#geopolitics
204 episodes
#3784: The Caliphate's Paper Trail: How ISIS Built a State
Beyond the violence, ISIS built a functioning bureaucracy with tax forms, ministries, and municipal services. This is how.
#3646: What Replaces the CIA World Factbook?
The CIA killed its iconic almanac. Here are the best alternatives for country data.
#3634: When Building Your Own Island Goes Wrong
A real estate mogul tried to build a libertarian utopia on artificial islands. A king showed up with convicts and a brass band.
#3572: The Rainbow Island in the World's Most Dangerous Strait
Hormuz Island has rainbow soil, edible dirt, a Portuguese castle—and sits at the center of the Iran-Israel conflict.
#3499: Why 45% of Israel Is Empty Despite Being Dense
Israel is one of the densest countries on earth—yet nearly half of it is virtually uninhabited. Here's why.
#3319: The Midnight Convoy: Visiting Joseph's Tomb
A holy site for four faiths, accessible only by armed convoy at 2 AM. The surreal reality of visiting Joseph's Tomb.
#3314: Settler Violence in the West Bank: The Permission Structure
Over 90% of investigations into settler attacks are closed without indictment. How the system enables violence.
#3267: The 15 Million People Living in Overseas Territories
Why only ~15 countries hold nearly all overseas territory — and what those places reveal about colonial history.
#3256: The Seasteading Dream That Sank
Silicon Valley tried to build floating nations. The ocean and the law had other plans.
#3250: Where Does Unclaimed Land Still Exist?
Every habitable square meter on Earth is claimed. Here's how we got here and what that means for buyers.
#3185: The 35 Acres That Could Start a War
How unwritten rules, a gold menorah, and lip movements keep a powder keg from exploding.
#3021: The Bus Routes Nobody Owns
East Jerusalem's Palestinian residents live under Israeli law but use Jordanian hospitals, unlicensed buses, and PA schools. How did this happen?
#3014: How a Palestinian Books a Flight to Istanbul
The step-by-step reality of travel from the West Bank and Gaza — permits, crossings, and documents most travelers never think about.
#3013: East Jerusalem's In-Between Status: Residency Without Citizenship
Permanent residency in Israel isn't a path to citizenship. For East Jerusalemites, it's a trap that can be revoked.
#2999: Svalbard's Visa-Free Trap: What You Need to Know
No visa needed on Svalbard — but you can't get there without one. Here's how the Arctic's strangest legal loophole actually works.
#2992: The Three Lives of Za'atar: Plant, Spice, Identity
A wild herb became a global spice blend. Now overharvesting threatens the hillsides where it grew for millennia.
#2978: Wine from the Desert and the Latitude of Greenland
How 80 countries now make wine — including desert vineyards and farms near the Arctic Circle.
#2869: China's Special Puzzle Pieces: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
How "one country, two systems" works differently for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan — and what's changed.
#2809: What Enforcement Leaves Behind
How border enforcement fractures economies, families, and institutions in ways the headlines miss.
#2633: How Live UA Map Bridges Conflict Information Gaps
A curated conflict map that trades raw speed for verified, de-duplicated event tracking — used by civilians in active warzones.
#2630: Ahmad Vahidi: Iran's Most Dangerous Insider
The IRGC's new commander is wanted by Interpol for the 1994 AMIA bombing. Here's why he matters now.
#2520: When a Cartel Loses Its Third-Largest Member
The UAE is leaving OPEC. What that means for oil prices, food costs, and global stability.
#2502: Who Enforces the Law, Who Defies It
From immigration politics to ICE raids, Jan 6 prosecutions, and the legal line on private militias in the US.
#2402: Geospatial Gold Rush: Who's Hiring Satellite Sleuths?
From crop health to cargo routes, discover which industries are paying top dollar for geospatial analysis skills—and the tools they use daily.