The Duran
The Duran is Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou, a daily geopolitics show covering the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, Europe, and the global economy. Mercouris, a former barrister, handles the long-form strategic and legal analysis; Christoforou runs the faster political and market segments. They post several episodes a day, usually fifteen to forty minutes, from a vantage sharply critical of NATO and Western foreign policy.
Where they stand
A short read of where The Duran lands on each front we follow, drawn from their recent appearances and refreshed whenever they turn up in a debrief.
Iran
Current US talk of de-escalation is cover for an attack being prepared; return to war within weeks is inevitable
as of 2026-10-30
Ukraine & Russia
Russia is systematically knocking out the Dnieper bridges to cut Ukrainian forces off; Western casualty claims are overstated, with the body exchange ratio near 10 to 1
as of 2026-11-01
Israel
Netanyahu will hold on in the Israeli elections; Israeli officials have made unveiled nuclear threats toward Iran
as of 2026-10-30
East Asia
Chinese youth sentiment is radicalizing and China will eventually play a more active role in supporting Iran
as of 2026-10-30
American power
US priorities are shifting from Europe to the Middle East and South China Sea; Washington will not fight Russia in the Baltic; EU is a megalomaniac globalist project; Europe in for a hard stretch
as of 2026-10-30
The global economy
Britain is in a budget crisis with energy bills set to jump; Europe short of gas and diesel and heading into a tough winter
as of 2026-10-30
Recent appearances
Ukraine Supply Lines at Risk; Vivaldi Unravels; West Casualty Narrative Exposed
The Duran · 2026-11-01
2026-10-29 · The Duranwatch ↗
Lavrov in Tehran; Vance Reaches Out to Iran Hardliners; Strike After Midterms
2026-10-24 · The Duranwatch ↗
US Diplomats Exit Middle East; Trump Hints Iran Strikes; Russia Urges Restraint
Earlier appearances (47)
2026-10-18 · The Duranwatch ↗
Dobropillia Falls; Kramatorsk Cauldron Looms; Ukraine Out of Air Defense
2026-10-05 · The Duranwatch ↗
Russia Will Use "Full Force"; Kiev Bridge Panic as Merz Rushes to Zelensky
2026-10-03 · The Duranwatch ↗
Kiev Cut Off, Bridges Targeted; EU's Last Card, Seize $200B Russian Assets
2026-10-02 · The Duranwatch ↗
Putin's Dark Valdai Speech; Kaliningrad Warning; Khrushchev Playbook Returns
2026-09-28 · The Duranwatch ↗
The West sets a trap for Putin; Lavrov snubs Berlin; Europe eyes Russian assets
2026-09-21 · Glenn Diesenwatch ↗
Alex Christoforou on Glenn Diesen: Massive Attack on Moscow, EU Prepares for War
2026-09-20 · The Duranwatch ↗
MBS trapped; Europe's energy crisis; Saudi exports and the diesel squeeze
2026-09-12 · The Duranwatch ↗
Diesel crisis worsens as Houthis tighten grip on the Bab al-Mandeb strait
2026-09-02 · The Duranwatch ↗
Bond market warning: the US debt crisis is just starting (w/ Ray Zucaro)
2026-08-31 · The Duranwatch ↗
Russian strikes are breaking the Zelensky regime; energy war, Sumy, Dobropillya
2026-08-22 · The Duran
Frontline crisis · von der Leyen · Witkoff–Kushner · Moscow drone-swarm plan
2026-08-16 · The Duran
Energy / economic war · vassals · BRICS gamble · Japan/Kurils