Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

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 SambhiGeraldine: 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.auFind 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.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This week democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani became New York City's first Muslim and South Asian Mayor, beating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. At a time when faith in the Democratic Party is at an all-time low, Mamdani found a way to reach – and win over – disaffected voters, becoming a household name not just in New York, but all over the world.  Hamish Macdonald and special guest host Amelia Lester (Foreign Policy) ask whether there is more to Mamdani than just 'rizz'? Are there lessons in his campaign for a flailing Democratic Party? Or is it simply a distraction from the real work required to win back voters?Then they speak to Timothy Shenk, a historian of modern American politics at George Washington University to discuss some of the ideas he's put forward in a thought-provoking essay for The New York Times entitled Democrats Are in Crisis. Eat-the-Rich Populism Is the Only Answer. Recommendations:Amelia: Equator magazine and article ‘He's an African Leader': Why my Ethiopian relatives voted for Trump by Adom Getachew.Hamish: Amelia Lester's Boyer Lecture: AI on Australia's termsGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

It may have been the most significant hour and forty minutes in global geopolitics this year...If the highly anticipated summit between Presidents Xi and Trump in South Korea was about putting out the fires of a great power trade war, the flames seem to be under control... for now. But was it a win-win for everyone? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald discuss which cans made it onto the negotiating table and were kicked down the road. Then they have a frank conversation with the former Singaporean diplomat Bilahari Kausikan about how South-east Asian countries responded to Trump's whirlwind tour through Asia and why they might be uniquely positioned to deal with a character like Donald Trump. Recommendations:Geraldine: The Myth of the Asian Century | A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin Special by Bilahari KausikanHamish: Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia's Future by George WilliamsGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

If you thought we'd never see a repeat of the GFC or even the dotcom bubble, think again... So far financial markets have proved remarkably resilient to the geopolitical shocks and uncertainty brought about by Trump 2.0, but economists are warning that this could be largely thanks to an AI bubble that is artificially propping up the US economy. Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald discuss the growing fears of what happens if and when this bubble bursts and how Australia is particularly exposed to a downturn through our superannuation system. Then Geraldine sits down with the acclaimed Irish economist and author David McWilliams to put this moment in historical perspective and get his frank assessment of what comes next.   Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

While we were all preoccupied with Prime Minister Albanese's meeting with Donald Trump, another hugely important meeting was taking place behind closed doors in Beijing. At the highly anticipated Fourth Plenum there were political purges, hints at succession, and clues about what one of the world's great superpowers is planning to achieve over the next five years.Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined by China analyst Neil Thomas to unpack everything you need to know about the Fourth Plenum and how it might affect President Xi jinping's thinking as he heads into his own highly anticipated meeting with President Trump next week in South Korea.Recommendations:Geraldine: Adam Tooze -  Chartbook+ A House of Dynamite now on NetflixHamish: Season 3 of The Diplomat on NetflixGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

One week on from the ceasefire deal and the commencement of the first phase of Trump's peace plan, things look fragile. At this point, peace seems to be very much in the hands of one man: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has a reputation as a wily political player, and the personal and political stakes for him are sky high. So, what are the calculations he's making? Can he, and will he, deliver peace? Former speaker of the Israeli Parliament Avraham 'Avrum" Burg shares his thoughts. Plus, to find out what 'peace' actually looks like at the moment on the ground in Gaza, Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue spoke to Ahmed Kamal Junina – Linguistics professor at Al-Aqsa University, in Gaza City.Recommendations:Geraldine: Nepalese hostage's final poem to mum before Hamas death revealed, Wall Street Journal via The Australian.Hamish: Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harari.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Japan has entered a new political era after the election of Sanae Takaichi who is poised to become the country's first female prime minister. A protege of the late Shinzo Abe and a fan of Margaret Thatcher, she styles herself as Japan's 'Iron Lady' and she could be one of its most right-wing and nationalistic leaders since the Second World War. Asia editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Richard Lloyd Parry has lived in Japan and covered it for 30 years. He joins Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to discuss what Takaichi's leadership might mean for Japan, and for Australia. Recommendations:China's middle class rides migration wave to Tokyo - AFRIn The Time Of Madness - Richard Lloyd ParryGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Geraldine and Hamish were live on air on ABC Sydney when Donald Trump broke the news this morning that a deal had been reached on the 'first phase' of a Gaza ceasefire deal. They raced into another studio to record a bonus episode of Global Roaming about this enormous development in the Middle East. Here's everything you need to know about what's just happened, what's still to come and whether peace might really be within reach. Recommended reading and listening:Northern Ireland, Gaza and the Road to Peace - The New York Times ABC Rear Vision Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hamas has responded to Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza saying it is prepared to release all Israeli hostages - dead or alive. However it did not signal that it was completely prepared to lay down its arms or step away from negotiations...So is this the crucial turning point in the conflict that we've all been waiting for? What happens next from here? From the streets of Vietnam and an airport in Melbourne, Hamish and Geraldine got in touch to unpack the latest breaking developments. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Fears that the United States might be headed towards civil war feel slightly less overblown than they did just weeks ago...With the US government shutdown, Republicans and Democrats in deadlock, and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth 'unleashing' federal troops into cities like Memphis, America increasingly looks like a dangerous and divided nation. In a rare face-to-face conversation in Sydney, Geraldine Doogue sat down with veteran journalists Peter Baker (chief White House correspondent for The New York Times) and Susan Glasser (New Yorker correspondent and Lowy Institute board member) to discuss the psychology behind Donald Trump's war on 'the enemy within' and why a country like Australia should see this as a cautionary tale. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The anti-science crusade in the United States extends beyond President Trump's flourishing statements about climate change being a 'con job' and a 'hoax' and claiming links between Tylenol (or paracetamol) and autism. Under the second Trump administration and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, long-standing medical and scientific institutions are being hollowed out and misinformation and disinformation is rife. There are a number of actors who stand to capitalise on this trend, from foreign states like Russia, to big pharma companies and 'wellness' influencers. And experts say it poses an existential threat not just for America, but for the world. In this episode Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald speak to Radio National's Science Editor Jonathan Webb and prominent vaccine scientist Dr Peter Hotez (co-author with Michael Mann of Science Under Siege) about the forces at play in the global war on science and Dr. Hotez also reveals what it's like to be personally targeted by RFK Jr, Joe Rogan and Elon Musk. Recommendations:Geraldine: Good Night, and Good Luck - 2005 film Hamish: Australian Story - The River (Part 1 and 2) - ABC iViewGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The 80th UN General Assembly is heating up in New York, just as a major UN report finds that Israel is committing genocide. Countries like Australia have pledged to recognise a Palestinian State at next week's UNGA, but there are doubts about whether that will have anything more than symbolic significance. In fact, there are serious questions about the United Nations' ability to resolve today's conflicts and concerns that, in the age of Trump, this once lauded institution has become damaged beyond repair. So can the UN be fixed, and what exactly will that take? According to former UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths it comes down to one thing: courage.  Recommendations:Geraldine: PNG's half-century report card - Hamish Macdonald, Inside Story Hamish: A Dirty Little War by John MartinkusGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

As celebrations get underway marking the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia, the two nations are about to enter a deal that will see our defence forces become 'totally integrated'. Geraldine Doogue, Hamish Macdonald and special guest Oliver Nobetau (Project Director of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Network at the Lowy Institute) discuss why this particular Pacific neighbour continues to hold so much significance to Australia and what this historic new defence treaty might actually mean for PNG and us. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Geraldine is back and feeling uncharacteristically pessimistic about the state of the world. So as the Australian government works hard to cement stronger ties in the Indo-Pacific region following China's display of military and political might, Hamish and Geraldine are joined by the Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart for a frank conversation about whether Australians need to come to terms with the possibility of a war in our region.  Recommendations:Geraldine Doogue: Address by Former senior Chinese diplomat Madame Fu Ying to the AFR Asia Summit 2025. Once available, it can be found HERE. Hamish Macdonald: ABC 7:30 Monday 8 September - interview with Julie Inman Grant (commences about 9:00 minutes in)+ The News Agents podcast - Nick Clegg: What really happened at Facebook?Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

All eyes have been on China this week, as dozens of world leaders arrived to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and China's 'Victory Day' military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in WW2. Not only was it a chance for leaders like Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un and - perhaps most surprisingly - Narendra Modi, to mingle, it sent a striking image to the Western world that while the US-led global order under Donald Trump seems to be decaying, a powerful new alignment of countries is taking place, with China at the forefront.Guests:Einar Tangen - Senior Fellow, Taihe Institute and the founder and chairman of Asia Narratives.Bob Carr - Former Australian Foreign Minister and former Premier of NSW.Recommendations:Hamish: Trump says he's determined to weaken China. He's doing the opposite - Peter Hartcher, SMHKylie: The Emperor of Gladness - Ocean VuongGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Following the confirmation of famine in part of Gaza by the UN-backed IPC, Hamish Macdonald and guest host Kylie Morris speak to Anera's Gaza Branch Director Yazdan El-Amawi about what the situation is actually like for those living in Gaza. They also speak to Jodie Clark, who has decades of experience distributing humanitarian aid and worked most recently as Senior Logistics Coordinator for UNRWA, running the border crossing at Rafah. She explains how Israel's policies have made getting aid into Gaza increasingly difficult and she gives a shocking assessment of what is needed to break the famine. Recommendations:Kylie: Hostage - Mini series on NetflixHamish: Dust - Book by Michael BrissendenGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The Australian government has accused Iran of directing two antisemitic attacks in Australia and, for the first time since World War Two, has expelled an ambassador. They've also announced that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will be designated as a terrorist organisation. Who are the IRGC and what motivated them to target Australia? Hamish Mcdonald and Kylie Morris react to the breaking news and discuss the significance of the day's developments. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

He's young, he's slick, he's social media savvy and he rules with an iron first. Meet Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador who has quickly become an icon of the global right. He might style himself as the 'world's coolest dictator' and a 'philosopher king', but this leader is not like other authoritarian rulers. For a start, he's incredibly popular both at home and abroad - befriending the likes of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. His rapid crackdown on gang-related crime has been labelled the 'Bukele miracle' and is being seen everywhere from Ecuador to America as a model to emulate. But it hasn't come without a steep cost... Journalist Vera Bergengruen is one of the only foreign journalists to have met and interviewed President Nayib Bukele. She wrote a profile of him for TIME Magazine. She speaks to Geraldine Doogue (2025 Andrew Olle lecture) and Hamish Macdonald (ABC Sydney Mornings, The Project) about what Nayib Bukele is really like. Recommendations:Geraldine: How are drones changing the landscape of modern warfare?   | BBC, The Inquiry podcast.Hamish: The 'evil drug' and court case that almost broke Alex Lloyd | Australian StoryGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

It's not every day a foreign leader calls the Australian Prime Minister “weak” and accuses him of betraying the country's Jewish community. But that's exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu did this week, after the Albanese government announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state and cancelled a visa for far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman.  Meanwhile, over in Washington, Donald Trump hosted Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, this time flanked by a chorus of European leaders including Macron, Starmer and Meloni.  In this bonus episode, Geraldine and Hamish analyse the two big foreign policy dramas that have been lighting up headlines this week. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

It's all eyes on Alaska as the summit between President Trump, President Putin and possibly President Zelensky looms. The stakes of these peace talks - for Ukraine, for Russia and for the West - are incredibly high. Given his cool and confident exterior, we wondered about the cards Putin currently holds in his hand. How strong is his position not only in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but at home? Has his grip on power ever been tighter? To find out, Geraldine Doogue (2025 Andrew Olle lecture) and Hamish Macdonald (ABC Sydney Mornings, The Project) spoke to Anna Nemtsova - an award-winning Russian-born journalist who grew up in the Soviet Union and now writes for publications like The Daily Beast and The Atlantic. The picture that Anna painted of life inside Russia today was... surprising, to say the least! Recommendations:Hamish: Hamas built an underground war machine to ensure its own survival - Washington PostGeraldine: The cold war guru whose warnings on Russia still stand - The Rachman Review podcastGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

In a historic move, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this afternoon announced that Australia will move to recognise a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly next month, with a condition that terror group Hamas play no role in its future governance. Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald react to the news and discuss the significance of Australia's decision to follow other Western governments in taking this step. They also question what comes next, how Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might react to the news and whether this can actually make any difference on the ground in Gaza. Want to share your thoughts with us about today's news?We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Where do the arms involved in conflicts worldwide come from and who bears responsibility for how they are used in war?The US is by far the world's largest weapons manufacturer and exporter, accounting for around 40% of global exports. Many of these arms go to Israel and transfers have been supercharged since the start of the military assault on Gaza. Australia is also a player in the global arms trade, with a particular manufacturing role in the F-35 joint strike fighter program. With the Australian government taking a strong line on the humanitarian situation, why are we simultaneously transferring component parts for military jets that are striking Gaza?Guest: Josh Paul, former Director of Congressional and Public Affairs, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, in the US Department of State who resigned in protest at US arms shipments to Israel Statement from the Australian Department of Defence:"Australia has not supplied weapons or ammunition to Israel since the Israel-Gaza conflict began and not for at least the past five years.The F-35 relies on a global supply chain – one that is centrally coordinated by Lockheed Martin and the US Government.As a part of the global F-35 supply chain, Australian industry contributes components and parts, but the Australian Government does not have a direct bilateral arrangement with the Government of Israel in relation to the F-35 program."Recommendations:Geraldine: VJ Day in Australia newsreel, British MovietoneHamish: 'The World Since October 7', Adam Shatz in the London Review of BooksGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

This week, the prospect of Palestinian statehood suddenly became tangible, with the UK, France and Canada promising to recognise Palestine at the UN general assembly in September. Whether Australia will follow suit remains to be seen.  What can history tell us about the formation of new states out of violent conflict? Guest: Sir Christopher Clark, professor of history at the University of Cambridge Recommendations:Geraldine: 'The wrong way to respond to antisemitism', Inside StoryHamish: Andrew Olle Media Lecture 2025, presented by Geraldine Doogue, ABC iViewGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

A weekly examination of world affairs with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald.

Despite living through continued death, displacement and destruction, Palestinians still dream of a better future.What does that look like for Gazans and people in the West Bank, is a two-state solution still a viable option? And who will lead them after the war?Guest: Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Gazan-American and nonresident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council.Recommendations:Geraldine: Emily: I Am Kam, SBS on DemandHamish: I ran DFAT. I hope Elbridge Colby sinks AUKUS for Australia, AFRGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Anthony Albanese has finally got a meeting with a president, but it's not the one some are so desperate to see.The Prime Minister sets off on a six-day official visit to China while there is still no date set for a face-to-face with Donald Trump.But does that actually matter, and what does President Xi want from Australia?Guest: Dr Joseph Torigian, research fellow at Stanford University Hoover History Lab, associate professor at American University. Author of The Party's Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi JinpingRecommendations:Geraldine: John Curtin remains our greatest PM, 80 years after his death, with a living legacy, The AustralianHamish: Louis Theroux: The Settlers, ABC iViewGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

It's sometimes described as a 'dance with the devil', but can populism also deliver for citizens?As some democracies stall, how are populist leaders like Giorgia Meloni and Javier Millei managing to solve decades-long problems?Is there such a thing as 'good' populism?Guest: Professor Larry Diamond, Senior Fellow at Stanford University, author of Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American ComplacencyRecommendations:Geraldine: 'The Zelenskyy Story', SBS On DemandHamish: 'When Does Populism Become a Threat to Democracy?', speech by Larry DiamondLarry: Chip War, by Chris MillerGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

After promising his MAGA base that he wouldn't get the US into any further foreign entanglements, Donald Trump had a big week on the international stage.He's claiming the strikes on Iran, and the defence spending pledges at NATO as big successes, but can he square them with his promise of 'America First'?Guest: Carl Bildt, Prime Minister of Sweden 1991-1994, foreign minister 2006-2014, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign RelationsRecommendations:Geraldine: 'This is the ‘beginning of the end' for Iran's supreme leader. But what comes next?', Roland Oliphant in AFR'If This Mideast War Is Over, Get Ready for Some Interesting Politics', Tom Friedman in the New York TimesHamish: James, by Percival EverettGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

After decades of enjoying peacetime dividends and American protection, Germany is now re-arming in a hurry. Troop numbers in the Bundeswehr had withered since the 1990s and spending dipped well below 2%. But with bellicose Russia on Europe's borders and US support no longer a guarantee, that's all changing. The real question is: are Germans ready to be a military power once again?Guest: Dr Benedikt Franke, CEO of the Munich Security ConferenceGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

From the volatile fault lines of the Middle East, a dangerous new chapter has unfolded as the confrontation between Israel and Iran up-ends the region's delicate balance. The big question is whether the US will enter the fray to assist their ally Israel. Donald Trump has set a two-week deadline on that crucial decision, will he risk dividing his MAGA base? And will he heed the history of US foreign entanglements? The world waits with baited breath to find out. Guest: Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times United Nations bureau chief and Iran specialistRecommendations:Geraldine: 'Will the U.S join Israel's war with Iran', The Daily podcast from the New York TimesNick: The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin DunnePlus: Our bonus interview with Dr Afshon Ostovar on the question of regime change in IranGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Israel's assassination of high-ranking military and political figures in Iran is raising questions about the regime's ability to survive this war, especially if the US enters the fight. But the regime won't be easy to topple, despite its isolation, because of the enduring grip on power of military ideologists and the lack of a domestic opposition.So how might this war end?Guest: Dr. Afshon Ostovar, author of Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East, associate professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School.  Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Leaders of the world's great industrial nations will gather in Canada at the G7 over the weekend. As the tectonic plates of international relationships continue to shift under the pressure of the Trump presidency, the summit is an opportunity to observe new diplomatic relationships.With the world sliding closer to chaos this week, could this be the moment for leaders to restore stability?Guest: Ian Bremmer, founder and President of the Eurasia GroupRecommendations:Geraldine: 'Sub Text' by Sam Roggeveen, The MonthlyNick: When the Going Was Good by Graydon CarterGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

If the West really is in decline, are we watching the creation of a new world order? This question is being asked with fresh urgency in capitals around the world as Donald Trump shakes the global system to its roots. How can Australia prepare to meet the challenge head on? Guests: Philippe Sands, professor of law at University College London, barrister and author of 38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in PatagoniaEdward Wong, diplomatic correspondent and former Beijing Bureau chief, New York Times, author of At the Edge of Empire: A family's reckoning with ChinaBec Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia, co-author of Girt by Sea: re-imagining Australia's SecurityRecommendations: All our guests' books!Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Who is a conservative and who is a radical in American politics right now? It's not entirely clear when the Republican party has dramatically shifted its policies on tax, industry and trade.Oren Cass has an important part in this identity shift, he is influential in the New Right, a movement that also counts JD Vance and Marco Rubio as important figures. Guest: Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass, author of The New Conservatives: Restoring America's Commitment to Family, Community, and IndustryRecommendations:Geraldine: Why Empires Fall: Rome, America and the Future of the West, Peter Heather and John RapleyHamish: 'This Instability May Be Worth It. Here's Why.' New York TimesGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Some news stories shake the world, others barely make the front page. In the era of Donald Trump, many important stories are being forgotten.Lindsey Hilsum is one of the journalism's most experienced and fearless foreign correspondents.She shares reflections on a career spent running towards atrocities and how to balance covering Trump and the stories we're missing.Guest: Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News International Editor, author of I Brought The War with Me; Stories and Poems from the Front LineRecommendations:Hamish: Lindsey Hilsum on Desert Island Discs, BBCKylie: You Don't Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War, Elizabeth BeckerGet in touch:  We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Donald Trump's tour of the Middle East was three days of glitz, gold and billion-dollar deals. The big surprise was a meeting with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Does this signal an intent to reshape the region and some of its enduring conflicts? And does the decision not to visit Israel signal a cooling relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu?Recommendations:Kylie: Jerusalem the biography by Simon Sebag Montefiori Hamish: Donald Trump seeks bromance and billions as he heads to Gulf, FTGET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The Australian Signals Directorate is one of Australia's most secretive agencies, responsible for decoding enemy messages, protecting us from cyber threats and collaborating with allied intelligence services. Rachel Noble knows how the machine works, as the former head of ASD she helped shape Australia's role in the Five Eyes alliance. Now, with Trump's return and Signal-gate leaks, can Australia still trust its closest ally?Guest: Rachel Noble, former Director-General of Australia Signals Directorate Recommendations:Geraldine:  The Crisis of our Time by Christopher ClarkHamish: East West Street by Philippe SandsGET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

As the world awaits the sitting of the conclave and the appointment of a new Pope, Geraldine sits down with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher in the Apostolic Palace.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The Australian election campaign was rocked by allegations that Moscow had requested access to an Indonesian air base for use by long-range Russian military planes.Russia and Indonesia have a long and deep history of cooperation and trade going back to Indonesian independence, which appears to be strengthening under President Prabowo Subianto. Does Australia have reason to be concerned?Guest: Dr Marty Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of IndonesiaGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

There are two states that have the most to gain, and the most to lose, when it comes to AUKUS: South Australia and Western Australia. In the final episode of AUKUS Investigated Hamish and Geraldine speak to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about why he thinks the rest of the country needs to come to the AUKUS party. NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.GET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

A great re-balancing is underway from the Western world to a much more diverse future.As developing nations rise up with greater wealth, military power, demographic heft and cultural influence, will Western nations give up their privileged positions willingly?Guest: Dr Samir Puri, author of Westlessness: The great global rebalancing; Director, Global Governance and Security Centre at Chatham House; former UK diplomat Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

AUKUS doesn't only affect us. From the time that it was announced there were mixed reactions from our neighbours - some who wanted in, and some who thought it unwise and provocative. A big part of the fear - both regionally and within Australia - concerns the nuclear question. As the first non-nuclear country to ever acquire a conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, can we be confident of our own safety? And what happens to the waste that will remain dangerous for generations of Australians to come? NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.GUESTS:Gareth Evans - former Australian Foreign Minister (1988 –1996).Maria Rost Rublee - Associate Professor of International Relations at Monash University, with expertise in international security and nuclear politics.Dr Evan Laksmana - Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).GET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The death of Pope Francis closes the door on a papacy that was focused on the plight of migrants and other vulnerable groups. In this emergency episode, what was the Pontiff's contribution to global politics and who might come after him?Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Election day is looming at a time when events beyond our borders are shaping the debate as much as the politicians are. The major parties have avoided discussion of foreign policy, despite the need for new policies and partnerships for this uncertain time. With no scheduled debate on foreign policy, we discuss some of the key questions confronting the nation with:Tim Watts, the Assistant Minister for Foreign AffairsSenator Dave Sharma Independent MP Zoe DanielGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Palau is a tiny Pacific nation located in one of the hottest geo-strategic areas on Earth. They are highly dependent on the US for finance and defence but subject to Chinese pressure to revoke their formal recognition of Taiwan. Despite these challenges, Palau's greatest concern is actually the threat of climate change making parts of their country uninhabitable.Guest: President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs are laser-focused on Southeast Asia, with manufacturing countries singled out for the highest tax rates.Australia has got off lightly, but can we avoid the blow back when our region is under pressure?Where do Australia's best interests really lie?Guest: Dr Joseph Liow, author of Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux; Tan Kah Kee Chair in international politics, Nanyang Technological University; Singapore representative to ASEAN advisory board. Recommendations:Geraldine: 'I should have seen this coming', The AtlanticHamish: 'Trump's tariffs will push Southeast Asia uncomfortably close to China', Chatham HouseGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

What is Beijing thinking as it watches Western governments grapple with the chaos created by the US?Does China view the fracturing of long-standing US alliances and trading relationships as an opportunity, or do they share the concerns about what is coming?Guest: Zhou Bo, Senior Colonel (Retired) in the People's Liberation Army, author of Should the World Fear China? Senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and StrategyRecommendations:Geraldine: 'China rethinking its role', Engelsberg IdeasHamish: 'Why a weight-loss drug could become a geopolitical bargaining chip', FTGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Donald Trump's strategy on tariffs is inspired by the 'Gilded Age' of US history, when the federal government drew most of its income from taxes on foreign imports. Now some of America's closest allies have been slapped with tariffs and there are growing risks of a trade war.Guest: Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of MichiganRecommendations:Geraldine: 'The Wonders of Europe', SBS on DemandHamish: Sir Gareth Southgate - Boys need role models not gaming and porn, BBC Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The Irish rockstar is fired up as he claims his life's work is being ripped apart by the new US administration. In this passionate and surprising conversation Sir Bob discusses cuts to aid budgets in the US and UK, what Australia should be doing to stand up to Donald Trump and why he no longer listens to music.  Guest: Bob Geldof, musician and co-founder of the Band Aid Charitable TrustRecommendations: Geraldine: Repeat: A Warning from History, Dennis GloverHamish: Queen performs at Live Aid, 1985Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has said of AUKUS that "we don't need to be a pair of shoes hanging out of America's backside". Is that a fair characterisation of Australia's position vis a vis AUKUS? Are we getting the short end of the stick with this deal, and sacrificing our sovereignty to boot? NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.GUESTS:Sam Roggeveen - Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program. He is the author of The Echidna Strategy: Australia's Search for Power and PeaceMalcolm Turnbull - 29th Prime Minister of Australia 2015-2018.Richard Marles - the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Corio.GET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au