Roger Bennett and Tommy Vietor take a look at the history of Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi relations, and the Kingdom’s path to becoming a geopolitical force. They trace the unlikely rise of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman from a lowly place in the royal hierarchy to de facto leader of the country, and examine his record of enacting major social reforms while brutally cracking down on critics and rivals. Guests Ben Hubbard, Sarah Leah Whitson, and Khalid Al Jabri provide insight through stories about the infamous lock-up at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the disappearance of even the family members of MBS’ political rivals. And finally, they unpack what MBS’ massive investment into soccer means for the global game. Listen to the second episode of this four-part series to find out.
Spyware for profit
An assassination in Haiti and protests in Cuba
World’s worst space race
Private mercenaries and naked sunbathers
Iranian elections and Justin Bieber’s state visit
Bye bye Bibi!
Joe's Eurovision 2021
Boris elopes, Bibi on the ropes (with Afua Hirsch)
Belarus hijacks a plane (and Samantha Power)
Time to call for a ceasefire in Gaza
Clashes in Israel and Gaza
Talks with Iran and covid in India
Fighting climate change, coronavirus, and capitalism
Putin's Power Plays
Biden ends one war, will Israel and Iran start another?
Should America boycott the 2022 Olympics?
Israel Deadlocked, Suez Unblocked
Biden versus Putin
Vaccine diplomacy and Kushner bashing
Oprah upends the British Empire
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