422. Al Carns MP on Why Western Defence Policy Must Evolve

More from Battleground All episodes →

1. 

   13 Aug 2026 · 56 min

   427. Election Bans, Drone Offensives & National Resilience

   The war in Ukraine reaches a critical new phase as Patrick Bishop and Saul David analyse Ukraine’s unprecedented, deep-strike drone campaigns into major Russian cities—and the Kremlin's nervous crackdown on domestic anti-war opposition ahead of upcoming elections. Plus, long-time friend of the podcast Askold Krushelnycky joins the show after returning from a grueling trip to Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Kyiv. Askold gives a sobering update on the grim reality facing Ukrainian forces in the east, the strain on air defences, the political tension surrounding Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former…

2. 

   12 Aug 2026 · 35 min

   426. The American Pope: Leo XIV, Trump, and the New Vatican Soft Power

   In this episode of The Big Picture , Patrick speaks with leading religious and political journalist Catherine Pepinster to examine the soft power, geopolitics, and spiritual influence of Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost). Episode Highlights The Rise of Pope Leo XIV: How the Augustinian friar and former missionary in Peru became leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, positioning him as a unique "American outsider" on the global stage. Clashes with the White House: An analysis of the high-profile disputes between Pope Leo, Donald Trump, and Vice-President J.D. Vance regarding foreign…

3. 

   6 Aug 2026 · 36 min

   425. Summer Special: The Caspian Strike, Falklands 2.0 & Deterring Russia

   We are currently on a very short summer break, so instead of our regular news update, hosts Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop are diving into listener questions for a special long-form Q&A episode. Don't worry—we will be back next week with all the latest news and updates from the ground. In this episode: Zelenskyy’s Post-War Legacy: Drawing parallels to Winston Churchill’s defeat in the summer 1945 general election, the hosts explore whether President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should announce he won't stand for re-election post-war—and discuss Ukrainian adaptability in missile production. The…

4. 

   4 Aug 2026 · 25 min

   424. Radek Sikorski on Russia’s Evolving Threat, European Defence, and the War in Ukraine

   In this episode of The Big Picture , host Roger Moorhouse is joined by Polish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski for an in-depth discussion on European security, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the evolving threat posed by Moscow. Minister Sikorski assesses how the conflict has reshaped NATO’s eastern flank and forced Europe to confront years of strategic complacency, he addresses the realities of Russia’s military capabilities and hybrid warfare tactics, the challenges facing Ukrainian refugees, and the delicate path towards EU integration. Sikorski also offers a…

5. 

   30 Jul 2026 · 58 min

   423. On the Front Line with Ukraine's Drone Units with Arnaud De Decker

   Hosts Patrick Bishop and Roger Moorhouse take a look at the latest shifting political dynamics surrounding US-Ukraine relations. They unpack the recent White House meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the potential transactional nature of future US support, and the growing role of Ukraine’s defence industry. Then, Belgian journalist Arnaud De Decker joins the show for an extended interview to share his eyewitness perspective on the war. Returning from an embed with an FPV drone unit in the Donbas, Arnaud offers a vivid account of the reality inside the "kill zone", the rapid…

6. 

   23 Jul 2026 · 44 min

   421. Retail Under Fire: Drone Strikes, Oligarch Warnings, and a New Ukrainian Commander

   Hosts Roger Moorhouse and Patrick Bishop return to discuss the latest critical developments in the war, starting with a major strategic shift in Ukraine's drone targeting. The hosts break down Ukraine's long-range strikes against distribution centres belonging to Wildberries—Russia’s largest online retailer—which have left facilities destroyed, killed nine people, and caused widespread economic disruption. While Russian sources denounce the strikes as terrorism, Ukrainian sources and President Zelenskyy maintain that the retailer forms a key part of Russia's military supply chain,…

7. 

   21 Jul 2026 · 42 min

   420. 40% of the World by 2100: Why Is Everyone Ignoring Africa?

   Despite holding vast mineral wealth and being on track to represent 40% of the global population by the end of the century, Africa remains largely overlooked in global political and economic discussions. Why does a continent with such massive potential continue to be sidelined on the world stage? In this episode of Battleground: The Big Picture , host Patrick Bishop is joined by author, journalist, and former foreign correspondent Michela Wrong . Drawing on over 30 years of reporting on the continent, Michela breaks down the complex geopolitical forces shaping modern Africa: Economic…

8. 

   16 Jul 2026 · 45 min

   419. Zelensky’s Spectacular Own Goal

   A week of major military successes for Ukraine is overshadowed by a self-inflicted political crisis in Kyiv. Hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop break down President Volodymyr Zelensky's highly controversial dismissal of both his Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, and the young, popular, and deeply effective Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. The hosts explain why this move is being called Zelensky's "biggest mistake since the start of the full-scale invasion," sparking mass protests across Ukraine. On a brighter note, the hosts look at a massive new defence pact with France, which has…

9. 

   15 Jul 2026 · 37 min

   418. Battleground Big Picture: Power Struggles in Kyiv - The Story Behind the Government Reshuffle

   "If Zelenskyy decides to remove Fedorov, it’s gonna be his biggest mistake during the war." Welcome to the inaugural episode of Battleground: The Big Picture , where we cut through the fog of information to bring you the unfiltered reality of global conflicts. In this episode, we sit down with Oleksiy Sorokin , the co-founder and deputy chief editor of The Kyiv Independent . Oleksiy pulls back the curtain on the immense pressures facing the free press in Ukraine, the shifting dynamics of power within the Zelenskyy administration, and the ground-level realities of combating sophisticated…

10. 

    9 Jul 2026 · 44 min

    417. "Make Your Own": Trump's Answer to the Patriot Interceptor Shortage

    A major shift in Washington policy headlines a fraught NATO summit in Ankara. This week, Patrick Bishop and Saul David break down Donald Trump’s surprising warming of relations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marked by a critical deal allowing Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missile interceptors to defend its cities from brutal Russian ballistic strikes. Meanwhile, JD Vance signals a massive change in American tone, acknowledging that Russian offensives are achieving almost nothing on the battlefield. The hosts also unpack the tightening noose around occupied Crimea as Ukrainian strikes trigger a…