Unspun World with John Simpson - Series 5 (2025)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.