Jackie Northam, a seasoned journalist, sheds light on the brutal realities faced by artists and activists in Iran amid ongoing government crackdowns. She discusses the striking case of writer Hossein Shambhazada, who received a 12-year prison sentence for a seemingly innocuous punctuation mark. Northam also highlights the chilling stories of dissidents, including a rapper confronting execution, revealing the growing anger and resilience among Iranians rising against oppressive forces.

Jackie Northam, an international affairs correspondent for NPR, brings her expertise on the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. She discusses the alarm raised by 100,000 Russian troops at Ukraine's border and the U.S. readiness to deploy 8,500 troops to Europe. The podcast dives into NATO's critical role in countering Russian aggression and the complexities of European energy dependence on Russia, particularly Germany's reliance on natural gas. Northam also addresses President Biden's foreign policy challenges and the uncertain future of military interventions.