World Review from the New Statesman

Latvia has cancelled the licence of Russia's last independent media channel TV Rain only five months after it began broadcasting in exile, accusing the channel of showing support for Russia's war in Ukraine. In response, TV Rain, or Dozhd, has called the decision "unfair and absurd". Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Ido Vock in Berlin to discuss TV Rain’s turbulent history and why Latvia has branded it a threat to national security, the importance of independent Russian media, and the struggle for Russian political exiles to understand their place in the conflict. Elsewhere, the Democrat Raphael Warnock has beaten the Republican Herschel Walker in Georgia's run-off election to retain his place in the Senate. This is the first time since 1934 that the president's party has defended every incumbent Senate seat. The team discuss the key takeaways from Warnock's victory, the series of scandals that have plagued Walker’s career, and if Warnock, a star on the rise, has presidential ambitions. Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks whether this really is the end of China’s zero-Covid policy and, if so, what it will mean for China's economy and the world's.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more  Read more:Ido on why Dozhd could never have survived in Latvia. Emily on why even an abortion scandal might not stop “pro-life” candidate Herschel Walker Katie asks if this is the beginning of the end for China’s zero-Covid policy? Katie on what China’s lockdown protests mean for Xi Jinping Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the extraordinary wave of protests across China against the government's pandemic controls, Katie Stallard speaks to Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a historian of modern China at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of multiple books including Vigil: Hong Kong on the Brink. They discuss the tactics protesters have drawn from past demonstrations in Hong Kong and mainland China, the limits of the country’s censorship apparatus, and the significance of the blank sheets of paper that have become a symbol of these demonstrations. Plus, what the death of the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin means for the future of these protests. Read more:China’s Jiang Zemin has died. That could be a problem for Xi JinpingWhat do China’s lockdown protests mean for Xi Jinping?How Xi Jinping views the world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An extraordinary wave of protests has swept across cities and university campuses in China demanding an end to draconian zero-Covid measures that have been in place for almost three years. In one of the most significant outbursts of public discontent since the Tiananmen Square demonstrations more than 30 years ago, over the weekend protesters could be heard shouting “Xi Jinping, step down” and censorship has been stretched to the limit. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin to discuss the frustration and anger that has driven these protests, why the Chinese government is in a trap of its own making, and whether the death of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin could trigger further unrest. Next, they turn to Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who has been hosted by Joe Biden, the US president, in the first White House state visit since the Democrats took power in early 2021. The team discuss why the old alliance is resurfacing now, Macron’s hyperactive foreign policy and the “Macron Doctrine” that underpins it, as outlined in Jeremy’s cover piece for this week’s New Statesman magazine. Then in You Ask Us, a listener question on a shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs on 19 November and the role of right-wing politicians and media outlets in fuelling hatred and moral panics around queer and trans people.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more  Read more: Katie on why the death of Jiang Zemin could be a problem for Xi Jinping Katie on what China’s lockdown protests mean for Xi.  Jeremy on Emmanuel Macron: the man who would be king. Ido on the underlying tension of Macron’s US state visit. Emily on why the US gun lobby has a fatal grip on American politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, could the social media platform find itself in conflict with the European Union over employment and privacy rules? Margrethe Vestager, an executive vice-president of the European Commission and commissioner for competition, speaks to the New Statesman’s Europe correspondent, Ido Vock, about Twitter. They also discuss concerns over a recent EU court ruling – that Luxembourg did not break state-aid rules in its support for the car manufacturer Fiat.read more:The chaos at Elon Musk’s Twitter is a parable of US power in the age of Big TechInside the Twittering machineThe power of the platform Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Qatar World Cup, which began on Sunday 20 November, has been marred in controversy, from the country’s oppression of LGBT+ people and women to a last-minute decision to ban sales of beer inside stadiums. Thousands of migrant workers are believed to have died during construction of the stadiums, and others employed as security guards appear to be paid as little as 35p an hour. Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, who is paid about £2.6m this year, defended the tournament in a rant in which he said he feels “like a migrant worker”. Ido Vock in Berlin, Megan Gibson in London and Katie Stallard in Washignton DC discuss Fifa’s defence and the attempt by some politicians to “keep politics out of sport”, how individual teams have and have not shown real moral courage, and the power of sport to affect political change. Next, Megan reports on her trip to Brussels, where she interviewed Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general. The team discuss his unwavering support for Ukraine, the prospect for negotiations and the state of the Western alliance. Then, in You Ask Us, a listener asks what role the Wagner Group plays in Russia’s war effort.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more: Katie on what the World Cup tells us about power. Megan on why Iran’s brave act of defiance puts England to shame. Megan interviews Jens Stoltenberg. Katie asks if Volodymyr Zelenksy is losing the support of the West in Ukraine. Ido on the brutal methods of Russia’s Wagner group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Israel’s recent general election Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition won a majority of seats in the Knesset, and coalition negotiations could result in figures from the far right taking a number of key ministries. Haaretz reporter Amir Tibon joins Emily Tamkin to talk about what this might mean for Israel’s domestic policy, and its relationship with the US and the rest of the world. Read more: The biggest winner in Israel’s election? The far right Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday a missile hit a Polish town near the Ukrainian border, killing two people. It was initially suspected to have been fired by Russia, causing speculation about whether Poland, a Nato member, would invoke the alliance’s collective defence agreement. Poland and Nato now believe, however, that the cause was Ukrainian defences firing in an attempt to intercept a Russian bombardment. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC, and Ido Vock in London, discuss what we know about what happened, how the incident highlights the risk of the war in Ukraine escalating, and the recent liberation of Kherson. Then they turn to Bali, in Indonesia, where the G20 summit was held this week. The team consider the US president Joe Biden’s strikingly cordial meeting with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, and the G20 leaders’ statement denouncing “Russian aggression” in Ukraine (Russia is itself a member of the G20). Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks: will Donald Trump be the Republican presidential candidate in 2024?If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more  Read more: Ido writes that Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson proves Western support is working Katie on why the Poland missile explosion highlights risk of escalation in the war in Ukraine. Katie reports on Joe Biden and Xi Jinping try to avoid a “new Cold War” Emily asks what wDonald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid will mean for American democracy. Emily asks whether Donald Trump’s domination of the Republicans is under threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The football team Shakhtar Donetsk, exiled from their home ground in eastern Ukraine for eight years, found themselves unable even to play in their home country when Russia began its full invasion in February. A new podcast, Away From Home, tells the story of how the team managed to beat expectations throughout the group stages of the Champions’ League. Presenter Adam Crafton speaks to Ido Vock about following the team to its temporary European home in Lviv, Poland, how its young players were coping away from their families and whether the team believes it could ever return home to Donetsk – one of the regions that has been claimed by Russia-backed separatists since 2014.Read more:Listen to Away From Home Can the Ukraine war now end only with Russia’s defeat?Russia has forgotten history’s lessons about waging war in winterWhat the US midterm results mean for the war in Ukraine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite predictions of a blowout victory for Republicans, Democrats exceeded expectations in the US midterm elections. At time of recording, we still don't know who won the Senate or the House – but the very fact that the House wasn't decided on the night suggests this wasn't a victory for Republicans, running as the party out of power and with high inflation in the US. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Ido Vock in Berlin for a discussion of what helped the Democrats and hurt the Republicans. They also reflect on what this could mean for the wider world – in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The team also takes a listener question on Marine Le Pen and the future of the French far right.Read more:Emily writes the Republican "red wave" has turned into a ripple.Emily on Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and the coming Republican civil war.Katie on what the US midterm results mean for the war in Ukraine.Ido writes France's far-right and far-left are uniting against Emmanuel Macron. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politicians around the world use nationalism. They use it to win elections, and to stoke fear, and to gain and hold on to power. This kind of nationalism is exclusive, often based on ethnicity, race or religion.  But is there another way? This series will look at nationalism in its different forms around the world, and alternative approaches to creating a sense of nationhood. Can these divisive politics be countered by building a civic, liberal nationalism? In this fourth and final episode, Emily Tamkin looks at nationalism in the United States. First, Ishaan Tharoor, columnist on the foreign desk at the Washington Post, talks about how he understands American nationalism, and where it sits on the worldwide spectrum of nationalist politics. Then, Nell Irvin Painter, American historian, explains why she’s thinking about the local and the global, not the national. Read more:Emily asks is this America's last real election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.