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If You’re Listening — News & Politics
If You’re Listening

The world is on fire. There’s a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.

Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine’s incursions into Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.

The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom’s 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia, Donald Trump’s presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin’s scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia’s turbulent history with climate change.

There’s a new episode of If You’re Listening every Thursday.

Latest Episodes:

Iran, Israel and the calculus of revenge Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

Iran and Israel are caught in a cycle of revenge.

On April Fools' Day, there was a huge escalation in the conflict when an Israeli air strike killed 16 people, including two Iranian Generals.

Two weeks later, the skies over Israel lit up with a counterattack.

It might seem like in this conflict, anything goes, but each response and retaliation is a calculated move.

Israel knew the attack was coming and almost every drone and missile was intercepted.

So, when the game of chess begins, how does it end?

Last time the revenge cycle started to turn, Donald Trump was in the White House, and the wheel only stopped because of a tragic mistake.

This time, Israel's response could change the trajectory of the conflict in the Middle East.

Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.

Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_dbh10orQc

Looking for Modi 06 | Modi and the money Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Lifting Indians out of poverty lies at the core of Narendra Modi's wildly popular political strategy. And it's worked: during his Prime Ministership, India has risen from the tenth largest economy in the world to the fifth. But this rising tide has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor in India, and has raised questions about Modi's ties to business leaders who have turned the nation's rise to their own advantage.

Why do people hate wind farms? — Live Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

People don't like wind farms. They say they're bad for wildlife, they affect property values and they create pollution.

But are any of these claims true?

Today, the wind farm debate and how it nearly tore the small Australian community of King Island apart.

This episode of If You're Listening is a live recording from the Newcastle Writers Festival.

Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.

Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ-9hfWk8TI

Looking for Modi 05 | The riots Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

In 2002, Narendra Modi's carefully crafted political story was rocked by a series of deadly attacks in his home state of Gujarat, where he was the highly popular Chief Minister. Thousands were killed in a wave of riots that lasted for three days and became a major national scandal.

Modi's role in the violence has been heavily contested in the decades since, but he has never been able to shake the association in the minds of some Indians. How did he manage to survive such a high-profile catastrophe, and what is the legacy of those terrifying riots today?

Duterte vs Marcos: The feud that might tear the Philippines apart Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

The Duterte and Marcos families are the Montagues and Capulets of the Philippines.

They are, depending on who you ask, the country's most famous statesmen, thieves, murderers or heroes.

They have tussled for power for nearly 60 years, and now there are talks of secession splitting the country in two.

Could this family feud literally tear the Philippines apart?

Want to watch Matt present If You're Listening live from the Newcastle Writers Festival this Sunday, April 7? A stream will be posted to this channel on YouTube

Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.

Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5pPcV54kiQ

Looking for Modi 04 | When holy politics turn violent Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

In January 2024, Narendra Modi travelled to the northern Indian town of Ayodhya to attend the consecration of a Hindu temple with a very contested history. The site had previously been occupied by a 500-year-old mosque, and had become a focal point of broader disputes between India's Hindu and Muslim communities.

That fight over one hill in Ayodhya resulted in a demolition, mass protests and deadly retaliations across India. It also gave Modi a cause he could champion throughout his rapid political rise.

How Japan opted out of a global housing crisis Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Australia’s housing market is, like many places in the Western world, in the midst of a crisis that feels like it will never be solved. Owning a property in an Australian city has only drifted further out of reach for most Australians in the last decade, and there are very few practical solutions on offer. Is it possible to actually unpick this situation?

Japan offers a useful example. Thirty years ago, property in Tokyo was the most expensive in the world. Today, home ownership in that same city is comparatively affordable, with plenty of available stock on the market. How was this massive turnaround achieved, and how can other countries learn from the Japanese model?

Looking for Modi 03 | Modi and the Swami Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

When Narendra Modi left home, it wasn't to begin a career in politics. He wanted to be a monk. Modi's teenaged pilgrimage would take him across India, following the trail of his country's most influential religious leader. It was a journey that would ultimately steer him towards politics, and lay the foundation for some of his most popular and controversial philosophies.

Kate Middleton and the 100-year history of fake photos Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

The Princess of Wales has barely been seen since Christmas and everyone is asking, where is Kate?

The Royal Family released a photo meant to squash the rumours, but when it became obvious it had been photoshopped, the speculation just got worse.

Fake photos are everywhere, and there's a long history of people doctoring them, from photocopying to photoshopping, to straight up AI.

But is there a time coming where we won't be able to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake?

Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.

Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihzt5GNfnig

Looking for Modi 02 | The abandoned wife Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

For most politicians, the image of a stable marriage and a happy family is a crucial part of their pitch to voters. But in India, being single is a selling point: leaders want to show that they are dedicated only to their country. Narendra Modi's carefully crafted image of a bachelor was up-ended when it emerged that he had a wife who had been kept secret for decades.

Since this scandal broke, Modi's estranged wife has barely been seen or spoken to the media. In this episode, we're going to find her.

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