Zeteo, the US media organisation, is partnering with the Guardian for its first-ever London event, featuring award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief Mehdi Hasan in conversation with the Guardian's Arwa Mahdawi. The panel, titled 'The Assault on Freedom,' will explore the emerging global order, including the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, the state of international law after the assault on Gaza and the war against Iran, and the influence of tech oligarchs over elected leaders.
The event, which has already taken place on Monday 8 June 2026, was held at Union Chapel in London and streamed online. Attendees could join in person or via livestream, with tickets priced at £35 for in-person attendance and £15 for online access. A recording of the event was made available to ticket holders for two weeks after the live broadcast.
Hasan and Mahdawi discussed the global spread of Trumpism, with many political leaders adopting a nationalist, 'us-versus-them' approach that rejects international cooperation. They examined whether liberal democracy is ending, whether the US republic can survive, and how the West can uphold human rights while caught between Trump's America, Putin's Russia, and Xi's China.
The event also included a Q&A session where attendees could pose questions to the speakers. Union Chapel is wheelchair accessible, and companion tickets were available for those with access requirements. For more information on future events, interested parties are encouraged to sign up for the Guardian Live newsletter.
