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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:

RUSSIA | S03 02 - From spymaster to president Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

Russian President Vladimir Putin came to power declaring he would kill his terrorist enemies, even if they were in the toilet at the time.

His transition from spymaster to President came in the midst of apartment bombings, and brutal crackdowns on those he held responsible.

He learned that having an enemy to fight makes you a popular leader.

The turbulent first years of his Presidency tell us a lot about why he has picked a fight with the West.

RUSSIA | S03 01 - A cold, wet day in Salisbury Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

The residents of the sleepy English town of Salisbury woke up one morning to find their town in chaos.

Russian agents had attempted to assassinate a traitor with a terrifying weapon, in a brazen chemical attack on British soil.

But the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal is only one step in a series of events which began five years ago and may help bring about Brexit, and the impeachment of a US President.

Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening begins in Salisbury, to tell the whole story of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 5-year attack on the western world.

INTRODUCING Season Three | Putin vs The World Oct 17, 2019

Show notes

The Russian campaign to meddle in the 2016 US Election was only part of President Vladimir Putin's big plan.

Season 3 of Russia, If You're Listening looks at where the scheme to destroy western democracies began, the damage it's done, and where it might end.

RUSSIA | S02 08 - The night at the wine rooms May 23, 2019

Show notes

It's the meeting at a fancy wine bar in London that sparked the Mueller investigation.

Some say it was a boozy, alcohol-fuelled drinking session where a clever spy tricked a Trump official into divulging information about Russia.

Others say it was a brief encounter where a Trump official naively blurted something to a senior diplomat.

So what is the truth?

For the first time, both people at the meeting - George Papadopoulos and Alexander Downer - reveal what really happened that night.

Here's one spoiler: they agree they both had a gin and tonic.

So pull up a chair and grab a drink, because this story gets weird.

RUSSIA | S02 07 - Oleg Deripaska: The collusion connection? May 02, 2019

Show notes

Robert Mueller has investigated the relationship between former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

Deripaska is an aluminium tycoon with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Manafort tried to funnel secret insider information about the Trump election strategy to him.

Was that information then used by Russia to influence the election?

The story behind the last remaining collusion question.

RUSSIA | S02 06 - Don McGahn: Mueller's star witness Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

Lawyer Don McGahn was on the Trump train from the beginning.

But the dream job of White House Counsel quickly turned into a nightmare, as he slowly fell out of favour with the President.

Then one night McGahn was forced to make a choice of historic proportions: help Trump potentially commit a crime or resign.

McGahn has found himself the centre of attention, as his testimony to Robert Mueller implicates the President in possible obstruction of justice.

RUSSIA | S02 05 - Julian Assange: Russia's favourite publisher Apr 18, 2019

Show notes

When Julian Assange was arrested last week, the only camera to capture it was Russian broadcaster RT.

It's the latest event in a long relationship between the Wikileaks founder and the state-sponsored network.

Assange has denied working with Russian military hackers to influence the US election.

But what does Robert Mueller know about Assange’s links to Russia?

RUSSIA | S02 04 - Sergey Kislyak: The radioactive ambassador Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Everyone who meets Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak ends up in deep trouble. But what if that was the point?

Robert Mueller seems to have found no evidence that the Trump campaign were willing participants in the criminal Russian effort to disrupt the 2016 election.

But what if the Trump campaign were unwitting targets of a spy operation, led from the Russian Embassy

Were they tricked into taking pointless but suspicious-looking meetings - which the media and FBI would discover and investigate?

RUSSIA | S02 03 - Rob Goldstone: 'I regret all of it' Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Affable Englishman Rob Goldstone was literally in the room for the infamous Trump Tower Meeting, and he was with Donald Trump the weekend of the mythical "pee tape".

But when you look at the rest of the characters involved in the Trump/Russia saga - Republican operatives, Trump family members and Russian spies - Rob Goldstone seems like the odd man out.

He puts a lot of his story down to accidents and misunderstandings, but is that all there is to it?

You can get a link to the full interview on our website.

RUSSIA | S02 02 - Maria Butina: Russian in the NRA Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

An undercover Australian journalist from Al Jazeera spent three years inside the National Rifle Association of America.

He wasn't the only one trying figure it out. Simultaneously, a Russian secret agent was trying to infiltrate the NRA.

She is now the only Russian secret agent behind bars for Russia's meddling in the election, and could hold the key to understanding Putin's plans.

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