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Trump slams big oil over skyrocketing profits amid Iran war
Donald Trump is taking aim at America’s biggest oil companies, accusing them of making ‘too much money’ as the Iran war drives energy prices higher.
Oil giants have reported astronomical profits for the last quarter, with the world’s big five oil giants making $48 billion in just three months.
Just months ago, Trump was happy that the Iran war was pushing up energy prices saying on X ‘when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money’.
But higher prices are now hitting American drivers at the pump, prompting the US President to change his tune.
Environmental groups are calling for a windfall tax on oil companies, arguing that the additional revenue could be returned to consumers.
With the Iran war continuing and fuel costs squeezing household budgets, rising gas prices could be a potential political issue for Trump and his Republican party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Vicky Pryce
Economist
Malcolm Grimston
Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London
Matthew Agarwala
Economist and Bennett Chair of Sustainable Finance
Tom Seng
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Energy Finance
Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
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63. Can anything stop right-wing AfD’s rise in Germany?
23:04||Season 1, Ep. 63The Alternative for Deutschland party has won an historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.The right-wing anti-migrant party took 43.8% of the vote to win its first state premiership and is in seeking support from other parties in order to govern.For months the AfD has also been riding high in national opinion polls as the country’s most popular party.Where does this leave the unpopular German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his centre-right CDU? Could this be the start of the AfD's path to ruling Germany?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Frank-Christian Hansel, Member of the Berlin parliament for the AFDAuthor, John KampfnerJavier Carbonell, Analyst at the European Policy CentreEd Turner, Co-director for the Centre for Europe at Aston UniversityFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld#AfD #GermanPolitics #SaxonyAnhalt #Europe #europeanpolitics
62. Is it over for Farage as police investigate Reform UK donations?
23:24||Season 1, Ep. 62The UK Metropolitan Police is carrying out a criminal investigation into allegations the Reform party broke electoral law by accepting foreign funding, following a Channel 4 news undercover report.Two of the party's top aides James Orr and Dan Jukes who were filmed in the report resigned over the scandal.Reform UK spokesperson said the party ‘denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation’.Support for the party has already started to slip, polling has dropped from over 30% in late 2025 to around 20% last month.Farage is still popular with his base and with fellow right-wing leaders in Europe, such as Jordan Bardella from France’s National Rally.As the police begin their investigation into this donation scandal, can Farage revive his party’s popularity?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Mark LittlewoodDirector of Popular ConservatismScarlett MccGwireFormer Labour AdvisorAdam BoultonBroadcaster and Political EditorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
61. Germany ramps up deterrence against Russia as tensions escalate
24:06||Season 1, Ep. 61Germany has blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport as tensions between the two countries escalate.The EU has vowed to increase pressure on Russia with new sanctions.Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is no evidence and claims the Leipzig incident was linked to Germany's political situation.As relations between the two countries nosedive, Germany is planning a $14 billion investment in a new generation of long-range missiles to deter future Russian threats.Internal documents reveal the project is now viewed as a critical defence priority for both Germany and NATO.As Germany strengthens Europe’s defences against Russia, could it trigger greater Russian aggression?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Natia SeskuriaHead of the Russia, Eurasia and Black Sea Security Programme at RUSIEdward KnudsenEconomic Security Analyst at RAND EuropePatrick BuryFormer NATO AnalystPaul KingFormer Editor of Nato ReviewFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
60. CAN and SHOULD Ukraine have elections?
23:54||Season 1, Ep. 60Ukraine's ousted defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has triggered a major political controversy by calling for presidential elections in a direct challenge to President Zelenskyy's leadership.Accusing Zelenskyy's government of corruption, Fedorov has broken a major wartime political taboo by calling for elections to be held while Ukraine is at war, saying democracy cannot be 'held hostage by Russia'.The term of Zelenskyy, who was elected back in 2019, technically ran out two years ago, but Ukraine's constitution currently postpones elections when the country is at war.While some protestors back Fedorov's calls for a vote, many are concerned that they could be exploited by Russia, not least Zelenskyy himself, who said that they would split the country and cause a 'tsunami'.Joining Enda Brady to discuss whether Ukraine should, or even can, have elections, are:Olesia HoriainovaDeputy Head of Ukrainian Security and Cooperation CentreMary DejevskyForeign Affairs Columnist at The IndependentPaul IngramDirector of the Global Stability NetworkFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
59. How seriously should the UK take Russia's threats?
23:56||Season 1, Ep. 59Russia has issued the UK with another warning after Britain announced it will provide Ukraine with blueprints for the Storm Shadow missile, allowing Kiev to explore domestic production of the long-range weapon.The plan was announced by UK’s new prime minister Andy Burnham during his first international visit. He was in Kiev for the country’s 35th Independence Day to show his support for Ukraine.The two countries also signed a defence deal for new military AI intelligence which will give the UK access to Ukraine’s battlefield data.Moscow has repeatedly condemned Britain’s support for Ukraine and its latest warning points to British drone factories as potential targets.How far will the Kremlin go with its threats?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Lara MarloweJournalistJohn ForemanUK’s Former Defence Attache to Moscow and KievMarko GasicInternational ConsultantFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
58. Who is the far-right general threatening to steal Meloni’s magic?
24:11||Season 1, Ep. 58Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has a new challenger threatening to split the right ahead of next year's election.The charismatic former army general Roberto Vannacci and his new far-right party National Future has been gaining support in Italy with a tough stance on immigration at its core.Vannacci separated from Matteo Salvini’s LEGA, part of the ruling coalition, earlier this year and National Future has since overtaken them in the polls.Could Vannacci get enough support to earn his place in the coalition and what is driving his growing popularity?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Cecilia SottilottaProfessor of Political Science at the University for Foreigners of PerugiaValerio BordonaroVice President of European Palermo Youth CentreFreddy GrayDeputy Editor of The SpectatorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld- 23:38||Season 1, Ep. 57Europe has endured a brutal summer of extreme heat, from destructive wildfires to record droughts that are damaging parts of the continent’s economy.River levels have fallen to historic lows, disrupting shipping on major trade routes including the Rhine and Danube.Crops are suffering, while extreme temperatures are beginning to reshape when and where tourists travel.So how much is climate change already costing Europe - and can the continent adapt to hotter and more disruptive summers?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Dr Margaret HarrisFormer World Health Organization SpokespersonSamantha BurgessDeputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change ServiceTom BurkeChairperson of Third Generation EnvironmentalismFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

55. Is Ukraine blowing up Russia’s economy?
23:50||Season 1, Ep. 55The Russia-Ukraine war is entering a new phase.While fierce fighting continues on the ground, Ukraine is deploying newly designed drones deeper inside Russian territory. This week, a refinery in Tatarstan was targeted, while Ukrainian drones destroyed a huge warehouse belonging to Russia’s equivalent of Amazon in Yekaterinburg, around 2,000 kilometres from Ukraine.Ukraine claims fresh successes, but it is also facing a growing shortage of missiles capable of intercepting Russia’s deadly ballistic weapons.As the war’s consequences are felt more directly by ordinary Russians, could growing anti-war sentiment begin to influence the course of the conflict?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Patrick BuryFormer Nato AnalystGilbert DoctorowRussian History AuthorSvitlana MorenetsWriter at The SpectatorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld
