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Artwork for Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Global Dispatches
United Nations
United States
Donald Trump
China
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
Trump Administration
Gaza
Syria
Climate Change
Sudan
Humanitarian Aid
Nuclear Weapons
Venezuela
Haiti
Security Council
Nigeria
Tanzania
International Crisis Group

The longest running independent international affairs podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists and experts around the world who discuss global news, international relations, global development and key trends driving world affairs. Named by The Guardian as "a podcast to make you smarter," Global Dispatches is a podcast for people who crave a deeper understanding of intern... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1344Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Latest Episodes

We are down to the wire in the race for UN Secretary-General, as eight candidates vie to lead the United Nations. They are a diverse group of diplomats, but one thing unites them: each has made revitalizing the UN's role in peacemaking, conflict medi... more

About an hour after polls closed in Israel yesterday, I caught up with longtime Israeli politics analyst Joel Braunold, Managing Director of The Center Project, for a wide-ranging conversation about the implications of the election results.

We kick... more

YouTube

Over the last several years, a vast network of aging oil tankers operating under opaque ownership structures has emerged as a critical lifeline for countries facing Western sanctions—particularly Russia and Iran. This so-called shadow fleet now accou... more

Trump appears to have swung decisively in favor of Russia. Trump has waived sanctions on Russia, from which the United States is now purchasing diesel. Ukraine's defense has been undermined by restrictions on Elon Musk's Starshield, a critical commun... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Joel Braunold
Israeli politics analyst specializing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Center Project
Episode: Making Sense of Israel's Election Results
Nitya Labh
Associate Fellow at Chatham House who studies the shadow fleet
Chatham House
Episode: Inside the "Shadow Fleet" That Russia and Iran Use to Evade Sanctions
Luke Johnson
Journalist covering Ukraine, European politics, and American foreign policy
Public Sphere
Episode: What Happens if Trump Fully Abandons Ukraine for Putin?
Magnus Løvold
Researcher at Lex International Fund working on diplomatic discussions about autonomous weapons
Lex International Fund
Episode: Are We Close to an International Agreement on AI -Powered Weapons?
Courtney Carson
Senior Director at RANI, Resilience Action Network International
RANI (Resilience Action Network International)
Episode: Can the World Build a Better, Fairer System for the Next Pandemic?
Dr. Jalale Getachew Birru
East Africa regional expert with a conflict monitoring non-profit
Acled
Episode: Ethiopia is on the Brink of Civil War
Christian Wenaweser
Liechtenstein's ambassador to the United Nations
Liechtenstein
Episode: Small States and Middle Powers are suddenly Banding Together at the United Nations
Jagan Chapagain
Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
IFRC
Episode: Why the Red Cross Wants a New Treaty for People Caught in Disasters.
Harshani Dharmadasa
Guest, United Nations Foundation
United Nations Foundation
Episode: Trump at the UN — And the Biggest Moments From UNGA

Host

Mark Leon Goldberg
Host of the show focused on international affairs; independent journalist and practitioner with deep ties to Global Dispatches and UN Dispatch.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 755 ratings
  • Another lefty political pod yawn

    Boring orange man bad

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    very funny and clever pod
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Disappointing liberal zionist partisan analysis

    I listened to the latest episode with Joel Braunold and actually disappointment underplays how I feel. Mark did not challenge any of the false analysis made by Braunold. This is despite easily sourced connections to zionist organisations and the state of israel. I thought this podcast upheld neutrality and independence but what we get are partisan skewed analyses. I’ve unfollowed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tioranta
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Word choice matters.

    Odd to say we should “celebrate” funding wars… the free world must be victorious, and might does not equal right - but what a weird choice of words to use in reference to war. However I’m guessing due to this opinion I’ll be labeled as a “far-right MAGA” ideologue, right?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Consumer04312
    United States3 years ago
  • Disappointingly Naive

    Only recently came to this podcast.

    So, this review is primarily a response to the podcast on the China-USA relationship, as evidenced by the proposed actions against TikTok.

    Will listen to more episodes in the future, hopefully with better insight.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Exasperatd
    United States3 years ago
  • Excellent Africa analysis

    Its rare to find long form in depth reporting on events in Africa. This podcast regularly devotes entire episodes to African news and generally offers a good perspective for listeners who dont normally deep dive into it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DelCoTrash
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique occasional perceived bias; overall authority and depth are noted.
Listeners praise deep, nuanced international coverage with expert guests.
Many find the analysis rigorous and policy-focused, helpful for professionals.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#246
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#30
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#51
Japan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#57
Ukraine/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inside the "Shadow Fleet" That Russia and Iran Use to Evade Sanctions
Q: Where is this all heading?
Labh says that if the shadow fleet grows to half of all tankers, it would be better understood as a parallel fleet. She compares it with the Soviet merchant fleet, while noting that operating through opaque networks is costly and risky and that market incentives could encourage reintegration. She warns that the workaround can make sanctions less effective in negotiations.
Inside the "Shadow Fleet" That Russia and Iran Use to Evade Sanctions
Q: Maybe walk me and listeners through how this works in practice. So say there's a tanker full of oil at some Russian port. Like, what happens?
Labh describes how ships obtain insurance through Russian or Chinese insurers and shell companies, hire crews through opaque arrangements, and use ships that may have fallen out of legal registries. At sea, operators can change ship names or flag registries to evade detection.
Making Sense of Israel's Election Results
Q: How different would an opposition government led by Gadi Eisenkot be on the Palestinian issue?
Braunold says the opposition has not clearly explained its intended policy, but argues it opposes the outgoing coalition's expulsion agenda and may clamp down on settler violence and dismantle some unauthorized settlements.
Making Sense of Israel's Election Results
Q: What accounts for the massive turnout by Arab Israelis in this election?
Braunold says Arab voters were motivated by opposition to the outgoing coalition's policies toward Palestinians and Arab citizens, as well as rising crime in Arab communities under the national security minister.
Are We Close to an International Agreement on AI -Powered Weapons?
Q: What was that meeting and how does that meeting fit into ongoing diplomatic discussions about how to deal with this issue?
A group of governmental experts agreed on a report outlining possible elements for an instrument on autonomous weapons. At a November review conference, states will decide whether to begin negotiating a legally binding protocol within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A globally focused international affairs show that hosts in-depth conversations with policymakers, journalists, and academics, with a strong emphasis on global governance, diplomacy, conflict, and development. Recent episodes typically explore UN reform, migration policy, global health, and major geopolitical flashpoints through expert analysis and first-hand reporting. The program often features practitioners and researchers from think tanks, universities, and international organizations, delivering nuanced takes that move beyond headlines. A notable strength is the depth and variety of high-caliber guests, ranging from UN diplomats to crisis-prevention specialists, which makes it especially valuable for listeners who want actionable conte... more

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1. Foreign Policy Live
2. Hold Your Fire!
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. The Horn
5. The President’s Inbox

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this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 1344 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Joel Braunold
2. Nitya Labh
3. Luke Johnson
4. Magnus Løvold
5. Courtney Carson
6. Dr. Jalale Getachew Birru
7. Christian Wenaweser
8. Jagan Chapagain

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