Intrigue Outloud (International Intrigue)

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins to discuss the flurry of diplomatic activity across the Middle East.

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On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the resumption of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul campaign. Later, John examines the latest political drama in Thailand, and Ethan explores the weird world of Guantanamo Bay.

Thanks to our sponsor, Flaviar.

Hi folks, John here. Both Kristen and I are in the field talking to sources and trying to get close to the people in the rooms where decisions are made. We hear you about the audio quality - it's not the best it could be, but if you can bear with us, we'll back in our home studios soon. Until then, we hope you enjoy our timely, insightful and most importantly, free(!) content.

Who noticed the NATO summit even happened? The shadow Biden's future cast over the proceedings obscured the relatively important takeaways from the two day summit. And isn't that the problem? If the president's future is more important than the work he's elected to do, it feels a little like the tail is wagging the dog. John and Kristen discuss the implications of the US political drama and what it means.

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On today's Intrigue Outloud, Estonia's Ambassador to the US, Kristjan Prikk, joins to discuss why the War in Ukraine hits so close to home in Estonia, how to make Europe a more secure place, and how Estonia can help Ukraine rebuild after the war.

Kristjan Prikk has served as Estonia's Ambassador to the US since 2021. Prior to his posting in Washington, Prikk served for nearly three years as the Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense.

Thanks to our sponsor, Drizly.

On this episode of Intrigue Outloud, Haviv Rettig Gur and Gilad Kariv join Ethan Plotkin to discuss Israel's ongoing protests, how lawmakers are responding, and why time may not be on Israeli democracy's side.

Haviv Rettig Gur is the Senior Political Analyst at the Times of Israel.

Rabbi Gilad Kariv is a constitutional law expert and member of the Israeli Knesset from the Labor Party.

Anatomy of a self-sabotaging reform by Haviv.

Thanks to our sponsor, Power Corridor.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss Israel's ground operation in Gaza on Thursday morning, and to explain why Biden wants - but may struggle - to prevent a wider war.

Thanks to our sponsor, What Could Go Right.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss this week's NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Later, Ethan and John dive into two topics that have been on their minds: Saudi Arabia's oil output and a landmark revenue sharing deal between Botswana and a leading diamond company.

Thanks to our sponsor, Todoist.

On today's episode of Intrigue Outloud, Mark Zandi joins to discuss the debt ceiling: why it exists, why it's become such a political lightning rod, and what might happen if US lawmakers fail to raise it in coming weeks. Mark Zandi is the Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics, a regular contributor to The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and CNBC, and the host of the Inside Economics podcast. Debate over raising the debt ceiling is ‘simply crazy talk’ by Mark. Thanks to our sponsor, HubSpot.

Video Episode Here

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week we start with Ukraine's cabinet shakeup and what it means for the war, as well as Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reputation as a President whose power is now secured by martial law, rather than democratic elections.

We then review the latest victory by Germany's AfD party in their regional elections and what it says about the growing far-right presence across the EU. Next is the most recent quarrel in East Asia, where a Chinese plane has breached Japanese airspace for (depending on who you ask) the first time, and China continues to butt heads (ships) with the Philippines in the South China Sea. We wrap things up with a few notable travels by world leaders: Putin in Mongolia, Pope Francis in Indonesia, and Egypt's Sisi in Turkey, and finish with our Pardon the Interruption-inspired game "What's the Word?"

Chapters:

0:00-1:30 Intro

1:30-7:10 Ukraine's Cabinet Shakeup

7:10-16:10 AfD wins in Germany's elections

16:10-25:38 China Breaches Japan's Airspace and Clashes in SCS

32:10-37:06 What's the Word?

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

Can we get a weekend off? Only kidding but it has been a wild past two weekends between an assassination attempt and President Joe Biden, the presumed Democratic candidate, stepping aside. While Kristen was in Milwaukee for the RNC, Republicans united around Trump as foreign delegations tried to squeeze time in with potential 2.0 administration bigwigs. The uncertainty now lies in the Democrat camp where Vice President Kamala Harris looks to be an obvious frontrunner but isn't without her adversaries. John and Kristen discuss the implications of the US political drama and what it means.

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📧 Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins to discuss the storming of Sweden's embassy in Iraq. Later, Ethan explores a diplomatic drama between the UK, EU, and Argentina, and Helen recaps her recent visit to Taiwan.

Thanks to our sponsor, Masterworks.

This week, we dive into what court cases filed across numerous swing states could mean for voters perception of the election, its fairness and legitimacy of the results.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue senior editor Valentina Calvi joins to discuss a potential deal to constrain Iran's nuclear program, and what the trial of a publisher means for Guatemala.

Thanks to our sponsor, Babbel.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to reflect on two years since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss Samsung's eye-watering earnings report, and how Mozambique managed to stifle an insurgency and reopen a critical natural gas plant. Thanks to our sponsor, The Daily Upside.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the coup against Niger's democratically-elected president. Later, Ethan examines the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, and John gives his thoughts on the mysterious ouster of China's foreign minister.

Thanks to our sponsor, CookUnity.

Video Episode Here.

Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob!

This week John comes to you from the DNC in Chicago, where Kamala Harris is seeing a massive shift in nationwide polling against Trump. We break down her current standing in the swing states and discuss the role of the media momentum in these results. We then discuss the newest Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the collapse of this week's Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks (and a questionable Netanyahu/Trump call), India PM Modi's trip to Ukraine, and Elon Musk's decision to shut down X in Brazil.

Chapters:

0:00-1:37 Intro

1:37-9:00 Breaking Down Kamala's Polling Momentum

9:00-14:58 Greek Tanker on Fire in the Red Sea After Attack

14:58-20:00 Ceasefire Negotiations and the Secret Bibi/Trump Call

20:00-25:15 Modi's Trip to Kyiv 25:15-30:25 Elon Shuts Down X in Brazil

30:25-34:38 Over/Unders!

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the return of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and the potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure connecting Estonia and Finland.

Thanks to our sponsor, Drizly.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, and why French prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for the governor of Lebanon's central bank.

Thanks to our sponsor, One Decision.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins to discuss how Kenya could help Haiti through its security crisis. Later, Ethan discusses fighting between Palestinian factions in Lebanon, and Helen examines the Myanmar junta's mysterious partial pardon of former prime minister Aung San Suu Kyi.

Thanks to our sponsor, Flaviar.

On today’s Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue senior editor Valentina Calvi joins to discuss Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy ambitions, and to examine who might be responsible for the destruction of a dam in southern Ukraine.

Thanks to our sponsor, Roca News.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue's Head of Operations Aine Stapleton joins to discuss how policymakers are responding to the surge of migrants at the US' southern border, and how the subjects of King Charles around the world are reacting to his coronation. Thanks to our sponsor, Highland Titles (use code 'Intrigue' at checkout for 20% off!).

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue Managing Editor Jeremy Dicker (JD) joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss Mexico's booming car industry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Central Asia.

Thanks to our sponsor, Highland Titles (use discount code 'Intrigue' at checkout for 20% off!).

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the alleged assassination by India of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. Later, John gives an update on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Thanks to our sponsor, Nautilus.

On today's episode of Intrigue Outloud, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili joins to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape in Central Asia - Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan - and how the Russo-Ukraine War is redrawing old spheres of influence and empowering Central Asian countries to pursue their interests.

Professor Murtazashvili is the Founding Director of the Center for Governance and Markets and professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Central Asian countries now have two big worries about Russia by Professor Murtazashvili

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On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to examine the mysterious death of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin (and what it means for Wagner's future), and to explain why Zimbabwe's election last week matters.

Thanks to our sponsor, Incogni.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue senior editor Valentina Calvi joins to discuss a decades-long land dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Zambia's landmark debt restructuring deal.

Thanks to our sponsor, Hubspot.

This week, we discuss what putting Tim Walz on the Democrat ticket could mean for Harris's chances of winning in November, the governor's views on foreign policy, and his relationship with China dating back to 1989.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss China’s “Two Sessions” parliamentary meetings, and the stories of two political prisoners in Belarus and Cambodia.

Thanks to our sponsor, Roca News.

**Full video here.

Welcome to Intrigue Events!

The space for geopolitical discussion and exploration is often relegated to dusty rooms, with jargony conversations, and one too many uses of the word 'tripolarity.' At Intrigue Media, we're here to change that.

On July 24th, we hosted an event at the Australian Embassy in DC, "How Internet Culture Shapes Our World: Memes, Deep Fakes, and Virality," with some incredible guests in tech, social media, the private sector, and government.

Chapters:

0:00-0:46 Intro

0:46-1:30 Welcome

1:30-15:37 Remarks from Ambassador/Former Prime Minister Dr. Kevin Rudd

15:38-29:10 Digital Deception: Ginny Badanes, Democracy Forward ‪@Microsoft‬

29:14-41:31 Memes and Virality: Lacey Dickinson, Social Strategist at The Other 98%

41:31-56:05 : AI in Geopolitics: Helen Toner, former Open AI Board Member and Director of Strategy at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University

56:05-57:23 Closing Remarks

On today's special episode of Intrigue Outloud, we're sharing an episode from our sister podcast, Intrigue Explained, featuring Intrigue co-founder John Fowler and Dmitry Grozoubinski, a former diplomat and the founder of ExplainTrade.com.

Check out Intrigue Explained wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks to our sponsor, Flaviar.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss how Europe is tackling another migration crisis, and how the world's three largest countries are managing relations.

Thanks to our sponsor, Holi.

On today's Intrigue Outloud live from New York City, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan to recap the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

Proudly supported by The Economist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss political shake-ups in Pakistan and India. Later, Ethan examines the protests against Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and John takes a look at some new from the week ahead.

Help us improve Intrigue Outloud by taking our survey!

Thanks to our sponsor, Masterworks.

Video Episode Here.

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week we saw a massive shift of momentum in the Russia/Ukraine war, with Ukraine continuing their incursion into Kursk, launching drone attacks, and further tainting Putin's aura of invincibility. Listen for John and Jacob's takes on whether this forward push is sustainable and how the West is viewing it.

We also cover the resurgence of Monkeypox (Mpox) and the new declaration of a global health emergency by the WHO, the resignation of Japanese PM Kishida, and if we should be concerned about the recent hacks of both the Trump and Harris campaigns by apparent Iran-backed actors.

Our last and newest segment is Over/Under, where Jacob and John take turns posing the likelihood of future geopolitical events.

Chapters:

0:00-1:43 Intro

1:43-10:50 Ukraine's Incursion into Kursk

10:50-18:33 WHO Declares Global Health Emergency of Mpox

18:33-23:36 Japanese PM Kishida Steps Down Amid Scandal

23:36-29:00 Trump & Harris Campaigns Hacked – Election Interference?

29:00-31:22 Over/Unders!

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

This week, we dive into the impact that overseas voters could have on the election as RFK Jr. goes to bat over getting his name removed from state ballots. Plus, some on-the-ground reporting in Washington on what secretaries are doing to mitigate a potential cut to US diplomats pay.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to examine what the crisis in China's real estate market means for its economy, and to discuss the coup in Gabon.

Make sure to sign up for our special UNGA newsletter!

On today's episode, Victoire Ingabire and Anjan Sundaram join to discuss their first-hand experience facing political repression in Rwanda, why Western governments continue to support the current government, and what happens when the government's leader, Paul Kagame, leaves office.

Victoire Ingabire is a leader in Rwanda's pro-democracy movement who was imprisoned for eight years while running for president in 2010.

Anjan Sundaram is a journalist and author of Bad News: Last Journalists in a Dictatorship, whose op-ed entitled "He's a Brutal Dictator, and One of the West's Best Friends" was featured in the New York Times.

Thanks to our sponsor, Best Buy.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue senior editor Valentina Calvi joins to discuss Ecuador's unprecedented crime wave. Later, Ethan explains why Cambodia's prime minister picked his son to succeed him, and Val examines the massive wildfires in Greece.

Thanks to our sponsor, Drizly.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the meeting between Xi and Biden: how it happened, why it happened when it happened, and what it all means.

Thanks to our sponsor, Talk Eastern Europe.

**This episode originally aired July 15th, 2024 (Video Episode Here) .We'll be back next week!

--

Hi Everyone! Welcome to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

2024 has been the year of global elections, and this week brought huge changes. We saw the ousting of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Tory. Party by his replacement, Keir Starmer, and the Labour Party. Marie Le Pen's far right takeover in France's parliamentary elections flopped with the most gains from the left, Iran's new president Masoud Pezeshkian may be a sign of Iran becoming more West-friendly, Japan-Philippines have signed a defense treaty that indicates growing fears of China, and it all comes together in the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington DC.

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

Chapters:

0:00 How 2024's Elections are Shifting the Global Order

1:00 Labour takes UK's Elections 5:02 France's Far Right 9:23 Iran's New President

14:18 Japan-Philippines Defense Pact

18:54 Washington NATO Summit

26:43 Will Biden Drop Out of the Race?

On this episode of Intrigue Outloud, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the fallout from the attacks in Israel this weekend.

Thanks to our sponsor, Holi.

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Khaled Elgindy joins to discuss Palestinian politics, the legacy of Mahmoud Abbas, and who can take up the Palestinian cause on the "day after" Abbas leaves office.

Khaled is the director of the Program on Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs at the Middle East Institute and a former adviser to the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.

Thanks to our sponsor, Millennium Space Systems.

On today’s Intrigue Outloud, retired General Mick Ryan joins to discuss the technology driving the Russo-Ukraine War and his new book White Sun War, which explores how the computer age could shape a hypothetical future war between China, Taiwan, and the US.

Mick Ryan is a retired Major General in the Australian Army, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and author of several books, including White Sun War and War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First-Century Great Power Competition and Conflict.

Thanks to our sponsor, Babbel.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the meeting in Sochi between Russian President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan, and the diplomatic dust-up between Libya and Israel.

Thanks to our sponsor, Nice News.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the historic meeting between Australia's Anthony Albanese and China's Xi Jinping, and to examine the new visa-free travel program sweeping across Africa.

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On the season finale of Intrigue Outloud deep dives, Teona Akubardia joins to discuss Georgia's quest for membership in the European Union and NATO, how a five-day war in 2008 still shapes Georgia's politics, and why Ukraine may decide Georgia's fate.

Ms. Akubardia is a Member of Georgian Parliament from the liberal Strategy Builder party, the Deputy Chairperson of Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee, and the former deputy secretary of Georgia's National Security Council.

Thanks to our sponsor, Flaviar.

This week, we took to the windy city to get the scoop on the DNC live from scene. From main stage speeches to off-the-record conversations, the Democrats created a convention that felt like a pep rally for November. With Trump still doing well in the polls, the fight is far from over.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On this episode of Intrigue Outloud, Tiziano Breda joins to discuss El Salvador's unprecedented state of exception, which has restricted civil liberties in order to fight criminal gangs since 27 March of last year.

Tiziano is a researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, and a former Central America analyst at the International Crisis Group based in Guatemala.

Latin America Likes Bukele’s ‘War on Gangs.’ That’s a Problem by Tiziano.

Thanks to our sponsor, Todoist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss a landmark agreement to preserve the Colorado River in the Western US, and how Russian partisans managed to launch an attack from Ukraine into Russia.

Thanks to our sponsor, Best Buy.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler recaps five of the week's top stories: the coup in Niger, the meeting between the leaders of Japan and South Korea, tensions on the Black Sea, a visit by the Iranian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia, and a surprise election result in Argentina.

Thanks to our sponsor, Atlas.

This week, we dive into the vice presidential debate and how escalation (yes, even further escalation) in the Middle East could impact the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaigns.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan (in person in Washington, DC!) to discuss Thai voters' historic rebuke of their military government, and how global regulators may impede Microsoft's historic $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Thanks to our sponsor, Holi.

Welcome to Trump's America. On January 20th, former President Donald Trump will become the 47th president. In the meantime, he is President-elect. Washington, as we know it, has changed and will evolve over the next some 10 weeks. Is this a surprise? Tune in.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, host Ethan Plotkin breaks down the top stories from all four corners of the globe: elections in Ecuador, the end of the political deadlock in Thailand, Japan's controversial nuclear waste plan, and the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler and managing editor Jeremy Dicker join (live from the Intrigue retreat in Austin, Texas) to discuss the challenges of covering the war in Israel and Gaza from far away, and why it feels different than other global conflict zones.

Thanks to our sponsor, What Could Go Right.

On today's episode of Intrigue Outloud, Gönül Tol joins to recap the first-round results of Turkey's election of 14 May and examine what another term for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might mean for Turkey's political system, its ailing economy, and its role in the region.

Gönül Tol is the founding director of the Turkish studies program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, and the author of Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria.

Erdogan’s authoritarian bargain collapses in Turkey by Gönül.

Thanks to our sponsor, Babbel.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss Ursula von der Leyen's State of the EU address, and the meeting between Kim Jong Un and President Putin in Russia.

Make sure to sign up for our special UN General Assembly newsletter!

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss US President Biden's new executive order restricting tech investments in China. Later, Ethan examines the Italian government's surprise tax on banks.

Thanks to our sponsor, Best Buy.

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week, we watched massive upheaval in Venezuela following President Maduro's claim to his reelection despite much suspicion on the results. John and Jacob unpack Maduro's Venezuela, the strategy of the US and other Western countries supporting the opposition, and how this all could be an opportunity for Brazil and its President Lula. We then switch to the Middle East, where traded attacks by Hezbollah on the Golan Heights and Israel on Beirut have massively escalated the prospects for a hot conflict, made even worse by Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Lastly, we try out our newest segment: "The Most Important Story Nobody Gives a Sh*t About" where we tackle a story that didn't make headlines and tell you why it matters.

Chapters:

0:00-1:37 Intro

1:37-15:00 Maduro's Venezuela and the Global Intrigue

15:00-26:11 The Middle East heats up (watch out for Turkey!)

26:11-31:41 The Most Important Story Nobody Gives a Sh*t About

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss the Northern Ireland deal between the EU and UK, and the latest from the Yemen Civil War.

Thanks to our sponsor, Best Buy.

This week, we dive into what a potential Trump 2.0 administration could mean for US-China relations. Former President Donald Trump set the tone for hawkish China policies out of Washington, very much continued by sitting President Joe Biden. So, what would a Republican ticket look to accelerate if they win in November? You heard reported thoughts here first, from a diplomat who was in China for Trump 1.0 even (John).

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

This week, we dive into the impact that Biden's speeches and movements have on the Harris campaign and look back at the Trump administration foreign policy record.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Beijing, and the months-long protests over pension reform in France.

If you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a rating and review, and tell a friend!

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the deteriorating situation in Sudan as two warring generals fight for control, and explain why Saudi Arabia welcomed Hamas for negotiations.

Thanks to our sponsor, Babbel.

On today's Intrigue Outloud from NYC, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins Ethan to discuss the side events at UNGA week, and how world leaders are setting rules around tech and AI.

Proudly supported by The Economist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss French President Emmanuel Macron's trip across Africa, and the major reparations agreement between South Korea and Japan.

Thanks to our sponsor, Power Corridor.

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Andrew J. Scott joins to discuss a range of challenges and opportunities as the global population growth rate starts to slow, and how countries can adapt to support citizens through retirement and old age. Andrew J. Scott is a Professor of Economics at London Business School, consulting scholar at Stanford University’s Center on Longevity, and author of the bestselling book The 100-Year Life. Why 8 billion matters: The population milestone signals a significant global shift by Professor Scott Thanks to our sponsor, Best Buy.

Video Episode Here.

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week we kick things off with the CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, being arrested by French authorities and the greater conversation of social media and communication platforms' role in cracking down on the unsavory things that happen on their servers.

We then go to our main discussion of Canada's new tariffs on EVs and other Chinese-made products, how they affect China's current standard of overproduction, and how China will address its currently deteriorating economy.

0:00-2:20 Intro

2:20-12:25 Pavel Durov (CEO of Telegram) Arrested

12:25-19:55 Canada's EV Tariffs and How China Will Respond

19:55-27:05 The Greater Issues with China's Economy

27:05-34:15 Libya Pauses Oil Production over Central Bank Disputes

34:15-38:41 New Game: Big Deal / Little Deal

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

This was supposed to be a slow news week as we all digested a brand new race for president but nevertheless Venezuela had elections, the Middle East a few assassinations and a number of foreign countries has US election interference on the mind.

This week, we discuss what the latest global developments mean for the two candidates, who looks most likely to chosen for Kamala Harris's VP slot and how the DNC, once seen as a snooze fest, could end up bringing embassies after all.

Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

**Video Episode here

**For Bangladesh/UK, go to 12:30

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week we saw two similar situations of unrest: in Bangladesh, student-led protests ousted the longtime Prime Minister Sheik Hasina, forcing her out of the country while new leader Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus attempts to work with the military and protestors to establish reforms. Meanwhile, a few days of anti-immigration protests in UK following the murder of three girls by a 17-year old falsely accused of being an immigrant caused widespread destruction and eventually roused tens of thousands of counter-protestors.

We also cover the latest updates in the Russia/Ukraine War and the historic prisoner swap that freed WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, among others.

Lastly, we try our newest segment: "The Most Important Story Nobody Cares About" where we tackle a story that didn't make headlines and tell you why it matters.

Chapters:

0:00-1:43 Intro

1:43-9:30 Ukraine Ground Assault and Russia's Historic Prisoner Swap

9:30-12:30 Sheik Hasina Flees Bangladesh Amid Protests

12:30-17:44 What Bangladesh Tells Us About Global Pressures

17:44-25:15 Geopolitical Strategy on How to Handle Global Migration

25:15-31:19 The Most Important Story Nobody Cares About

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins to discuss the protests in Georgia and the normalisation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Thanks to our sponsor, PolicyWare.

**Full Video Episode here.

Hi Everyone! Welcome to International Intrigue's newest show: John&Jacob! Every week, Intrigue CEO and Former Australian Diplomat John Fowler and Cognitive Investments Director of Geopolitical Analysis Jacob Shapiro bring you fresh, egoless analysis of the world's most pressing stories.

This week, we continue investigating the craziness of the 2024 US Election shakeup and grand entrance of presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, unpacking her foreign policy strategy especially during Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contentious visit to Washington D.C. We then examine some recent bumps in the US/Mexico/China love triangle, and end with a discussion on the implications of the passing of Vietnam General Secretary Trong.

Chapters:

0:00-1:10 Intro

1:10-9:10 President Kamala Harris?

9:10-17:10 Pro-Palestine Protests in DC and Netanyahu's Address to Congress

17:10-22:27 US/China/Mexico

22:27-27:28 Vietnamese Gen Sec Trong Dead

27:28-30:06 Wrapup

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Ethan is joined by Intrigue co-founder John Fowler and Jacob Shapiro, Partner and Director of Geopolitical Analysis at Cognitive Investments, to break down the latest from the conflict in Israel and Gaza, and to consider what the fighting tells us about the state of the world order.

Thanks to our sponsor, Millennium Space Systems.

On this episode of Intrigue Outloud, Ambassador Rick Barton joins to discuss his career as a peace-builder in war zones across the world, why conflict might be getting more common after decades of relative peace, and what strategies diplomats use to end wars. Ambassador Barton is the founding director of the Office of Transition Initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development, former Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations Refugee Agency, and former Assistant US Secretary of State. Break Haiti’s death spiral by empowering its police by Ambassador Barton. Thanks to our sponsor,

On today's special Intrigue Outloud, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan from New York City to preview this week's UN General Assembly.

Proudly supported by The Economist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss Nigeria's presidential elections and China's plan for peace in Ukraine.

Check out today's sponsor, Roca News.

This week, we dive into what a Democrat win in November could mean for US-China relations. Harris has signaled she will likely continue down the path that President Joe Biden carved out over the past four years when it comes to Beijing but with a VP pick that has been to China nearly 30 times since the late 80s, there's certainly intrigue on if and what could shift.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

Welcome back to Intrigue Events!

The space for geopolitical discussion and exploration is often relegated to dusty rooms, with jargony conversations, and one too many uses of the word 'tripolarity.' At Intrigue Media, we're here to change that. Our mission is to discover, contextualize, and analyze the consequences of global political events.

Intrigue Events transforms these insights into vibrant, engaging experiences where professionals connect, hear exclusive insights, and engage in dynamic discussions.

On October 24th we hosted an event in partnership with Samsung at their Future Center in Washington DC: “Securing Tomorrow: The Future of Cyber Threats and Global Defense.” Our incredible guests from the State Department, DARPA, and SentinelOne offered great insight into the growing role of cybersecurity in a geopolitically active world. Enjoy!

Chapters:

0:00-2:00 Opening Remarks from Intrigue's Helen Zhang

2:00-4:30 Remarks from Eric Tamarkin – Director & Senior Public Policy Counsel at Samsung

4:30-27:50 Liesyl Franz – Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State

27:50-47:45 Dr. Matt Turek – Deputy Director, Information Innovation Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

47:45-1:08:56 Brandon Wales – Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy, SentinelOne and Former Executive Director at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Subscribe to International Intrigue, the free 5-minute global news briefing: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the German's decision to extend its military operation in Mali, and how Iran and Belgium managed to swap prisoners.

Thanks to our sponsor, One Decision Podcast.

This week, John and Kristen discuss developments in Rome at a conference attracting numerous foreign ministers as the G7 meets right next door, closing Italy’s hosting year.

John dives into what Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, would mean for Washington and the country, plus what some of the 47ths cabinet picks could mean for Trump’s policy.

John mentioned the Musk and Ramaswamy’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal which you can read here: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020

Subscribe to International Intrigue here: https://www.internationalintrigue.io/

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to Kyiv, and the cost-of-living protests in Suriname.

Check out today's sponsor, 1440

Vice President Kamala Harris will be the Democratic nominee for President. And that's the sum total of what we know about how the electoin will go from here!

This week, we discuss what her lightning-fast ascent to the top of the ticket means for US foreign policy, and how leaders in capitals around the world make of a potential Harris Administration.

Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter.

📧 Shoot us an email here.

Hey Intriguers! We'll be back soon posting new and exciting content in this feed, but in the meantime, check out an episode of our sister podcast Intrigue Explained. On this episode, Intrigue co-founders John Fowler and Helen Zhang are joined by Dmitry Grozoubinski of ExplainTrade to discuss the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

Check out more episodes of Intrigue Explained here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan live from New York City to recap the "Sustainable Development Goal" Summit on Monday, and to look ahead to leaders' speeches on Tuesday.

Proudly supported by The Economist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins for an update on France's fraught pension reform debate, and to discuss the legal troubles of former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan.

Thanks to our sponsor, 1440.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the geopolitical impact of Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. Later, Ethan examine why Bolivia is getting closer to America's adversaries, and John gives an update on the War in Ukraine.

Thanks to our sponsor, Roca.

On this emergency podcast, Intrigue co-founder Helen Zhang joins Ethan to discuss the shocking assault on Israel by militants from Gaza.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in South Africa, and the Shangri-La Asian security conference in Singapore.

Thanks to our sponsor, Holi.

The UK has a new Prime Minister, and the US doesn't have a new president... yet! What does a Labour government mean for the 'Special Relationship'?

*To the emailers: Kristen apologises for her less than perfect audio, but we'll be back in our home studios soon!

Join John Fowler and Kristen Talman for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

👉 Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter.

📧 Shoot us an email here.

Key takeaways:

• US Political Climate: There are ongoing debates about President Biden's health and the media's role in shaping public perception. Media outlets have shifted their narrative, facing criticism for potentially downplaying Biden's cognitive issues.
• Foreign Policy Focus: The Biden administration's foreign policy decisions are still made with input from key figures like Blinken and Sullivan, even as domestic policy decisions remain somewhat opaque.
• UK Election Results: The Labour Party won a significant victory in the UK election, leading to discussions on what this means for UK foreign policy, particularly in relation to the US and NATO. The Labour Party's stance on Brexit and its commitment to NATO and Ukraine were highlighted.
• Labour's Foreign Policy Strategy: Labour's approach to foreign policy is described as "progressive realism," focusing on using realistic means to achieve progressive ends. This includes a strong commitment to NATO and supporting Ukraine, distancing themselves from the previous leadership under Jeremy Corbyn.
• Future Implications: There is speculation on how the Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, will navigate relationships with global powers, particularly the US, depending on the outcome of the US election. Labour needs to balance domestic priorities with maintaining strong international alliances.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss this past weekend's elections in Poland, Ecuador, New Zealand, and Australia.

Thanks to our sponsor, Patent Drop.

This week, we discuss Trump's return to X, the former President's over two hour conversation with tech titan Elon Musk (including a potential cabinet position) and how the Democrats are prepping for the DNC next week in Chicago.

Join John and Kristen for their takes on the US election and what it means for the world.

Sign up for weekly editions of the Election Intrigue newsletter here.

Shoot us an email here.

On today's Intrigue Outloud, Richard Rossow joins to preview Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much-anticipated visit to Washington, how Modi has shaped India's economy and its geopolitical posture, and where the country of 1.4 billion people is heading next.

The US’ 2023 Agenda for Building a Stronger Relationship with India by Richard.

Thanks to our sponsor, Roca News.

On this episode of Intrigue Outloud, Erol Yayboke joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss why a decade of migration and displacement made the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on 6 February so deadly, and how regional governments should respond to renewed migration pressure.

Erol is the director of the Project on Fragility and Mobility at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and an adjunct professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Policy.

Shattered Relief: A 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey and Syria by Erol.

Thanks to our sponsor, 1440.

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but our expert co-host and chief executive, John Fowler, has lost his voice! This means today’s edition of the pod is postponed—but don’t worry, we’ll be back as soon as he’s ready to speak again.

Thanks for your patience, and stay tuned!

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss why Germany decided to close its last three nuclear reactors, and the North Korean nuclear program's big breakthrough. Thanks to our sponsor, Todoist.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue co-founder John Fowler joins to discuss Russia's suspension of its participation in the landmark Black Sea Grain Deal. Later, John discusses US-China climate negotiations, and Ethan gives an update on the protests in Iran.

Thanks to our sponsor, 1440.

On today's Intrigue Outloud news rundown, Intrigue senior editor Valentina Calvi joins Ethan Plotkin to discuss Italy’s decision to temporarily restrict ChatGPT, and the first Russian detention of an American journalist since 1986.

Thanks to our sponsor, The Daily Upside.