#geopolitics
215 episodes
#4660: When a Journalist Became the Gatekeeper for AI Geolocation
GeoSpy could locate anyone from a photo. A journalist exposed it. The founder pulled it. Who's really in charge?
#4618: Hong Kong vs Mainland China: The Real Mechanics
What's actually separate, what's converged, and how the border really works between Hong Kong and mainland China.
#4538: Inside Dubai: Pearls, Oil, and the 90% Expat Nation
Dubai's towers hide a deeper story: a tiny citizen class, a 90% expat workforce, and two economic collapses that forced reinvention.
#4530: Ceuta's Border Fence: What the Footage Misses
The viral fence breach footage raises big questions. What is Ceuta, how did thousands get over, and what happens next?
#4470: The F-35 Export Dilemma: Trust, Tech, and Tethering
How the U.S. sells its most advanced stealth jet without handing adversaries the keys to defeat it.
#4418: Where Is the Internet Still Missing?
96% coverage, but 2.6 billion people are offline. Where are the truly dark spots on Earth?
#4373: Why Jaffa Street Has Three Names
Addresses are human-readable, not machine-validatable. Why global logistics breaks on transliteration.
#4120: Can Shared Faith Bridge Jerusalem’s Deepest Divides?
Do pilgrims to Jerusalem find more common ground in shared religiosity than division in theology?
#3969: Socotra: Can You Actually Visit Yemen's Alien Island?
Dragon blood trees, war zone sovereignty, and an Israeli passport — the real questions about visiting Socotra in 2026.
#3952: How Sectarian Identity Predicts Middle East Politics
Why sectarian identity predicts political views across the Muslim world more reliably than income, education, or age.
#3879: What the Moon Actually Smells Like
Twelve humans have walked on the Moon. Here's what it actually felt, smelled, and sounded like—and why we stopped going.
#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.