TRIGGERnometry
Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster create honest conversations with fascinating people. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday. Become a Premium Member to receive exclusive benefits https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/ bumper-verify-97e4ee86
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Recent Episodes
Special Message from the Office of Approved Opinions Regarding the Ceuta Incident - Konstantin Kisin
Aug 03, 2026Summary Preview
This satirical piece delivers a sharp critique of European immigration policy and media narratives through a mock 'Office of Approved Opinions' fact-check about the Ceuta incident, where over 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish city from Morocco. Using dark humor and irony, it dissects official responses to mass immigration, highlighting contradictions in progressive talking points and government policies while mocking the tendency to dismiss legitimate concerns as misinformation.
- Introduction to the Ceuta Incident
- False Claim One: Border Breach Technicality
Critical Drinker: The Real Problem with the Odyssey
Aug 01, 2026Summary Preview
Critical Drinker returns to Trigonometry to dissect the current state of Hollywood, focusing on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, the shift away from identity politics, and whether cinema is truly recovering. The conversation explores why even technically competent films feel emotionally hollow, how streaming has changed the industry, and what happened to the dangerous, interesting actors who once dominated the screen.
- The Odyssey Controversy and Casting Backlash
- Hollywood's Woke Era is Over - But at What Cost
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Scott Tinker, a geologist and energy expert, provides a comprehensive and pragmatic analysis of global energy consumption, climate change, and the future of energy. He challenges common misconceptions about renewable energy, explains why the world still relies heavily on fossil fuels, and argues that energy abundance is essential for lifting people out of poverty and enabling environmental protection. Tinker emphasizes that wealthy nations can afford to invest in the environment, while energy poverty perpetuates environmental degradation in developing countries.
- Energy Density and the Myth of Renewable Energy
- Global Energy Consumption Patterns and Outsourced Emissions
"We Live in the Age of Delusions" - Peter Hitchens
Jul 25, 2026Summary Preview
Peter Hitchens delivers a stark assessment of Britain's trajectory, arguing the country is fundamentally finished and heading toward inevitable collapse. He traces the roots of decline to World War I, which bankrupted the nation and killed its best citizens, and identifies current crises in currency stability, government spending, cultural decay, and dangerous foreign policy ambitions. While acknowledging catastrophe might create conditions for recovery, Hitchens expresses profound pessimism about the political class's willingness to confront reality, noting his decades of warnings have gone unheeded as delusion and conformism dominate British society.
- Britain's Inevitable Collapse and the Currency Crisis
- The Destruction of British Capacity and Institutions
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A commentary on the polarized response to Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, examining how culture war politics have overshadowed substantive discussion of the film itself. The piece argues that while some casting choices reflect modern diversity trends, the movie succeeds as entertainment and shouldn't be viewed primarily through a political lens, delivering a solid exploration of timeless human themes.
- The Culture War Response to Nolan's Odyssey
- Evaluating the Casting Choices
What The Odyssey Is Actually About
Jul 22, 2026Summary Preview
Christopher Nolan's upcoming Odyssey film has sparked renewed interest in Homer's epic, which tells the story of Odysseus's 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. Despite being nearly 3,000 years old, the Odyssey remains profoundly relevant because it explores universal themes: the importance of family and place, the necessity of sacrifice in heroism, and the rejection of hollow glory in favor of meaningful human connection. The poem reveals that many modern distractions keep us from what truly matters - people and place - making it especially resonant in our current age.
- The Helen Casting Controversy and Greek Historical Context
- The Origins of the Trojan War: Eris, the Golden Apple, and FOMO
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Constantine and Francis discuss recent political developments including interviews with Alastair Campbell and Nigel Farage, England's performance in a football tournament, and the surprise transition from Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham as Prime Minister. They explore themes of intellectual honesty in political discourse, Britain's looming fiscal crisis, cultural risk aversion, and the challenges facing independent media amid proposed content regulation.
- The Challenge of Fair Political Discourse
- The Problem With Populism Discourse
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Nigel Farage SPEAKS OUT
Jul 18, 2026Summary Preview
Nigel Farage discusses the murder of Anne Widdecombe, calling his Clacton by-election, and the sustained political attacks on Reform UK. He addresses questions about a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, his relationship with Posh George, cryptocurrency advocacy, and why major parties refuse to contest his by-election. Farage warns of an impending fiscal crisis and expresses concern about societal breakdown, extremism, and the failure of Britain's education system to serve young people in urban areas.
- Anne Widdecombe's Murder and Political Violence
- The £5 Million Gift and Security Needs
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Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former director of communications, joins Trigonometry for an in-depth discussion on populism, immigration, wokeism, and the state of British politics. The conversation explores why populism has gained traction, with Campbell arguing it's a form of politics that exploits rather than solves problems. They debate the Labour Party's relationship with working-class voters, the impact of mass immigration, two-tier policing concerns, and whether progressive policies have alienated traditional Labour supporters. Campbell defends the Blair government's record while acknowledging mistakes, and offers his perspective on how democracies can push back against populist movements.
- Defining Populism and Its Rise
- Immigration Policy and Its Political Consequences
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Konstantin Kisin delivers a critique of modern political discourse and specifically challenges Gary Stevenson's economic arguments and credibility. He argues that social media has degraded public debate by allowing people to attack each other from a distance without human connection, and criticizes content creators who build audiences through character performance rather than expertise. The video focuses extensively on dismantling Gary Stevenson's economic credentials and wealth tax proposals, arguing that Britain's problems stem from overregulation and high taxes rather than insufficient taxation of the wealthy.
- The Death of Civil Political Discourse
- The Age of the Character in Political Media
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Harvard professor Arthur Brooks joins Trigonometry to discuss the science of happiness, breaking down its three components: enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. He explores why young people are struggling with depression and anxiety, the role of technology in our meaning crisis, the dangers of victim identity, and how romantic love represents an existential issue for our civilization. Brooks also introduces his 'What's My Idol' game to help people identify their hidden motivations—whether money, power, pleasure, or fame.
- The Three Components of Happiness
- The Difference Between Pleasure and Enjoyment
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James Holland, military historian and author, provides an in-depth analysis of Adolf Hitler's life journey from failed artist to Nazi dictator. The conversation explores the psychological, economic, and political factors that enabled Hitler's rise, the fatal flaws in Nazi Germany's military strategy, and the disturbing parallels between the conditions that led to World War II and challenges facing Western democracies today. Holland emphasizes how Hitler's ideology evolved through trauma, resentment, and opportunism, ultimately leading to catastrophic consequences for Germany and the world.
- Hitler's Early Life and World War I Experience
- Post-War Political Awakening and the Birth of Nazism
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Bill Browder, grandson of an American Communist leader, became Russia's largest foreign investor in the 1990s before being expelled by Putin. After his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was murdered in Russian custody for exposing a $230 million government fraud, Browder successfully lobbied for the Magnitsky Act, creating a new form of international sanctions against human rights abusers. This conversation explores Putin's transformation from technocrat to autocrat, his seizure of oligarch wealth, and why the Ukraine war represents his existential fight for survival.
- From Communist Grandson to Russian Capitalist
- The $2.5 Million Opportunity: Russia's Privatization Gold Rush
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Constantin Kisin challenges Britain's approach to climate policy, particularly the recent debate over air conditioning. He argues that while climate change is real, Britain's response is irrational and counterproductive. The country cannot meaningfully impact global temperatures with only 1% of emissions, yet is pursuing policies that undermine prosperity and prevent effective adaptation. Kisin advocates for a pragmatic approach focused on adaptation rather than futile prevention efforts that make the country poorer and less resilient.
- Historical Temperature Context: The Long View
- Britain's Insignificant Emissions: The Math Problem
The 100 Years' War with Historian Dan Jones
Jul 01, 2026Summary Preview
Dan Jones returns to discuss the Hundred Years' War, an epic conflict between England and France from 1337 to 1453. The conversation explores how Edward III transformed England from the chaos of Edward II's reign into a military powerhouse through stunning victories like Crécy and Poitiers. Jones explains the role of the longbow, the impact of Joan of Arc, and how personality-driven leadership shaped medieval politics. The discussion also ventures into modern parallels, examining how leadership, technology, and cultural memory affect both historical and contemporary political outcomes.
- Origins of the Hundred Years' War
- Edward III's Transformation of England
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Melanie Phillips discusses Britain's political turmoil following Keir Starmer's resignation, the deeper civilizational decline facing the West, and President Trump's handling of the war with Iran. She argues that Trump's shift toward negotiation represents a dangerous abandonment of what should be a generational fight against Iran's apocalyptic messianic regime, and that America is failing to recognize Israel as an essential military asset in defending Western civilization against Islamist aggression.
- Britain's Political Crisis and Starmer's Resignation
- The Rise of Populist Parties and Nigel Farage's Decline
The Truth About Depression - Dr Joanna Moncrieff
Jun 24, 2026Summary Preview
Dr. Joanna Moncrieff challenges the widespread belief that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, revealing how pharmaceutical companies promoted this unproven theory to sell antidepressants. With nearly one in five adults in England taking these medications, she argues that we've medicalized normal human responses to difficult circumstances, overlooking the lack of evidence for biological causes while ignoring potentially serious side effects and withdrawal problems. The conversation explores the commercial interests behind psychiatric drug promotion, the dangers of viewing depression as a fixed medical condition, and the importance of understanding what these drugs actually do to our brains.
- The Chemical Imbalance Theory: Debunking a Medical Myth
- The Scale of Antidepressant Use and What SSRIs Actually Do
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Dr. David Starkey returns to Trigonometry to discuss the current crisis in British politics and the fragmented state of the right. He argues that Britain faces a structural crisis comparable to the World Wars, caused by Blair-era constitutional reforms that replaced political governance with judicial and expert control. While the right is converging on policy around repealing these reforms, personal divisions between Conservative, Reform, and Restore parties threaten to hand victory to Labour. Starkey warns that without unity and clear articulation of what went wrong, Britain may not survive as a functioning state.
- The Structural Crisis Facing Britain
- The Paradox of Unity: Policy Convergence vs. Personal Division
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A comprehensive analysis of the Makerfield by-election results, where Andy Burnham won overwhelmingly against Reform UK. Journalists Dan Hodges and Julia Hartley-Brewer debate what this means for British politics, Reform's declining momentum, and whether Burnham can solve Britain's structural problems if he replaces Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
- Andy Burnham's Victory and the Personal Vote
- Reform's Disappointing Result and Strategic Problems
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This episode features Ed Husain providing an in-depth analysis of the Muslim Brotherhood, tracing its origins from 1920s Egypt through its global influence today. Husain explains how this movement has shaped modern Islamist ideology, influenced Western policy, and created tensions within Muslim communities. He distinguishes between mainstream Islam and the Brotherhood's radical interpretation, discusses its Nazi connections, and offers concrete policy recommendations for addressing extremism while preserving democratic values.
- Origins of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1920s Egypt
- The Islamic State Vision and Rejection by Most Muslims