Unspun World with John Simpson
Series 5
202530 episodes
Episode 1
30/04/2025
Apr 30, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the role Donald Trump played in the Liberal Party's election victory in Canada, looks at the extent of the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq and examines whether the legacy of Pope Francis will endure under his successor.
Episode 2
07/05/2025
May 7, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Russia's current strategy in the war against Ukraine, looks at the preparations the Polish are making for a possible Russian invasion of their country and examines the escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank.
Episode 3
14/05/2025
May 14, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, asks what the government of Benjamin Netanyahu really wants to do with Gaza. He also examines China's efforts to lessen its reliance on the United States for trade and looks at attacks against critics of the Iranian regime on foreign soil.
Episode 4
21/05/2025
May 21, 202526m
James Landale, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the UK's new deal with the EU, looks at the possible impact of the lifting of US sanctions in Syria and examines scientists' attempts to discover the origin of life itself.
Episode 5
28/05/2025
May 28, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether criticism from within Israel will force Netanyahu’s government to change its approach to the war in Gaza, examines the impact Russia’s latest onslaught is having on Ukrainian citizens, and looks at the conflict in Cameroon between security forces and armed separatists over the independence of the country’s two English-speaking regions.
Episode 6
04/06/2025
Jun 4, 202526m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the impact of the election of a right wing President on Poland's government. Examines the long-term effects of the ongoing civil war in Sudan and looks at the continued attempts by the Chinese authorities to suppress any public remembrance of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Episode 7
11/06/2025
Jun 11, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s decision to send in troops to tackle protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Plus, he examines the impact at home of the Russian army’s death toll in the war in Ukraine and looks at shocking evidence of life in Syria’s prisons under former leader, Bashar al-Assad.
Episode 8
18/06/2025
Jun 18, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel's attacks could topple the Iranian regime. He also assesses the effectiveness of the G7 in dealing with international crises, and examines what the consequences might be of a global drop in human fertility.
Episode 9
25/06/2025
Jun 25, 202526m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the Iranian regime has successfully weathered the storm caused by the attacks by Israel and the United States. Examines the state of the NATO alliance and looks at the ferocious gangland culture of Cape Town in South Africa.
Episode 10
02/07/2025
Jul 2, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the way that Donald Trump conducts foreign policy. Examines reaction in Israel to their conflict with Iran and looks at the controversial new project to create artificial human DNA from scratch.
Episode 11
10/09/2025: France’s Decline & Russian Influence
Sep 10, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the latest political crisis in France is a sign of long-term decline, examines the reasons for the simmering tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and looks at the ways in which Russia is trying to win over opinion around the world.
Episode 12
17/09/2025: Starmer, Trump & Israel–Gaza Rift
Sep 17, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the relationship between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, analyses whether Israeli's strike at Qatar has played into the hands of Iran, and looks at the widening split between Europe and the United States over Israel and Gaza.
Episode 13
24/09/2025: Recognition of Palestine & Taliban Crackdown
Sep 24, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what effect the recognition of Palestine as a state might have, examines whether Syria is back in the international fold, and looks at the latest restrictions that the Taliban have introduced in Afghanistan.
Episode 14
01/10/2025: Trump’s Middle East Plan & NATO Risks
Oct 1, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump’s plan for peace in the Middle East, examines why Russia is risking further conflict in Europe by provoking NATO, and looks at the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Moldova.
Episode 15
08/10/2025: Gaza Peace & Sanctions on Iran
Oct 8, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether, two years on from the October 7th attacks, peace in Gaza is now possible, looks at what it is like for Western journalists to report in Russia and examines the consequences of reimposing sanctions on Iran.
Episode 16
15/10/2025: Gaza's Future, US-China Trade Tensions & Rising Cyber-Attacks
Oct 15, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores who will actually be running Gaza in the wake of the ceasefire there, examines the escalating trade war between China and the United States, and looks at the recent spate of cyber-attacks targeting Western companies.
Episode 17
22/10/2025: Hamas Ceasefire, Jihadist Reactions & Ukraine's Shifting Strategy
Oct 22, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Hamas will lay down its weapons in Gaza, looks at how other Jihadist groups have responded to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and explores how Ukraine's approach to the war with Russia might change in the wake of the latest row with President Trump.
Episode 18
29/10/2025: Trump’s China Strategy and Netanyahu’s Political Future
Oct 29, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump's approach to dealing with China, examines the United States' rivalry with China in South East Asia, and explores what the future holds for Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government.
Episode 19
05/11/2025: Russia’s Fatigue, America’s Shutdown and a Warming World
Nov 5, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores war-weariness in Russia and the problem it poses for the Kremlin, examines the government shutdown in the United States, and analyses whether there will be any effective action from the upcoming climate conference in Brazil.
Episode 20
12/11/2025: Why Pokrovsk Matters, Rebuilding Gaza, and Quantum Shifts
Nov 12, 202526m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses why Russia is so keen to capture the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, explores the challenges of rebuilding Gaza, and looks at how quantum computing could change the way we solve some of the world's biggest challenges.
Episode 21
21/01/2026: Trump One Year On, Iran’s Uprising, and Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Jan 21, 202626m
This week Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at Donald Trump's first year of his second term, analyses the repercussions of the uprising against the clerical establishment in Iran, and explores whether a new blood test could transform the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Episode 22
28/01/2026: EU–US Strain, UK–China Diplomacy, Church Breakthrough
Jan 28, 202626m
John Simpson analyses the relationship between the EU and the United States after the row over Greenland, explores how the UK is trying to improve ties with China, and looks at the challenges facing the first female head of the Anglican Church.
Episode 23
04/02/2026: A World in Flux – Iran’s Future, Ukraine’s War, Venezuela’s Rule
Feb 4, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the dangers facing the Iranian clerical regime, explores whether peace talks on the war in Ukraine can succeed, and analyses who is actually governing Venezuela.
Episode 24
11/02/2026: Who Runs Gaza? Japan Votes, US Puts Social Media on Trial
Feb 11, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores who is actually governing Gaza at the moment, analyses the Prime Minister of Japan's landslide election victory, and looks at a landmark trial in the US that will determine whether social media giants are responsible for harming children who use their platforms.
Episode 25
18/02/2026: Transatlantic Alliance Tested as Iran Faces Uncertainty
Feb 18, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the state of the transatlantic alliance, explores whether the Iranian regime can survive, and looks at the consequences of the repeal of key environmental regulations in the United States.
Episode 26
25/02/2026: Ukraine and Russia: Four Years of War and Struggle
Feb 25, 202626m
John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores the mood in Ukraine after four years of war, examines how the war has changed Russia, and looks at whether Russia’s long sporting isolation is coming to an end.
Episode 27
04/03/2026: The War on Iran - Strategic Goals and Regional Consequences
Mar 4, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the Iranian regime will survive, looks at what Israel and the United States are aiming to achieve in their war with Iran, and examines whether Iran's attacks on countries in the Gulf will change the balance of power in the region.
Episode 28
11/03/2026: US Goals in Iran and the Threat of War in Ethiopia
Mar 11, 202626m
This episode, Caroline Hawley, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, explores what life is like in Iran as the war intensifies, and analyses what the US objectives are for the war and whether they are obtainable. She also examines the possibility of a new war in Ethiopia and its implications for the region.
Episode 29
18/03/2026: War in Middle East fuels Russia’s gains and heats up Ukraine-Hungary politics
Mar 18, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the economic effects of the war in the Middle East, explores how the conflict is actually helping Russia, and looks at the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Hungary and how it might affect the upcoming elections there.
Episode 30
25/03/2026: Iran’s Uncertain Future Unfolds as First Crewed Moon Mission in Decades Nears
Mar 25, 202626m
This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Donald Trump's decision to call a halt to US attacks on Iran, examines what the future might hold for the Iranian people, and explores the significance of the first manned journey to the moon in half a century.