The Inside Story Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How dangerous is the situation in DR Congo? Dec 13, 2025

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The US and UN warn violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo could escalate into a regional conflict. Hundreds of people killed as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seize another city, just over a week after the US brokered a peace deal. How dangerous is the situation?

In this episode:

Kambale Musavuli - Analyst at the Center for Research on the Congo- Kinshasa
Richard Moncrieff - Project Director for the Great Lakes region at the International Crisis Group

Host: Adrian Finighan

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Why does Europe want to restrict migration? Dec 12, 2025

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Twenty-seven European nations which are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights want the treaty changed to restrict migration. Opponents say altering it will weaken fundamental human rights protections in place for more than 70 years. So what are the arguments?

In this episode:

Michael O'Flaherty - Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights and former director of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency.
Jennifer Nader - co-founder of the Compassion in Politics think-tank in London.
Michael McDowell - Senator in Ireland's parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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Could the Ukraine war be nearing an end? Dec 11, 2025

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European leaders have sent new peace proposals for the war in Ukraine to US President Donald Trump. Loss of territory to Russia and use of frozen Russian assets in Ukraine remain areas of disagreement. But could the war be nearing an end?

In this episode:

Peter Zalmayev - Director of Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Chris Weafer - CEO of Macro-Advisory, a strategic consultancy focused on Russia and Eurasia
Steven Erlanger - Chief Diplomatic Correspondent for Europe at The New York Times

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Will Australia's under 16's social media ban work? Dec 10, 2025

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Australia has become the first country in the world to ban social media use for children younger than 16. The move has divided public opinion there, but other countries are considering restrictions too.
What are the arguments for and against? Will the ban work?

In this episode:

Charlotte Armitage, Psychologist, author of ‘Generation Zombie’
Kate Sim, Program Director of Children's Online Safety and Privacy Research at the University of Western Australia
Adrian Monck, Author of 'Can You Trust the Media?' and a senior adviser on artificial intelligence and technology

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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What does the government crackdown on protesters mean for Tanzania's future? Dec 09, 2025

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Tanzania's government is under pressure. Opposition activists are angry about an election that they say was a sham and had called for protests to coincide with Independence Day. The US says it's reconsidering its relationship with the country for the crackdown that followed October's disputed vote. So, what does it all mean for Tanzania's future?

In this episode:

Palamagamba Kabudi, Tanzanian Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports.
Dorothy Semu, ACT-Wazelenko Opposition Party Leader.
Oryem Nyeko, Senior Researcher, Africa Division, Human Rights Watch.

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Can Southeast Asia keep rebuilding after its deadliest storm season? Dec 08, 2025

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Nearly two thousand dead and hundreds missing in one of the worst storm seasons in Southeast Asia's recorded history. Cyclones, typhoons and back-to-back tropical storms are causing floods and landslides so large that some areas may never recover. So how can countries continue to face this escalating threat? And can they afford to keep rebuilding?

In this episode:

Alexandre Borde, Environmental Economist and CEO, Cibola Partners.
Sehr Raheja, Programme Officer, Climate Change Programme, Centre for Science and Environment.
Benjamin Horton, Professor, Earth Science, City University of Hong Kong.

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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What kind of Syria is the new government building? Dec 07, 2025

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Hope, promise and enormous challenges. It's been one year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and even while it celebrates, the country is also confronting the problems of a transitional state. So what kind of Syria is the new government building?

In this episode:

Haid Haid, Researcher, Chatham House.
Ammar Kahf, Executive Director, Omran Center for Strategic Studies.
Heiko Wimmen, Project Director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, International Crisis Group.

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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Who stands to benefit the most from the Putin-Modi summit in India? Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

From limo diplomacy to a ceremonial guard - Vladimir Putin got a red-carpet welcome in India this week.He was there to talk trade ties and energy supply with Narendra Modi. But as New Delhi tries to walk a tightrope between Moscow and Washington - who stands to benefit the most, and what's at stake?

In this episode:

Brahma Chellaney - Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research.
Thomas Pickering - former diplomat and U.S. Ambassador to India and Russia.
Aleksei Zakharov - fellow at Observer Research Foundation focusing on Russia's foreign policy towards South Asia and its relations with India.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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What are the implications of Trump calling Somali-Americans 'garbage'? Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Surrounded by his cabinet, US President Donald Trump described Somalis living in America as 'garbage'. The comments have been widely condemned, but not by his supporters. What are the implications - not just in the US but elsewhere?

In this episode:

Samakab Hussein - Somali-American and Minnesota State House Representative
Joi Chaney - Lawyer and Democratic political strategist
Eric Ham - Political analyst and former U.S. Congressional staffer

Host: Adrian Finighan

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Why is France's Macron in China visiting Xi Jinping? Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

France's President Emmanuel Macron visits China for a three-day state visit - at a tricky time in relations. Under discussion - trade and the Ukraine war - with big differences between the two.
What are the divisions - and what's at stake?

In this episode:

Andy Mok - Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization
Rémi Bourgeot - Associate Research Fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs
Ben Aris - Founder and editor-in-chief of bne IntelliNews

Host: Tom McRae

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