Stay With Me Here

Trump deployed the military to Los Angeles to quell largely nonviolent protests over the deportation of dozens of residents by ICE, sparking bigger protests in California and nationwide. The aid boat known as the Freedom Flotilla was seized in Gaza, with activists onboard (including Greta Thunberg) being deported as dozens were killed in the Gaza strip trying to get food aid. And a 21 year old shooter in Austria killed ten people in a shooting at his former high school, sparking a conversation about boys and men.Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake break down the rest of the week's headlines to keep you in the know about what is happening in the rest of the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Léa Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Ukraine launched a massive secret drone strike on Russia and shocked the world with its technical ability. The Trump White House put 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum coming from anywhere outside the U.S. And South Korea elected the Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung as the country's next president after ousting Yoon Suk-yeol a little while back.Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake break down the rest of the week's headlines to keep you in the know about what is happening in the rest of the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided scripting and editing assistance for the podcast.

Palestinians in Gaza are beginning to starve as Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from coming in, with Israeli-U.S. aid efforts being overrun on the ground. Russia is preparing for a summer offensive in Ukraine while Zelensky shores up support from allies around the world and Trump even starts to get irritated with Putin. And the U.S. economy is taking one on the chin, with more tariff stuff from the White House and the “Big Beautiful Bill” passing in the House, despite business leaders and, well, everyone having something to dislike about it. Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake break down the rest of the week's headlines to keep you in the know about what is happening in the rest of the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided writing and editing assistance for the podcast.

Friedrich Merz had a rough day after losing the first round of what is usually a ceremonial vote to pick a new chancellor before clenching the vote in the second round. Israel is choosing to block aid from getting into Gaza and upend humanitarian organizations in the process. And the Romanian elections, which are happening for a second time after the first ones were cancelled, saw the leader of the far right take the biggest slice, but a second round is on its way. Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake break down the rest of the week's headlines to keep you in the know about what is happening in the rest of the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88, and his legacy was one of humble modesty and moderation of the church. Harvard takes on the Trump administration in court to challenge executive overreach. And Canada gears up for national elections, with the Liberal party showing up for a tighter race than was expected. Then, in Have You Heard headlines, Erin & Jake break down the rest of the week's headlines to keep you in the know about what is happening in the rest of the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

In recent weeks, several men have been sent from the U.S. to El Salvador's CECOT prison without due process. The prison functions more as a torture facility, with prisoners kept malnourished, isolated, and as far as we can tell, no one has ever come out alive. Among them is Andrys, a gay makeup artist deported after seeking asylum in the U.S. due to tattoos that read “Mom” and “Dad.” The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia stands out: he fled gang violence, lived legally in Maryland with his American wife and child, and was deported even after a judge acknowledged the danger he faced and ordered him to be protected in the U.S. Though the conservative Supreme Court unanimously ruled he must be returned, the White House has said it cannot act for the El Salvador government, despite the fact that Trump met with El Salvador's president just yesterday. Lawyers continue to fight, but experts say legal options are nearly gone, so political pressure is what's left. You can go to congress.gov/contact-us to find out how to get in touch with your members of congress, and let them know that what's going on in El Salvador is simply unacceptable.

Trump imposed taxes on goods sent from basically every other country in the world and the stock market is suffering for it. Hungary pulled out of the International Criminal Court to invite Benjamin Netanyahu for a visit. And South Korea's Constitutional Court approved Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, with the government setting new elections. Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right RN party, was convicted of embezzling EU funds and sentenced to two years with an ankle monitor and five years barred from running for the French presidency. Paris held another summit for the "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine while Trump and Putin had a micro-falling out over the ceasefire talks. And an earthquake in Southeast Asia killed thousands, bringing chaotic conditions to countries like Myanmar that are already in the midst of yearslong national crises. Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. You can find the podcast Rethinking Tech on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on⁠ Substack⁠. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on⁠ Instagram (@staywithmeherepod)⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, or⁠ Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social)⁠.Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. ⁠Erin Flanagan⁠ is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.⁠Jacob Shropshire⁠ is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.⁠Liam Kuhns⁠ provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Top officials at the White House planned a highly-secret airstrike on Yemen in a group chat, and what's worse is they included a journalist in the group. Türkiye is seeing mass protests after President Erdogan arrested his main opponent ahead of elections. And the Sudanese Army saw modest gains against the RSF rebel forces in the country's civil war. Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Israel renewed the violence in Gaza, launching airstrikes that killed more than 400 people after negotiations with Hamas on a phase two of a ceasefire fell through. The U.S. is deporting Venezuelan migrants to prisons in El Salvador without any legal oversight or due process, abandoning the legal process. And Trump and Putin are calling to talk about a ceasefire in Ukraine while Europe works to build defense capacity for itself.Then, in Have You Heard Headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world.This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook (Stay With Me Here Podcast), or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Ukraine launched its largest drone strike yet against Russia, killing three people ahead of negotiations in Saudi Arabia. In Syria, sectarian violence sparked along the coastal regions between supporters of the ousted Assad regime and the new government. Then, Jake sat down with Ishaan Srivastava of the Ishaan S. show to talk U.S. politics, including Musk, the Democrats, and more. You can check out Ishaan's show here.In Have You Heard headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world.This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Reya Divekar provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Trump gave his 2025 State of the Union address to Congress, and it was not all that different from just another campaign speech. The U.S.-Ukraine relationship is on the rocks after a tumultuous week, but it's on the mend (slowly). And Arab leaders proposed an alternate plan for reconstructing Gaza to Trump's “Riviera of the Middle East” idea. Then, in Have You Heard headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Germany just got a new chancellor after Sunday's elections, with the center-right making gains and the far-right doing a little too well. Emmanuel Macron went to Washington to meet with Trump and discuss the situation in Ukraine, and while they had some differences, they seemed like old pals and both were optimistic about peace in Ukraine. And speaking of Washington, Trump fired some top military brass as well as Army lawyers, for no great reason that we can find (though we have some theories). Then, in Have You Heard headlines, Erin & Jake go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Erin & Jake break down the last week's chaos surrounding Ukraine, with peace talks in Riyadh that didn't include Ukraine or the Europeans, and Trump seeming to align more with Russia than the west. Then they talk through the crypto scandal that Argentine President Javier Milei is caught up in, having shared a link to a “rug pull” scam on social media. In the DRC, they discussed the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels taking over of Bukavu, and what the real aims from Rwanda seem to be here. Then, in Have You Heard headlines, they go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.Liam Kuhns provided editing assistance for the podcast.

Erin & Jake break down' Donald Trump's plan to revive steel and aluminum tariffs, further stressing U.S.-Canada trade tensions and dealing with retaliation from China. Then they talk through, the Gaza ceasefire negotiations for a second phase agreement being at a standstill as Hamas delays the next hostage release, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its side of the agreement. On the global tech front, world leaders gathered in Paris for the AI Action Summit, discussing the future of AI models and regulatory frameworks, and while 60 countries backed an agreement on AI ethics and safety, the U.S. declined, saying it would stifle innovation.Then, in Have You Heard headlines, they go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the U.S.

Erin & Jake break down Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and who these tariffs actually punish in the end. Then they look at the meeting of European leaders in Brussels to iron out some defense spending things before Trump's Tariff Train comes to town. They close out the big stories talking through what it means that military-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger just left ECOWAS, and its impact on West African politics. Then in Have You Heard headlines, they go through the rest of the week's stories to keep you in the know about what else is happening out there in the world. This podcast turns into an article summary at each week's episode over on Substack. We'd love for you to subscribe! You can also follow us on Instagram (@staywithmeherepod), Facebook, or Bluesky (@swmhpod.bsky.social).Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the US.

This week, Erin and Jake talked about the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has escalated with the rebel group M23 capturing the city of Goma. The roots of the conflict are complex, stemming from arbitrarily drawn African national borders by European colonizers. This has led to disputes between tribal and religious groups within the same country and is also a factor in the Rwandan genocide. The M23 group, formed to protect Tutsi people, has reignited violence in the resource-rich eastern DRC, leading to mass casualties and a humanitarian crisis, and prompting international calls for action. There are also reports that the fighting has caused water and electricity supplies to the city to be cut off.Then they moved to the US, where newly inaugurated President Trump signed a series of executive orders on immigration, including one that seeks to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents and halting all refugee admissions. Trump has framed immigration as a national security issue, granting the president more unilateral power. The immigration policies led to a recent diplomatic breakdown between the US and Colombia over deported Colombians sent on military planes. The issue was resolved through diplomatic channels. Then, some financial news. A Chinese startup, DeepSeek, launched an AI chatbot at a fraction of the cost of its US competitors, sparking concern in the US tech and stock markets. DeepSeek says that it only needed $6 million to train their chatbot, compared to the $100 million needed to train ChatGPT. The AI model is comparable to the industry leaders in the US, on par with Google and OpenAI, and it has raised questions about the US's ability to keep up in this market, with Nvidia, a major processor manufacturer, seeing the largest single-day drop in market history. But while China has global ambitions for AI, their censorship standards may end up being the challenge that slows them down.Other global headlines from the week include Denmark bumping up military spending for the defense of Greenland after Trump's comments about taking it by force, the Serbian PM resigning after months of protests, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claiming victory in an election which was called a sham by Western governments. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he will cover the US contribution to the UN's climate body after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris agreement in his first day in office. Displaced Palestinians have begun returning to Northern Gaza, many of them to destroyed homes, and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz was marked on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Finally, Thailand has become the first country in SE Asia to recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples, with hundreds of couples getting married to celebrate.Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the US.

Erin and Jake started the show talking about Donald Trump's first day back in office as the 47th President of the United States. His second inauguration had to be held indoors due to an arctic front in DC, keeping the guest list small—just 750 people, including some big names in tech like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. In his speech, Trump pledged a "golden age" for America, took some jabs at the Biden administration, and proposed an "External Revenue Service" to investigate imposing international tariffs. Among the nearly 100 executive orders signed on Trump's first day were declarations of a national emergency at the southern border, policies to block new asylum seekers, and efforts to undermine birthright citizenship. Trump also withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, reversed drilling protections, and scrapped diversity and inclusion programs across federal agencies. Finally, he established there being only two genders as federal policy and removed protections for transgender people in federal prisons.Then they broke down how exactly the Israel-Hamas ceasefire of 2025, brokered by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, was reached. The deal consists of a three phase plan, starting with a 42-day long ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages taken 15 months ago, focusing on women, children, and the elderly, while Israel agreed to release around 100 Palestinian prisoners and pull back from populated areas of Gaza. The second phase will try to establish more permanent peace agreements, with discussions to secure the release of remaining hostages and a full Israeli withdrawal. Finally, the third phase will focus on rebuilding Gaza and returning any remaining hostages' bodies. But the deal remains tenuous given the record of distrust between Israel and Hamas—a dynamic closely followed by figures like Ursula Von Der Leyen and global leaders at the World Economic Forum.Speaking of which, Erin and Jake unpack the Davos 2025 highlights, where leaders like Volodymir Zelensky and global business elites gathered to tackle geopolitical challenges, and the future of crypto under the Trump administration. Oxfam's latest report revealed that billionaires grew even wealthier in 2024, with predictions of five trillionaires emerging within a decade, up from their prediction a year ago that there would only be one in this time. Generally speaking, the forum highlighted a looser crypto regulatory environment in the Trump era, and there was a focus on how the business community can respond to growing geopolitical tensions around the world. Finally, they wrap up with a round of Have You Heard Headlines: a rebel attack in Colombia that killed 60, former Pakistani PM Imran Khan's 14-year sentence for corruption, a Turkish ski resort fire that claimed 66 lives, the UK and Ukraine signing a 100-year defense partnership, a Taliban-US prisoner exchange, Denmark dropping its controversial parenting tests in Greenland, and a Hungarian man's daring cling to a German high-speed train.Stay With Me Here is an independent project, and all views and opinions expressed in this show, and in this writeup, represent our personal views and not that of any organization we're affiliated with. Erin Flanagan is a former U.S. Coast Guard intelligence officer and Agence France-Presse digital investigations journalist.Jacob Shropshire is an editorial intern at Worldcrunch and the managing editor of Peacock Media at the American University of Paris. He spent two years working for Democratic political campaigns in the US.

Erin & Jake kicked the week off with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's unexpected resignation announcement on Monday, which he gave amid mounting disapproval within his party and economic roadblocks like rising inflation and tariff threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Billionaire Elon Musk tweeted about Trudeau, saying, “Girl, you're not the governor of Canada anymore, so doesn't matter what you say.” They broke down the situation in South Korea, in which in early December President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, was swiftly impeached, and is now barricaded inside his residence, resisting arrest with the secret service protecting him. After two impeachments (one for his immediate successor, for not launching an investigation into President Yoon), the country now has a relatively stable government while navigating this new crisis. Finally, they discussed how European leaders are pushing back on Elon Musk's interference in their elections, claiming his platform, X, has been amplifying support for far-right political parties throughout the continent. In the UK, this has taken the form of pushing lies against the leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer; in Germany, it means over support for the far-right party, the AfD. This week's top headlines include a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Tibet, killing at least 126 and injuring more than a hundred more in the disaster near Mount Everest. In France, far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine Le Pen, died on Tuesday at 96, leaving a legacy marked by Holocaust denialism and inflammatory remarks. In the U.S., Donald Trump's election was certified by a session presided over by Kamala Harris, his main opponent in the election. At a press conference on Tuesday, he doubled down on his ambitions to annex Greenland and Canada, and control territories like the Panama Canal. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg announced he will be ending fact-checking on platforms like Facebook and Instagram in favor of community notes, which experts warn will increase misinformation. And finally, a deadly winter storm hit the northern U.S., the strongest in decades, while greater Los Angeles fights wildfires raging through Pasadena and Eaton. 

This week, Erin and Jake broke down the aftermath of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte which left more than 20 dead, and another 1,500 injured. They also talked about the complex politics of the island, including ongoing poverty and neglect by the French government, a lack of discussion about the nearby country of Comoro, and the potential link between the storm's intensity and climate change. Next, they talk through the political crisis in Germany, with the vote of no confidence against Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government, the scheduling of new elections in February, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. And because it's the last episode of the year, they went continent-by-continent to discuss the biggest stories of the year, and how they're feeling about the world in 2025. (Heads up, it's not great.)In the Have You Heard? weekly news breakdown, the duo talked through South Korea's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the assassination of a high-ranking Russian general by Ukraine's security service, and France's new Prime Minister (and fourth of the year), François Bayrou. They also covered Denmark's decision not to extradite anti-whaling activist Paul Watson to Japan over attacks of fishing vessels and how an 18-year-old from India won the world championship in chess, making him the youngest champion in history.

This week, Erin and Jake discussed how Syria faced a huge and unexpected shift as the Assad regime collapsed after 13 years of civil war, with a rebel group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) having taken control of key cities like Aleppo and Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia. HTS leader Mohammed Al-Sharaa, known for his past ties to Al-Qaeda, claimed to advocate for inclusivity of religious groups in the region, but concerns persisted over strict religious rule for religious minorities and women, in part because of recent memories of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. They also covered South Korea, where President Yoon Seok-Yeol's controversial martial law declaration last week sparked mass protests and allegations of insurrection, leading to his defense minister Kim Yong Hyun's resignation and a criminal investigation into Yoon's actions. Finally, they examined the situation in Romania, which faced political chaos after the second round of its presidential election was canceled by the Romanian Supreme Court due to alleged Russian interference backing ultra-nationalist Călin Georgescu. So far, there's no new date for the presidential election to resume. In the Have You Heard headline breakdown, Erin and Jake broke down the Pennsylvania arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with reports saying that his lawyer, Tom Dickey, said that Mangione is resisting extradition to New York. In the UK, they talked about a decision by the country's health secretary banning puberty blockers for minors due to "unacceptable safety risks," limiting their use to clinical trials. In Brazil, they touched on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recovering from surgery after a fall in October, and was expected to return to the capital city after a recovery from the brain bleed. They discussed the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to the public after a massive fire in 2019, with a ceremony attended by world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-Elect Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And they went through how scientists tracked a humpback whale that broke records by migrating over 8,000 miles, or 13,000 kilometers, in a journey that might be related to climate change's impact on food sources and breeding grounds.Sources…The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria:France24 - Why the Assad regime collapsed in Syria – and why so fastThe AP - The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynastyPolitico - Has Syrian rebel leader al-Golani really shaken off his al Qaeda past?South Korean martial law chaos:The Guardian - South Korea police raid President Yoon's office over martial law declarationAl Jazeera - South Korea's President Yoon declares emergency martial lawThe AP - What to know about martial law and the impeachment vote threatening South Korea's presidentThe Romanian elections getting cancelled:Le Monde - Romania's far right challenges annulment of presidential electionBBC - How meddling blamed on Russia exploited real grievances in RomaniaEuroNews - Romanian court cancels presidential election in unprecedented political earthquakeHave You Heard Headlines:The New York Times - Suspect in Health Care C.E.O.'s Killing Charged With MurderThe Guardian - Puberty blockers to be banned indefinitely for under-18s across UKSky News - Brazilian President Lula da Silva recovering in intensive care after having emergency brain surgeryThe Guardian - Notre Dame celebrates first mass in five years after devastating fireNBC News - Whale stuns scientists with epic 8,000-mile migration across three oceans

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire run through some updates in US politics, including how President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, and some of Donald Trump's incoming appointments, some of whom helped write Project 2025. Then they discuss the ongoing situation in Syria with the resparking of the Syrian Civil War and involvement by Russia and Iran to push back opposition forces around Aleppo, and how it all relates to Hamas, Israel, and the situation in Gaza. Finally, they break down the recent 2024 Irish Elections, what the exit polls said, how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael did, and how Michael Martin may become taoiseach.Then, in the Have You Heard rundown of the week's biggest news, they break down how French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to be ousted by the far right and the left in the French parliament and who French President Emmanuel Macron could pick in his place, Israel attacking Lebanon in violation of last week's ceasefire and Israel's claim that Hezbollah hasn't retreated, the UK voting to approve assisted dying for terminally ill patients who have a short life expectancy, how South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol just declared martial law and accusing opposition parties of colluding with North Korea, and Belgium making history as the first country to allow sex workers to sign employment contracts which will allow them access to social benefits denied to them for decades. Sources for…Joe Biden Pardoning Hunter Biden:The AP - Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not toBBC - White House defends Biden as Republicans and Democrats criticise pardon for HunterDonald Trump and Project 2025:The AP - After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key rolesCBS News - See the list of Trump Cabinet picks and more White House appointments so farThe Bulwark Podcast - Bill Kristol and Elaina Plott Calabro: A Sordid LotOngoing Syrian Civil War:CNN - What's Happening in Syria? A Simple GuideAl Jazeera - Syria Tracker: Maps and ChartsBBC - More Russian strikes as Syrian rebels advance after taking AleppoReliefWeb - Escalation of hostilities in Syria - Flash update #1 (December 2nd, 2024)2024 Irish Elections:BBC - Fianna Fáil emerges as largest party in Irish electionThe Guardian - Ireland Election 2024: Full ResultsFrance 24 - Greens, far-right among big losers in Irish voteHave You Heard Headlines:Le Monde - French PM forces social security budget bill through, exposing his government to a no-confidence voteCNN - Israel threatens to ‘go deeper' into Lebanon as strikes strain ceasefireBBC - What is assisted dying and how could the law change?Washington Post - South Korean president says he will lift martial law after protestsNPR - Belgium becomes first country to give sex workers robust labor rights and protections

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the recent 2024 presidential elections in Romania, including how Călin Georgescu ran a TikTok campaign to win first place. Then they talk about the Pelicot trial in Mazan, France, with Gisele Pelicot's courage to put her husband, Dominique Pelicot, in prison for 20 years for rape charges. And finally, they break down the state of a Hezbollah ceasefire, with officials from Israel and Lebanon meeting to discuss what that Israeli ceasefire might look like. Plus, how the ICC filed an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then, in the Have You Heard rundown of the week's biggest news, they break down Trump's proposal for tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the ousting of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and the new nominee, Pam Bondi, the ICCs arrest warrant for Netanyahu and a former defense minister, the death of six tourists in Laos from suspected menthol poisoning, and a recent court case in Hong Kong that protects same-sex couples' rights to certain housing and inheritance benefits. Sources for…The Romanian Election:The Guardian - Shock as pro-Russia independent wins first round of Romanian electionPolitico - Who is Călin Georgescu, the far-right TikTok star leading the Romanian election race?Politico - Romania's far-right, pro-Russian lurch spells big trouble for EU and NATOThe Pelicot Trial in France:BBC - Prosecutors demand 20-year jail sentence for husband in mass rape trialThe Guardian - Prosecutors demand 20-year jail term for Dominique PelicotFrance 24 - French prosecutors demand 20-year sentence for ex-husband in Pelicot mass rape caseThe Potential Israel Lebanon Ceasefire:Al Jazeera - Israel bombs Lebanon's Beirut; cabinet discusses possible ceasefireThe New York Times - Netanyahu Signals Openness to Cease-Fire With Hezbollah, Officials SayThe International Criminal Court (ICC) - ICC Pre-Trial… issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav GallantHave You Heard Headlines:CNN - Trump ups the ante on tariffs, vowing massive taxes on goods from Mexico, Canada and China on Day 1The AP - Trump chooses loyalist Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdrawsThe Guardian - Eight Laos hostel staff held over suspected methanol poisoning deathsThe Guardian - Hong Kong top court upholds rulings protecting inheritance, housing rights for same-sex couples

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss reaching the 1,000 day mark in the Russia-Ukraine war and how the US is allowing American missiles in Ukraine to be fired at Russia, ongoing protests in New Zealand around a treaty with the Maori indigenous people that could be completely changed, and the sentencing of 45 people for involvement in the Hong Kong democracy protests in 2019 and 2020. Then, in the Have You Heard rundown, they talk about Dr Oz for the head of medicare and medicaid and Linda McMahon for Education Secretary in Trump's cabinet, the retiring of a Spanish tennis legend, and the story of a Russian whale spy that ran away from home.Sources for…American missiles in the Russia-Ukraine war:Al JazeeraCNNTrump's cabinet picks:The Associated PressThe Kyiv IndependentBusiness InsiderLibérationMaori protests in New Zealand:Al JazeeraBBCSentencing in Hong Kong after democracy protests in 2019:BBCAl JazeeraSky News UK

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the incoming Trump administration, including Elon Musk appointed by Trump and Mike Huckabee as the Ambassador to Israel, the current situation with a minority government in Germany, and the current situation in Gaza, including Secretary Blinken's recent comments. Plus, Have You Heard for a weekly breakdown of the week's biggest headlines. 

In this special episode, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the results of the 2024 election in the US and Trump's landslide victory, where the Kamala Harris campaign might have gone wrong, and who will win the House of Representatives in 2024. 

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the live election results map and where to be looking in the United States for election updates and the Trump vs Harris results. Then they go over how the port of Spain weather caused massive flooding in the European country, and how more than 200 soldiers were taken hostage in Bolivia. Plus, have you heard for a weekly breakdown of the biggest headlines. 

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the recent North Korean troop movement in Russia, break down Japan's recent snap elections and their surprising results, and Jake talks with Ishaan of the Ishaan S. Show to talk about the state of the US Presidential race and the senate races around the country.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss why Giorgia Meloni made it illegal for Italian couples to seek a surrogate abroad, the recent Moldovan election to stay in the EU, and the Donald Trump McDonalds photo op. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the recent China military drills Taiwan strait and what caused them, India Canada relations and what the Hindu and Sikh population in Canada has to do with them, and the dueling media presence between the possibility of Kamala Harris on Joe Rogan and Donald Trump dancing at rally music, including the YMCA. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the state of Israel's war on Gaza and offensive in Lebanon one year out and break down the category 6 hurricane warning in the Gulf of Mexico and the threat facing Florida as hurricane Milton barrels towards them. Then Jake interviewed Sarah Bruce, a visual information specialist at Katmai National Park about the fat bear week past winners, current contestants, and the state of Alaska's parks in general. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss a massive storm making landfall in the US including how many people are missing from hurricane Helene, what is going on in the middle east as Israel invades Lebanon, and the US vice presidential debate tonight pitting Tim Walz vs JD Vance. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest weekly news stories.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the recent Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the possibility of sending US troops to Lebanon, Emmanuel Macron and Michel Barnier's announcement of a new government in France, and all about who attends the UN general assembly this year, including US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the apparent second assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life this year, the potential coup in Mali and destabilization of Western Africa, and a recent attack using pagers as bombs in Syria and Lebanon by the Israeli military. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the newly named French Prime Minister, talk about the recent escalating violence in the West Bank, and break down the Venezuelan election and the recent aftermath of it. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the gains by the far right in recent elections in Germany, talk about the latest in Israel and Gaza, and go over all the US election news we missed on break. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the assassination attempt on Trump and his VP pick, break down the election results in Rwanda, and go over the most recent round of ceasefire talks in Gaza. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through tow major elections in the UK and France, break down the NATO meeting happening in Washington, D.C., and go over some recent climate reports. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through disastrous US presidential debate last Thursday, break down some recent US Supreme Court rulings, and discuss the upcoming UK elections. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the protests in Kenya, break down Julian Assange's extradition from the UK, and discuss the upcoming US Presidential Debates. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the Ukraine peace talks, give the latest on the G7 meeting and breakdown the most recent US Supreme Court rulings. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the results of the European elections, give the latest on Gaza and the ongoing ceasefire talks and break down the bloody conflict in Sudan. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the conviction of former US President Donald Trump, and break down the elections in South Africa, Mexico, and India. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the state of things in the war in Gaza, talk through the upcoming European elections, and talk through where the US presidential race stands. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the state of things in the war in Ukraine, break down Xi Jinping's trip to Europe, and discuss Israel's offensive in Rafah. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the recent ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, discuss the flooding in Kenya and break down why there will be a new PM in Scotland. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the recent UK legislation surrounding immigration, discuss the ongoing Indian elections, and break down the recent protests on college campuses in the US. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the latest on the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, discuss the abortion fight going on in Poland, and give an update on US politics ahead of the November election. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the conflict in Gaza, the latest on the first successful climate change case in the European Court of Human Rights, and the Vatican's recent announcement on transgender rights. Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the current situation in Gaza, the boat crash on the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, and the debate for Ukraine aid in the House of Representatives.  Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the attack on a Moscow concert, the UN vote on a ceasefire in Gaza, and the recent change-up in Irish politics.  Plus, Have You Heard headlines to keep you up-to-date on the biggest stories from the week.