If You're Listening
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The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 13, 2020 • 29min
AMERICA | S04 02 - The surprising story of how Donald Trump took on the NRA
The most powerful gun lobby group in the United States was brought to the edge of collapse.And right at that moment, Donald Trump vowed to do something about mass shootings.Could Donald Trump finally defeat the NRA, or when the moment came, did he flinch?
Sep 6, 2020 • 28min
AMERICA | S04 01 - What a hurricane taught Trump about being president
Hurricane Maria smashed through Puerto Rico in 2017, destroying everything in its wake.What did the worst American natural disaster in decades teach Donald Trump about how to be president?When Trump was inaugurated, he promised to Make America Safe Again... when the hurricane hit, did he live up to his promise?This is America, If You’re Listening. A podcast about how President Donald Trump has left his mark on the United States, and the world.
Sep 3, 2020 • 2min
INTRODUCING Season Four | America, If You're Listening
The 2020 US Presidential election is shaping up to be a historical moment. Voters are deciding if the America of the last four years is the one they want to live in in the future.President Trump's has presided over the most turbulent four years in living memory. He's dealt with crises, changed policies, and fought for his political survival.America, If You're Listening will look back at these astonishing four years, and shed new light on the incredible chaos of Donald Trump's first term as President.
Dec 15, 2019 • 23min
RUSSIA | S03 09 - Putin's Trump card: the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory
Russian intelligence agencies and Vladimir Putin have spent three years spreading a conspiracy theory that Ukraine was the one who meddled in the 2016 election.The theory quickly reached Donald Trump, and he became obsessed with proving it.He's now being impeached for his scheme to get Ukraine to investigate it.While this scheme has blown up in Trump’s face, and allegedly harmed America and Ukraine’s national security, it has played out perfectly for Putin.
Dec 8, 2019 • 18min
RUSSIA | S03 08 - How Russia's rotten gas got Trump into trouble
You might think Trump's impeachment inquiry started because of a dodgy phone call to the Ukrainian President.But the origins are actually in the Ukrainian gas industry - which is deeply corrupt and reliant on Russia - just the way Putin likes it.In 2014, Joe Biden flew to Ukraine to try and break their Russian gas addiction.And started the dominoes falling which would eventually lead to Donald Trump's infamous request for a favour.
Dec 1, 2019 • 19min
RUSSIA | S03 07 - Putin goes nuclear to retain his popularity
Like all dictators, Vladimir Putin is terrified of being overthrown by his people.Keeping his popularity high among average Russians is a priority for him, and from 2014 to 2018 he was king of the mountain.To keep that going in 2018 he announced an exciting new nuclear-powered nuclear missile.But that's where things started to go wrong.
Nov 24, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S03 06 - The spies who suck at spying
In 2006, Russian assassins killed a dissident in London. But they left a spectacular radioactive mess behind them and ended up in a Moscow hospital.But this wasn't the worst example of spycraft in England over the last two decades.One attack went so disastrously wrong it made the United Kingdom finally wake up to the threat of Putin's Kremlin.The story of how espionage screwups can have global consequences.
Nov 17, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S03 05 - When the Father of Brexit met Mother Russia
From almost complete obscurity, Nigel Farage rode a wave of British anger to take his idea of leaving the European Union from a fringe fantasy to a mainstream cause.But as Farage rose from community hall meetings to primetime TV debates, he found himself increasingly allied with Vladimir Putin.This is the story of how Mr Brexit came to recognise Putin's power and how it could help his cause.
Nov 10, 2019 • 19min
RUSSIA | S03 04 - Putin's obsession with crushing the mother of Germany
German leader Angela Merkel was the most powerful woman in the world.Which is why Putin was determined to take her down.His campaign started by playing on her famous fear of dogs... and ended with the biggest migrant crisis the world had seen.
Nov 3, 2019 • 21min
RUSSIA | S03 03 - How to spin a war
When is an invasion not an invasion? When Putin's propaganda machine is involved, sowing false narratives, confusion and fear. From Putin's motorcycle gang to his 'little green men' and his hip-hop loving head of misinformation, Russia tried everything to convince the West it wasn't invading Ukraine.The propaganda push worked - sort of, and tells us a lot about the misinformation Russia has gone on to do in the West.
