Vox's Worldly

Zack, Jenn, and Alex talk about President Joe Biden’s announcement that all remaining US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021 — the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that launched the war. They discuss what the US withdrawal means for the near-term future of Afghanistan, why Biden finally made the tough call that his predecessors couldn’t (or wouldn’t), and what that decision tells us about how Biden sees the future of US military engagement abroad. References: Here’s Alex’s Vox story on Biden’s announcement to withdraw all US troops by September 11. Alex interviewed experts making the best case for and against an Afghanistan withdrawal. Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal speech is on the White House’s website. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security ranked Afghanistan as the second-worst country for women. The BBC reports that the Taliban is already claiming it won the war. The Wall Street Journal reported how the US is looking to other countries to base its count

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down the royal drama that has roiled the normally quiet kingdom of Jordan this week: The king has accused his half-brother, the former crown prince, of a vague conspiracy against the crown and has put him under house arrest. The Worldly crew lays out what we actually know about what happened, what led to this family tension spilling out into the open, what political instability in Jordan could mean for the broader Middle East, and whether the Biden administration is betraying its stated commitment to defend democracy and human rights by unequivocally backing the king in this dispute. Also, Zack sings. References: Alex wrote Vox’s explainer on the royal family feud. This is the audio of Prince Hamzah and the Jordanian general talking that Jenn mentioned. The New York Times has a good piece on the roots of the King Abdullah and Prince Hamzah split. You can watch Hamzah’s self-filmed video sent to the BBC, well, on the BBC. The White House had a readout of President Biden’s call

Zack, Alex, and returning guest Jen Kirby talk about the potential for a “bloodbath” in Myanmar. Since the military deposed the democratic government in a February 1 coup, pro-democracy protesters and armed ethnic groups have risen up against the junta. They’ve been met with extreme violence, leading to more than 500 dead and concerns from experts that a broader civil war is coming. The Worldly crew explains how this horrible situation came to be, what may come next, and what — if anything — the international community can do to stop a Syria-like crisis. References: The Associated Press has a good story on the air campaign against the Karen ethnic group. Reuters describes the struggle of pro-democracy protesters and ethnic groups against Myanmar’s military junta. Some experts think Myanmar is on the verge of becoming a “failed state,” per CNBC. The RAND think tank has a long study on how insurgencies end. Expert Ashley South has a report on the Karen and their long conflict against Myanmar’s government.

In a very special Worldly episode, Zack, Jenn, and Alex answer YOUR questions! From the many great listener questions sent in over the last several weeks, the gang picked four to answer in this week’s episode: What is “the Quad” and how does it fit into geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific; what’s driving migration to the US from Central America; why Imperial Japan’s use of Korean forced labor and “comfort women” in the 1930s and ’40s continues to complicate relations between Japan and South Korea today; and how to go about explaining world affairs topics to folks who don’t have a deep background in these subjects. References: Alex wrote an explainer on “the Quad.” Vox has a piece on the hurricane’s effects in Central America. Here’s Jen Kirby’s story about a better US policy for the Golden Triangle. This is the Washington Post analysis on the situation at the border. Deutsche Welle has a smart explainer on the forced labor issue on the Korean Peninsula. The Asahi Shimbun has a report on the Japanese firms

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the raft of problems stymying Europe’s vaccine rollout, which has been slower and messier than expected, given some of the earlier successes the continent had controlling infection rates. They talk about why some countries decided to pause administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and how the EU’s decision to negotiate for vaccines as a bloc, rather than as individual countries, slowed down the rollout and exacerbated tensions between some of the wealthier and less-wealthy countries in the bloc. They also discuss what all of this turmoil might mean for the future of the EU as a political institution. References: Politico Europe has a great piece on how the EU fell behind on vaccines. Yes, Germany was let off the hook after it tried to make a side vaccine deal. The Washington Post noted that the EU pays less than the US for vaccines. Here’s the survey showing Europe is the most vaccine-skeptical region of the world. The New York Times reported politics may have played a bi

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the huge news out of Brazil this week, where a judge annulled the corruption conviction of the country’s former leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, opening the door for him to possibly run for president in 2022. The gang talks about what Lula was accused of, the debate about whether the case was fairly prosecuted, why Lula is revered by many of the country’s poor but loathed by its conservative elites, and how his return to the political scene could set the stage for a fiery election contest against the country’s current president, the far-right Jair Bolsonaro. References: Two Vox videos, one on Operation Car Wash and the other on Bolsonaro’s rise, provide great context. Back when it happened, Zack explained Operation Car Wash for Vox. Here’s Lula’s recent interview with The Ink where he discusses his, uh, vigor. The Intercept Brazil showed Sergio Moro’s connections to the prosecution during Operation Car Wash. Voice of America offered a good rundown of the case ag

Zack, Jenn, and Alex debate whether the US should continue to treat Saudi Arabia as a close partner given its atrocious human rights abuses and the declining US dependence on Middle Eastern oil. In the second half of the show, Jenn interviews Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) about his proposed strategy for a new US approach to the Persian Gulf. References: Read Sen. Murphy’s Foreign Affairs piece on a new Middle East strategy Read Alex’s profile about Sen. Murphy’s foreign policy views. Alex also wrote about how Biden didn’t follow through on his promise to punish MBS. CNN reported that the Biden administration never considered sanctioning MBS. In 2018 Alex conducted an interview with an expert on why the US wouldn’t end its relationship with Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi murder. You can read America’s intelligence report on the Khashoggi murder. Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down why the Biden administration hasn’t yet reentered the Iran nuclear deal. They explain that the process of rejoining is more complicated than it might seem, but that it’s still likely the deal will come back eventually. They then debate the pros and cons of rejoining the accord and how well the Obama foreign policy team — many of whom have joined the Biden administration — handled the pact. One point of agreement: The Trump administration’s Iran policy failed. References: Alex wrote about the impending US-Iran talks over the nuclear deal. And he also wrote about Colin Kahl’s under-threat confirmation. Foreign Policy asks if Biden took too long to reengage Iran. Jenn noted a Politico magazine story detailing how the Obama administration let a Hezbollah criminal enterprise proceed to help strike the 2015 deal. Al Jazeera reported on then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s 12 demands on Iran. He achieved none of them. Vox has a great visual explainer on the Iran deal. Hosts:

Zack, Jenn, and Alex break down one of the DC foreign policy world’s hottest new catchphrases: “great power competition.” It’s the idea that international politics in the 21st century will be dominated by a struggle for influence between the US, China, and (to a lesser extent) Russia. The gang talks about what the concept actually means and whether it’s a useful framework for understanding international politics today and in the future. References: Dan Nexon’s Foreign Affairs article inspired the Worldly crew to record this episode. The Atlantic had an excellent piece explaining how “great power competition” became a DC buzzword. The National Interest had an op-ed detailing why great power competition could be a problem. Matthew Kroenig wrote in Foreign Policy on how the US should outline goals for its competition with China. The Congressional Research Service has a comprehensive report on what “great power competition” has meant in recent years. Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspon

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the huge farmers’ protests in India. They explain the very real policy debate over new agricultural reform laws that sparked the protests, and how that debate has now been obscured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics, international celebrity activism, and online trolls. Oh, and they talk about Rihanna. Yes, that Rihanna. References: Vox’s Jariel Arvin explains the Indian farmers’ protest. And he also writes about why India’s government is mad at Rihanna. Plus, Vox has a smart video on the protests. The India Forum has an excellent deep dive into India’s three farming reforms. Scientific American lays out the environmental problems with farming in India. The New Yorker in 2019 had an excellent feature on Modi’s Hindu nationalism. The Times of India looks into the rise of internet trolls. Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the recent coup in Myanmar, in which the Myanmarese military deposed the country’s quasi-democratic government and detained its civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, along with hundreds of members of her political party. They look at why this happened, explain why both sides in this fight are morally compromised, explore what the Biden administration and the international community can (and can’t) do in response, and project what this means for the future of Myanmar's democracy — and the safety of the country’s many persecuted minority groups. References: Alex wrote an explainer on the Myanmar coup. And he also wrote about why the coup is a problem for Biden’s pro-democracy agenda. Jen Kirby wrote on why the coup is deeply troubling for Myanmar’s most vulnerable. And she wrote about the laughable charges the military leveled against Aung Sang Suu Kyi. The AP explains the differences between “Myanmar” and “Burma.” The new military leadership has shut down Facebook, Reuters repo

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss the nationwide demonstrations in Russia in support of dissident opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who returned to the country this week from Germany, where he was recuperating from a poisoning believed to be an assassination attempt directed by the Kremlin. Navalny was immediately arrested upon his arrival, sparking protests across the country. The gang discusses who Navalny is, why President Vladimir Putin views him as a threat to his grip on power, and what the protests might mean for the future of Russia. References: Vox has a piece on last weekend’s protests. Alex wrote about the Biden-Putin call and Navalny’s arrest. You can find Navalny’s platform here. Check out Pod Save the World’s interview with a Russian journalist about Navalny. Russian reporter Alexey Kovalev writes that “something special just happened in Russia.” This is the Time piece Zack mentioned. Political scientist Timothy Frye wrote about Putin’s “repression trap” for the Washington Post. The Atlanti

Zack, Jenn, and Alex host the first Worldly episode of the Biden administration, the show’s first-ever episode when Donald Trump is not president. They discuss how US foreign policy will differ under Biden — and surprising ways it might stay the same — on topics ranging from China to Middle Eastern alliances to climate change. References: Alex has a thorough explainer on Biden’s foreign policy. Zack wrote that it’s okay to feel hope after Biden’s inauguration. Here’s Biden putting the US back in the Paris climate agreement. And here’s Biden having the US rejoin the World Health Organization. Vox wrote up how the confirmation hearings for Biden’s key national security Cabinet picks went this week. Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), White House reporter, Vox   Consider contributing to Vox: If you value Worldly’s work, please consider making a contribution to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts   More

Zack, Jenn, and Alex discuss how the US Capitol insurrection fits into the broader spectrum of far-right political violence in the US. They debate whether the incident should be considered an act of terrorism, and if so, what that means in terms of how to craft policy responses to the threat. They end by looking at President Donald Trump’s role in uniting disparate far-right groups, from white supremacists to eco-fascists to anti-government militias, into a loose but dangerous coalition that may persist long after he leaves office. References: Jenn has a Vox story on what constitutes “domestic terrorism” Zack wrote that “Republicans own this” Vox’s Fabiola Cineas says that “Donald Trump is the accelerant” Here’s Vox’s explainer on the Proud Boys And here’s Vox’s explainer on the QAnon conspiracy theory Lawfare has a smart piece on how the far-right is fractured Vice wrote about how neo-Nazis use imagery of Osama bin Laden Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Wil

Zack, Jenn, and Jen Kirby discuss the assault on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump insurrection that has shaken America to its core. They look at the intelligence and law enforcement failures that allowed a mob to so easily seize one of the pillars of American government despite the US having spent billions on national security since 9/11. In the second half of the show, they talk about the damage the siege has done to America’s image abroad and what that means for the future of global politics and democracy. References: Threats spread online before the assault on the US Capitol Buzzfeed’s report on the right-wing online organizing  What we know about the security failures The Washington Post’s report on the role of the National Guard A coup expert on Wednesday’s events How world leaders are reacting ITV’s report on the Capitol insurrection The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum on the diminished power of America’s democratic example Hosts: Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox Jennifer Wil

Jenn, Alex, and Jen wrap up 2020 by discussing the biggest stories that flew under the radar this year because of, well, everything. They talk about the war in Ethiopia, a major leadership change in Japan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s constitutional amendments that allow him to stay in power basically for life. Then they turn to the big storylines they’re watching in 2021, including the end of Angela Merkel’s chancellorship in Germany, Joe Biden’s Latin America policy, and potential North Korean provocations. Most importantly, the gang wishes everyone a safe and joyful holiday season. References: Today, Explained explains Ethiopia’s crisis A top aid official on Ethiopia’s humanitarian crisis Alex’s reporting on Japan’s remilitarization  Who is Japan’s new prime minister? Putin’s president-for-life plans The race to replace Angela Merkel  Joe Biden looks to Latin America The challenges of US policy in Latin America Will Kim Jong Un welcome Biden with a weapons test? Hosts: Jennifer Williams (@jenn_

Jenn, Alex, and Jen talk about how Brexit is for real — for real! — happening on January 1, but it won’t be so easy. Three sticking points stand between a UK-EU trade deal: fishing, keeping a level economic playing field, and a mechanism to dispute rule breaking. These may seem simple on the surface, but they’re deeply important issues that speak to larger concerns among Europeans and in global politics. The gang finishes up by reflecting on the wild ride this whole Brexit omnishambles has been. References: Where the Brexit talks stand Why fishing is dominating the Brexit discussion A look at all of the Brexit sticking points The Northern Ireland protocol: it’s complicated The EU offered a contingency plan to avert the worst-case no-deal scenario What happens if there isn’t a deal Hosts: Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), national security reporter, Vox Jen Kirby (@j_kirby1), foreign reporter, Vox   Consider contributing to Vox: If you value Worldly’s work,

Jenn, Alex, and Jen talk about the diplomatic spat between China and Australia that erupted this week after a Chinese official tweeted a fake image of an Australian soldier threatening a young Afghan child with a knife. Though the image was fake, it highlighted real war crimes allegedly committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. The crew explains why China, a notorious human rights abuser itself, is trolling Australia on Twitter about this issue, and how it fits into China's broader geopolitical strategy to bully countries into keeping quiet about its own failings. References: The Australia-China diplomatic spat, explained An inquiry found Australian special forces committed possible war crimes in Afghanistan The potential costs of a trade war between Australia and China How Australia’s allies are responding to its feud with China The US government also did some trolling of its own A look at China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy Hosts: Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@

Alex and Jen discuss President Trump’s decision to draw down the number of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. They explain the slapdash announcement and rushed plan, and the inherent tensions between wanting to end a long war and America’s responsibility to the people of the countries it has invaded. The gang also turns to what Trump’s Pentagon shake-up really means, and what President-elect Joe Biden should prepare to inherit in January. References: The US is drawing down troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trump has promised to bring troops home by Christmas. He didn’t quite get that, even with a new Pentagon chief. The big question: Will these withdrawals box Biden in on foreign policy? Trump has also appointed a lot of loyalists to the Pentagon recently. Shake-ups could reshape foreign policy in the last months of Trump’s term. And maybe remake the federal bureaucracy. Here’s Trump Inc.’s investigation. Hosts: Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), national secu

Jenn, Alex, and Jen talk about the stalled transition process from President Trump to President-elect Biden. They discuss the possible national security implications and what Trump’s refusal to accept the election results says — and doesn’t say — about American exceptionalism. They conclude with how the world has reacted to the results, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “ear to ear” smile during a congratulatory phone call with Biden. References: Why a smooth presidential transition isn’t happening right now.  The stalled transition process is raising national security concerns.  Trump is trying to overturn a clear election result. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also undermining US democracy. The rest of the world is moving on as allies and foreign leaders congratulate Biden. Still, the world’s strongmen have been slow to recognize Biden as the new president. But look how happy Justin is! Hosts: Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), national