----------

Silicon Bites Ep286 | 2026-02-16 | Britain and four European allies now say Alexei Navalny wasn't just ‘mistreated' in prison — he was poisoned with a rare neurotoxin linked to poison dart frogs. Finally, they're naming it. Some of us always believe he was deliberately killed, but would not have expected that such a rare, expensive and theatrical poison would have been used. It seems that the cruelty and callousness of Moscow is matched by its penchant for theatrical murder. On 14 February 2026, the UK Foreign Office published a statement saying lab work found epibatidine in samples from Navalny's body — calling it “the deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs.” The UK says it was found in Navalny's body and “highly likely resulted in his death,” and adds: “There is no innocent explanation for its presence.” (GOV.UK)And the UK didn't do this alone. Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement: their national laboratories' analysis “conclusively confirmed” epibatidine. They say it isn't found naturally in Russia — which is the point: you don't accidentally pick up a toxin sourced from South American dart frogs inside a Russian penal colony. (GOV.UK)----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------SOURCES:UK Foreign Office statement (14 Feb 2026): “UK confirms Russia poisoned Navalny in prison with rare toxin.” Joint statement (UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands) on lab confirmation of epibatidine. Reuters (15 Feb 2026): Rubio says US has “no reason to question” European assessment; details on non-signature. AP (14 Feb 2026): summary of European statement, OPCW referral, date of death. The Guardian (15 Feb 2026): UK considering sanctions; Russian embassy rebuttal; Cooper comments.Sky News (14 Feb 2026): timing analysis; Navalnaya's Munich remarks; embassy response framing. Al Jazeera (15 Feb 2026): recap + notes uncertainty over how samples were obtained; Navalny death/MSC timing. The Guardian science explainer (14 Feb 2026): epibatidine effects; expert toxicology quotes. Euronews (14 Feb 2026): summary of allied accusations and MSC context. The Insider (14 Feb 2026): OPCW notification and related reporting context. ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------

Cheltenham Festival preparation is already underway — and the stable tours are starting to shape the narrative. On this episode of The Final Furlong Podcast, Emmet Kennedy is joined by TalkSPORT's senior racing commentator Rupert Bell, fresh from visiting the yards of Ben Pauling, Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins. This is insight straight from the source — what trainers are saying, how horses are moving, and which names are being quietly talked up ahead of March.

Amber Gill is BACK and she's not holding anything in. From Love Island All Stars being miserable to opening up about being labelled “the most hated person in Britain,” Amber gets brutally honest! She also talks about life with ADHD, the chaos, the confidence and everything in between. It's unfiltered, it's a bit unhinged, and it's exactly what we love. Listen to the FULL PODCAST and follow us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4UjhcQP... Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@chloevsthewor... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chloevsthew... Chloe: https://www.instagram.com/chloeburrows/?hl=en Dilemmas: chloevstheworldsubmissions@gmail.com

Mark Mehigan stuck around for the bonus episode this week - Although he had big shoes to fill following Jesse's viral chicken fillet debate. Somehow, Mark comes in with an even more controversial deli take.Calvin decides he'd rather challenge for a UFC Heavyweight title than appear on Britain's Got Talent, and the two debate the best Irish songs of all time. Have your say by voting at vote.todayfm.com/100-greatestSend your listener questions to TalkingBollox@GoLoudNow.com

What happens when royalty meets reality?In this episode of Mark & Pete, we examine the ongoing reputational crisis surrounding Prince Andrew and what it means for the British monarchy in the age of scrutiny. From the infamous BBC Newsnight interview to the fallout from associations with Jeffrey Epstein, we explore how scandal, privilege, and public accountability collide at the highest levels of national symbolism.This is not tabloid gossip. It's a serious conversation about institutional trust, moral responsibility, and whether inherited authority can survive modern transparency. Can a monarchy built on continuity endure when confidence is shaken? Does stepping back from public duties resolve the issue — or simply freeze it in polite constitutional embarrassment?We also ask the deeper question: what does Scripture say about leadership, integrity, and repentance? Because crowns may be hereditary, but character never is.Expect calm commentary, a few raised eyebrows, and the sort of dry reflection that Britain specialises in when things become awkward.Topics include:Prince Andrew and the Epstein controversyThe Newsnight interview and public reactionRoyal accountability and constitutional symbolismReputation vs repentanceThe future of the modern monarchyFeaturing Mark's original poetry and Pete's biblical reflections.

Clavicular got brutally frame-mogged by an ASU frat leader - what the hell does that mean and why does it matter for modern celebrity? How does Logan Paul successfully selling a Pokemon card for $16m impact the world of collectibles? In a 'sub-lebrity' special, Richard Osman and Marina Hyde explore the dark world of Looksmaxxing, and how 19-year-old influencer Clavicular (real name Braden) has rode this controversial wave. Plus, a Pokemon card has been sold for a record-breaking $16m. We dive into the lucrative industry of collecting. Recommendations: Richard: How To Get To Heaven From Belfast (Netflix) Witch Trial - Harriet Tyce (Book) The Rest is Entertainment is brought to you by Octopus Energy, Britain's most awarded energy supplier. Join The Rest Is Entertainment Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus content, ad-free listening, early access to Q&A episodes, access to our newsletter archive, discounted book prices with our partners at Coles Books, early ticket access to live events, and access to our chat community. Sign up directly at therestisentertainment.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Video Editor: Joey McCarthy & Adam Thornton Assistant Producer: Imee Marriott Senior Producer: Joey McCarthy Social Producer: Bex Tyrrell Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we're mixing things up as we attempt the impossible, squeezing as much showbiz gossip as humanly possible into one episode. As Joe Baggs and his alter ego Joseppi Baggzelini take over the pod, they get all the backstage tea from Britain's Got Talent with none other than KSI, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, enjoy a chaotic catch up with TikTok's Chugly Girl, and even manage to sneak in a very important showbiz weather report.

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have begun setting out their case against the former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, who is accused of crimes against humanity over his bloody ‘war on drugs'. Hearings in The Hague will decide whether there is enough evidence to move to a full trial. Also: aid agencies in South Sudan say intensified fighting between government and opposition forces has displaced hundreds of thousands of people; Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese tells Britain his country would support any move to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles's brother, from the line of royal succession; the boss of Netflix tells the BBC its bid for Warner Bros Discovery is stronger than a rival offer from Paramount; as the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff says another round of talks aimed at ending the war could take place by the end of the week; a racial slur shouted by Tourette's campaigner John Davidson during the BAFTA Film Awards sparks debate about how the condition should be understood; and scientists reveal a new species of dinosaur discovered in the Sahara desert.

More than 350 years ago, something unprecedented happened in Britain: a reigning king was arrested, put on trial, and executed. You may have seen many news outlets refer to this historic event, given the current news agenda regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. We want to give you the history behind those headlines: what really happened in 1649, and how the English parliament came to pursue capital punishment for a reigning monarch? This episode from our archive dives into the extraordinary chain of events from Charles I's arrest to the moment of his execution. Dan is joined by Dr Rebecca Warren from the University of Kent for a day by day account of the trial and this dramatic case that still echoes through history to the present day. Dan Snow's History Hit is now available on YouTube! Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/@DSHHPodcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to rule as an equal in a man's world? How did a quiet, devout queen help reshape Britain's monarchy forever?All this month, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is exploring the Restoration monarchs. In this episode, she focuses on Queen Mary II, England's first and only joint sovereign, who ruled alongside her husband William of Orange. Far from being a passive partner, Mary was politically astute, deeply devout, and a formidable cultural influence, playing a pivotal role in forging Britain's constitutional monarchy. Dr Holly Marsden joins Suzannah to examine Mary II's reign and why her story still resonates in the histories of Britain, gender, and political revolution.MORE:William III & the Persecution of SodomitesListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Massacre of GlencoeListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Max Wintle, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time we spoke about General Zhukov's arrival to the Nomohan incident. The Kwantung Army's inexperienced 23rd Division, under General Komatsubara, suffered heavy losses in failed offensives, including Colonel Yamagata's assault and the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel Azuma's detachment, resulting in around 500 Japanese casualties. Tensions within the Japanese command intensified as Kwantung defied Tokyo's restraint, issuing aggressive orders like 1488 and launching a June 27 air raid on Soviet bases, destroying dozens of aircraft and securing temporary air superiority. This provoked Moscow's fury and rebukes from Emperor Hirohito. On June 1, Georgy Zhukov, a rising Red Army tactician and tank expert, was summoned from Minsk. Arriving June 5, he assessed the 57th Corps as inadequate, relieved Commander Feklenko, and took charge of the redesignated 1st Army Group. Reinforcements included mechanized brigades, tanks, and aircraft. Japanese intelligence misread Soviet supply convoys as retreats, underestimating Zhukov's 12,500 troops against their 15,000. By July, both sides poised for a massive clash, fueled by miscalculations and gekokujo defiance.   #190 Zhukov Unleashes Tanks at Nomohan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. At 4:00 a.m. on July 1, 15,000 heavily laden Japanese troops began marching to their final assembly and jump-off points. The sun rose at 4:00 a.m. and set at 9:00 p.m. that day, but the Japanese advance went undetected by Soviet/MPR commanders, partly because the June 27 air raid had temporarily cleared Soviet reconnaissance from the skies. On the night of July 1, Komatsubara launched the first phase. The 23rd Division, with the Yasuoka Detachment, converged on Fui Heights, east of the Halha River, about eleven miles north of its confluence with the Holsten. The term "heights" is misleading here; a Japanese infantry colonel described Fui as a "raised pancake" roughly one to one-and-a-half miles across, about thirty to forty feet higher than the surrounding terrain. For reasons not fully explained, the small Soviet force stationed on the heights was withdrawn during the day on July 1, and that night Fui Heights was occupied by Komatsubara's forces almost unopposed. This caused little stir at Zhukov's headquarters. Komatsubara bided his time on July 2.   On the night of July 2–3, the Japanese achieved a brilliant tactical success. A battalion of the 71st Infantry Regiment silently crossed the Halha River on a moonless night and landed unopposed on the west bank opposite Fui Heights. Recent rains had swollen the river to 100–150 yards wide and six feet deep, making crossing difficult for men, horses, or vehicles. Combat engineers swiftly laid a pontoon bridge, completing it by 6:30 a.m. on July 3. The main body of Komatsubara's 71st and 72nd Infantry Regiments (23rd Division) and the 26th Regiment (7th Division) began a slow, arduous crossing. The pontoon bridge, less than eight feet wide, was a bottleneck, allowing only one truck at a time. The attackers could not cross with armored vehicles, but they did bring across their regimental artillery, 18 x 37-mm antitank guns, 12 x 75-mm mountain guns, 8 x 75-mm field guns, and 4 x 120-mm howitzers, disassembled, packed on pack animals, and reassembled on the west bank. The crossing took the entire day, and the Japanese were fortunate to go without interception. The Halha crossing was commanded personally by General Komatsubara and was supported by a small Kwantung Army contingent, including General Yano (deputy chief of staff), Colonel Hattori, and Major Tsuji from the Operations Section. Despite the big air raid having alerted Zhukov, the initial Japanese moves from July 1–3 achieved complete tactical surprise, aided by Tsuji's bold plan. The first indication of the major offensive came when General Yasuoka's tanks attacked predawn on July 3. Yasuoka suspected Soviet troops south of him attempting to retreat across the Halha to the west bank, and he ordered his tanks to attack immediately, with infantry not yet in position. The night's low clouds, no moon, and low visibility—along with a passing thunderstorm lighting the sky—made the scene dramatic. Seventy Japanese tanks roared forward, supported by infantry and artillery, and the Soviet 149th Infantry Regiment found itself overwhelmed. Zhukov, hearing of Yasuoka's assault but unaware that Komatsubara had crossed the Halha, ordered his armor to move northeast to Bain Tsagan to confront the initiative. There, Soviet armor clashed with Japanese forces in a chaotic, largely uncoordinated engagement. The Soviet counterattacks, supported by heavy artillery, halted much of the Japanese momentum, and by late afternoon Japanese infantry had to dig in west of the Halha. The crossing had been accomplished without Soviet reconnaissance detecting it in time, but Zhukov's counterattacks, the limits of Japanese armored mobility across the pontoon, and the heat and exhaustion of the troops constrained the Japanese effort. By the afternoon of July 3, Zhukov's forces were pressing hard, and the Japanese momentum began to stall. Yasuoka's tanks, supported by a lack of infantry and the fatigue and losses suffered by the infantry, could not close the gap to link with Komatsubara's forces. The Type 89 tanks, designed for infantry support, were ill-suited to penetrating Soviet armor, especially when faced with BT-5/BT-7 tanks and strong anti-tank guns. The Type 95 light tanks were faster but lightly armored, and suffered heavily from Soviet fire and air attacks. Infantry on the western bank struggled to catch up with tanks, shot through by Soviet artillery and armor, while the 64th Regiment could not keep pace with the tanks due to the infantry's lack of motorized transport. By late afternoon, Yasuoka's advance stalled far short of the river junction and the Soviet bridge. The infantry dug in to withstand Soviet bombardment, and the Japanese tank regiments withdrew to their jump-off points by nightfall. The Japanese suffered heavy losses in tanks, though some were recovered and repaired; by July 9, KwAHQ decided to withdraw its two tank regiments from the theater. Armor would play no further role in the Nomonhan conflict. The Soviets, by contrast, sustained heavier tank losses but began to replenish with new models. The July offensive, for Kwantung Army, proved a failure. Part of the failure stemmed from a difficult blend of terrain and logistics. Unusually heavy rains in late June had transformed the dirt roads between Hailar and Nomonhan into a mud-filled quagmire. Japanese truck transport, already limited, was so hampered by these conditions that combat effectiveness suffered significantly. Colonel Yamagata's 64th Infantry Regiment, proceeding on foot, could not keep pace with or support General Yasuoka's tanks on July 3–4. Komatsubara's infantry on the west bank of the Halha ran short of ammunition, food, and water. As in the May 28 battle, the main cause of the Kwantung Army's July offensive failure was wholly inadequate military intelligence. Once again, the enemy's strength had been seriously underestimated. Moreover, a troubling realization was dawning at KwAHQ and in the field: the intelligence error was not merely quantitative but qualitative. The Soviets were not only more numerous but also far more potent than anticipated. The attacking Japanese forces initially held a slight numerical edge and enjoyed tactical surprise, but the Red Army fought tenaciously, and the weight of Soviet firepower proved decisive. Japan, hampered by a relative lack of raw materials and industrial capacity, could not match the great powers in the quantitative production of military materiel. Consequently, Japanese military leaders traditionally emphasized the spiritual superiority of Japan's armed forces in doctrine and training, often underestimating the importance of material factors, including firepower. This was especially true of the army that had carried the tactic of the massed bayonet charge into World War II. This "spiritual" combat doctrine arose from necessity; admitting material superiority would have implied defeat. Japan's earlier victories in the Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, the Manchurian incident, and the China War, along with legendary medieval victories over the Mongol hordes, seemed to confirm the transcendent importance of fighting spirit. Only within such a doctrine could the Imperial Japanese Army muster inner strength and confidence to face formidable enemies. This was especially evident against Soviet Russia, whose vast geography, population, and resources loomed large. Yet what of its spirit? The Japanese military dismissed Bolshevism as a base, materialist philosophy utterly lacking spiritual power. Consequently, the Red Army was presumed to have low morale and weak fighting effectiveness. Stalin's purges only reinforced this belief. Kwantung Army's recent experiences at Nomonhan undermined this outlook. Among ordinary soldiers and officers alike, from the 23rd Division Staff to KwAHQ—grim questions formed: Had Soviet materiel and firepower proven superior to Japanese fighting spirit? If not, did the enemy possess a fighting spirit comparable to their own? To some in Kwantung Army, these questions were grotesque and almost unthinkable. To others, the implications were too painful to face. Perhaps May and July's combat results were an aberration caused by the 23rd Division's inexperience. Nevertheless, a belief took hold at KwAHQ that this situation required radical rectification. Zhukov's 1st Army Headquarters, evaluating recent events, was not immune to self-criticism and concern for the future. The enemy's success in transporting nearly 10,000 men across the Halha without detection—despite heightened Soviet alert after the June 27 air raid—revealed a level of carelessness and lack of foresight at Zhukov's level. Zhukov, however, did not fully capitalize on Komatsubara's precarious position on July 4–5. Conversely, Zhukov and his troops reacted calmly in the crisis's early hours. Although surprised and outnumbered, Zhukov immediately recognized that "our trump cards were the armored detachments, and we decided to use them immediately." He acted decisively, and the rapid deployment of armor proved pivotal. Some criticized the uncoordinated and clumsy Soviet assault on Komatsubara's infantry on July 3, but the Japanese were only a few hours' march from the river junction and the Soviet bridge. By hurling tanks at Komatsubara's advance with insufficient infantry support, Mikhail Yakovlev (11th Tank Brigade) and A. L. Lesovoi (7th Mechanized Brigade) incurred heavy losses. Nonetheless, they halted the Japanese southward advance, forcing Komatsubara onto the defensive, from which he never regained momentum. Zhukov did not flinch from heavy casualties to achieve his objectives. He later told General Dwight D. Eisenhower that if the enemy faced a minefield, their infantry attacked as if it did not exist, treating personnel mine losses as equal to those that would have occurred if the Germans defended the area with strong troops rather than minefields. Zhukov admitted losing 120 tanks and armored cars that day—a high price, but necessary to avert defeat. Years later, Zhukov defended his Nomonhan tactics, arguing he knew his armor would suffer heavy losses, but that was the only way to prevent the Japanese from seizing the bridge at the river confluence. Had Komatsubara's forces advanced unchecked for another two or three hours, they might have fought through to the Soviet bridge and linked with the Yasuoka detachment, endangering Zhukov's forces. Zhukov credited Yakovlev, Lesovoi, and their men with stabilizing the crisis through timely and self-sacrificing counterattacks. The armored car battalion of the 8th MPR Cavalry Division also distinguished itself in this action. Zhukov and his tankmen learned valuable lessons in those two days of brutal combat. A key takeaway was the successful use of large tank formations as an independent primary attack force, contrary to then-orthodox doctrine, which saw armor mainly as infantry support and favored integrating armor into every infantry regiment rather than maintaining large, autonomous armored units. The German blitzkrieg demonstrations in Poland and Western Europe soon followed, but, until then, few major armies had absorbed the tank-warfare theories championed by Basil Liddell-Hart and Charles de Gaulle. The Soviet high command's leading proponent of large-scale tank warfare had been Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky. His execution in 1937 erased those ideas, and the Red Army subsequently disbanded armored divisions and dispersed tanks among infantry, misapplying battlefield lessons from the Spanish Civil War. Yet Zhukov was learning a different lesson on a different battlefield. The open terrain of eastern Mongolia favored tanks, and Zhukov was a rapid learner. The Russians also learned mundane, but crucial, lessons: Japanese infantry bravely clambering onto their vehicles taught Soviet tank crews to lock hatch lids from the inside. The BT-5 and BT-7 tanks were easily set aflame by primitive hand-thrown firebombs, and rear deck ventilation grills and exhaust manifolds were vulnerable and required shielding. Broadly, the battle suggested to future Red Army commander Zhukov that tank and motorized troops, coordinated with air power and mobile artillery, could decisively conduct rapid operations. Zhukov was not the first to envision combining mobile firepower with air and artillery, but he had rare opportunities to apply this formula in crucial tests. The July offensive confirmed to the Soviets that the Nomonhan incident was far from a border skirmish; it signaled intent for further aggression. Moscow's leadership, informed by Richard Sorge's Tokyo network, perceived Japan's renewed effort to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alliance as a dangerous possibility. Stalin and Vyacheslav Molotov began indicating to Joachim von Ribbentrop and Adolf Hitler that Berlin's stance on the Soviet–Japanese conflict would influence Soviet-German rapprochement considerations. Meanwhile, Moscow decided to reinforce Zhukov. Tens of thousands of troops and machines were ordered to Mongolia, with imports from European Russia. Foreign diplomats traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway reported eastbound trains jammed with personnel and matériel. The buildup faced a major bottleneck at Borzya, the easternmost railhead in the MPR, about 400 miles from the Halha. To prevent a logistics choke, a massive truck transport operation was needed. Thousands of trucks, half-tracks, gun-towing tractors, and other vehicles were organized into a continuous eight-hundred-mile, five-day shuttle run. The Trans-Baikal Military District, under General Shtern, supervised the effort. East of the Halha, many Japanese officers still refused to accept a failure verdict for the July offensive. General Komatsubara did not return to Hailar, instead establishing a temporary divisional HQ at Kanchuerhmiao, where his staff grappled with overcoming Soviet firepower. They concluded that night combat—long a staple of Japanese infantry tactics—could offset Soviet advantages. On July 7 at 9:30 p.m., a thirty-minute Japanese artillery barrage preceded a nighttime assault by elements of the 64th and 72nd Regiments. The Soviet 149th Infantry Regiment and supporting Mongolian cavalry were surprised and forced to fall back toward the Halha before counterattacking. Reinforcements arrived on both sides, and in brutal close-quarters combat the Japanese gained a partial local advantage, but were eventually pushed back; Major I. M. Remizov of the 149th Regiment was killed and later posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union. Since late May, Soviet engineers had built at least seven bridges across the Halha and Holsten Rivers to support operations. By July 7–8, Japanese demolition teams destroyed two Soviet bridges. Komatsubara believed that destroying bridges could disrupt Soviet operations east of the Halha and help secure the border. Night attacks continued from July 8 to July 12 against the Soviet perimeter, with Japanese assaults constricting Zhukov's bridgehead while Soviet artillery and counterattacks relentlessly pressed. Casualties mounted on both sides. The Japanese suffered heavy losses but gained some positions; Soviet artillery, supported by motorized infantry and armor, gradually pushed back the attackers. The biggest problem for Japan remained Soviet artillery superiority and the lack of a commensurate counter-battery capability. Japanese infantry had to withdraw to higher ground at night to avoid daytime exposure to artillery and tanks. On the nights of July 11–12, Yamagata's 64th Regiment and elements of Colonel Sakai Mikio's 72nd Regiment attempted a major assault on the Soviet bridgehead. Despite taking heavy casualties, the Japanese managed to push defenders back to the river on occasion, but Soviet counterattacks, supported by tiresome artillery and armor, prevented a decisive breakthrough. Brigade Commander Yakovlev of the 11th Armored, who led several counterattacks, was killed and later honored as a Hero of the Soviet Union; his gun stands today as a monument at the battlefield. The July 11–12 action marked the high-water mark of the Kwantung Army's attempt to expel Soviet/MPR forces east of the Halha. Komatsubara eventually suspended the costly night attacks; by that night, the 64th Regiment had suffered roughly 80–90 killed and about three times that number wounded. The decision proved controversial, with some arguing that he had not realized how close his forces had come to seizing the bridge. Others argued that broader strategic considerations justified the pause. Throughout the Nomonhan fighting, Soviet artillery superiority, both quantitative and qualitative, became painfully evident. The Soviet guns exacted heavy tolls and repeatedly forced Japanese infantry to withdraw from exposed positions. The Japanese artillery, in contrast, could not match the Red Army's scale. By July 25, Kwantung Army ended its artillery attack, a humiliating setback. Tokyo and Hsinking recognized the futility of achieving a decisive military victory at Nomonhan and shifted toward seeking a diplomatic settlement, even if concessions to the Soviet Union and the MPR were necessary. Kwantung Army, however, opposed negotiations, fearing it would echo the "Changkufeng debacle" and be read by enemies as weakness. Tsuji lamented that Kwantung Army's insistence on framing the second phase as a tie—despite heavy Soviet losses, revealed a reluctance to concede any territory. Differences in outlook and policy between AGS and Kwantung Army—and the central army's inability to impose its will on Manchukuo's field forces—became clear. The military establishment buzzed with stories of gekokujo (the superiority of the superior) within Kwantung Army and its relations with the General Staff. To enforce compliance, AGS ordered General Isogai to Tokyo for briefings, and KwAHQ's leadership occasionally distanced itself from AGS. On July 20, Isogai arrived at General Staff Headquarters and was presented with "Essentials for Settlement of the Nomonhan Incident," a formal document outlining a step-by-step plan for Kwantung Army to maintain its defensive position east of the Halha while diplomatic negotiations proceeded. If negotiations failed, Kwantung Army would withdraw to the boundary claimed by the Soviet Union by winter. Isogai, the most restrained member of the Kwantung Army circle, argued against accepting the Essentials, insisting on preserving Kwantung Army's honor and rejecting a unilateral east-bank withdrawal. A tense exchange followed, but General Nakajima ended the dispute by noting that international boundaries cannot be determined by the army alone. Isogai pledged to report the General Staff's views to his commander and take the Essentials back to KwAHQ for study. Technically, the General Staff's Essentials were not orders; in practice, however, they were treated as such. Kwantung Army tended to view them as suggestions and retained discretion in implementation. AGS hoped the Essentials would mollify Kwantung Army's wounded pride. The August 4 decision to create a 6 Army within Kwantung Army, led by General Ogisu Rippei, further complicated the command structure. Komatsubara's 23rd Division and nearby units were attached to the 6 Army, which also took responsibility for defending west-central Manchukuo, including the Nomonhan area. The 6 Army existed largely on paper, essentially a small headquarters to insulate KwAHQ from battlefield realities. AGS sought a more accountable layer of command between KwAHQ and the combat zone, but General Ueda and KwAHQ resented the move and offered little cooperation. In the final weeks before the last battles, General Ogisu and his small staff had limited influence on Nomonhan. Meanwhile, the European crisis over German demands on Poland intensified, moving into a configuration highly favorable to the Soviet Union. By the first week of August, it became evident in the Kremlin that both Anglo-French powers and the Germans were vying to secure an alliance with Moscow. Stalin knew now that he would likely have a free hand in the coming war in the West. At the same time, Richard Sorge, the Soviet master spy in Tokyo, correctly reported that Japan's top political and military leaders sought to prevent the escalation of the Nomonhan incident into an all-out war. These developments gave the cautious Soviet dictator the confidence to commit the Red Army to large-scale combat operations in eastern Mongolia. In early August, Stalin ordered preparations for a major offensive to clear the Nomonhan area of the "Japanese samurai who had violated the territory of the friendly Outer Mongolian people." The buildup of Zhukov's 1st Army Group accelerated still further. Its July strength was augmented by the 57th and 82nd Infantry Divisions, the 6th Tank Brigade, the 212th Airborne Brigade, numerous smaller infantry, armor, and artillery units, and two Mongolian cavalry divisions. Soviet air power in the area was also greatly strengthened. When this buildup was completed by mid-August, Zhukov commanded an infantry force equivalent to four divisions, supported by two cavalry divisions, 216 artillery pieces, 498 armored vehicles, and 581 aircraft. To bring in the supplies necessary for this force to launch an offensive, General Shtern's Trans-Baikal Military District Headquarters amassed a fleet of more than 4,200 vehicles, which trucked in about 55,000 tons of materiel from the distant railway depot at Borzya. The Japanese intelligence network in Outer Mongolia was weak, a problem that went unremedied throughout the Nomonhan incident. This deficiency, coupled with the curtailment of Kwantung Army's transborder air operations, helps explain why the Japanese remained ignorant of the scope of Zhukov's buildup. They were aware that some reinforcements were flowing eastward across the Trans-Siberian Railway toward the MPR but had no idea of the volume. Then, at the end of July, Kwantung Army Intelligence intercepted part of a Soviet telegraph transmission indicating that preparations were under way for some offensive operation in the middle of August. This caused a stir at KwAHQ. Generals Ueda and Yano suspected that the enemy planned to strike across the Halha River. Ueda's initial reaction was to reinforce the 23rd Division at Nomonhan with the rest of the highly regarded 7th Division. However, the 7th Division was Kwantung Army's sole strategic reserve, and the Operations Section was reluctant to commit it to extreme western Manchukuo, fearing mobilization of Soviet forces in the Maritime Province and a possible attack in the east near Changkufeng. The Kwantung Army commander again ignored his own better judgment and accepted the Operations Section's recommendation. The main strength of the 7th Division remained at its base near Tsitsihar, but another infantry regiment, the 28th, was dispatched to the Nomonhan area, as was an infantry battalion from the Mukden Garrison. Earlier, in mid-July, Kwantung Army had sent Komatsubara 1,160 individual replacements to make up for casualties from earlier fighting. All these reinforcements combined, however, did little more than replace losses: as of July 25, 1,400 killed (including 200 officers) and 3,000 wounded. Kwantung Army directed Komatsubara to dig in, construct fortifications, and adopt a defensive posture. Colonel Numazaki, who commanded the 23rd Division's Engineer Regiment, was unhappy with the defensive line he was ordered to fortify and urged a slight pullback to more easily defensible terrain. Komatsubara, however, refused to retreat from ground his men had bled to take. He and his line officers still nourished hope of a revenge offensive. As a result, the Japanese defensive positions proved to be as weak as Numazaki feared. As Zhukov's 1st Army Group prepared to strike, the effective Japanese strength at Nomonhan was less than 1.5 divisions. Major Tsuji and his colleagues in the Operations Section had little confidence in Kwantung Army's own Intelligence Section, which is part of the reason why Tsuji frequently conducted his own reconnaissance missions. Up to this time it was gospel in the Japanese army that the maximum range for large-scale infantry operations was 125–175 miles from a railway; anything beyond 200 miles from a railway was considered logistically impossible. Since Kwantung Army had only 800 trucks available in all of Manchukuo in 1939, the massive Soviet logistical effort involving more than 4,200 trucks was almost unimaginable to the Japanese. Consequently, the Operations Staff believed it had made the correct defensive deployments if a Soviet attack were to occur, which it doubted. If the enemy did strike at Nomonhan, it was believed that it could not marshal enough strength in that remote region to threaten the reinforced 23rd Division. Furthermore, the 7th Division, based at Tsitsihar on a major rail line, could be transported to any trouble spot on the eastern or western frontier in a few days. KwAHQ advised Komatsubara to maintain a defensive posture and prepare to meet a possible enemy attack around August 14 or 15. At this time, Kwantung Army also maintained a secret organization codenamed Unit 731, officially the Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army. Unit 731 specialized in biological and chemical warfare, with main facilities and laboratories in Harbin, including a notorious prison-laboratory complex. During the early August lull at Nomonhan, a detachment from Unit 731 infected the Halha River with bacteria of an acute cholera-like strain. There are no reports in Soviet or Japanese accounts that this attempted biological warfare had any effect. In the war's final days, Unit 731 was disbanded, Harbin facilities demolished, and most personnel fled to Japan—but not before they gassed the surviving 150 human subjects and burned their corpses. The unit's commander, Lieutenant General Ishii Shiro, kept his men secret and threatened retaliation against informers. Ishii and his senior colleagues escaped prosecution at the Tokyo War Crimes Trials by trading the results of their experiments to U.S. authorities in exchange for immunity. The Japanese 6th Army exerted some half-hearted effort to construct defensive fortifications, but scarcity of building materials, wood had to be trucked in from far away—helped explain the lack of enthusiasm. More importantly, Japanese doctrine despised static defense and favored offense, so Kwantung Army waited to see how events would unfold. West of the Halha, Zhukov accelerated preparations. Due to tight perimeter security, few Japanese deserters, and a near-absence of civilian presence, Soviet intelligence found it hard to glean depth on Japanese defensive positions. Combat intelligence could only reveal the frontline disposition and closest mortar and artillery emplacements. Aerial reconnaissance showed photographs, but Japanese camouflage and mock-ups limited their usefulness. The new commander of the 149th Mechanized Infantry Regiment personally directed infiltration and intelligence gathering, penetrating Japanese lines on several nights and returning crucial data: Komatsubara's northern and southern flanks were held by Manchukuoan cavalry, and mobile reserves were lacking. With this information, Zhukov crafted a plan of attack. The main Japanese strength was concentrated a few miles east of the Halha, on both banks of the Holsten River. Their infantry lacked mobility and armor, and their flanks were weak. Zhukov decided to split the 1st Army Group into three strike forces: the central force would deliver a frontal assault to pin the main Japanese strength, while the northern and southern forces, carrying the bulk of the armor, would turn the Japanese flanks and drive the enemy into a pocket to be destroyed by the three-pronged effort. The plan depended on tactical surprise and overwhelming force at the points of attack. The offensive was to begin in the latter part of August, pending final approval from Moscow. To ensure tactical surprise, Zhukov and his staff devised an elaborate program of concealment and deception, disinformation. Units and materiel arriving at Tamsag Bulak toward the Halha were moved only at night with lights out. Noting that the Japanese were tapping telephone lines and intercepting radio messages, 1st Army Headquarters sent a series of false messages in an easily decipherable code about defensive preparations and autumn-winter campaigning. Thousands of leaflets titled "What the Infantryman Should Know about Defense" were distributed among troops. About two weeks before the attack, the Soviets brought in sound equipment to simulate tank and aircraft engines and heavy construction noises, staging long, loud performances nightly. At first, the Japanese mistook the sounds for large-scale enemy activity and fired toward the sounds. After a few nights, they realized it was only sound effects, and tried to ignore the "serenade." On the eve of the attack, the actual concentration and staging sounds went largely unnoticed by the Japanese. On August 7–8, Zhukov conducted minor attacks to expand the Halha bridgehead to a depth of two to three miles. These attacks, contained relatively easily by Komatsubara's troops, reinforced Kwantung Army's false sense of confidence. The Japanese military attaché in Moscow misread Soviet press coverage. In early August, the attaché advised that unlike the Changkufeng incident a year earlier, Soviet press was largely ignoring the conflict, implying low morale and a favorable prognosis for the Red Army. Kwantung Army leaders seized on this as confirmation to refrain from any display of restraint or doubt, misplaced confidence. There were, however, portents of danger. Three weeks before the Soviet attack, Colonel Isomura Takesuki, head of Kwantung Army's Intelligence Section, warned of the vulnerability of the 23rd Division's flanks. Tsuji and colleagues dismissed this, and General Kasahara Yukio of AGS also went unheeded. The "desk jockey" General Staff officers commanded little respect at KwAHQ. Around August 10, General Hata Yuzaburo, Komatsubara's successor as chief of the Special Services Agency at Harbin, warned that enemy strength in the Mongolian salient was very great and seriously underestimated at KwAHQ. Yet no decisive action followed before Zhukov's attack. Kwantung Army's inaction and unpreparedness prior to the Soviet offensive appear to reflect faulty intelligence compounded by hubris. But a more nuanced explanation suggests a fatalistic wishful thinking rooted in the Japanese military culture—the belief that their spiritual strength would prevail, leading them to assume enemy strength was not as great as reported, or that victory was inevitable regardless of resources. Meanwhile, in the rational West, the Nazi war machine faced the Polish frontier as Adolf Hitler pressed Stalin for a nonaggression pact. The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact would neutralize the threat of a two-front war for Germany and clear the way for Hitler's invasion of Poland. If the pact was a green light, it signaled in both directions: it would also neutralize the German threat to Russia and clear the way for Zhukov's offensive at Nomonhan. On August 18–19, Hitler pressed Stalin to receive Ribbentrop in Moscow to seal the pact. Thus, reassured in the West, Stalin dared to act boldly against Japan. Zhukov supervised final preparations for his attack. Zhukov held back forward deployments until the last minute. By August 18, he had only four infantry regiments, a machine gun brigade, and Mongolian cavalry east of the Halha. Operational security was extremely tight: a week before the attack, Soviet radio traffic in the area virtually ceased. Only Zhukov and a few key officers worked on the plan, aided by a single typist. Line officers and service chiefs received information on a need-to-know basis. The date for the attack was shared with unit commanders one to four days in advance, depending on seniority. Noncommissioned officers and ordinary soldiers learned of the offensive one day in advance and received specific orders three hours before the attack.   Heavy rain grounded Japanese aerial reconnaissance from August 17 to midday on the 19th, but on August 19 Captain Oizumi Seisho in a Japanese scout plane observed the massing of Soviet forces near the west bank of the Halha. Enemy armor and troops were advancing toward the river in dispersed formations, with no new bridges but pontoon stocks spotted near the river. Oizumi sent a warning to a frontline unit and rushed back to report. The air group dispatched additional recon planes and discovered that the Japanese garrison on Fui Heights, near the northern end of Komatsubara's line, was being encircled by Soviet armor and mechanized infantry—observed by alarmed Japanese officers on and near the heights. These late discoveries on August 19 were not reported to KwAHQ and had no effect on the 6th Army and the 23rd Division's alertness on the eve of the storm. As is common in militaries, a fatal gap persisted between those gathering intelligence and those in a position to act on it. On the night of August 19–20, under cover of darkness, the bulk of the Soviet 1st Army Group crossed the Halha into the expanded Soviet enclave on the east bank.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. By August, European diplomacy left Moscow confident in a foothold against Germany and Britain, while Sorge's intelligence indicated Japan aimed to avoid a full-blown war. Stalin ordered a major offensive to clear Nomonhan, fueling Zhukov's buildup in eastern Mongolia. Kwantung Army, hampered by limited logistics, weak intelligence, and defensive posture, faced mounting pressure.