The Crisis Room is a new political podcast from Global featuring Amber Rudd, Mark Urban and Marc Polymeropoulos.
This new Global Original brings together first-hand experience from the front lines of government, intelligence, and international affairs.
Amber Rudd, a former UK Home Secretary, will be joined by journalist and author Mark Urban and ex-CIA field officer Marc Polymeropoulos. Together, they will examine how world leaders, intelligence agencies and military powers respond to modern crises including cyberwarfare, disinformation and global instability.
The podcast draws on the hosts’ direct experience. Amber Rudd oversaw MI5 and managed several major incidents during her time in government; Mark Urban is a commentator for The Sunday Times and was Diplomatic Editor for Newsnight and Marc Polymeropoulos is one of the CIA’s most decorated field officers.
Global says the show aims to provide insight into how decisions are made in times of international tension, and the role of personal dynamics between world leaders.
The weekly conversations will be around how power is wielded behind the scenes during major global events, with each episode drawing from historical moments and current affairs.
Mark Urban said: “I’m delighted to be hosting The Crisis Room alongside Amber and Marc, where we will decode a world in crisis, separating what matters from the white noise that surrounds it.
“Our aim every week will be to give listeners the inside track and open up what most countries prefer to keep secret.
“With interviews from spies who ran agents in al-Qaeda, to the ministers who’ve made the tough calls, special forces soldiers who freed hostages, or those who’ve commanded military operations, The Crisis Room will give listeners a chance to hear directly from the people who’ve lived these extraordinary moments in geopolitics and understand what really happens behind the headlines.”
Amber Rudd said: “As Home Secretary, I led the UK’s response to some of the biggest crises of recent years – from terror attacks to assassination attempts by Russian spies on British soil.
“At a time of global conflict and uncertainty, The Crisis Room will shed light on the world of diplomacy and geopolitics and give listeners an understanding of what it’s really like to be in the room where it happens.”
Marc Polymeropoulos said: “I worked for 26 years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving across the globe from Cairo to Baghdad, with stops in Damascus, Kabul, and Amman.
“I was a practitioner, on the ground, or as Teddy Roosevelt famously said, in the arena. “Send me.” That was our motto. Bad places were my happy places.
“In The Crisis Room, I’ll give you my unique perspective of world events – a view of what it was like in the field, far from the halls of Congress, Parliament, 10 Downing Street and the White House.
“My life was a constant education in psychology, a PHD even, as I dealt with agents in the field and terrorist groups like Al-Qa’ida and Hizballah-who bravely agreed to betray their own governments or groups and spy for the US government.
“Spotting, assessing, developing, recruiting, and then handling – or as my British colleagues like to say – “agent running” – was my forte’. I’m very excited to give you a window into this world, even a war story or two, with my new friends Mark and Amber. I hope you join us on this fantastic journey at The Crisis Room.”
Vicky Etchells, Director of Global Podcasts, added: “We are excited to launch The Crisis Room – a fantastic new addition to Global’s podcast line-up.
“From the team behind The News Agents, this new series brings together Mark, Amber, and Marc, who each offer a wealth of first-hand experience and insider knowledge. We can’t wait to welcome listeners into the world of global affairs and diplomacy. It promises to be a fascinating listen!”
The Crisis Room launches tomorrow, 29 May and will be available every Thursday on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.
