• Syria Calling: HTS and Their Fight for Control
    Dec 6 2024

    It’s chaos in Syria as the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seizes Aleppo, the commercial heart of the nation. With Hezbollah weakened, Russia distracted, and Turkey playing a complex game, we dissect the forces reshaping Syria's conflict. What role does the U.S. play, and how are Kurdish proxies responding? Tune in this week as we attempt to connect the dots!

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    Articles referenced this episode:

    https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/chinese-ship-suspected-of-deliberately-dragging-anchor-for-100-miles-to-cut-baltic-cables-395f65d1

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-reacts-to-hezbollah-truce-violations-france-said-accusing-israel-of-transgressions/

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/world/middleeast/israel-hezbollah-cease-fire-violations.html

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/03/south-korea-declares-emergency-martial-law-yoon-suk-yeol-north-korea-latest-updates?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&CMP=bsky_gu

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/3/georgia-protests-whats-behind-them-and-whats-next

    https://www.npr.org/2024/11/30/g-s1-36285/how-a-syrian-rebel-group-pulled-off-its-stunning-seizure-of-aleppo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0EZ_Itt-Ag

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    53 mins
  • Behind the Curtain of Conflict: Notes from Bob Woodward’s 'War'
    Nov 29 2024

    It’s Thanksgiving! The perfect time for us to dive into Bob Woodward’s latest book, WAR. Woodward takes us into the high-stakes world of geopolitics—from Putin’s saber-rattling and Ukraine’s tank diplomacy to Biden’s tense exchanges with Netanyahu. Along the way, we uncover chilling moments, surprising anecdotes (birds mistaken for drones!), and pivotal decisions that shaped global conflicts. Plus, a look at MBS’s burner phone collection and Merkel’s showdown with Putin’s Labrador. Join us for a feast of foreign policy insights with a side of juicy insider goss!

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    47 mins
  • Hackers for Hire: Inside China’s Cyber-Espionage Empire
    Nov 23 2024

    From Chinese cyber espionage to the groundbreaking Stuxnet worm, we are diving deep into the dark world of state-sponsored hacking. We unpack how China’s vast network of private contractors is reshaping global cyber warfare, explore the shocking leak that exposed their operations, and reveal the crafty techniques used to infiltrate systems worldwide. All that plus, we revisit Stuxnet—how the US and Israel’s digital weapon sabotaged Iran’s nuclear ambitions and forever changed the battlefield.

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    Articles referenced this episode:

    https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-missile-attack-sumy-5cd4f9fe2cee1ae8aed67d63c22b0703

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/world/middleeast/us-veto-gaza-ceasefire.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/16/world/americas/biden-xi-meeting.html?utm_source=WPR+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5564a88d8c-daily-review-nonsubs-111824&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6e36cc98fd-5564a88d8c-65239767&mc_cid=5564a88d8c

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12207833/Chinese-secret-police-Australian-Andrew-Phelan-grilled-cops-fake-email-threats.html

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    42 mins
  • The BRICS Stacked Against the West
    Nov 17 2024

    A COP29 recap, the Taliban looks to start fresh with Trump, and Saudi Arabia condemns Israel—but wait, there’s more! Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi shook the 2023 UNGA with bold proclamations of a “New World Order” and the West’s decline. How does a sanctions-stricken, tumultuous Iran fit into this vision? Join us as we unravel the growing alliance of anti-American powers—Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—their role in the Ukraine war, and BRICS’ push to topple Western dominance. What does it mean for global politics, and is there hope in the chaos? There’s only one way to find out!

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    Articles referenced this episode:

    https://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/11/11/cop29-bulletin-day-1-agenda-fight-and-brazils-new-target/?utm_source=dailybrief&utm_content=20241112&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyBrief2024Nov12&utm_term=DailyNewsBrief

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-12/taliban-eyes-trump-reset-with-9-billion-in-reserves-at-stake?embedded-checkout=true

    https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/middle-east/israel-genocide-gaza-saudi-mbs-palestine-b2645405.html

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    42 mins
  • Trump's America First vs NATO
    Nov 9 2024

    Trump’s re-election, North Korean soldiers distracted by porn, and shake-ups in Bibi’s cabinet—whew! Buckle up as we dive into Trump’s potential wrecking ball moves, from reigniting trade wars to putting NATO on the rocks. Could he really bail on NATO? And what would that mean for Europe’s defense? We’ll break it all down, dig into NATO’s backstory, and share some nervous laughs about the EU’s scramble for DIY security. The world order is up for grabs—let’s make sense of it together!

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    Articles referenced this episode:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/05/world/middleeast/netanyahu-fires-gallant.html

    https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-north-korea-troops-c8cf9599591e50caf1c48a98b6841fe4

    https://www.vox.com/2018/6/28/17513972/trump-nato-russia-putin-nafta

    https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/382679/trump-foreign-policy-america-first-tariffs-nato-alliance

    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/north-korean-soldiers-watching-porn-instead-of-fighting-in-ukraine-on-russia-behalf-surprising-impact-of-unfettered-internet-access/articleshow/115049192.cms?from=mdr

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    46 mins
  • Tbilisi, Georgia on My Mind: Protests, Politics, and Putin’s Influence
    Nov 2 2024

    We’re diving into election drama worldwide this week. In our news roundup, we discuss Japan’s election, Harris and Trump’s recent campaign rallies, and Israel’s most recent airstrike on Gaza. Our main story is all about the turbulent Georgian parliamentary election. Amid allegations of fraud, vote-rigging videos, and accusations of Russian influence, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party claims victory, sparking massive protests. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a former ally-turned-critic of Georgian Dream, calls the election results a "Russian special operation," and urges citizens to take to the streets. We explore the geopolitical impact, including Georgia’s EU aspirations and regional tensions, and discuss Russia's longstanding influence on this strategically critical nation.

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    Source Links:

    https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-russia-european-union-protests-f6667dd64b537bd2082bfc5396f4a955

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/26/world/asia/japan-election.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/29/world/israel-gaza-iran-lebanon

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1USuiDbeU

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    52 mins
  • Phishing for Missiles: North Korea’s Cyber Hustle
    Oct 25 2024

    This week, we’re exploring North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and how they’re funding its military ambitions. With reports of the DPRK sending 1,500 troops to aid Russia, alongside a lucrative weapons trade, we dig into how a heavily sanctioned nation has managed to keep its missile and nuclear programs afloat. The secret lies in the dark world of cryptocurrency theft and hacking, where North Korea has become a leading player. It all started in Hollywood with a little hack and a dream to destroy the 2014 film “The Interview.” And by “little hack,” we mean huge. We talk all about the Sony hack and explain how the DPRK has stolen billions through sophisticated crypto scams, from exploiting LinkedIn phishing schemes to hacking blockchain companies like Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity, to fund around 50% of its ballistic missile program. Tune in to find out how North Korea’s cyberattacks translate to military power and what it means for global security.

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    Article referenced this episode:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-north-koreas-hacker-army-stole-3-billion-in-crypto-funding-nuclear-program-d6fe8782

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    37 mins
  • Chip Crazy: The High Stakes Behind Taiwan’s Silicon Shield
    Oct 18 2024

    This week, we get into Taiwan’s origin story and explore why the tiny island is at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war between the U.S. and China. How did Taiwan go from its complicated beginnings to becoming the world’s microchip manufacturing capital? And what makes Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) such a valuable prize? We get into all that and more– the rise of TSMC, its pivotal role in the tech world, and the most important question of all: what would happen if TSMC fell into China's hands? China is making big moves on the world stage, challenging U.S. dominance, and the Strategic Ambiguity at play when it comes to Taiwan. Join us as we break down what’s at stake in the battle over Taiwan and the microchips!

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    56 mins