Episodes

  • Munich Security Conference sounds the alarm

    Munich Security Conference sounds the alarm
    Feb 13 2026
    The post-war international order is under unprecedented strain. At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, a stark warning has emerged: The United States is "taking an axe" to decades of established global norms. As the conference opens in Munich, Europe finds itself struggling to adapt to a rapidly shifting strategic reality, while global economic uncertainty continues to mount. What does this mean for transatlantic ties, international institutions, and the rules-based order built after World War II? How will Europe navigate this new normal, and how is China viewing the changes underway?
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    26 mins
  • What the Epstein files reveal about power, secrecy, and the system

    What the Epstein files reveal about power, secrecy, and the system
    Feb 11 2026
    Over the past year, a massive release of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has pulled back the curtain on one of the most disturbing scandals of our time. Following a law passed by the U.S. Congress in November demanding full transparency, the Department of Justice has published more than 3 million pages of material, including over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. These files implicate a web of powerful figures: business tycoons, government officials, and royalty. How did the system allow this to happen? Where did accountability fail? And how transparent or functional are Western political and social systems when power and privilege are involved?
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    26 mins
  • Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years: How justice is served

    Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years: How justice is served
    Feb 9 2026
    Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to publish seditious materials and collusion with external forces to endanger national security. The Hong Kong SAR government welcomed the verdict, saying the conviction demonstrates that righteousness is upheld by the law. Is the 20-year sentence justified? How did the court arrive at this decision? And what does the case signal for Hong Kong going forward?
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    26 mins
  • ChinaMaxxing: What's behind the growing interest in Chinese culture?

    ChinaMaxxing: What's behind the growing interest in Chinese culture?
    Feb 6 2026
    Are you also living through a "very Chinese" phase of your life? From cooking Chinese food and using Chinese apps to declaring "I'm becoming Chinese," a viral trend is sweeping social media worldwide. At the same time, China is opening its doors wider than ever. In 2025, China welcomed 41 million inbound travelers, following the extension of its visa-free transit policy to 10 days, marking a 27% year-on-year increase. Transit visa arrivals alone surged by 60% compared with pre-policy levels. So what's behind this sudden wave of China enthusiasm? Why is China so cool right now? Is this just an internet fad, or the beginning of a deeper global shift in how China is perceived?
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    26 mins
  • Why world leaders are consistently heading to Beijing

    Why world leaders are consistently heading to Beijing
    Feb 2 2026
    A growing number of world leaders have been traveling to China recently. From Spain's King Felipe VI to leaders from France, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Finland and the UK, a wave of high-level visits to Beijing is well underway. What's driving this surge?
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    26 mins
  • New script in an old playbook?

    New script in an old playbook?
    Jan 26 2026
    On January 27, 2026, the United States will officially withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time. Earlier, the Trump administration also signed an order to pull the U.S. out of 66 international organizations, including dozens of United Nations bodies. And yet U.S. foreign policy hasn't slowed down. Military operations involving Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro, tensions over Greenland, and threats against Iran—America appears to be shrinking in cooperation while expanding in power projection. How to make sense of these seemingly contradictory behaviors? How do these moves affect global politics and how should other countries respond?
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    26 mins
  • Trump, Greenland, and a growing rift with Europe

    Trump, Greenland, and a growing rift with Europe
    Jan 23 2026
    At this year's World Economic Forum, a deepening rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders was once again thrust into the spotlight. Trump has ruled out the use of force for now and has walked back earlier rhetoric, but he continues to insist on the U.S. being granted "right, title, and ownership" of the Danish territory. Denmark, however, has pushed back swiftly and firmly, stressing that decisions concerning Greenland can only be made by Denmark and Greenland themselves, and that sovereignty is non-negotiable. How does the Trump administration currently view Europe and its allies? And what does this standoff mean for the future of U.S.-Europe relations?
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    26 mins
  • Trump 2.0 at one year

    Trump 2.0 at one year
    Jan 21 2026
    January 20 marks one full year since Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States. The White House calls it "365 wins in 365 days," branding Trump's return as a "new era of success and prosperity." But outside the White House, the picture looks very different. Public opinion polls at home show a deeply divided America, while Trump's "Donroe Doctrine" is raising concerns about global stability, alliances, and the future of U.S. leadership. How should we evaluate Trump's second term so far? What has actually changed, and at what cost?
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    26 mins