Geopolitics & World
International affairs, defense, and regional topics
378 episodes · Page 10 of 16
#2769: The Legal Limbo of Partially Recognized States
North Korea has 46 embassies. Palestine has 80. Neither is fully recognized. How does their diplomacy actually work?
#2766: How Israeli Airport Security Works Abroad
How Israeli security agents legally question passengers at foreign airports — and why they can't arrest anyone.
#2765: What a Diplomatic Passport Actually Gets You
Diplomatic passports don't grant immunity. Here's what they actually do and don't do at borders.
#2761: When a Strong Shekel Rewrites Labor Economics
How a surging shekel is reshaping Israel's labor market, crushing exporters, and creating unexpected winners among foreign workers.
#2742: Where Ancient Jerusalem’s Walls Actually Were
The City of David was only 12 acres. Here’s how Jerusalem’s boundaries shifted over 3,000 years.
#2734: How Hebrew Printing Defied Book Burnings
The first Hebrew printed book dates to 1475 — and it was Rashi’s commentary, not the Bible.
#2723: Why No Country Has Ever Reached Communism
The real difference between socialism and communism — and whether either has ever produced a successful society.
#2714: How Texas Became the Oil State
Spindletop didn't make Texas synonymous with oil. The real story involves geology, regulation, and a surprising government intervention.
#2697: When Trust in Your Country Feels Like a Bad Relationship
What happens when the state you fund feels like it's deceiving you — and you can't opt out.
#2686: Why Jerusalem Stays Poor Despite Its Pull
Why Jerusalem’s economy is broken, from the 1948 division to the modern housing crisis.
#2680: The 200-Year Loophole That Shaped UK Tax
How a 1799 tax carve-out let billionaires avoid UK taxes for centuries — until Akshata Murty broke it.
#2662: Did Judaism Ever Have Monks?
Did Judaism ever have monks? The Essenes and Therapeutae challenge the standard answer.
#2661: Monasticism's Great Migration
Catholic monastic life collapsed in the West but is growing fast in Africa and Asia. Here's the surprising global picture.
#2652: The Mulberry Bubble That Built a University
The silk industry that built UConn, the cows on Horsebarn Hill, and one mysterious firing at the Dairy Bar.
#2642: Who Takes Notes in the Situation Room?
The invisible people scribbling behind world leaders — and why their records shape history.
#2637: How Russia Justified Invading Ukraine — and What Actually Happened
The real reasons Russia invaded Ukraine, the history erased by propaganda, and where the front lines stand today.
#2627: The Five Stans: What Makes Them Distinct
Five countries, millennia of history, and a surprising connection to Israel. A practical guide to Central Asia.
#2617: How Putin's Russia Actually Works vs. The Myth
Beyond the headlines: What daily life is really like inside Russia's personalist autocracy, and how history shaped it.
#2616: Is Democracy Actually What People Want?
A deep look at whether democracy is truly valued or just the socially acceptable position.
#2615: Dual Citizenship: Loyalty, Law & Living in Two Countries
Two hundred million people hold multiple passports. How did dual citizenship go from taboo to normal?
#2614: Who Gets to Vote from Abroad?
How the U.S. and Israel handle military and diplomatic ballots — and whether expats should vote at all.
#2613: What Makes an Election Actually Free and Fair?
From ballot secrecy to phantom voters — the real checklist election monitors use to separate genuine contests from theater.
#2611: Saturday Drums vs Quiet Homes: Protest Rights in Residential Areas
When weekly protests become a permanent neighborhood soundscape, how do democracies balance assembly rights with residents' quiet enjoyment?
#2610: Can Opposition Be Constructive in a Democracy?
When does protesting the government become protesting democracy itself? A look at loyal opposition vs. blanket obstruction.