Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

Going into the summit in Beijing between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the narrative from China is that President Trump is weak and distracted.  Beijing sees the Iran war, and mid term elections on the horizon as weaknesses for President Trump, who last month postponed his planned meeting with President Xi on account of the war.  President Trump arrives with his own agenda, with trade, tech and Taiwan high on the list.

In this over-stimulated moment in international affairs, observers have set a low bar for success for the summit this week scheduled between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. A lack of fireworks would be nice, they say.   In the Asia Pacific, there's hope for a summit where President Trump doesn't rile Beijing's emotions, and that instead ushers in a period of stability. What are the chances? Guest: Kirsty Needham, Australia and Pacific correspondent, AFP and former SMH Beijing correspondent

The UK's local council elections last week saw Labor lose Wales for the first time in 100 years. Reform UK and the Greens also made big strides in traditional Tory and Labor heartland. Old loyalties are breaking down, and with it Britain's traditional political system. What does this mean for the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system? What foundation does this lay for Scottish and Welsh independence? And if the UK isn't safe from populism, is Australia? Guest: Krishnan Guru-Murthy, British journalist and Channel 4 News presenter. ------- Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Indonesia is one of Australia's nearest neighbours but the nature of its people, art and culture remain a mystery to many. In the fourth instalment of Global Roaming's Indonesia Rising, hosts Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue leave the politics behind for a deeply personal insight into Indonesian identity and the country's rich history of literature, poetry and art. Guest: Laksmi Pamuntiak, Indonesian poet and novelist. Reading recommendations: Hamish: The Question of Red by Laksmi Pamuntiak. Geraldine: The Year of Living Dangerously by Christopher Koch Laksmi: Indonesia, Etc. by Elizabeth Pisani, Race, Islam and Power by Andreas Harsono, Saman by Ayu Utami, the essays of Goenawan Mohamad in Tempo,  Beauty Is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan, and the Buru Tetralogy and The Mute’s Soliloquy Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Mentions: Global Roaming with David Van Reybrouck - Indonesia Rising: The struggle to reclaim history Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award.

From Ukraine to Iran, the rapid advancement of cheap and mass-produced drones is reshaping battlefields around the world. Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only four militaries around the world were using small drones. Now, according to today's guest on Global Roaming, there are more than 40. Host Hamish Macdonald visits a counter-drone technology factory in an undisclosed location in Sydney to find out more. Guest: Terry Van Haren, vice president of DroneShield, an Australian military technology company Mentions: Global Roaming with Peter Pomerantsev: Is Russia's time as a dominant power coming to an end?  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

The war with Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil and gas prices through the roof. As countries scramble to secure energy supplies, sales of rooftop solar and electric vehicle sales are soaring. Is the war forcing the world to break its fossil fuel addiction? And how viable are alternative low-emissions fuels?    Guest: Dani Alexander, the chief executive of the University of New South Wales Energy Institute Get in touch: We’d love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the frontline with Russia, Poland is now spending a massive $90 billion on defence, bolstered by a loan from the EU and multinational forces from Europe and the US stationed in the country. In Warsaw, the view is that the only way to stop Russia is deterrence. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has condemned what he calls the disintegration of NATO from within, declaring the greatest threat is not its external enemies.  And asked whether Poland can rely on US President Donald Trump to intervene if Russia attacks, Poland's deputy foreign minister suggests the answer lies closer to home. Guest: Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland Get in touch: We’d love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Russia has crossed the threshold of losing more soldiers than it's able to mobilise. Some troops are paying their commanders to get a spot at the back of the Russian forces. Others are deserting entirely. And when soldiers do return home, they often bring the violence with them. President Putin controls a powerful pro-war narrative, which helped rationalise this war of choice to his people. But are the effects of this propaganda beginning to wane? And after a harsh winter, what has changed within Ukraine? As Russia fails to bring this war to a close, and the world moves to phase out fossil fuels, Russia's main export, how much longer can Russia hold on to the pretence of global superpower status? Guest: Peter Pomerantsev -- Kiev-born writer; political analyst; senior fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University; co-director of the Arena Initiative; co-founder of The Reckoning Project; author of Nothing is True and Everything is Possible and This Is Not Propaganda. Geraldine's further reading recommendations: The Closing of the Russian Mind: How Putin's Ideology Took the Nation Hostage, by Andrei Kolesnikov. Inside the belly of the beast, by Noonie Minogue. Russia Starts Here: Real Lives in the Ruins of Empire, by Howard Amos. Get in touch: We’d love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Global Roaming's mini-series, Indonesia Rising, Hamish returns to Jakarta to speak to Indonesian communications minister Meutya Hafid. How effective has Indonesia's social media ban for children under 16 been? What can Australia learn from its approach? And does the minister support President Prabowo's plan for "bottom-up" economic growth? Meutya has a strong connection to Australia. She spent her university years in Sydney, working in a takeaway chicken shop while studying engineering.  Guest: Meutya Hafid, Indonesia's Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award. Indonesia Rising sound design by Samuel Phelps.

Indonesia declared independence from Dutch rule in 1945, sparking a violent revolution. It was the first country to do so in the wake of World War II and a move that quietly shaped the Global South into what it is today.  How did the revolution start? What effect did it have internationally? And why is it not marked as a significant moment of global history? Guest: David Van Reybrouck, Belgian historian and author of Revolusi. Mentioned: Geraldine and Hamish spoke about the Indonesia Calling (1946) documentary, at the end of the episode. It's a part of Australia's and Indonesia's shared history: Trade union seamen and waterside workers refused to service Dutch ships that contained weapons destined for use against Indonesia's independence movement. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award.

There’s an important meeting in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s diary. On Monday, Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, will touch down in Australia for high‑level talks with the Albanese government, following Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s trip to Tokyo to shore up fuel and fertiliser supplies. So, are friends in need friends indeed? Australia wants fuel from our friends in the north, but what will Japan’s new prime minister want in return? Takaichi has been called the world’s most powerful woman. So, how will Anthony Albanese approach the meeting? And as Japan bolsters its defences against China, does Tokyo expect Australia to do the same? Guest: Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of the Australia‑Japan Research Centre and the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research, and Editor of the East Asia Forum at the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy. Recommendations: Geraldine - Drops of God (TV series) Hamish - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami Get in touch: We’d love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth denies Trump's war on Iran has hit a "quagmire", but the reality on the ground tells a different story. With an ongoing stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts yielding little progress, the war appears to have hit a stalemate.  So what or who decides how this ends? And what does the United Arab Emirates' split from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) say about fracturing relations in the Middle East? Guest: Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder and chief executive of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

On Saturday evening a gunman attempted to storm the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington DC.  The act of political violence -  the third assassination attempt of US President Donald Trump - occurred just three days before the 30th anniversary of Australia's deadliest mass shooting, the Port Arthur massacre, which prompted sweeping gun reform. So why has one country been able to respond to gun violence decisively while another hasn't? And what comes next, an increasingly violent and polarised United States? On this episode of Global Roaming, hosts Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke turn their focus to Washington DC to find out. Guest: David Smith, Washington bureau chief for The Guardian Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping power, cyber security and geopolitics, but can anyone really control it? From the US-China AI arms race to Taiwan's chip power, hosts Kylie Morris and Waleed Aly dive into the rapidly changing world of AI and the limits of democratic powers to regulate it.  What can we make of Anthropic's decision not to release its powerful Mythos model? And do we truly understand what we're building and who will control it? Guest: Rohit Krishnan, AI investor and operator and Substack essayist, The Strange Loop Canon. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the eve of Anzac Day, the Global Roaming team comes together to discuss war, peace and what Australia's national day of remembrance means as conflict rages around the globe.   What's missing from daily coverage of conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Europe? Does the way we talk about war need to change? And where are the peacemakers?  Hosts: Latika Bourke, Kylie Morris, Hamish Macdonald, Geraldine Doogue Recommendations:  Geraldine - Why Great Powers Sleepwalk to War — A Masterclass with Hugh White Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all Global Roaming episodes via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes. But since then, he's visited the US and Hungary and news of the ICC case has grown quiet.  So what's happened to the proceedings? What plays are being made behind the scenes? And is the "breakdown" of multilateral organisations like the United Nations having a impact? Guest: Kenneth Roth, former federal prosecutor for New York and the Iran-Contra investigation; former executive director of Human Rights Watch; author of Righting Wrongs. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all Global Roaming episodes via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is sending shock waves through the global economy. Supply chains are in disarray, inflation is surging and oil prices remain high. With no end in sight to the US-Iran war, is a global recession inevitable? And does that metric even matter?   On this episode of Global Roaming, Latika and Geraldine examine how the US economy is holding up and what it could mean for Australia.   Guest: Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan.  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Trump's AI-generated image of himself as the Pope has drawn harsh criticism. He also called the Pope “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” in a Truth Social post. What does Trump gain from these bizarre allusions to Christianity? Are MAGA’s Christian nationalists tearing open long held wounds between the Catholic and Protestant faith in the United States? Hamish Macdonald and guest presenter Waleed Aly dive into whether Trump's antics are driving away Catholics as the the mid-term elections approach. Guest: Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer at The Atlantic. ------------ Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Australia's close neighbour is changing before our eyes. By mid-century, Indonesia is forecast to become the world’s fourth largest economy – imagine that! So how is Indonesia's economy really performing? Is democracy making a difference? And how will President Prabowo Subianto tackle the challenge of building infrastructure across an archipelago? In the first episode of Global Roaming's Indonesia Rising series, Hamish speaks with economist Dr Mari Pangestu to learn how the country is weathering global economic shocks and what's at stake in its partnership with Australia. Guest: Dr Mari Pangestu, economist, Indonesia's former Minister of Trade (2004-2011) and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (2011-2014), and the former World Bank managing director (2020-2023).  ------------ Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. -------------- Indonesia Rising sound design by Samuel Phelps. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award.

Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting global headwinds and now the war in the Middle East have hit the British hard. So with some of the world's highest energy costs and a stretched defence force,  what does the future hold?  Can Britain's deeply unpopular prime minister, Keir Starmer, survive the upcoming elections? And will this fallen empire ever rise again? On this episode of Global Roaming, Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) go the London.  Guest: James Crabtree, geopolitical analyst and author. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Péter Magyar has beaten Viktor Orbán in Hungary's election, ending 16 years of autocratic rule. Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians celebrated in the streets of Budapest as the results were announced. Maygar won in a landslide, meaning his government has the power to enact significant reform, including bringing Hungary back into the EU fold. Hungarians voted for change of government and they got it. Does this signal the end of strongman politics? And what will America and Russia do now they've lost their man in Europe? Guest: Gergő Papp, Hungarian political campaigns consultant and author of 'The Fall of Orbán: How a Political Outsider Toppled Europe’s Trump'. The book will be available in English in a few months. ------------ Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The war in the Middle East is sending shock waves through global supply chains, so where does this leave economic superpower China? Will it emerge as a genuine global leader or merely make a profit from global disorder? Does Beijing see the US and the President Trump's instability as a threat or opportunity? In this episode, Geraldine and Latika go roaming to find out if China wants the global power but not the global responsibility. The article Geraldine references from Foreign Affairs, written by Zongyuan Zoe Liu is here. Guest: Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of 'Forgotten Ally, China’s World War II'. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The ink hadn't even dried on the initial US-Iran ceasefire last week when Israel launched an unprecedented bombardment on Lebanon's capital, Beirut.  Latika Bourke and Laura Tingle speak to a seasoned analyst from the International Crisis Group in Lebanon, who gives a unique insight into the fissures in Lebanese society.  Is Hezbollah putting Iran's interests over Lebanon's? Will their most recent support of Iran continue a cycle of perpetual warfare? And is fermenting internal division a tactic employed by Israel to weaken the country? Guest: Heiko Wimmen, overseer of the International Crisis Group's Iraq, Syria and Lebanon project. -------------- Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In our previous Matter of Facts mini-series episodes, we covered why our brains are vulnerable to misinformation, and how disinformation is affecting democracies. Today, we examine the public's trust (or lack thereof) in mainstream media. For decades, news outlets functioned to bridge the gap between the public and those in power. So, how did faith in traditional journalism erode, and what needs to change in how the media operates to start fixing the mess? Guest: Ulrik Haagerup, founder and CEO of Constructive Institute. ----------------- Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is Wikipedia a relic of a more utopian version of the internet? Or is it the citizen-led antidote that we need? In the final episode of Global Roaming's Matter of Facts mini-series, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales joins Hamish and Geraldine to discuss how much we should value freedom of speech over stifling active disinformation. This episode is part of a companion series to Hamish's three-part TV documentary, The Matter of Facts. Guest: Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Middle East conflict has triggered a reckoning in global energy supplies.  So as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese touches down in Singapore for talks to shore up fuel supplies, are there opportunities amidst the disruption? Could Australia work with South East Asia to develop more resilient energy supply chains?  In this episode, Hamish and Geraldine travel to Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and now the most populous city in the world, to find out.  Guest: Dr Kao Kim Hourn,  Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)  Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award. The award provides for a visit to Indonesia supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute (All) within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The war in Iran has aroused worldwide fears: what happens if a country runs out of oil? Because of severe US restrictions, Cuba has faced that reality, having been without oil for three months. Latika and Kylie speak to correspondent Ruaridh Nicoll who has been travelling across the country to find out how the Cubans are surviving. Guest: Ruaridh Nicoll, journalist, freelancer, and author. He has worked with The Guardian, The Telegraph UK, and Al Jazeera, among others. ------------- Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

A ceasefire is declared after Donald Trump agrees to a two-week pause in attacks on Iran, contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But is this a genuine de-escalation or a strategic pause? A reprieve that the world has been desperate to see or statecraft in action?  In this episode of Global Roaming Geraldine and Latika speak to one of the UK's leading war and military specialists to better understand where the Middle East conflict is headed.  Guest: Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Australia's education system is one of our most successful export industries, worth an estimated 54 billion dollars. But as perceptions that our universities are "mediocre and overpriced" rise, is the opportunity to use education as a way to build stronger relationships with south east Asia passing Australia by?  This episode Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris go to Ho Chi Minh City to speak with Damien Cave from the New York Times, who argues Australian universities are failing as a frontline of Australian foreign policy. Guest: New York Times' Vietnam bureau chief, Damien Cave. Read his story for ABC's Long Read here: Is Australia's university empire losing global appeal? Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. *Hamish is in Indonesia as the winner of the 2024 Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award. The award provides for a visit to Indonesia supported by the Australia-Indonesia Institute (All) within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Today, a special episode recorded at the Manly Writer's Festival 2026 where Geraldine speaks to three highly experienced diplomats -- Ian Kemish AM, Dr Robert Bowker, Dr Lachlan Straun. They talk about the challenges they faced in foreign negotiating rooms, how accurate the media representations of diplomats are, and whether there is a distinctly Australian style of diplomacy. Guests: Ian Kemish AM -- former Australian ambassador to Germany, former Australian high commissioner to Papua New Guinea and former international adviser to the prime minister. Author of The Consul: an insider account from Australia's diplomatic frontline and Two Islands. Dr Robert Bowker -- Australian ambassador to Jordan (1989-1992), Australian ambassador to Egypt (2005-2008) and former non-resident Australian ambassador to Syria, Libya, Tunisia and Sudan. Author of Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots: An Australian Diplomat in the Arab World. Dr Lachlan Strahan -- former High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, First Assistant Secretary of the DFAT Multilateral Policy Division, and Australia’s former Acting United Nations Ambassador in Geneva. Author of The Curious Diplomat: A memoir from the frontlines of diplomacy.    Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

As the war in the Middle East rages, Israel is waging offensives on multiple fronts. The state is pounding Iran and Beirut with missiles and drones. Ground troops are pushing deep into southern Lebanon and occupy half of Gaza. The expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank has become "unconstrained" and increasingly violent.  Is this Benjamin Netanyahu pursuing his expansionist dream of "Greater Israel"? And how do ordinary Israelis feel about the conflict?  On this episode of Global Roaming Kylie and Latika go to Israel to find out.  Guest: Daliah Scheindlin, public opinion researcher, political advisor and policy fellow at The Century Foundation. She is the author of The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel: Promise Unfulfilled Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Iran has withstood US and Israel's offensive more effectively than those who attacked it had expected. They've made the most of geography - and shown just how vulnerable the global economy is. Despite this, Iran's allies, Moscow and Beijing, have been keeping their distance. But what about Yemen's Houthis? What difference could they make in this war? And at what point will the Gulf countries step in? Guest: Neil Quilliam, energy policy, geopolitics and foreign affairs specialist. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

President Trump’s campaign to pull allies like Australia and Japan into defending the Strait of Hormuz is growing more urgent by the day. Japan's pacifist constitution is seemingly at odds with the US calling for them to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Former Japanese ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, insists there are ways the country can contribute without directly going against their constitutional prerogative. But how far will they be pulled into US interests? And will it influence Australia to do the same? Guest: Shingo Yamagami, former Japanese ambassador to Australia. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Disinformation accelerated by AI is affecting democracies worldwide at an extraordinary pace. Governments overseas are wielding it against their own citizens. Meanwhile closer to home, perceptions of AI interference in elections have us questioning everything. It's an information war being fought on several fronts. We finally have some empirical data on this new phenomena. So, how do we safeguard our democracies from digital interference? ------------ GUEST: Dr Constanza Sanhueza, researcher and senior lecturer in political science at ANU. This is the second of Global Roaming's mini series on misinformation and disinformation. Hamish's documentary is called A Matter of Facts, and will be released on iView on Tuesday 24th March 2026. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With a rogue United States causing havoc in the Middle East, is it time for Australia to abandon its 'good doggy' approach to US foreign policy? In the final instalment of Global Roaming's three-part series, The World Reordered, hosts Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are joined by one of Australia's most respected military thinkers, who argues Australia needs to 'grow up'. Guest: David Kilcullen, Professor of Practice in the Center on the Future of War and the School of Politics and Global Studies, former Australian Army lieutenant colonel, counterinsurgency expert and author. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

How much do we Australians really understand South East Asia? Australia has long prioritised neighbours further north when it comes to our strategic alliances, but as China rises as a great power, have our blind spots become our greatest weakness?  Michael Wesley joins Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) to make the case for appraising South East Asia as more than a holiday destination, and in particular, why we should be doing more to partner with Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.  Guest: Michael Wesley, author of Quarterly essay Blindspot: Southeast Asia and Australia’s Future Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In a broad-ranging conversation, Hamish Macdonald speaks to historian and host of the hit podcast Empire William Dalrymple about the pitfalls of trying to understand the contemporary world without a firm grasp of the past, whether India can replicate its success as an ancient superpower and how countries like Australia and Britain deal with uncomfortable truths from their past.

The world is getting more dangerous. The closure of the Straight of Hormuz has sent shock waves around the world. The price of oil has skyrocketed and with fuel shortages now reaching Asia, Australia faces 'crunch time' on its energy security. So how vulnerable are we right now? And how do our perceptions shape our foreign policy?  Rory Medcalf from the ANU's National Security College has been studying how our security expectations match up our reality. He joins Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris to talk about why public opinion matters.  Guest: Professor Rory Medcalf, Director of the ANU's National Security College.  Further reading:  Report - No worries? Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilience Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

To celebrate Hamish Macdonald's new television series The Matter of Facts, we'll be taking a deep dive into the global ramifications of mis- and disinformation. First up is the world of AI deepfakes.  Generative artificial intelligence has us questioning our own eyes and ears, and the rapid pace at which we're consuming information is quite literally changing our brains. How do we navigate this world without falling prey to manipulation? In this episode, “deep reading” expert Maryanne Wolf joins Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to unpack what it means to engage critically with information. ----------- Guest: Maryanne Wolf -- Director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. And author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain. This is the first of Global Roaming's mini series on misinformation and disinformation. Hamish's documentary is called The Matter of Facts, and will be released on iView on Tuesday 24th March 2026. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With Ali Larijani killed, and the whereabouts of the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei unknown, who is calling the shots in Iran?  Iranian-American historian Arash Azizi joins Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald to talk through the emerging power players, like Mohammad Bagher Ghabliaf and Saeed Jalili, and how much would genuinely change under their potential leadership.  Guest: Arash Azizi, author of What Iranians Want Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With thousands dead and millions displaced in Iran, the humanitarian price of the US-Israel war will be steep. But there's another priceless casualty of war: art. With multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iran sustaining damage, how do you protect a nation's cultural heritage during war time?  Latika Bourke and Kylie Morris are joined by Basia Solokowska, who served as Defence and Crisis Management Officer at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Poland. She lifts the lid on how museums and art galleries prepare their collections for war, and the surprising role drones play in preserving our heritage. Guest: Basia Sokolowska, Polish-Australian artist Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The so-called Operation Epic Fury isn't working according to Trump's plan, if he has one at all. Now, as Iran's blockade Strait of Hormuz threatens the global economy, will Trump's allies in NATO and Asia answer his calls for military assistance?  Latika Bourke and Geraldine Doogue speak to Richard Haass, a foreign policy stalwart who has sat in US negotiations with Northern Ireland and Iran. They talk about why the US gave up on diplomacy, if Netanyahu would agree to a US brokered ceasefire, and why so many foreign policy experts in the States are deeply concerned about what happens next.  Guest: Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

There's no way Australia could possibly be supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, right? According to Ukrainian MP Anastasia Radina, think again.  During a visit to Australia to rally support for her besieged country, this episode the Ukranian MP sits down with Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris to argue the case for Australia to stop buying refined oil from India because of its links to Russia. Guest: Anastasia Radina MP, Chair of the Ukrainian Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our inbox at Global Roaming is chockers with requests to take a closer look at China's history. So this episode, we're sharing a Sydney Writer's Festival panel recorded at the State Library of NSW with Frank Dikötter, pre-eminent China historian.  Hear Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue speak to Dikötter about rummaging through smuggled archives to challenge CCP narratives of China's modern history, and what it tells us about Xi Jinping's power today. Guest: Frank Dikötter, author of Red Dawn Over China Further listening: The underground historians of China trying to preserve truth - Saturday Extra Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Baltic nation of Estonia knows a little about what Russia is like.  One of Russia's closest neighbours, they were part of the Soviet Union until gaining independence in 1991. But is its independence being threatened?  Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to the Minister about Putin's "master plan" and his message for Australia's leaders. Guest: Estonia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last year's Gen Z protests in Nepal saw the Parliament building set ablaze, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli step down. In the first election since, it looks like the 35-year-old rapping former Mayor of Kathmandu could be next leader of the Himalayan nation. But with impacts of the war reverberating through Nepal's massive migrant diaspora, can Balendra Shah fulfil his promise of economic stability?  Latika Bourke and Kylie Morris are joined by South Asia bureau chief Meghna Bali to look at "Balen" Shah's promise to the people, and how Nepal's closest neighbours, India and Pakistan, are having their allegiances tested by the fallout of war in Iran.  Guest: Meghna Bali, South Asia bureau chief for the ABC based in New Delhi Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Could the war in the Middle East be over in a little over a week, or is that wishful thinking?  With global oil markets in unprecedented territory as they react to Trump's ever-changing timeline on the US-Israel war on Iran, the prospect of peace seems a distant reality. The New York Times chief diplomatic correspondent, Steven Erlanger, however, offers a more hopeful view.  He speaks to Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke about the far-reaching ramifications of the war, why Albanese was quicker to support Trump than Europe, and why the upcoming mid-terms may prompt Trump to walk away from the conflict sooner than we think. Guest:  Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times based in Berlin Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Iran football team's decision not to sing the national anthem during the AFC Women's Asian Cup was an act of silent protest. Now, after days of rallies, and a phone call from US President Donald Trump, five of the players have been granted humanitarian visas by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. What could happen to the remaining players? Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris are joined by former Socceroos captain Craig Foster to unpack the human rights obligations of Australia towards the players, as well as allegations players are under watch by the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), and whether football's governing bodies are doing enough to protect female athletes.  Guest: Craig Foster, former Socceroo captain and human rights advocate Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Geraldine Doogue and Kylie Morris are joined by regional expert and former army officer Rodger Shanahn to answer your questions about the situation unfolding in the Middle East. Is the bombing of Shajareh Tayyebeh girl's school a war crime? What does Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu want from Iran?  Guest: Rodger Shanahan Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In just twenty four hours, a US submarine has torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. Turkey, a NATO member state, has shot down an Iranian ballistic missile. And while Israel hammered Tehran and southern Lebanon with fresh rounds of strikes, Trump is considering arming Kurdish forces. The death toll is climbing into the thousands. In less than a week, has the US and Israel's military campaign against Iran spiralled into a war beyond anyone's control?  Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue return to Beirut to speak with Kim Ghattas about the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, and whether Iran has already been caught in a self-perpetuating 'escalation trap'. Guest: Kim Ghattas, Lebanese-born journalist and Middle East expert based in Beirut, and author of Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Iran, Venezuela, Iraq, and Afghanistan all have something in common: They've been subject to foreign-imposed regime change by the United States. So as regional war spreads across the Middle East following another stunning Trump intervention, can 'regime change' ever work?  Alex Downes, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at The George Washington University, studies what happens when leaders are violently deposed by foreign nations. He speaks to Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke why peace and democracy are the least likely outcomes in Iran.  Guest: Alexander B Downes, author of Catastrophic Success: Why Foreign-Imposed Regime Change Goes Wrong  Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

From Barbie to Casablanca, Warner Bros studios have fundamentally shaped western popular culture. So will its $110 billion dollar takeover by Paramount re-write the script for American cinema as we know it? And with Trump's least favourite cable news channel, CNN, also changing hands in the deal, who is the 'nepo baby' now in charge, what is his connection to MAGA? Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke are joined by legendary entertainment reporter Kim Masters, who first broke the news of a potential deal last year, to talk about David Ellison's journey from aspiring actor to media mogul; his controversial instalment of Bari Weiss at CBS; and what his political connections say about the shrinking free press.  Guest: Kim Masters, co-founder and writer for Puck Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

It's been just three days since Israel and the US launched their war on Iran and Trump is already floating the possibility of deploying US troops on the ground, as so-called precision strikes on Iran spiral into far more dangerous regional conflict.   So, as casualties rise into the thousands and violence rips across the Middle East, what's driving the full-scale attack on Iran?   Today, as Israel launches flurries of missiles into Lebanon, hosts Hamish Mcdonald and Kylie Morris head to the streets of Beirut to speak with Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett as the situation unfolds. Guests: Heidi Pett, Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from Beirut Recommendations: Hamish -  Dictators & Demagogues 05: Iran's Ali Khamenei, Take Me To Your Leader! Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead, and Trump promising military operations will continue until "all objectives" are achieved, it's unclear what American and Israeli calls for regime change will lead to.  Hamish Macdonald, Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) are joined by two guests to unpack the extraordinary attacks against Iran. From Abu Dhabi, Mohamad Ali Harisi shares his concerns from a shaken region. And from Washington DC, Barbara Slavin talks about who the Assembly of Experts could chose as the next Supreme Leader.  Guests: Mohamad Ali Harisi, foreign editor of The National; and Barbara Slavin, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington

With the Supreme Leader of Iran killed by military strikes, what happens next in Iran? Announcing his death, President Trump called Ayatollah Ali Khomeini "one of the most evil people in history." But does regime change follow the audacious attack by Israel and the US, or do they become mired again in a Middle Eastern war with no guaranteed outcome? And what about the Iranian people? What do they want, and how do they get it? After this episode was recorded, Iran confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is stuck in a political trap. On the one hand, Trump has threatened to intervene if she doesn't tackle the country's cartels. On the other, her strike against notorious 'El Mencho' this week sparked violence and unrest, with some cities like Guadalajara shutting down for days. But is killing El Mencho the end of America's fentanyl woes, or the start of a new chapter in the 'War on Drugs'? David Mora from the International Crisis Group joins Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue from Guadalajara to talk about the Jalisco cartel's global drug networks, and why ordinary Mexicans are bearing the brunt of Sheinbaum's diplomatic tightrope-walking. Guest: David Mora, senior Mexican analyst with the International Crisis Group Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Four years ago, Vladimir Putin rolled Russian tanks into Ukraine at the start of a full-scale invasion. Now, as peace talks lead by Trump and the USA fail to make progress, there is no easy end in sight for the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War Two.  With host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) in Kyiv for the anniversary of the war, she joins Kylie Morris in speaking to official Yuiry Sak about why Ukraine is emerging from Winter 'stronger and more united'.  Guest: Yuriy Sak, former advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic Industries Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With the possibility of charges against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, being removed from the line of succession could be the last of the former Prince's worries. But with the House of Windsor in freefall following the latest Epstein revelations, have King Charles and Buckingham Palace been transparent about what they knew, and when?  Andrew's unauthorised biographer, Andrew Lownie, knows what its like to navigate the British Royal Family's web of power. He joins Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke to talk about the financial corruption at the centre of the Royal power, whether Albanese has jumped the gun on removal calls, and why he's still a monarchist. Guest: Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The rise and fall of the House of York Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Should Australia turn its back on the United States? And what's at stake if it did?

There's a growing trend on TikTok of being in a "very Chinese era of life". It's associated with changing shoes indoors, drinking hot water, and preparing traditional Chinese meals. It's being called 'Chinamaxxing'. But what exactly is this indicating more broadly? China has been growing in 'soft power' -- the kind of power that comes from cultural influence and intrigue rather than more forceful geopolitical approaches. Kaiser Kuo, heavy metal rocker and host of the Chinese current affairs podcast, Sinica Podcast, will join Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to talk about the internal cultural shifts of China, including how much creative expression exists under Xi Jinping's regime. Guest: Kaiser Kuo, host of Sinica Podcast. Recommendations:  Geraldine – The Infrastructure of Jeffrey Epstein's Power, The Ezra Klein Show  Hamish – L-FRESH The Lion, 2006, The Year that Made Me -------------  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

It's not often we get the opportunity to ask a senior US official about AUKUS: Will the nuclear powered submarines be delivered? Can we trust Washington? Will America expect us to join them in any future conflict with China?  Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined by serving Democrat Senator Tim Kaine to talk all things AUKUS. Kaine represents the state of Virginia, where our nuclear submarines will be built. Back in 2016, Kaine was the Vice Presidential candidate in Hilary Clinton's Presidential bid. Now, he's the lead Democrat on the armed services and foreign relations committee, and a passionate advocate of the Australia-US alliance.  Guest: Senator Tim Kaine Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with King Charles making clear “the law must take its course.”  Hamish, Latika and Kylie have jumped into a studio to discuss the shocking arrest of Prince Andrew and the allegations behind it. They examine the royal family’s response, the media scrutiny surrounding the case, and what it means for accountability. And they ask the bigger question: what could this moment mean for the future of the monarchy?

As the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms, finding a diplomatic end to the conflict is more unlikely than ever. With Trump's back turned and Europe grappling with the prospect of war further west, where has Zelenskyy's support gone?  Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke are joined by Ukrainian-born Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, who has reported on the conflict since its inception. Guest: Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street Journal Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

At last year's Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance shocked the world with his fiery attack on Europe. This year, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio fronted the world's biggest security conference, attended by more than 60 heads of state, he got a standing ovation. But was his speech really that different?  Fresh from the conference, co-host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) and fellow attendee Ravi Agrawal join Geraldine Doogue to talk all things Munich; the highs and lows; Elbridge Colby and the future of AUKUS; and how Ukraine was left in the cold.  Guest: Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

As Artemis II prepares for launch, our first trip near the moon since the 1970s, a successful voyage could bring a lunar colony closer to reality. But as tech billionaires compete for NASA contracts, from Elon Musk's SpaceX to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origins, can we trust corporations to act on humanity's behalf? Hamish Macdonald and Jonathan Webb (Lab Notes) speak to rockstar physicist Professor Brian Cox, about who owns space, and why tech billionaires are not the bad guys, but not the good guys either.  Guest: Professor Brian Cox, UN Champion for Space Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au  Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With Indonesia becoming the first nation to commit soldiers to Trump's "Board of Peace", Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue put the spotlight on some of our closest neighbours; from President Prabowo Subianto's motivations in Gaza; to the conservative election wins in Thailand and Japan. Joining the conversation is Amanda Hodge, The Australian's Asia-Pacific correspondent, to talk about whether Sanae Takaichi's will rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution, and the surprise win of "Cannabis King" Anutin Charnvirakul in Thailand. And as our region grapples with the impacts of climate change, why has the environment fallen off the global agenda?  Guest: Amanda Hodge, Asia-Pacific correspondent for The Australian Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

As Trump continues nuclear talks with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed to Washington to influence any potential deal. But amid uprisings, sanctions, and conflict with Israel, the Islamic regime is in its "end chapter". Will either side get what they want?  Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined in studio by Vali Nasr, who advised the US State Department on Iran during the Obama era. They talk about why Trump fell for his own saviour narrative, and how October 7 is still reshaping the region. Guest: Vali Nasr, Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and former US State Department adviser on Iran.  Get in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The nuclear umbrella has a few holes in it now a key treaty between Russia and the USA has expired. Some fear the end New START might trigger a nuclear weapons arms race between Trump and Putin. Could it also inspire the middle powers in Europe and Asia to follow suit?  Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) speak to former US State Department Official Joel Wit, who sat at the table for nuclear talks with North Korea and the Soviet Union, about why we shouldn't give up on non-proliferation, and where the US went wrong in their nuclear diplomacy. Guest: Joel Wit, distinguished fellow at the Stimson Centre and author of Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ice is melting. Seas are rising. Even anthrax is emerging out of the permafrost. But the climate crisis is changing more than the environment. The Arctic is fast becoming a pressure point for NATO, Russia and China as they wrestle for control of the thawing north. But what do they want it for?  Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke (The Nightly) are joined by Klaus Dodds to talk about the transformation of the Arctic from a "zone of peace", as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called it, to the major powers' hottest property.    Guest: Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics at Middlesex University London.  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Martin Luther King III was ten years old when his father, the hero of the modern US civil rights movement, was assassinated for his advocacy against racism. King III has picked up his father's fight for a free and equal America, but is his father's dream still possible in 2026?  King joins Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris to talk about whether the spirit of non-violent resistance can help push back against ICE, whether there'll be mid-term elections under Trump, and what he would ask the Reverend if his father were alive today.  Guest: Martin Luther King III Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With the Munich Security Conference looming and Washington firmly in focus, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue put your questions to the big issues shaping the global outlook; elections, defence, and Australia’s place in a shifting strategic landscape. Joining the conversation is Carrington Clarke, freshly returned from Washington as the ABC’s North America Correspondent, offering insight into the state of US politics and institutions, including questions being raised about the resilience of American democracy and the conduct of future elections. As the Prime Minister visits Jakarta and signs a new security agreement with Indonesia, Hamish and Geraldine also examine Australia’s relationship with its closest neighbour: is the partnership strong enough? Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

A Russian spy? Secret kompromat? The latest Epstein file drop, the most comprehensive since the notorious sex offender's death, has us questioning everything. But one thing is clear. New files alleging shared information between the former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein could be a scandal big enough to sink Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to The News Agents' Jon Sopel about spiralling headfirst into the Epstein conspiracy, the new allegations against Bill Gates, and what the Kremlin has to do with Epstein island. Guest: Jon Sopel, former BBC News North America editor. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

It's the biggest humanitarian disaster in the world right now, yet few outside the conflict are aware of it. But Sudan's brutal civil war, which has displaced millions and turned cities like El Fasher into a mass grave, has found unlikely backers in the region. So why are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates lining up to pick sides?  Latika Bourke and Kylie Morris speak to journalist Mat Nashed about who stands to gain from drawing out the conflict, and his warning against middle power imperialism.  Guest: Mat Nashed, freelance journalist covering Sudan Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

As nuclear talks begin between the Islamic Republic of Iran and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's armada of ships off Iran's coast are proving an effective negotiating tool. But for the people of Iran calling for intervention and regime change, the results of these talks may offer little relief. And as the staggering death toll of January's protests is starting to come into focus, how many of its own citizens is the regime is willing to shoot in order to crush an uprising? Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke speak to Iranian-American expert Holly Dagres about why the Iranian regime has reached a point of no return, even if the US chooses not to act.  Guest: Holly Dagres, senior fellow at the Washington Institute's Programme on Iran and US Policy. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With the Winter Olympics about to kick off in Milano-Cortina, the news that Team USA will be joined by officers from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has caused a stir.  It sends a mixed message to the world, especially given that in July, the notoriously anti-immigration Trump administration will host millions of international visitors for the biggest sporting event on the planet, the FIFA World Cup.  Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris speak to journalist Nahal Toosi about the collision of MAGA and sports, and why an "America First" World Cup is riddled with contradictions. Guest: Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent for POLITICO Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hamish and Geraldine dig into the questions you actually want answered. From how to break out of our political and cultural echo chambers, to making sense of Donald Trump’s behaviour, to the lessons history offers about what middle powers can achieve - inspired, no doubt, by Canada PM Mark Carney. Plus, we look ahead to a very particular VIP visit from the Middle East to Australia.   Suggested reading/watching mentioned in this episode: The Kaiser At Mar A Lago Lowy Interpreter Middle Powers Can’t Run The World UnHoly - Two Jews On The News  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

With the purging of another top general, China's President Xi Jinping has ripped a hole in the People's Liberation Army leadership. Only two of his nine top generals remain in office. It's been explained as an anti-corruption move, but what's really going on? And how will it impact Beijing's behaviour towards Taiwan?  Guest: Neil Thomas, Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis Mentions: "China's top general accused of giving nuclear secrets to US" - Wall Street Journal  "The demise of Zhang Youxia hits different" - Drew Thomson, Substack article. Recommendations: Geraldine: It was just an accident - film, dir. Jafar Panahi Hamish: But also John Clarke - documentary, ABC iView Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has spent his working life on the frontline of humanitarian crises - from the "catastrophic" situation in Sudan, to Syria in the Middle East. But with the international rules-based order facing an existential crisis of its own, is the UN still up to scratch? As he steps down from his role, Filippo talks to Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke about why the world shouldn't turn away from Sudan, and why Trump's Gaza 'Board of Peace' will never replace the UN - for all its flaws. Guest: Filippo Grandi, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Standing ovations are rare at Davos, the annual World Economic Forum conference. But Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney tore the roof down with a speech calling on the world's middle powers to forge a united path away from the hegemony of American power. And Trump isn't happy about it.  Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke speak to former Canadian Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff about how much Australia and Canada have in common, and why Europe and Great Britain are the middle powers to watch.  Guest: Michael Ignatieff, Professor at the Central European University in Vienna and former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is a China hawk, and if she wins February's snap election, she'll use that mandate to prepare for conflict over Taiwan. So says the former Japanese ambassador to Australia, who's a foreign policy whisperer, well connected to the Prime Minister. But is President Trump on board? And what about Canberra? Guest: Shingo Yamagami, former Japanese ambassador to Australia  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

The 24 hour international news cycle often leaves us with more questions than answers, so in this episode of Global Roaming Hamish and Geraldine will be exploring the things YOU actually want to know. Like whether we should be following the money when it comes to Venezuela - does President Trump have a personal financial stake which helps explain his actions there? And if Australia's international fuel supplies were to be cut off by an act of sabotage or war, how many days could we continue to function? Turns out the answer is more surprising than you think...  Plus Hamish and Geraldine discuss what they've been thinking deeply about - from the inner workings of the US Republican Party, to the history of the international radical Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is now caught up in the Australian government's moves to target to hate groups.  Suggested reading/watching mentioned in this episode: Middle East Forum: Hizb ut-Tahrir: Political Doctrine, Global Reach, and Challenge to the International Order The Australian - Amanda Hodge: Why banning radical Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir is only half the battle Forbes: How Trump’s Attack On Venezuela May Have Made Him Money ABC 7:30: Concerns over how long Australia’s fuel supplies would last in an emergency  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

When UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power in 2024, he was seen as a safe, if slightly boring, pair of hands. Now, UK Labour is threatened by the return of an unlikely figure - the man known as the 'father of Brexit': Nigel Farage.  Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald sit down with Channel 4 News anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy to chat about why Keir Starmer is failing to cut through, whether Reform UK could win the next election and what England's loss at the Boxing Day test reveals about the state of the country. Recommendations: Krishnan - Younger - TV series on Netflix  Geraldine - My Brother's Band - Film Hamish - Tehran - TV series on Apple TV  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Since the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, the Caribbean island has been a geopolitical plaything of the major global powers. Now, after US President Donald Trump's stunning Venezuela intervention, could Cuba be back in America's sights?  Kylie Morris and Latika Burke (The Nightly) speak to Latin American correspondent Jon Bonfiglio about the mood in Cuba, and why US secretary of state Marco Rubio says Havana should be "worried". Guest: Jon Bonfiglio, Latin American correspondent based in Mexico

The cornerstone of NATO is that an attack on "one of us" is an attack on "all of us". But what happens when the alliance is threatened by one of it's own? As tensions over Greenland reach a breaking point, and Trump remains bitter about not winning a Nobel Prize, the US-Europe relationship is being tested to it's limit.  Geraldine Doogue and Latika Burke (The Nightly) speak to former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu about the cards Europe has yet to play when it comes to salvaging the broken relationship.  Guest: Oana Lungescu, former spokesperson for NATO and distinguished fellow at RUSI, the Royal United Services Institute in London. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Myanmar's election ends this weekend, but there'll be no prizes for guessing the outcome. It's the first time the junta has held elections since the 2021 coup and Hamish Macdonald and Kylie Morris speak to democracy activist Mon Zin about what it means for the people of Myanmar, and the surprising connection between the Hunger Games and Myanmar's youth-led Spring Revolution.  Plus, they explore why China's leader Xi Jinping is watching the outcome more closely than most...  Guest: Mon Zin, Myanmar democracy activist based in Australia Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Even after weeks of protests, the Iranian regime looks like it has a firm grip on power and its unclear whether Trump will follow through on threats of American intervention. What is it that Iranians themselves want to happen next? And just how realistic is change?  Plus, Global Roaming has changed in 2026. We give you a taste of what we have in store.  Guest: Barbara Slavin - distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University.   Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world.  In this final instalment, Michael Stutchbury - Former editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review and Executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies, says that Australia's economic luck is about to run out. He argues we need break the cycle of high spending and low growth if we want to retain anything like the prosperity we're accustomed to.  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world.  In this episode the Lowy Institute's Lydia Khalil shatters the perception that our geography alone is enough to protect us from the insidious new security threats that are already making their way to our shores, and she outlines how we can protect ourselves going forward.  Lydia's recommendations: The Man in the High Castle - TV series on Amazon Prime For All Mankind - TV series on Apple TV Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world.  In this episode Australia's former Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel shares his thoughts on how Australia can feasibly get to net zero, and harness our potential as a clean energy superpower. Plus, he has a radical new idea to safeguard art against AI... Alan's recommendations: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain Seascraper by Benjamin Wood Prove It: A Scientific Guide for the Post-Truth Era by Elizabeth Finkel   Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world.  In this episode former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese attempts to shake Australia out of our complacency and excite us about the potential of new foreign policy possibilities.  Peter's recommendations: The Golden Road by William Dalrymple - you can find our conversation with William the link to his new book HERE Why Great Powers Sleepwalk to War — A Masterclass with Hugh White - Joe Walker podcast   Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this Global Roaming limited series, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue are inviting big thinkers from different fields to consider how Australia can not just survive - but thrive - in a more challenging world.  First up is Hannah Ferguson, the CEO of Cheek Media, who has disrupted Australia's traditional media landscape. She shares her ideas for re-connecting Australians to news and politics and to 'make caring cool again'.  Hannah's recommendations: The Good Fight: What Does Labor Stand For? Quarterly Essay by Sean Kelly Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

After Sunday's horrific terror shooting at Bondi Beach, Geraldine Doogue joined Hamish Macdonald at Bondi Pavilion to reflect on what this moment means for Australia.  Together, they speak to Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku's granddaughter Danielle Jaku and hear from members of the Bondi community, Chief Executive Officer at Surf Life Saving NSW Steve Pearce and NSW's new Opposition leader Kellie Sloane who found herself in the thick of the traumatic events as they unfolded.

From huge diplomatic fallouts, to political assassinations, to historic jewellery heists, 2025 has been a HUGE year for international news. Hamish and Geraldine reflect on the most shocking moments and are joined by Foreign Policy's Editor-in-Chief and host of FP Live Ravi Agrawal to discuss the trendlines that have defined the year.  Plus, we announce some big news about Global Roaming in 2026...  Recommendations:  Geraldine Doogue:  Ken Burns' The American Revolution on SBS on Demand Robert Manne - Substack Hamish Macdonald: Global Roaming's Summer Series: Getting Lucky... Again Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this bonus episode of Global Roaming with Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue, one of Australia's most beloved actors Russell Crowe speaks about his new film Nuremberg and he gets philosophical about the need to speak to those we disagree with, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

In a broad-ranging conversation, Hamish Macdonald speaks to historian and host of the hit podcast Empire William Dalrymple about the pitfalls of trying to understand the contemporary world without a firm grasp of the past, whether India can replicate its success as an ancient superpower and how countries like Australia and Britain deal with uncomfortable truths from their past.  Recommendations: Geraldine: Murder House: Zhong Na on the Silicon Valley Tragedy That Exposed the Cracks in China's Meritocracy - Sinica Podcast. Hamish: The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World by William Dalrymple. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

What began as targeted strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats has now turned into the largest military build-up in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama. It's all part of a campaign to place pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, but to what end?  Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to Latin American correspondent Jon Bonfiglio about the deeper, darker motivations that could be driving the Trump administration's gunboat diplomacy in their own 'backyard'. Recommendations: Geraldine: Hurricaines From Above, SBS on Demand  Hamish: ABC news clip about Helene Chung - ABC Facebook  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Australia does elections pretty well - in fact, we might be the world's hottest ambassador for democracy. But according to former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers we need to be wary of 'the curse of the sausage'; the idea that our own success makes us vulnerable. In this discussion with Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue he offers a simple idea to protect our elections against growing threats, both at home and abroad.  Recommendations: Hamish and Geraldine: Annabel Crabb's Civic Duty : ABC iview Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you thought Netflix's hit series The Diplomat was pure fiction, think again… According to creator Deborah Cahn the show was inspired by a real-life diplomat that she has described as "a superhero in a pant suit" — Ambassador Beth Jones. We tracked down Ambassador Jones and her husband Don to ask what it's really like to work in places like Kabul, Cairo, Baghdad and Kazakhstan and it turns out the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Recommendations: Hamish: "Anchored in the region" — What the new Australia–Indonesia security treaty really means, article by Natalie Sambhi Geraldine: Saturday Extra's Diplomacy mini-series from 2021, featuring interview with former diplomats: John McCarthy Sue Boyd Geoff Raby US Consul General Sharon Hudson Dean (Kylie Morris hosted) The late Martin Indyk Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

Geraldine has returned from London where she had a front row seat as the BBC was engulfed in it's biggest crisis in decades. She joins Hamish for a conversation about how the BBC got here, what the various forces are at play and why the BBC might need to get "down and dirty" to combat Donald Trump's threats.  Plus, we unpack some fascinating listener feedback on our recent China episodes, which has sparked quite a debate in the Global Roaming planning room...  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au Find all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.