Join us on Insight

Meet our experts each week during Insight, our live briefing on current affairs and an inside look to the places we travel.

Is Donald Trump about to lose Congress? Just two years after his return to the White House, the midterms could become a transformative moment in his presidency. Democrats have surged in the polls and now threaten Republican control of both the House and Senate.Polling analyst Dante Chinni joins us to look beyond the headlines: where is support for Trump falling away, which voters are shifting, and could November’s vote fundamentally change the balance of power in Washington?Dante Chinni is an experienced journalist who’s worked at the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and NBC News and currently heads the American Communities Project at Michigan State University, which examines how demographic data and demographic differences can affect politics, community economics and culture.Join us on tour - www.politicaltours.com2027South Africa: Mandela’s Legacy Feb, Thurs 18 – Sun 28 Changing Japan March, Sat 20 – Sun 28 French Elections April, Mon 12 – Mon 19 Transnistria & Moldova: The Battle with Russia May, Sat 8 – Sat 15 Poland & Lithuania: NATO’s Frontline May, Sat 29 – Sun 6, June Modern Uganda June, Fri 4 – Sun 13 United Ireland Sept, Sat 4 – Sat 11 A Divided Cyprus Sept, Sat 25 – Sat 2, Oct Argentine Presidential Elections Oct, Sat 16 – Tues 26 Taiwan: In China’s Shadow Nov, Sat 13 – Sun 212028Iowa Caucuses TBD January
US Midterms with Dante Chinni

GET INSIGHT IN YOUR INBOX

Join our mailing list to be the first to receive weekly invitations to Insight and speak live with our reporters.

Middle East

When the US decided to attack Iran, President Trump unwittingly began reshaping the Middle East. Six months on, it hasn’t been the easy win he expected. With objectives changing, the region is stuck somewhere between conflict and peace. Arab allies feel that, like the Europeans, they can no longer rely on the US for their security and are looking elsewhere. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have recently agreed a mutual defence pact. The UAE is being drawn closer to Israel. And Iran appears to feel emboldened. With Lebanon also suffering from Israel’s expansionism, where does this leave the Middle East?

Catch up on Insight

Is Donald Trump about to lose Congress? Just two years after his return to the White House, the midterms could become a transformative moment in his presidency. Democrats have surged in the polls and now threaten Republican control of both the House and Senate.Polling analyst Dante Chinni joins us to look beyond the headlines: where is support for Trump falling away, which voters are shifting, and could November’s vote fundamentally change the balance of power in Washington?Dante Chinni is an experienced journalist who’s worked at the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and NBC News and currently heads the American Communities Project at Michigan State University, which examines how demographic data and demographic differences can affect politics, community economics and culture.Join us on tour - www.politicaltours.com2027South Africa: Mandela’s Legacy Feb, Thurs 18 – Sun 28 Changing Japan March, Sat 20 – Sun 28 French Elections April, Mon 12 – Mon 19 Transnistria & Moldova: The Battle with Russia May, Sat 8 – Sat 15 Poland & Lithuania: NATO’s Frontline May, Sat 29 – Sun 6, June Modern Uganda June, Fri 4 – Sun 13 United Ireland Sept, Sat 4 – Sat 11 A Divided Cyprus Sept, Sat 25 – Sat 2, Oct Argentine Presidential Elections Oct, Sat 16 – Tues 26 Taiwan: In China’s Shadow Nov, Sat 13 – Sun 212028Iowa Caucuses TBD January
US Midterms with Dante Chinni
South Africa was once the engine of the African continent, but its economy is now sputtering, and recent unrest is exposing an uglier side of the country: xenophobia and populism. Has Mandela's dream of a rainbow nation failed? Journalist and filmmaker Mpho Lakaje and Rapport political editor Dawie Boonzaaier join us to assess where South Africa stands today and what hopes remain for its future.
Xenophobia and Populism in South Africa with Mpho Lakaje and Dawie Boonzaaier
When the US decided to attack Iran, President Trump unwittingly began reshaping the Middle East. Six months on, it hasn’t been the easy win he expected. With objectives changing, the region is stuck somewhere between conflict and peace. Arab allies feel that, like the Europeans, they can no longer rely on the US for their security and are looking elsewhere. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have recently agreed a mutual defence pact. The UAE is being drawn closer to Israel. And Iran appears to feel emboldened. With Lebanon also suffering from Israel’s expansionism, where does this leave the Middle East?
A Realignment of the Middle East? with Kim Ghattas
There is definitely a change in the air when it comes to the upcoming French elections. With Emmanuel Macron unable to run for another term, who will take up the mantle of the centre-right? The left appears to be in disarray and divided — will they be able to unite behind a single candidate? And what about the far right and Marine Le Pen? Has her recent court case dampened her popularity, or done the opposite? And how will the results shape the rest of Europe?Join us on tour - www.politicaltours.com2026Mexico: Democracy, the Cartels & Trump Sept, Fri 25 – Sun 4, Oct US Midterms Oct, Wed 28 – Wed 4, Nov2027South Africa: Mandela’s Legacy Feb, Thurs 18 – Sun 28 Changing Japan March, Sat 20 – Sun 28 French Elections April, Mon 12 – Mon 19 Transnistria & Moldova: The Battle with Russia May, Sat 8 – Sat 15 Poland & Lithuania: NATO’s Frontline May, Sat 29 – Sun 6, June Modern Uganda June, Fri 4 – Sun 13 United Ireland Sept, Sat 4 – Sat 11 A Divided Cyprus Sept, Sat 25 – Sat 2, Oct Argentine Presidential Elections Oct, Sat 16 – Tues 26 Taiwan: In China’s Shadow Nov, Sat 13 – Sun 212028Iowa Caucuses TBD January
Could Le Pen win the French Presidency?With Catherine Guilyardi
The stakes could hardly be higher for the upcoming Midterm Elections: control of the House, the Senate, and more than thirty governorships all hang in the balance, along with the fate of judicial and cabinet confirmations for the remainder of the president's term. Beyond the numbers, this cycle carries added weight—from disputes over federal involvement in state-run elections to debates over voter ID and registration rules that could reshape how future elections are run. To help us make sense of it all, we're joined by our Washington expert, Malcolm Brown, who will walk us through what's really on the line, their global ramifications, and what to watch for as results come in.Join us on tour - www.politicaltours.com2026Mexico: Democracy, the Cartels & Trump Fri 25 September – Sun 4 OctoberUS Midterms Wed 28 October – Wed 4 November2027South Africa: Mandela’s Legacy Thurs 18 – Sun 28 FebruaryJapan Sat 20 – Sun 28 MarchFrench Elections Mon 12 – Mon 19 AprilTransnistria & Moldova: The Battle with Russia Sat 8 – Sat 15 MayLithuania & Poland: NATO’s Eastern Flank Sat 29 May – Sun 6 JuneModern Uganda Fri 4 – Sun 13 JuneA Divided Cyprus Sat 25 September – Sat 2 OctoberArgentine Elections Sun 17 – Tues 26 OctoberTaiwan: In China’s Shadow Sat 13 – Sun 21 November
US Midterms with Malcolm Brown
Silk Mirage and Uzbekistan with Joanna LillisJoanna Lillis's recent book "Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan" explores the hopes for change that followed the death of long-time ruler and autocrat Islam Karimov and the rise of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Early reforms raised hope for a more open and democratic system in the country famed for its Silk Road associations (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva etc) and the Aral Sea. While Uzbekistan has become more outward-looking, we explore if this truly is an era of more openness, leaving repression in the past.Join us on tour - www.politicaltours.com2026Mexico: Democracy, the Cartels & Trump Fri 25 September – Sun 4 OctoberUS Midterms Wed 28 October – Wed 4 November2027South Africa: Mandela’s Legacy Thurs 18 – Sun 28 FebruaryJapan Sat 20 – Sun 28 MarchFrench Elections Mon 12 – Mon 19 AprilTransnistria & Moldova: The Battle with Russia Sat 8 – Sat 15 MayLithuania & Poland: NATO’s Eastern Flank Sat 29 May – Sun 6 JuneModern Uganda Fri 4 – Sun 13 JuneA Divided Cyprus Sat 25 September – Sat 2 OctoberArgentine Elections Sun 17 – Tues 26 OctoberTaiwan: In China’s Shadow Sat 13 – Sun 21 November
Silk Mirage and Uzbekistan with Joanna Lillis
Subscribe

What to Expect

Unlike Anyone. Like our tours, the key thing you’ll get is access to people on the ground. We steer clear of armchair experts that populate most forums.

Advance Notice. We will send you the list of upcoming Insight briefings at the beginning of every month and a Zoom notifications the week off.

Join the Debate. During each briefing, we encourage you to ask the expert questions, so you can make up your own mind on the issues.