TrumpWorld
TrumpWorld is a Channel 4 News podcast that takes listeners inside the chaos, drama, and consequences of Donald Trump's America. Each week, Global Anchor Matt Frei and US Editor Anushka Asthana are joined by a special guest to cut through the noise of White House headlines and uncover what Trump's second presidency means at home and around the world.
Episodes
Michael Lewis on Musk and Trump’s ‘RADICAL SEIZURE OF POWER’
In his new book Michael Lewis, bestselling author of The Big Short and Moneyball, reveals the inside story of Elon Musk’s DOGE and Donald Trump’s assault on the US government.In Blockers, Lewis tells the stories of the civil servants who tried to stop Musk’s cost-cutting crusade and paid the price.What happens when the people protecting the government become the enemy? What is actually left of Ame
US Midterms: Are Americans about to punish Trump?
With weeks to go until the 2026 US midterm elections, both the House and the Senate hang in the balance. As Donald Trump barnstorms the country from Texas to Alaska, the polls increasingly seem to be in favour of the Democrats.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana sits down with political data analyst Lakshya Jain, co-founder of forecasting platform Split Ticket. Jain’s latest modeling gi
Could MI6 STOP TRUSTING the CIA under Trump? - Former CIA analyst
Former CIA analyst turned bestselling author David McCloskey joins Anushka Asthana, where they explore the widening cracks in transatlantic intelligence sharing. Drawing on six years at Langley drafting the President’s Daily Brief across the Middle East, McCloskey’s new spy thriller, ‘London Station’, imagines the CIA and MI6 turning their covert apparatuses against one another.Following the withd
Trump’s AI dreams and the rise of ‘END TIMES FASCISM’
On this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei speaks to Naomi Klein about her new book, End Times Fascism, and her argument that Donald Trump, Big Tech and the religious right are converging around a shared vision of the future. They discuss Trump’s embrace of AI, the tech industry’s warnings about its dangers, the growing influence of apocalyptic thinking among some of his allies, and whether the back
‘LOW ENERGY DONALD’ - Was Trump’s UN speech less fiery than usual?
On this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana discuss Donald Trump’s speech to the UN General Assembly.[Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://channel4news.substack.com/subscribe]During his 37 minute speech there were familiar rants against the media, Cuba and Iran, who he threatened with “annihilation”.This time though, not only did he stay mainly on script - but he also see
Will Donald Trump do anything about Silicon Valley’s AI ADDICTION?
Donald Trump claims that warnings across the globe about AI could wipe out humanity are the latest “hoax” to fool the world. Just days after AI leaders across the world - led by the bosses of Anthropic and OpenAI, as well as Elon Musk – united in a call to slow down AI development, Trump has hit back against calls for regulation, saying that the only guardrail we needed was a "smart president
Does Trump’s party have an ISLAMOPHOBIA problem?
Does the Republican Party have an Islamophobia problem? Muslims in the US say they are facing levels of Islamophobia worse than directly after 9/11 - and blame Republican politicians for driving anti-Islam sentiment. Texas is home to the Anti-Sharia caucus, and its governor wants to ban foot washing stations in its airports. And as the Republican convention kicks off in Dallas, TrumpWorld looks at
Trump hits Iran in fresh strikes as generals warn Hegseth over endless war
The US has launched fresh strikes on Iran - just as senior American military commanders are warning Donald Trump’s so-called secretary of war Pete Hegseth that the conflict is becoming unsustainable.US forces have hit Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran attempted to target commercial shipping and US forces in the region. Trump has warned Tehran that any retaliation will trigger
TRUMP v THE WORLD: is his economic war backfiring as Canada and China escalate?
In another bid to force Iran to succumb to his will, Donald Trump has launched Operation Economic Outcast against Iran - but is it America who is becoming the international pariah? Trump has already infuriated many of America’s traditional allies with his tariff policy, not least its biggest neighbour and trading partner Canada. Those not so quiet Canadians are making a habit out of standing up to
Hasan Piker on Gaza, America’s ‘DEATH SPIRAL’ in Iran and finding a ‘socialist Trump’
Hasan Piker is one of the biggest political streamers in the world, and an increasingly influential voice on the American left as the Democrats try to figure out a way to take the fight to Donald Trump in the mid-term elections. But Piker is also one of the left’s most controversial voices - frequently criticised for his aggressive commentary and even banned from the UK with the government worried
Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan - so who’s really in charge?
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are facing a major confrontation over Gaza after Israel rejected Trump’s 15-point peace plan, raising fresh questions over whether the US president can use his influence to force Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire.Why is Netanyahu defying Trump? Can the Gaza peace process still be salvaged? And with anti-Israeli sentiment rising among young Americans on the right a
Why Democrat socialists are such a threat to Trump and the GOP
From late-night Truth Social posts and all-caps rants to rally speeches packed with humour, anger and spectacle, Donald Trump has built a style that has dominated the American, and perhaps world, political landscape for the past decade. But is he a one-off, or has he changed politics forever? And, with the rise of left wing populists like Zohran Mamdani, do the Democrats think they have found an a
US Midterms: Do the Republicans have a Donald Trump PROBLEM?
Is Donald Trump still the election asset he once was?With the Midterm election campaign well underway, Republican candidates are grappling with an unpopular president who has left them with a rising cost of living, tariffs and the seemingly never ending war in Iran.Meanwhile the Democrats are beset by internal divisions, questions over leadership, and growing concerns about whether they have the m
Burnham v Trump: will new PM stand up to President?
The “special relationship” is facing its greatest test in years - Andy Burnham had barely unpacked in Number 10 before taking an hour-long call from President Trump to discuss football, Manchester, Nato and Trump’s favourite topic - oil. Now, as the fallout from America's strikes on Iran grows, big questions remain for the new prime minister - how far should the UK go in backing Trump? What ha
Has Donald Trump actually made Iran’s regime STRONGER?
Donald Trump's Iran strategy is unravelling. Days after declaring a ceasefire, the agreement appears to have collapsed. Trump has scrapped plans for a 20% toll on ships using the Strait of Hormuz in favour of major Gulf investment deals, while warning that even tougher military action could still be to come.So why did the ceasefire fail? Has Iran emerged politically stronger despite months of
World Cup: how Trump’s Balogun red card call ‘COMPLETELY BACKFIRED’ on America
An unprecedented FIFA decision, a direct intervention from Donald Trump, and a World Cup controversy that has left football divided.Trump says he personally asked FIFA to review Folarin Balogun's red card suspension. FIFA overturned the automatic ban, prompting protests from Belgium, criticism from UEFA, and fresh questions about President Gianni Infantino's relationship with the White Hou
‘UNREAL CORRUPTION’ - Has Trump gone too far with crypto billions?
Donald Trump reported earning more than $2.2 billion last year, with huge sums linked to cryptocurrency, licensing deals and his growing business empire. At the same time, fresh questions are being asked about thousands of stock trades, government ethics and where the line between public office and private profit should be drawn.This week on TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana ask whether Am
‘SHAMEFUL, UNQUALIFIED, DISASTROUS’ - what swing state voters think of Trump
Trump's polling numbers have plummeted since his return to office - with the Iran war and soaring cost of living hurting the most. Now some say he's the most unpopular president ever - but is that really true? When you step outside of the Washington bubble, a different story emerges. On this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana worked with pollsters Public First to hear what voters in th
Is JD Vance becoming Trump's Iran scapegoat?
If Andy Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer in Downing Street, as is expected, how will he approach the US UK relationship with Donald Trump in the White House? A growing number of leaders around the world have concluded that they have to stand up to Donald Trump, even if he threatens tariffs - including recently Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. On this episode of TrumpWorld Anushka Asthana and Ma
Trump accused of ‘COMPLETE CAPITULATION’ as Iran deal LEAKED
A leaked copy of Donald Trump’s deal with Iran appears to show the president facilitating a $300 billion fund for the Islamic Republic, but Trump has denied that the US will be putting even “10 cents” into the fund as he spoke to reporters at the G7 summit in Evian. Either way, he has faced a fierce backlash from hawkish Republicans, with Senator Lindsey Graham comparing the deal to a marshall pla
Iran crisis: can “SLEEPY TRUMP’ stop Netanyahu?
In the past week in Trump’s world, the US president stormed out of an NBC interview, appeared to have been caught napping at the New York Knicks game and in the Middle East, Israel and Iran exchanged missiles in a move that further threatened the fragile ceasefire. President Trump has tried to assert a sense of control over events in the Middle East, telling reporters that he “calls the shots” and
Has Netanyahu Trump relationship hit ‘ROCK BOTTOM’ after ‘EXPLOSIVE’ call?
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu had a very tense and fraught conversation on the phone - that much is clear, but did the US president really tell the Israeli prime minister that nobody likes him or his country and call him ‘f***ing crazy’ as Axios reported?On this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana explore the fallout from this explosive call and ask what it means for the war
Trump’s Iran GAMBLE - can the US strike Iran and still make a deal?
Tensions between the United States and Iran have entered an unstable holding pattern, with fresh American strikes on Iranian missile sites and patrol boats near the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran reportedly shooting down a US drone, fuelling renewed uncertainty across the region.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Lindsey Hilsum examine the latest escalation, from President Trump’s sh
‘If Trump wins mid-terms, IT’S GAME OVER’ - top democrat says democracy at stake
Donald Trump’s approval ratings have hit a new low amid anger over the Iran war and soaring gas prices - raising fresh fears for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.In this episode of TrumpWorld Anushka Asthana speaks to former US congressman Beto O'Rourke, who also ran to be the Democratic nominee for president in 2020 and he warns that the mid-terms “will decide the future of the coun
Trump heads to China after ‘JAW DROPPING’ remarks about Americans’ finances
Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for the first US presidential visit to China in nearly a decade - but it’s his comments on Iran that are dominating headlines.Asked whether Americans’ financial struggles were influencing his negotiations with Iran, Trump gave a strikingly blunt answer: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.” The comments have sparked f
Iran war: is Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ DOOMED?
The first ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz as part of Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom”, a US-led operation to escort commercial ships after Iran’s blockade disrupted global oil supplies and stranded hundreds of vessels. Tehran has warned it will treat any unauthorised military presence in the strait as a hostile act, and America says there has been some ‘low level kinetic’ activity i
Who really has a special relationship with Trump - Israel or the UK?
Another assassination attempt on Donald Trump, relations between the president and Keir Starmer have hit rock bottom and the spectre of Jeffrey Epstein hanging over the White House and Buckingham Palace. King Charles III’s state visit to America is happening at one of the most turbulent periods to hit the so-called “special relationship”, and now the leaked footage obtained by the Financial Times
White House says ‘3-5 day limit’ on Trump Iran ceasefire - what next?
Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but only for around 3-5 days the White House told Fox News. At the same time, Trump has maintained the naval blockade while unleashing fresh threats against Iran, as Tehran signals it will not back down.So, is there any hope for the peace negotiations? Or are we on the brink of a fresh round of military action? On this epi
Pope, China, blockade: has Trump lost the plot?
Donald Trump says his war with Iran is “close to over” and there’s reports of more peace talks coming soon, but this isn’t the first time the US president has said an end to the war is imminent - so what’s actually going on? This comes off the back of a week where the president has picked a fight with the Pope, he then went on the attack against Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for cancelling
US-Iran ceasefire: what we don’t know
It’s the morning after the night before - when - just 90 minutes before his deadline for Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz or “a whole civilisation will be destroyed”, President Trump announced a two week ceasefire.Iran has signed on and both sides have claimed victory.In this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei discusses what we don’t know about the ceasefire and the control of the Strait of Horm
Is the Iran war about to end?
Donald Trump says the United States could be “out of Iran pretty quickly”, with the option of returning for “spot hits”, even as he escalates his criticism of Nato allies and questions America’s future in the alliance. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is amplifying that message despite having backed legal safeguards preventing a US exit from Nato only two years earlier.In this episode of Trump
Trump reveals 15-point peace plan but Iran says US ‘negotiating with itself’
As Israel and Iran exchange fresh attacks, President Donald Trump says a 15-point peace plan has been sent to Tehran via Pakistan and claims negotiations are underway. Iran publicly rejected Trump's proposal and said the US is negotiating with itself, but did respond with demands of its own.In this episode of TrumpWorld Matt Frei, in Jerusalem, and Anushka Asthana, in Washington, try to make s
Israel strike Iranian gas field - is Trump locked into an escalating war?
In week three of the Iran war, Donald Trump faces the consequences of a campaign he believed he could control. As Israel strikes the South Pars gas field and Tehran vows retaliation across the Gulf, the regional balance is shifting in real time. With turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, a spiraling energy shock, and a widening conflict stretching into Lebanon, TrumpWorld asks one central question: Wha
Trump’s Iran war: “pretty much” over, or just beginning?
The Trump administration is sending a blizzard of mixed messages about the war in Iran; yesterday Trump insisted it was “pretty much” over - today U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that today would be the “most intense day of strikes inside Iran.”Behind the scenes, global markets are jolting, oil prices are surging and the White House appears to be scrambling to contain the political and ec
Who’s really behind Trump’s Iran war - and how does it end?
As the war between Iran, Israel and the United States enters its fifth day, Donald Trump is facing mounting pressure as his MAGA base tears itself apart over his decision to launch another conflict in the Middle East despite his promises to end America’s “forever wars”. Trump has now hit out at influential MAGA voices like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly after they condemned the war and suggested I
What Trump got wrong in the State of the Union
Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in American history, a two hour speech packed with dramatic claims, partisan attacks and a full political show of force. With approval ratings falling and Republicans increasingly anxious about the midterms, Trump used the moment to sell an economic turnaround and portray a country “winning again,” even as many of his assertions straine
The real cost of Trump’s Cuban crisis
Cuba is in crisis. As severe fuel shortages disrupt daily life across the island, US President Donald Trump has declared Cuba is "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security. The US president has cutting off the flow of Venezuelan oil to the island and threated to slap tariffs on any nation supplying Cuba with fuel.With no diesel to power collection trucks, rubbish is pi
Inside Epstein’s world - what the spycams and unredacted files reveal
The latest release of the Epstein files has triggered political and cultural shockwaves on both sides of the Atlantic. Millions of documents, new surveillance footage verified by Channel 4 News, and a growing list of players including some of the world’s most powerful people have raised urgent questions about influence, accountability, and why so many continued to orbit Jeffrey Epstein long after
Trump’s second term ‘is going to get much worse’ - Democrats eye 2026 comeback
It’s been a bruising week in TrumpWorld. Donald Trump is battling a fresh wave of Epstein headlines, walking back his ICE crackdown, and softening once-hard threats on Greenland and tariffs. Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis is still squeezing Americans, and unease is growing among his base: is this still ‘America First’ or is it becoming ‘America Fights’, as US military power looms over Iran?I
Trump backing down following Minneapolis killings?
Minneapolis has become the centre of a crisis that is reshaping American politics. After the killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse described by friends as gentle and decent, the Trump administration has been forced into an unexpected shift.The video of his final moments has ignited protests across the city, unnerved Republican lawmakers facing the midterms, and exposed the scale of ICE’s new power
Davos showdown: How Trump triggered the worst transatlantic crisis in generations
Was Greenland ever just a punchline? Is Donald Trump now reshaping the Western alliance itself, one shock move at a time? He’s finally ruled out taking Greenland by force - but he wants to own it - and won’t take no for an answer. What happens if Europe refuses to bend? And is the damage already done to the transatlantic order as we know it? From an unprecedented showdown at Davos to record-breaki
Could Trump take out the Ayatollah?
Could Donald Trump order a strike that eliminates Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? With tensions between Washington and Tehran escalating and protests sweeping Iran, with thousands now killed, the idea of dramatic military action has moved from the fringes into serious debate.To help unpack the legal, strategic, and real-world implications of this scenario, we’re joined by Robert Mal
Trump vs the world: Venezuela, Greenland and NATO
Was Venezuela just the beginning? Is Donald Trump reshaping the global order, one country at a time? What happens to NATO if Greenland is next? And what would that mean in Ukraine? With the UK and France now promising boots on the ground if there’s a ceasefire, would the United States come to their defence if needed?From Nicolás Maduro in a beige jumpsuit to threats against NATO allies, Matt Frei
The 12 ‘beefs’ of Christmas: Trump’s 2025 enemies, from Europe to MAGA
In a year where President Donald Trump arguably made more enemies than friends, we look back at who ended up on his naughty list, with Trump’s 12 “beefs” of Christmas. From escalating wars with MAGA over the Epstein files, to clashes with Europe over tariffs, Venezuela, migrants, the media, universities, and Elon Musk.Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana are together in London to look back at a turbulent
Epstein, MAGA feuds and the economy: What’s hurting Trump most?
Has Donald Trump finally hit his peak? With fractures inside MAGA, an increasingly hostile rhetoric towards Europe, a new security strategy that has unsettled America’s closest allies and a new affordability crisis gripping the US - he may have done just that.This week on TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei take you inside a White House facing pressure both at home and abroad. Trump’s critic
Why is Trump halting immigration applications from 19 countries?
President Donald Trump has intensified his anti-immigration stance, pausing all immigration applications from 19 countries. On Tuesday he singled out Somali communities in remarks that have drawn widespread criticism from across the world.In this podcast, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei break down what he said, why his crackdown on immigration has escalated over recent days, and why this rhetoric is
Could the Witkoff leaks upend Trump's Ukraine Russia peace deal?
After three years of war, could a Ukraine peace plan really be within reach? In this episode of TrumpWorld, we break down President Trump’s controversial 28-point peace proposal and the shockwaves it’s sending through Kyiv, Europe and Moscow. We look closely at the security guarantees being floated, but at what cost for Ukraine? And will the new revelations from Witkoff’s Ukraine leaks jeopardise
Is Trump starting a war with Venezuela?
Is Donald Trump preparing to take the U.S. to war with Venezuela? What is his gunboat diplomacy really aiming to accomplish and what could it mean for Maduro’s presidency? And as tensions hit a boiling point, a few days ago, America’s largest aircraft carrier was ominously sent to the region.In today’s episode, Matt Frei speaks with America’s former U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela, Ellio
Trump and Epstein: what do the new emails tell us?
A new tranche of Epstein emails have been released, exposing more details about one of the most notorious scandals in modern politics - and putting fresh pressure on Donald Trump. All this in the week that Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion for ‘defamatory’ statements, plunging the BBC into an existential crisis. On this week’s episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka As
Does Zohran Mamdani’s victory spell trouble for Trump?
Zohran Mamdani has just been elected the Mayor of New York in a victory hailed as a political earthquake. But what does the socialist democrat’s win mean for Donald Trump, and why does it matter so much to him?In this episode of TrumpWorld, Matt Frei and Anushka Asthana unpack the implications of Mamdani’s triumph with Dr. Christina Greer, political scientist and proud New Yorker.
Why Trump-Xi summit could escalate their trade war
As Donald Trump continues his Asia tour, all eyes are on his upcoming meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday - amid a fierce trade war and fraught geopolitical backdrop.In this week’s episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei break down what we can expect from this meeting and what’s at stake; from trade deals to tech tensions
Is Trump a peacemaker overseas but authoritarian at home?
Donald Trump claims to be the President of Peace. But at home, he faces accusations of authoritarianism as protests sweep the country and the National Guard hits Portland.From Gaza to Ukraine, and from Portland to Chicago, his foreign and domestic agendas are on a knife edge.So, is Trump really the peacemaker he claims to be - or an authoritarian tightening his grip? Can America’s democracy withst
What are Trump's plans for Gaza?
The fragility of Trump’s Gaza peace plan is already on full display. Israel has halved aid deliveries to Gaza, accusing Hamas of breaking the ceasefire agreement by refusing to return the bodies of hostages. Now, as President Trump announces the launch of Phase Two of the deal, big questions remain: what does this next phase involve and is the ceasefire already at risk?In this week’s episode of Tr
Will Trump make peace in Gaza?
On the two-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, a new push for peace in Gaza is gaining momentum and this time it’s being driven directly by President Trump. His personal involvement marks a major shift from previous negotiations, raising hopes and deep scepticism in equal measure.In this week’s episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana speaks with our Foreign Correspondent Secunder Kerma
How the US government shutdown could change America forever
Why is the government shutdown different this time and could Donald Trump use it to expand his power? And what exactly is Trump's peace plan for Gaza and will it work?On this week's episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka Asthana and Matt Frei sit down with acclaimed historian Jill Lepore to discuss her new book, We the People. They explore how today’s political chaos echoes moments from America's past and
Why Trump is turning further against Putin on Ukraine
President Donald Trump's combative 57-minute address at the United Nation on Tuesday took direct aim at global leaders - criticising their approach to migration, climate policy, and failure to end wars. He's also since taken to Truth Social to say Ukraine could get back all the land they have lost since Russia's 2022 invasion. But beyond the applause and outrage, what was he really say
Trump state visit to UK: Why is he getting the royal treatment?
This week, President Trump returns to the UK for an unprecedented second state visit. He’ll meet with King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but what’s behind this unusually grand reception? And what could it mean for US–UK relations in the days ahead?In this week’s episode of TrumpWorld, Anushka and Matt are joined by Chuck Todd - renowned American journalist and former host of NBC’s Meet
Is Trump being played by Putin and Netanyahu?
With Russian drones entering NATO airspace over Poland and Israel’s surprise strike on Qatar, all eyes are now on the US for a response - and Donald Trump is at the centre of yet another storm. Is America’s closest Gulf ally slipping away? Are NATO and the EU on the brink of escalation? And can Trump’s reliance on personal relationships still hold when allies and adversaries are testing his limits
TrumpWorld - a new podcast from Channel 4 News
Buckle up for TrumpWorld, the new Channel 4 News podcast that takes you inside the chaos, drama and consequences of Donald Trump’s America. Whether you’re thrilled or terrified on the ‘America First’ rollercoaster, one thing’s clear: the ride doesn’t stop at the US border. Each week, Global Anchor Matt Frei and US Editor Anushka Asthana are joined by a special guest to cut through the noise of Whi
