Shows
COUNTERPODS5 E5: Colombia; UK illegal immigration protests; terrorist insurgency in the Sahel; and Islamophobia.In this episode Ian and Edmund discuss stability in Colombia; Epping illegal immigration protests and policing in the UK; trade deals and the terrorist insurgency in the Sahel; and the recent spotlight on the UK’s definition of Islamophobia. 2025-07-2338 minCOUNTERPODS5 E4: 7/7 London bombing anniversary; proposals for Gaza; Palestine Action proscribed; the UN Charter at 80.In this episode Edmund and Ian discuss the UK's 9/11 - the 7/7 terrorist attacks on their 20th anniversary; the current proposals for Gaza following Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington; the proscribing of Palestine Action as a terrorist group in the UK; and the 'lovely' UN Charter 80 years after its creation. 2025-07-0844 minCOUNTERPODS5 E3: Iran-Israel-U.S.; Glastonbury; Syria; and Islamist antisemitism.Edmund and Ian discuss Iran, Israel, the U.S. and the ’12-day war’ and ask - who’s in charge: Trump or Netanyahu? They also assess the fallout from Glastonbury; Syria and sanctions; and CEP’s report on Islamist antisemitism. 2025-07-0339 minCOUNTERPODS5 E2: Ballymena unrest; Israel-Iran conflict; extremism in UK prisons; and Tunisia terror attacks anniversary.Ian and Edmund discuss violent unrest in Ballymena, Northern Ireland; the conflict between Israel and Iran; Ian’s high-profile review of security in U.K prisons; and the tenth anniversary of the Islamic State terrorist attacks in Tunisia - ending on an optimistic note. 2025-06-1643 minCOUNTERPODS5 E1: Football crowd incidents; the Houthis and Red Sea shipping; security in UK prisons; and the India-Pakistan conflict.S5 E1 Ian and Edmund kick-off the new season with a look at incidents involving football crowds in Liverpool and Paris; the Houthi threat to Red Sea shipping; Ian’s rapid review (published by the Counter Extremism Project) of prison security the growing threat from ideology; and last month’s flare-up between India and Pakistan. 2025-06-0433 minCOUNTERPODS4 E6: US State Department and the Taliban; Stockholm truck attack anniversary; Iran nuclear deal; and release of 7/7 convicted terrorist.In this season's finale, Ian and Edmund discuss why the US State Department may drop bounties on Taliban leaders; the anniversary of the Islamist terrorist truck attack in Stockholm; options for the US-Iran nuclear talks; and the release from a UK mental hospital of a convicted terrorist connected to the London 7/7 bombings.2025-04-1136 minCOUNTERPODS4 E5: Oklahoma City bombing anniversary; the murder of Ronan Kerr; antisemitism in Australia; and music and anti-extremism.Ian and Edmund discuss the Oklahoma City bombing on its 30th anniversary; the murder of Ronan Kerr, a police officer in Omaha, Co. Tyrone; antisemitism in Australia; and the association of music and anti-extremism - but they start with flatulence laws versus gun legislation - and it isn’t even an April Fool’s. 2025-04-0340 minCOUNTERPODS4 E4: Oman’s role as a mediator; ideology drives extremism; protests in Gaza; and ‘Com Networks’ in the U.K.This week Ian and Edmund question Oman’s role as a mediator; discuss a U.K. report from the Commission for Countering Extremism; assess the protests in Gaza by citizens opposed to Hamas; and explain the National Crime Agency’s Annual Threat Assessment. 2025-03-2737 minCOUNTERPODS4 E3: UK Report on October 7; Mahmoud Khalil; St Patrick’s Day boycott; U.S. strikes on Houthis.Ian and Edmund discuss the importance of a new report on October 7 by a House of Lords group; the debate in the U.S. over Mahmoud Khalil; the boycott of St Patrick’s Day by Sinn Fein and others; and the implications of the U.S. airstrikes on the Houthis. 2025-03-2040 minCOUNTERPODS4 E2: Extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah; UK’s definition of terrorism; developments Syria; and cars as a weapon of terror.Edmund and Ian discuss Pakistan’s extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah to US on terrorism charges; the arguments for and against changing the UK’s definition of terrorism; the latest and worrying developments in Syria; and the UK’s vulnerability to vehicle-ramming as a means of terrorism. 2025-03-1341 minCOUNTERPODS4 E1: UK definition of Islamophobia; terrorism in Russia; engaging Northern Irish dissident terrorists; Trump era diplomacy.Edmund and Ian are back for a new season and to probe the UK's approach to defining Islamophobia; discuss the Russian security service shooting of an IS-inspired terrorist; explain UK and Irish government exploratory talks to engage dissident Republican terrorists; and consider diplomacy in the era of Donald Trump. 2025-03-0536 minCOUNTERPODS3 E6: U.K. Home Office Counter Terror ‘sprint’ report; Donald Trump on Gaza; Eric Glass; extremism in South Africa; kicked off by an irreverent explanation of the Tush Push.The U.K. Home Office’s leaked and much-ridiculed Counter Terror ‘sprint’ document; Donald Trump’s latest pronouncements on Gaza and the fragility of the hostage deal; why the Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to Eric Glass in Norther Ireland; and why former South African president Jacob Puma’s daughter was charged with inciting terrorism. And, crucially - the Super Bowl and the Tush Push. 2025-02-1237 minCOUNTERPODS3 E5: The London Docklands IRA bombing anniversary; Oman terrorist attack; Mexican drug cartels; Gaza hostage swap; and the Orebro College attack in Sweden.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the anniversary of the IRA’s terrorist attack in London’s Docklands in 1996. They also discuss the under-reported terrorist attack in the otherwise stable Oman; Mexican drug cartels, organized crime, and the Texas border; the latest on the Gaza hostage swap and IDF activity in the West Bank; and the latest on the Orebro College attack in Sweden. 2025-02-0539 minCOUNTERPODS3 E4: Auschwitz liberation 80th anniversary and CEP's ARCHER at House 88; Axel Rudakubana; and Saudi ArabiaIan Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the launch of CEP's major new initiative ARCHER at House 88, based at the former home of the Commandant of Auschwitz. They also discuss the jail sentence given to Axel Rudakubana in the U.K. and a changing Saudi Arabia. They end with "Never," a moving poem by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.2025-01-3134 minCOUNTERPODS3 E3: Hamas-Israel ceasefire; TheTimes-UANI investigation into UK charity; Al-Shabaab Nairobi terrorist attack in 2019; high security prisons airspace.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss what the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deals means for peace and reconstruction, the hostages and the ‘metrics’ of prisoner-hostage exchange. They also look at the investigation by The Times and United Against Nuclear Iran into a UK charity and Iranian regime-backed extremism, the anniversary of the Al-Shabaab terrorist attack in a shopping complex in Nairobi, Kenya and how criminal gangs and airspace over high security prisons in the UK - and how two of these topics align with Ian and Edmund’s ‘two cheeks of the same arse’ theory.2025-01-1730 minCOUNTERPODS3 E2: UK grooming gangs; Charlie Hebdo; “low trust” societies; and fact checking on Meta.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the grooming gangs scandal in the U.K and Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson; the ongoing fallout of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks 10 years on; how “low trust” societies can foster violent extremism; and the troubling lack of fact and truth on social media platforms. 2025-01-1133 minCOUNTERPODS3 E1: New Orleans terror attack; the Republic of Ireland and Israel; Donald Trump and counter terrorism; and tips for 2025.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown examine the significance of the terror attack on New Orleans; the fractured relationship between the Republic of Ireland and Israel and closure of Israel’s embassy in Dublin; and the opportunities and risks for counter terror measures under Donald Trump. Ian and Edmund also give their take on the big, upcoming issues in 2025 - and be prepared to be surprised. 2025-01-0235 min
COUNTERPODCounter Extremism PerspectivesA deep dive into the topics of relevance to the research and mission of the Counter Extremism Project CEP). Presented by Dr Hans-Jacob Schindler, Senior Director CEP, and Alexander Ritzmann, Senior Advisor CEP, each episode focuses on one counter extremism issue and aims to provide the audience with a greater understanding of its nuance and significance. The first episode discussion is based on the CEP publication 'Identifying and Disrupting Key Antisemitic Actors: A Five Step Guide' by Alexander Ritzmann. 2024-12-2354 minCOUNTERPODS2 E6: The Berlin Christmas market attack in 2016; UK Met Police in PKK counter terror arrests; South Korea, and state sponsor of terrorism, North Korea; and reasons to be optimistic this Christmas.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown examine the significance of the attacks on the Berlin Christmas market in 2016; the Met Police’s counter terror operation in London against the PKK and its terror plots against the Turkish community; developments in South Korea - and North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism; and five reasons to be optimistic this Christmas about violent extremism!2024-12-0433 minCOUNTERPODS2 E5: The Mumbai massacre in 2008; UK security policy; Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire; and AI and extremism.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown assess the 2008 Mumbai massacre - India’s 9/11 - and a turning point in its approach to national security; the UK’s approach to national security in light of comments by Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of MI6; the prospects for the newly announced Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire; and the growing challenges of AI and extremism. 2024-11-2732 minCOUNTERPODS2 E4: Terrorism and tourism; state-sponsored terrorism; and trust in government and policing.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown reflect on the impact of terrorism on tourism, including in Egypt; state-sponsored terrorism, including by Russia; and the UK Southport murders and the harm to government and police reputations. And their thoughts on other podcasts including Gary Lineker's. 2024-11-2134 minCOUNTERPODS2 E3: Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe; Qatar as a mediator; Jews in Amsterdam; Trump appointments.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the Iranian regime’s use of kidnapping and imprisonment; Qatar’s suspended role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas; violence towards Jews in Amsterdam; and Donald Trump’s Cabinet and other appointments. 2024-11-1329 minCOUNTERPODS2 E2: Bataclan massacre; UNWRA; Iranian regime brutality; and President Trump returns.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the anniversary of the Bataclan massacre in France; Israel declaring UNWRA persona non grata; the Iranian regime’s brutal repression of its own people; and what the return of President Trump means for violent extremism. 2024-11-0631 minCOUNTERPODS2 E1: Sir David Amess MP and the Tree of Life synagogue attack; and Hollywood and terrorism.Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown discuss the anniversaries of the murder of British MP Sir David Amess by an Islamist extremist, and the attack, by a white supremacist, on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. They also offer their take on Hollywood's treatment of terrorism and extremism. 2024-10-3026 min
COUNTERPODS1 E4: Forgiving IRA terrorists; insurgency in the Sahel; October 7 anniversary; and Neo-Nazis.In the fourth episode Ian and Edmund offer insights into counter extremism prevention in their own inimitable style. Presented by Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown from the Counter Extremism Project. Contact: media@counterextremism.com2024-10-1626 minCOUNTERPODS1 E3: Terrorist disruptions to normal life; hostage-taking; and peace negotiations.In the third episode Ian and Edmund continue to provide their insights into counter extremism prevention in their own inimitable style. Presented by Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown from the Counter Extremism Project.2024-10-0935 min
COUNTERPODS1 E2: Definition of extremism; diverting humanitarian aid; and Israel-Lebanon.In the second episode Ian and Edmund continue their trip around counter extremism prevention in their own inimitable style. Presented by Ian Acheson and Edmund Fitton-Brown from the Counter Extremism Project.2024-10-0227 minCOUNTERPODS1 E1: 9/11, Hezbollah, and the role satireIan and Edmund reflect on the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, the attacks on Hezbollah's capabilities inside Lebanon, and touch on the role of satire in counter extremism.2024-09-2429 min