Al Carns isn't your average Member of Parliament. After more than twenty years of decorated service in the Royal Marines, last year he became an MP, and days later, he became part of the government. Now the Armed Forces Minister, in this exclusive and extended interview, he opens up to The Crisis Room about what he learned from two decades of special operations and the strategic challenges facing the UK in 2025.

Plus, as more and more former top brass speak out over prosecutions of Northern Ireland veterans, the team press Al on whether the government is doing enough to protect our former soldiers from "lawfare" and unfair legacy prosecutions.

He also speaks candidly about the idea of bringing back national service and the urgency of increasing defence spending as the threat from Russia refuses to go away.

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With Russia and the US reportedly coming up with a 28 point plan to bring an end to the War in Ukraine, The Crisis Room team dissects whether this plan has any chance of leading to a just and lasting peace - or if, in reality, it's simply a surrender.

The team reveals how backchannel negotiations work: why intelligence bosses can sometimes be more effective negotiators than diplomats, and why this so-called peace plan fails on several crucial fronts.

Later, Amber and Marc P recall their dealings with Saudi Arabia as the team analyses the Crown Prince's controversial visit to the White House. Should Mohammed Bin Salman be treated as an invaluable ally to the West, or a pariah after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi? They explain why the equation for Western governments and world leaders isn't quite that straightforward.

Plus Mark tells us what defines a "spy ship" - and whether we should be worried by reports that a Russian spy ship has returned to British waters.

After a week where the BBC has dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Mark draws on his 35 years of working for the Corporation to assess what's gone wrong - and whether this latest scandal will damage its brand for good. He also gives his verdict on whether the BBC is to blame for the mess it finds itself in, and assesses how much merit there is to the theory that Director General Tim Davie was the victim of a right-wing coup.

Amber reveals the discussions she was party to in government about the BBC and its global soft power - and explains whether this episode will affect the broadcaster's chances of having its Charter renewed in 2027. Plus, Marc relays the impact this story has had in the US - and the team discuss whether this row could even impact Prime Minister Keir Starmer's carefully curated relationship with a furious President Trump.

Later, Amber, Mark, and Marc explain why Britain and France have paused intelligence sharing with the US over the controversial strikes on narco-boats in the Caribbean, and give you a heads up about an exclusive interview coming on The Crisis Room feed next week.

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In this Q&A episode, Marc P opens up to Mark and Amber for the first time about his experience with Havana Syndrome - a serious health issue also known as Anomalous Health Incidents. He reveals why his experience in a Moscow hotel room ultimately led to a premature end to his CIA career - and explains why he believes that a major US government cover-up on Havana Syndrome will soon be brought to light.

The team are also asked about whether Europe needs to become less reliant on intelligence-sharing with the US, whether intelligence agencies are properly equipped to combat the threat of AI and election interference, and what can be done to stop the Houthis disrupting international shipping in the Red Sea.

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Weeks after Trump's triumphant trip to the Middle East to celebrate what he called a "historic" peace deal - his plan for long-term peace in Gaza is still yet to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2. So what's behind the delay in assembling an International Stabilisation Force? What are Arab nations saying about the idea of being a part of such a Force? And is the US still involved in negotiations, or has the issue already lost the President's attention?

In this episode, Mark reveals the details of a conversation he had this week with an Arab official close to negotiations over the Gaza Peace Plan - and explains why momentum appears to have stalled at the crucial moment.

Later, Marc P reveals that the newly elected Governor of Virginia is a close friend of his - as well as a former CIA intelligence officer. The team discuss why people still choose to go into politics - and Amber gives her verdict on whether it's worth the personal abuse that comes with the job.

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What does it say about the UK's police and the country more generally that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were banned from attending their match against Aston Villa? Amber and Mark break down why the authorities reached the wrong decision - and Marc P explains why the story has made news in America as part of this week's Q&A episode.

Amber also reveals how a massive emergency service response is co-ordinated at an incident like the Manchester Arena bombing, while Mark and Marc discuss whether it's time to give Russia a taste of their own medicine and deploy some grey-zone warfare against them.

Plus Marc P gives his view on whether Zohran Mamdani will win this week's Mayoral election in New York - and the team give their response to John Le Carré's view that the intelligence services are 'incompetent scavengers of the public purse'!

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It's been another week where Amber's old department, the Home Office, has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. So is breaking up the Home Office and creating a separate Department of Immigration the solution? Amber explains what will have gone on behind the scenes of government this week as the Hadush Kebatu saga has lurched from one crisis to another - and why dividing up the Home Office isn't the silver bullet that some are claiming it would be.

Later, the team break down Donald Trump's announcement that the US will restart its nuclear weapons testing programme - and whether this means we are entering a new kind of Cold War.

Plus, as season two of The Diplomat hits our screens, Amber, Mark and Marc P reveal which TV series offer the most accurate depictions of politics and diplomacy - and Mark does his Jacques Chirac impression.

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In the latest Q&A episode, the team tackle your questions on a variety of crises. Amber analyses what has been achieved through stripping Prince Andrew of his titles, while Marc P gives us an update on when we might finally see the Epstein Files published. Meanwhile, Amber and Mark discuss whether it's fair to say that Nigel Farage and Brexit are largely responsible for the small boats issue about which Farage and Reform UK are so unhappy.

Plus Mark explains the challenges facing journalists in a world where generative AI and misinformation are so prevalent, and Marc P tries to work out what is influencing Trump's attitude towards Putin and the war in Ukraine, as the US President veers from one position to another with every passing week.

Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it by email to thecrisisroom@global.com

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