News Code

Episode 8 - India and Pakistan edge towards a nuclear abyss

Journalist Gavin O’Toole delves into the deadly April 22 attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists and reignited dangerously high tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan.
With accusations, missile tests, treaty suspensions, and military alerts escalating by the day, could the world be witnessing the countdown to another Indo-Pakistan war—and could it turn nuclear?
Gavin unpacks the history, the players, the political stakes, and the terrifying scenarios with clarity and urgency. This is essential listening for anyone trying to understand one of the most volatile flashpoints on the planet.

Episode 7 - Trump muddies the waters in the Panama Canal

 
Is the Panama Canal the next flashpoint in great power politics? In this gripping episode, journalist Gavin O’Toole dives into the murky waters of U.S. military deployments, Trump-era geopolitics, and China’s growing influence in Latin America. As accusations of a “camouflaged invasion” rock Panama, we explore the facts behind Trump’s provocative claims, the strategic tug-of-war over one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, and the real motivations behind U.S. pressure. With historical context, political insight, and a sharp eye on global power plays, this episode untangles the complicated web of sovereignty, strategy, and superpower rivalry at the heart of the canal controversy. Tune in to find out what's really going on beneath the surface.
 
 
 

Episode 6 - Is the endgame in Ukraine’s war getting closer?

In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, igniting a brutal war that has devastated both countries and shaken global politics. Three years later, with hundreds of thousands of casualties, staggering economic losses, and geopolitical fault lines deepening, is there finally light at the end of the tunnel?
In this episode, journalist Gavin O’Toole—a seasoned observer of international relations—dives deep into the recent developments in US-Ukraine-Russia diplomacy, including the much-hyped but ambiguous Saudi ceasefire agreement. What did the Riyadh talks really achieve? Who stands to benefit, and who is being played?
We unpack Trump’s surprising pivot on Ukraine, his administration’s controversial overtures to Moscow, and why many experts believe this so-called peace process is more theatre than substance. Is Washington selling out Kyiv? Has Russia simply used the appearance of diplomacy to regroup? And what does China have to do with all of this?
Gavin critically examines what Russia truly wants—territorial control, NATO rollback, and global power rebalancing—and how the US, under Trump, may be enabling that ambition under the guise of ending the war. With Ukraine’s future hanging in the balance and European leaders increasingly anxious, this episode raises the uncomfortable question: has Russia outmanoeuvred the West?
This is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand the deeper forces at play in one of the 21st century’s most defining conflicts.
Subscribe now and stay informed as we continue to track the war, the politics, and the power plays behind the headlines.
 

Episode 5 - Bolsonaro, the Trump of Brazil

Jair Messias Bolsonaro was President of Brazil from 2019 to 2023 but is now facing trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Government of his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, following his defeat in the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro is described as a far-right populist and the uprising had many similarities to the one that happened in the US following Trump's defeat in January 2021.  Trump himself is a supporter of Bolsonaro. 
In this fascinating overview of the situation, journalist Gavin O'Toole explains what's happening in Brazil and why it matters to the rest of the world.

Episode 4 - A New Era for Germany

In this podcast journalist Gavin O'Toole looks at Germany, which has long been the engine driving the European economy but in recent years has begun to stall.
The country’s newly elected Bundestag, or parliament, convenes for the first time on 25th March 2025 confronting greater challenges than ever before.
A stagnant economy in need of dramatic structural reform, a rising political threat from the populist far right, and a new geopolitical order that demands Germans think the unthinkable about rearming have created unprecedented trials for the incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz.
What does the new order mean for Germany, how should it adapt, and what are the implications for the rest of us?

Episode 3 - Is Trump a Dictator in Waiting?

Gavin O'Toole looks at the extent to which Trump is testing the limits of America’s democracy or indeed damaging it.

Episode 2 - Trump's Foreign Policy - Designed or Deranged

In this podcast we look at Donald Trump’s foreign policy, which is already ruffling feathers globally
There’s been a lot of attention given to Trump’s first actions since re-entering the White House—and a lot of analysis. Most of that analysis has sought to tease out the main strands of his policy in real time on countries and regions like—Gaza, Ukraine, the Americas etc.
Here we look at how the US, under Trump, seeks to fit itself into international relations in a more strategic sense.
Doing so may offer us pointers for Trump’s broad direction of travel.  It can help us answer the question on everyone’s minds: what is Trump trying to achieve? Is his policy designed or deranged?

Episode 1 - Trump's Tariff Tantrum

Tune in to this new podcast, News Code, featuring author, journalist, and South American politics expert, Gavin O’Toole and communications specialist and founder of Onyx Comms, Anne Cantelo.
In this debut episode, Dr. O'Toole dives into the far-reaching consequences of Trump’s controversial tariff policies, exploring their global impact and what it means for international relations.
Dr O’Toole brings a wealth of expertise to the table with a background teaching Latin American politics at the University of London and years of experience working at leading UK newspapers. His knowledge of global affairs gives him a unique insight on international news.
As a communications consultancy, Onyx has built a reputation for delivering insightful reports and bestselling business books on major issues. News Code marks their exciting first foray into the podcast world, offering listeners sharp analysis and engaging discussions on today’s most pressing topics.