

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

Jul 15, 2018 • 17min
RUSSIA | S01 09 - The Crime: Russia steps over the line
Hacking, leaking, and the spreading of chaos.How Russian Government hackers timed a Democratic National Committee email leak with Hillary Clinton's biggest scandal.This week, we find out how Russia stepped over the line and tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election.This is the ninth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Jul 8, 2018 • 19min
RUSSIA | S01 08 - Donald Trump Jr: The President's son and the 'treasonous' meeting
In 2016 Don Jr took an ill-fated meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower.The meeting is a pivotal moment in the entire story of Trump and Russia and has since been called "treasonous" and "unpatriotic".So is the meeting it a smoking gun or was it all just a waste of time?This is the eighth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Jul 1, 2018 • 20min
RUSSIA | S01 07 - Paul Manafort: The dictator's fixer
Veteran Republican strategist Paul Manafort spent 30 years working for dictators before he struck gold in Ukraine.But when he returned to America and became the boss of the Trump campaign, his past caught up with him.How did this man get landed with over a dozen federal indictments, and why is he still refusing to flip?This is the seventh episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Jun 17, 2018 • 20min
RUSSIA | S01 06 - Christopher Steele: The spy and the pee tape
Christopher Steele is the author of the infamous Trump/Russia dossier.You remember - the one that contains allegations about sex workers urinating on a hotel bed.But there's so much more to the dossier than that.It outlines a massive conspiracy between Donald Trump and the Russian government - a list of allegations which, if proven, would constitute by-far the biggest attack on American democracy in history.But is Christopher Steele a credible Russia expert? How likely is it that what's written in the dossier ever took place?This is the sixth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.

Jun 10, 2018 • 15min
RUSSIA | S01 05 - Carter Page: The useful idiot
Both the Russians and the Republicans have called Donald Trump's former foreign policy advisor Carter Page "an idiot".It seems everyone has been able to manipulate him to do their bidding.So is Carter Page an actual idiot or a Russian spy?This is the fifth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

Jun 3, 2018 • 19min
RUSSIA | S01 04 - George Papadopoulos: The coffee boy
George Papadopoulos is the first known link between the Trump campaign and Russia.Just how close was the so-called coffee boy George Papadopoulos to Russian spies offering dirt on Hillary Clinton?This is the fourth episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan brings the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can get in touch at russia@abc.net.au.Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

May 27, 2018 • 14min
RUSSIA | S01 03 - The Oligarchs: Money and power
The oligarchs hold the power and the money in Russia.So who are they and why does your average Russian billionaire care about who sits in The White House?This is the third episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

May 20, 2018 • 12min
RUSSIA | S01 02 - Vladimir Putin: The man with a grudge
The spy from St Petersburg and the lawyer from Chicago. Why does Russia's president have such a deep and abiding hatred for Hillary Clinton?This is the second episode of Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.You can go back to hear our earlier episode on Donald Trump plus our special Trumpdate with 7.30 presenter Leigh Sales.Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app to find out how this story ends.

May 13, 2018 • 12min
RUSSIA | S01 01 - Donald Trump: A Russian love affair
Donald Trump has always claimed he has "nothing to do with Russia" but is that true? What if Trump was caught in a Russian web, long before he even considered a career in politics?This is the first episode of the ABC's new podcast, Russia, If You're Listening.Each week, host Matt Bevan will bring the story of a character involved in the investigation.And keep an eye out for our minisode updates - available whenever news breaks.Want to get in touch? Email: russia@abc.net.au