The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus

Russia is testing Europe with drones and sabotage. China is undermining its industries. And the United States, Europe’s old safety net, is becoming a challenge of its own. So is there anywhere left to run?I talk to Dimitar Bechev about the pressures on Europe from every side: how much of a threat Russia really is, what Washington’s talks with Moscow mean for Ukraine, whether the EU can keep enlarging, why China is an economic problem more than a military one, how to deal with Turkey, and what Europe should do about all of it.His book is here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-scramble-for-europe-9780197781449

Germany’s former intelligence chief has been accused of treason. Here's the full story.Important: The investigation is ongoing. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Russia was supposed to be isolated. But four years into the war in Ukraine, that hasn’t happened.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrMarcelDirsusBuy Hanna's book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324117018In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus speaks with Russia expert Hanna Notte about Russia’s place in the world — and why the country continues to maintain important economic, political and security relationships outside the West.

What happens when a senior KGB officer walks into the British embassy in revolutionary Iran and offers to spy for MI6?Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DrMarcelDirsusRedwood: The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Extraordinary Spy is out now.Buy Redwood: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/458783/redwood-by-macintyre-ben/9780241754801

Is Vladimir Putin running out of options in Ukraine—and could desperation push Russia into war with NATO?Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DrMarcelDirsusIn this episode of The Next Best, host Marcel Dirsus sits down with military analyst and author Anders Puck Nielsen (The Logic of War) to analyze the evolving dynamics of the war in Ukraine. They discuss how technological shifts like the "drone wall" have eliminated tactical surprise, the limits of Russia's war economy, the impact of long-range strikes, and why a desperate Kremlin might test NATO’s Article 5 as a last resort.Check out Anders Puck Nielsen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anderspuckBuy Anders' Book: https://www.logicofwar.com/the-book/

There is no "magic button" in war.From naval blockades in the Strait of Hormuz to precision air strikes and economic sanctions, military planners constantly search for a magic button — a way to achieve decisive political victory without mass casualties or drawn-out ground conflicts. But history shows that shortcuts in warfare rarely deliver on their promises. In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus speaks with Samuël Kruizinga, a historian at the University of Amsterdam who specializes in the history of wars, blockades, and sanctions. They explore why quick-fix strategic thinking consistently fails—examining US actions against Iran, naval scenarios around Taiwan, and lessons from World War I and World War II—before arriving at a sobering conclusion: when trying to affect political change through military force, there is no substitute for boots on the ground.

How do elite Russian spies operate? How are they recruited and trained, and what makes the life of these "Illegals" so miserable?Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/DrMarcelDirsus In this episode of The Next Best, host Marcel Dirsus sits down with Shaun Walker, foreign correspondent for The Guardian and author of "The Illegals". They dive deep into the brutal psychological reality, extreme recruitment methods, and history of Russia’s deep-cover intelligence network—from the Soviet era to Putin’s modern-day spy ring. They also discuss the sacrifices made by spy families, the recent DHL parcel plots and sabotage ops in Europe, and how Western intelligence successfully uncovered Putin’s invasion plans for Ukraine. Get Shaun Walker’s book "The Illegals": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671708/the-illegals-by-shaun-walker/ Read Shaun's Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/feb/20/a-war-foretold-cia-mi6-putin-ukraine-plans-russia The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus offers deep dives into geopolitics and international relations. We provide serious political commentary on foreign policy challenges, modern warfare, and global security.

What happens when billionaires buy democracy?In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus speaks with author and investigative journalist Casey Michel about the rise of America’s oligarchs — and how enormous private fortunes are reshaping American politics, government and foreign policy.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DrMarcelDirsusBuy Casey's book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250430120/unitedstatesofoligarchy/They discuss Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and the billionaire class surrounding the Trump administration; how campaign-finance rules collapsed; the impact of Citizens United; and why American politics has increasingly become a pay-to-play system.Casey also explains how today’s oligarchy compares with America’s Gilded Age, what Teddy Roosevelt can teach us about fighting concentrated wealth, how corruption and self-enrichment are affecting US foreign policy, and why a backlash against America’s billionaire class may be coming.

What would actually happen if nuclear war broke out?Nuclear weapons expert Frank Sauer explains, step by step, how a nuclear war could begin, how world leaders would make life-or-death decisions in minutes, and what the consequences would be for humanity.Subscribe to Frank's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@sicherheitspodWe discuss:- How a nuclear war between Russia and NATO could realistically start- The difference between tactical and strategic nuclear weapons- How launch decisions are made by world leaders- Whether the US or Europe could shoot down incoming nuclear missiles- Why nuclear deterrence has worked—and why it could still fail- The Cuban Missile Crisis and the closest humanity has come to nuclear war- Nuclear winter and whether it could end human civilization- Why Frank believes nuclear weapons remain the greatest existential threat facing humanityThis is one of the most detailed conversations you'll hear on how nuclear strategy actually works, why accidents are a real concern, and what keeps experts awake at night.If you enjoy in-depth conversations on geopolitics, international security, AI, history, and the future of humanity, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications.

Why did the United States lose the war in Afghanistan? Why did the Taliban ultimately return to power? And what lessons should policymakers take from America's longest war?In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus sits down with Carter Malkasian — former adviser to the U.S. military and author of The American War in Afghanistan—to explore the origins of the Taliban, the failures of nation-building, the 2021 withdrawal, and the enduring lessons of the conflict.