The Latest Dark Crusade: Christian Zionism, the Israel Lobby, and the War on Iran

The Latest Dark Crusade: Christian Zionism, the Israel Lobby, and the War on Iran

Author: UK Column March 31, 2026 Duration: 1:04:09

Mike Robinson speaks with former senior professional staff member at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and author of Dark Crusade, Cliff Kiracofe, about the deep roots of Christian Zionism and its increasingly visible grip on American foreign policy.


Kiracofe traces the ideology back to its British origins in the 1820s (see Mike's earlier interview with Cliff for the background to this), when it was weaponised by Lord Palmerston to build public support for imperial Middle East policy. Two centuries on, he argues, the same playbook is running in Washington with Pete Hegseth, Paula White, Marco Rubio, and a network of Christian Zionist believers embedded at the heart of the Trump administration, alongside Jewish Zionist influence concentrated in the president's inner circle.


The conversation turns to the war on Iran: Trump bypassed normal National Security Council processes to override the advice of the Joint Chiefs and the Director of National Intelligence. Kiracofe also addresses the more than 100 lawsuits filed by US military personnel who object to religious coercion in the ranks, the resignation of National Counterterrorism Center head Joe Kent, and long-term prospects for political change with cautious hope placed in the 2028 elections and the rising generation of anti-Zionist candidates across party lines.


Cliff Kiracofe's updated edition of Dark Crusade: The Israel Lobby and Christian Zionism is available on Amazon, with a revised paperback due in May 2025.


► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings here: https://bit.ly/UKColumn_Live


► [UK Column Website] Explore all our written and video content on the official UK Column website: https://www.ukcolumn.org/


► [Support UK Column] Please donate to support our independent journalism & investigative journalism: https://support.ukcolumn.org/


► [UK Column YouTube] Please subscribe to the UK Column News YouTube channel for more alternative news and independent news: https://bit.ly/ukcolumnofficial


Follow #UKColumn on:

► X: https://x.com/ukcolumn

► Telegram: https://t.me/ukcolumn

► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKColumnExtracts

► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uk_column_news


Tune in to UK Column News, a daily podcast from the independent news organisation of the same name. This isn't a recap of headlines from the mainstream wire services. Instead, the team at UK Column digs into the stories and narratives shaping public perception, focusing on what they term the 'information war.' Each episode provides analysis you're unlikely to find elsewhere, examining the interplay between government policy, media reporting, and institutional influence. Because they operate without any corporate backing, advertising, or funding from political groups, their perspective is uniquely supported by their audience through memberships and donations. This independence is the core of the podcast, allowing for straightforward commentary free from external pressures. Listeners will hear detailed discussions on current events in the UK and beyond, often connecting dots between seemingly separate issues to present a broader picture of governance and societal change. The tone is analytical and deliberate, prioritising depth over soundbites. For those seeking an alternative to conventional news cycles and curious about the mechanics behind the stories that dominate the day, this podcast offers a consistent and critical voice. It’s for anyone who questions the prevailing narrative and wants news analysis that answers to its listeners, not to sponsors or shareholders.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

UK Column News
Podcast Episodes
Iran: A Different Perspective | UK Column Interviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:17
Iranian-born Lazar came to the UK in 1978 during the Iranian Revolution. Since then, he has only returned to his homeland once, and is part of a significant UK-based Iranian diaspora.Here, Lazar gives his personal perspe…
UK Column News — 20th April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:47
UK Column News — 20th April 2026► Subscribe to the UK Column YouTube channel ► https://bit.ly/ukcolumnofficialBrian Gerrish and Ben Rubin with today's UK Column News. ► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Fri…
Trump’s Blockade Bluff vs Iran & China | Silk and Steel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:43
In this special episode, Carl Zha returns after a long hiatus to discuss the seismic geopolitical shifts following the recent conflict in West Asia. The conversation covers three interconnected themes: the collapse of th…
UK Column News — 17th April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:24
Mike Robinson, Patrick Henningsen, and Basil Valentine present today's UK Column News.► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings here: https://bit.ly/UKColum…
Protecting Young Minds | UK Column Interviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:38
(Please be advised, this is an adult conversation describing graphic sexual practices being taught to young children in schools. Discretion is advised).Kim Isherwood is chair of the campaign group, Public Child Protectio…
Taiwan Opposition Leader meets Xi Jinping in China | Silk and Steel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:12
In this episode, host Carl Zha and guest Xiang Yu discuss the significance of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s historic mainland China visit (Nanjing → Shanghai → Beijing), the first KMT-CPC leadership meeting in a decade.…