Podcast appearances and mentions of Mike Wendling

Kate Adie presents stories from the USA, Myanmar, The Dominican Republic, Afghanistan and the Greek island of Syros President Trump's decision to impose huge tariffs across the world drew ire from Wall Street financiers this week - and even members of his own Republican party. But what do his supporters in small-town America think? Mike Wendling travelled to Delta, Ohio, in America's rust belt, where locals have other things on their mind.In Myanmar the military junta has restricted foreign rescue teams' access to areas damaged by the recent earthquake - not to mention international media. After entering the country undercover, Yogita Limaye reports from the city of Mandalay, close to the earthquake's epicentre.The Dominican Republic announced three days of national mourning this week, after the roof of a popular nightclub collapsed, killing more than two hundred people. Will Grant visited the scene in the capital Santo Domingo, where an investigation is now under way as to what caused the collapse.Since returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have steadily increased restrictions on the country's citizens and the introduction of a huge CCTV network in the capital Kabul has alarmed human rights groups. The Taliban says it is to combat crime, but Mahjooba Nowrouzi says there is unease over what else might be under surveillance.The battle for dominance in the electric car market is in full swing, but the EV evolution has been a long time in the making, as Sara Wheeler discovered when she stumbled across one of the world's first mass-produced models on the Greek island of Syros.Series producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has revolutionised every industry he has ever worked in – from online payments and electric vehicles to space travel and satellite communications. Now he's positioning himself as a major force in global politics. He is already going to play a key role in the United States as an advisor to President Donald Trump, but he has also turned his attention to Germany and the UK.Lucy Hockings speaks with Mike Wendling and Jessica Parker about whether Musk's motivations for getting involved in European politics are professional or personal.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts and Alix PicklesSound engineer: Mike RegaardAssistant editor: Sergi Forcada FreixasSenior news editor: China Collins(Picture: Elon Musk. Credit: Reuters)

Harassment, threats and intimidation against local officials are increasing ahead of the election. When the majority of Americans vote tomorrow, it is these election workers that will come face to face with democracy…and the growing mistrust some feel towards the process. The BBC's Mike Wendling travelled to the battleground state of Wisconsin to hear about the fears of election workers there as the election drew closer. He tells Azadeh Moshiri about the climate of conspiracy and election denialism that has led to them being targeted. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Richard Moran and Tom Kavanaugh Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark and Hannah Montgomery Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

We're thrilled to announce a brand new episode of Some Dare Call It Conspiracy, featuring the return of the insightful and always engaging, Mike Wendling! This episode dives deep into the intricate web of satire, fake news, and the current political landscape.

Kate Adie presents stories from Moldova, Russia, the US, Cuba and Indonesia.In Moldova, a knife-edge victory for the Yes vote in the country's referendum on EU membership came as a shock to many. Chisinau and the EU have accused Russia and its proxies of ‘unprecedented' interference. Alongside the referendum, the country's pro-Europe president was also running for re-election. Sarah Rainsford was on the border with Transnistria.Moscow's push into the Donbas in eastern Ukraine is intensifying, as Russian troops seek to gain control of the whole region. Earlier this year, Ukraine made its own incursion into the Russian border regions. Nick Sturdee has followed the story of some Russian-speaking Ukrainian fighters who are now in Kursk.Mike Wendling paid a visit to the swing state of Wisconsin as Halloween preparations were underway and found people are not just spooked by scary masks and ghoulish stories – there's a deeper, palpable anxiety among voters in Wisconsin about dirty campaign tactics, and even the fate of US democracy itself.In Cuba, the electricity supply often fails when the fuel runs short. They have regular, planned black-outs, but last weekend, the whole of Cuba suffered a complete blackout, as it dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar. Will Grant has been to one village, where living without electricity has become the norm.Mini the Macaque was taken from the forest in Indonesia, when she was just days old, and sold on to criminals in a global animal torture ring. Mini - and the monkey who was held captive with her - were eventually rescued after a BBC Eye investigation. Rebecca Henschke went along to see them being freed.Series producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison

This is episode 1 of ‘Beyond the Ballot Box' - our new mini-series exploring some of the major political currents in US politics.  With the presidential election just around the corner, American politics is increasingly a focus of international attention as well. Electoralism, reproductive justice, the climate crisis, Palestine, a resurgent far right, the criminalization of protest, and the militarization of policing are all swirling in a maelstrom that is unlikely to abate, whatever the outcome on November 5th.  In this episode, series hosts Chris Browne and James Kelly sit down with Mike Wendling. Mike is US National Digital Reporter for the BBC, co-founder of the BBC's disinformation unit and the former editor and presenter of BBC Trending. Based in Chicago, he has decades of experience covering extremism, the American far right, social media and disinformation. He is also the author of Alt-Right: From 4chan to the White House and the new book, Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy, which was published by Pluto earlier this year. We talk about how the movement known as the ‘Alt-Right' morphed over the years of the Trump presidency, in response to events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and January 6 Capitol riot. We talk about the ways in which conspiratorial thinking has bled from the fringes of the far right into the mainstream Republican movement, and the ways in which Donald Trump has reshaped the party and the wider political terrain. We get Mike's reflections on the recent Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and the extent to which the assassination attempt on Trump and the substitution of Harris for Biden on the Democratic ticket have changed the electoral calculus, less than 2 months out from the election.

Major tech titans like Elon Musk are openly backing Republicans for the first time. This week, Donald Trump's chat with the owner of X solidified their friendship after years of animosity. And he's not the only tech entrepreneur shifting his support to the Republicans. So, is Silicon Valley, the traditionally left-leaning hub of tech, really moving to the right?On this episode, Lucy Hockings speaks to digital reporter Mike Wendling and business reporter Natalie Sherman about how one of the wealthiest zip codes in California might impact the race for the White House.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.This episode was made by Richard Moran and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Jeremy Morgan.The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Hello Initiates! In today's episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike Wendling, a national digital reporter for the BBC who specializes in covering disinformation and conspiracy theories.Mike shared some truly eye-opening insights from his experiences investigating far-right extremist groups in the US. We delved into the complex web of conspiracy theories surrounding major events and how they're exploited to politically radicalize people.It was sobering to hear how fringe ideas, once confined to the darkest corners of the internet, are now being laundered into mainstream political talking points by media pundits and elected officials alike. Mike's firsthand accounts of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers revealed the contradictory nature of these groups.This episode highlighted the critical need for responsible journalism to combat the insidious spread of disinformation in our society. Be sure to check out Mike's book "Day of Reckoning" for a deep dive into the rise of the alt-right.As always, we appreciate you tuning into "Some Dare Call It Conspiracy." Let's keep shining a light on those who seek to manipulate and mislead. Until next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some-dare-call-it-conspiracy--5932731/support.

We're at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee for a defining moment in the US presidential race after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Republican and Democratic leadership have called for unity, and a cooling of rhetoric. But is this consistent with the mood of the American public, in an election campaign which is so highly charged and so divisive? And we'll find out all about Donald Trump's new vice-presidential running mate JD Vance. Caitríona Perry speaks with North America correspondent Tom Bateman and US reporter Mike Wendling.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, you may well like some of our other pods, too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app. This episode was made by Laurie Kalus and Alice Aylett Roberts. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

Kate Adie reports stories from Ukraine, China, US, Canada and SenegalUkraine is facing one of its most perilous moments since the start of the full-scale invasion. Russia. The Ukrainian army desperately needs more troops and has turned to enlistment squads to bolster numbers. This has pushed those who don't want to fight into hiding, as our correspondent Jean Mackenzie reports from Odesa.Youth unemployment in China has reached record levels in recent years. Some graduates have ended up selling products online, but it's not always clear what products they are selling. Some have accidentally stumbled into the growing online market for synthetic opioid drugs. Danny Vincent has followed the story.November's presidential election will hinge on just a handful of states. One of them is Michigan, home to Detroit, which has suffered from decades of industrial decline. In 2016, it voted for Trump; in 2020, it was a critical swing state that voted in favour of Biden. And while crime is down and the economy has improved, many of its residents are struggling to see the benefits as Mike Wendling discovered.Haida Gwaii is an archipelago off British Columbia's west coast with a population of around five thousand people, half of whom are the indigenous Haida people. Sally Howard went there and learned how their totem poles, of huge cultural significance for the community, are seeing a renaissance.We visit the West African nation of Senegal, home to Africa's biggest jazz festival and many other cultural events. But this celebrated hub has been jolted by the arrival of a new president and some political wrangling, as Natasha Booty reports

In this installment, Dan and Jordan do a little mini-ep to check in on Alex's feelings about Globalist hamburgers, and then Jordan sits down with Mike Wendling, author of Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy.

Adrian Goldberg talks to investigative journalist Mike Wendling about his new book Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Kennedy draw votes from Biden or Trump? It is one of the key questions in US politics. For answers, our reporters Lucy Proctor and Mike Wendling went to several Robert F Kennedy Jr's events to hear from his supporters directly.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email theglobalstory@bbc.com or message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. TGS is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.This episode was made by Neal Razzell and Rachel Hagan. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Mike Wendling is the National Digital Reporter for the BBC. He is the co-founder of the BBC's disinformation unit and was editor and presenter of BBC Trending. While topics related to disinformation and extremism became popular starting in 2016, he's been covering this subject matter for decades. He is the author of the book Alt Right: From 4chan To White House as well as the brand new book Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy. Jake and Travis chat with Mike about covering conspiracy theories, adventures in the field, the legacy of 2000 Mules, and Mike's experiences attempting to use a medbed. Day of Reckoning: How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy by Mike Wendling https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349718/day-of-reckoning/ Mike Wendling on Twitter https://twitter.com/mwendling Editing by Corey Klotz. Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Theme Vocals by THEY/LIVE (https://instagram.com/theyylivve / https://sptfy.com/QrDm). Cover Art by Pedro Correa: (https://pedrocorrea.com) https://qaapodcast.com QAA was known as the QAnon Anonymous podcast.

With Donald Trump the presumptive Republican candidate for President, to be confirmed at the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, July 15 - 18, his MAGA Movement, will be taking a prominent place on the national stage. There are some new groups and issues that are part of the MAGA lineup for 2024 joining the group like the Proud Boys and others. Mike walks us through what to look for. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-herlihy/message

BBC Journalist and author Mike Wendling joins the podcast to talk about the rise and fall of the "Alt-Right", Art Bell, and how not to amplify bad information.Find this episode on your favorite podcast player here: https://pod.link/1647010767/Here are some of the sources and references from this episode:Alt-Right From 4chan to the White House by Mike Wendlinghttps://www.plutobooks.com/9781786802378/alt-right/Day of Reckoning - How the Far Right Declared War on Democracy by Mike Wendlinghttps://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349718/day-of-reckoning/BBC Trendinghttps://www.bbc.com/news/topics/cme72mv58q4tProtester Punches White Nationalist Richard Spencer During Interviewhttps://www.nbcnews.com/video/protester-punches-white-nationalist-richard-spencer-during-interview-859651651503Art Bell, Radio Host Who Tuned In to the Dark Side, Dies at 72https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/obituaries/art-bell-radio-host-who-tuned-in-to-the-dark-side-dies-at-72.html"43*" by Jeff Greenfield. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/16034689(An alternate history where Al Gore wins the 2000 presidential election and actually becomes president.)Comments? Suggestions? Email: didnothingwrongpod@protonmail.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.didnothingwrongpod.com/subscribe

Initiates! ICYMI: Our live show from last week. With Steve (Brian Kurvie), Mike Rothschild, Mike Wendling, and friends in the audience! Apologies for the sound, this was a live Twitter/X Space but we have fixed it as best we can.Recently, Brent Lee celebrated 1,000 days of speaking out.. so we marked the occasion with a live stream on Twitter/X Spaces and were joined by Mike Rothschild (Author of "Jewish Space Lasers" - and - "The Coming Storm") - Mike Wendling (Author of "Day Of Reckoning" - and - Alt-Right: "4chan To The White House" - and - Co-Founder of BBC's Disinformation Unit)Enjoy!

Half of Americans get their news from social media like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X and even TikTok. Mike brings a critical eye to this space and helps listeners to be more discerning consumers of news sourced from social media outlets. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/james-herlihy/message

Kate Adie presents stories from India, Bangladesh, the US, Switzerland and Finland.This week, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opened a grand Hindu temple in the northern city of Ayodhya. The site on which it sits was once home to a centuries-old mosque which was demolished by a Hindu mob thirty years ago. Yogita Limaye reflects on the impact of the new temple, which fulfils a dream for many Hindus, but has alienated much of India's Muslim minority.Samira Hussain attends a press conference in Bangladesh, soon after Sheikh Hasina was returned to power for a fourth consecutive term as prime minister. With voter turnout at almost half that of the previous election, Samira explores why Bangladeshi voters are feeling despondent, amid claims of growing autocracy in the country.After securing victory in the Republican primary in New Hampshire, Donald Trump is currently in a strong position to clinch the party's presidential nomination. Within his base is a sizeable contingent of evangelical Christians. Mike Wendling met with some of them, to hear how they have become a political force.China's human rights record has been under the microscope at the UN in Geneva this week. It's attracted particular interest as, since the last review, China has faced criticism for its continued repression of Uyghur Muslims, while clamping down on democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. Micky Bristow was there to watch proceedings.And John Kampfner visits one of the world's last remaining museums dedicated to Vladimir Lenin. Located in the Finnish city of Tampere, it tells the story of the complex relationship between Finland and Russia over the last century.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Mike Wendling and Maxine Hughes explore how extreme conspiracies and right wing rhetoric went mainstream in America. From the Proud Boys' Enrique Tarrio, to far right militias and Antifa, we hear from individuals on the extremes of American politics about what they believe and why, and explore what part social media has played in the radicalisation of parts of American society. Presenter: Mike Wendling Reporter: Maxine Hughes Producer: Kayleen Devlin Editor: Flora Carmichael

Kate Adie introduces stories from The Gambia, Iran, the USA, Chile and Hungary. Dozens of bereaved families in the Gambia are taking legal action against an Indian drug manufacturer and Gambian health authorities, after more than 70 infants died after taking apparently toxic cough remedies. Sam Bradpiece heard their stories and traces how these medicines came to market. As Iran approaches the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, the authorities are already cracking down on signs of public dissent. She was a young woman arrested for "incorrect hijab", whose fate triggered a wave of protest across Iran. Lois Pryce speaks to some of the generation of young women who took to the streets a year ago, and now say they're ready to do so again. The Capitol riot on the 6th of January 2021 is still roiling American politics - as some high-profile Republican politicians say the people who were involved were patriots who shouldn't be punished. But the courts have issued verdict after verdict against the architects of the disorder. Mike Wendling reports from Washington DC on the sentencing of a leading figure in the chaos - Enrique Tarrio, former leader of activist group the Proud Boys. In Chile there's been heated debate over how best to mark the fifty years since General Pinochet's military takeover. These days few people deny the killings, torture and disappearances were committed during his dictatorship - but up to a third of Chileans are willing to say the coup was necessary. Jane Chambers considers the nuances of a country torn between left and right. It's been a terrible year for fruit in Hungary - so Nick Thorpe was prepared to go without his usual annual ritual of making his pear crop into homemade brandy. But as it turned out, an unexpected windfall of 200kilos of sour cherries would fuel an even more potent brew... Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Bridget Harney Production Co-Ordinator: Gemma Ashman

Kate Adie presents stories exploring events in Russia, the United States, Mexico, Lanzarote and South Africa. After its failed march on Moscow, the Wagner Group was supposedly going to be disbanded and its leader exiled to Belarus. But as our Eastern Europe correspondent Sarah Rainsford found out, this mercenary army still appears to be recruiting new members to its ranks. Across the United States, tens of millions of Americans still believe that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election - some of them are serving in public office. Mike Wendling is just back from Iowa, where he met one former conspiracy theorist whose own political appointment is causing friction among local Democrats and Republicans. The Tren Maya project is a huge looping railway line, nearly a thousand miles long, which (if completed) would connect the dots in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula - once the heartland of Mayan civilisation. As with any groundbreaking transport works, not everyone is happy - there have been objections over its potential environmental impact. Louise Morris recently followed the journey of a convoy which aimed to stiffen resistance to the project. The Canary Islands were well known to ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean. There are accounts of Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians all reaching the islands, as they hunted for valuable plants which were sources of red dye for fabrics. These days, the islands belong to Spain and among them is Lanzarote - a popular destination for European sun-seekers. But beyond its tourist hotels and restaurants, Charles Emmerson stumbled across the origins of one modern European empire. In South Africa, questions over the nation's education system can get seriously heated. Decades after the end of apartheid, many people argue that South Africa's schoolrooms are still far too focused on European scholarship - so does that explain the indifference to one of the country's most valuable literary treasures? Oxford Professor of Shakespeare Studies, Emma Smith, finds herself the only one excited by a rare copy of Shakespeare's first folio. Producer: Polly Hope Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' dispatches from South Sudan, from the air war over Ukraine, a troubled area of Chicago, a small island off Western Australia and Sweden's capital, Stockholm. The conflict in Sudan which began in April continues to tear its capital city, Khartoum, apart. Hundreds have been killed and more than a million people have fled their homes. Some have connections to South Sudan - which split from Sudan in 2011. Catherine Byaruhanga has been to the South Sudanese town of Renk and heard from families who've managed to return. After attending the G7 summit in Japan, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted that peace was 'closer today'. One tangible outcome of the meeting was the promise from President Biden that the US would allow countries to supply F16 fighter jets to Ukraine - something President Zelensky has been requesting for months. But just how will these jets help? Our correspondent Abdujalil Abdurasulov talked to two Ukrainian fighter pilots. Chicago has a new mayor. At his swearing-in, Brandon Johnson - a former teacher and union organiser - spoke proudly of his humble beginnings in one of the most violent neighbourhoods in the Americas. He continues to live in Austin, Chicago and has promised to take a new approach to fighting crime. Mike Wendling has been to the mayor's neighbourhood to see how data science is being used to tackle the city's gun violence problem. Visitors to Western Australia's Rottnest Island have only recently begun to discover the island's hidden, tragic past. While many tourists come to the island to see the quokkas, cute marsupials with happy grins, more and more of them, like Emma Thomson, are learning about the historic mistreatment of its indigenous people, the Wadjemup. And in Sweden, Rob Crossan takes a walk around an area of Stockholm that has always fascinated him - and meets a homeless man who asks why anyone should be destitute in a country which is often celebrated as a showcase for the best in humanity.

Kate Adie presents stories from China, Ukraine, Moldova, Zimbabwe and the US. Protests have taken place across China, from Shanghai, to Guangdong to Beijing after a fire in Urumqi killed ten people who were thought to have been under Covid restrictions. Celia Hatton asks whether this is a watershed moment for Xi Jinping and his Zero Covid policy. In Ukraine, a bloody war is being fought in towns and cities in Donetsk, such as Bakhmut and Avdiivka, with high numbers of casualties on both sides. Abdujalil Abdurasulov went to Avdiivka and spoke to some of the 2000 residents who've decided to stay amid intensive shelling, in bombed-out buildings. Joe Inwood goes to neighbouring Moldova where local businesses, including a winery, are trying to switch to renewable energy to avoid the power outages caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moldova and Ukraine's power infrastructure are intrinsically interlinked, so cities across the country are affected by Russian attacks. In Zimbabwe, despite initial hopes that President Ernest Mnangagwa would bring economic and political stability, the reappearance of road blocks harks back to the regime of Robert Mugabe. Meanwhile inflation is once again soaring, and the country remains locked in an economic spiral, says Kim Chakanetsa. And in Washington DC, the leader of the far-right, anti-government Oath Keepers militia was found guilty of plotting an armed rebellion to stop President Joe Biden from taking office in 2020. Mike Wendling went to Montana to meet the ring leader, Stewart Rhodes' son. Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Iona Hammond

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Brazil, Taiwan, Zambia, Sweden and the USA. On Sunday Brazilians vote in the final stage of their presidential election, and the slate offers a very clear choice. Meanwhile, the indigenous peoples of Brazil are facing a host of outside threats, as illegal gold miners flood into their traditional lands to seek their fortunes. While the mining process itself damages the forest, the social effects are also insidious. Katy Watson has been to the world's largest indigenous reserve, territory of the Yanomami people, to hear how the gold rush is playing out. The issue of Taiwan's identity is one of the most vexed geopolitical questions around. On the Chinese mainland, there's no doubt - Taiwan is historically part of China and reunification should happen as soon as possible. On the island itself, most people have very different views. In Taipei, Zeinab Badawi considers the past, present and future of a possible flashpoint for regional conflict. Food prices have been rising almost everywhere, in the wake of the war in Ukraine and several seasons of drought and natural disaster in many of the world's usual 'breadbaskets'. Some feel the effects far more keenly than others. In Zambia, the soaring cost of bottled gas and vegetable oil means even the simplest snack is now out of reach for some. Qasa Alom stopped off in a small town to talk about the price of potato chips with a woman who earns her living selling them from a stall. Most stereotypes of Sweden revolve around ABBA and Ikea, a strong welfare state and political moderation. But the results of the most recent general election shook those certainties, as a far-right nativist party, the Sweden Democrats, gained over a fifth of the votes and became a key part of the new right-wing coalition in government. Matilda Welin's been wondering if it's time for Swedes and others to rethink what the country's really about. Can the United States of America ever really make amends for the sins of its past? Paying reparations to the descendants of enslaved people was a central demand for the Black Lives Matter movement. Calculating the best way to pay out is a challenge to communities and institutions. Mike Wendling reports from Evanston, Illinois, on one scheme which has made some first steps. Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Iona Hammond

Ahead of the opening of the new season of the English Premier League, baseless rumours and dodgy statistics circulating online have implied that Liverpool FC use asthma medication to enhance their players' performance. Ben Carter speaks to sports scientist Professor John Dickinson to examine the science that disproves these rumour, and tracks down its original source with the help of Mike Wendling from the World Service's Trending programme. Presenter: Ben Carter Producer: Richard Vadon

Took a technical difficulties week off, but we are back! Today's episode comes to you from the backyard at Brad and Sam's, due to having too many guests. We couldn't fit them all in the studio! Fan favorite Mike Wendling joins us, as does Lyssa Evans all the way from Reno, Nevada, and Christy Winters all the way from the other side of Dayton! We try to remember the last week and half events of the world, horribly, as well as try to remember what the hell we did the last week and a half. Luckily, the old reliable cannibalism topic helped us through, as well as believing we can direct porn....Not at the same time. Make sure to follow, subscribe, rate, comment, and tell your friends about Do We Have A Point? Want Do We Have A Point? merch? go to store.dowehaveapoint.com to pick up some sweet swag --   Shout out to our affiliates:   ZenniOptical.com - Need prescription glasses, but hate paying hundreds of dollars for them? Zenni Optical can get you in a new pair of stylish frames with your prescription requirements for a fraction of the cost! Just go to zennioptical.com and start seeing how much you'll save! Reppsports.com - Go to reppstports.com/free and enter the coupon code POINT15 to get a huge sample package for only S&H ($9.99). Podpage - If you're a podcast in need of a great website, go to podpage.com and sign up today. Accusonus - If you need some kickass, easy to use, and super powerful plugins for your audio creations and editing, check out Accusonus today! accusonus.com   --   Do We Have A Point? Website - www.dowehaveapoint.com Facebook Page - facebook.com/dowehaveapoint Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/dowehaveapoint Email - dowehaveapoint@gmail.com

We are in the belly of the beast that is guest Mike Wendling's home, and it gets weird. Make sure to listen to the entire episode for some good recipes!   Make sure to follow, subscribe, rate, comment, and tell your friends about Do We Have A Point? Want Do We Have A Point? merch? go to store.dowehaveapoint.com to pick up some sweet swag --   Shout out to our affiliates:   Reppsports.com - Go to reppstports.com/free and enter the coupon code POINT15 to get a huge sample package for only S&H ($9.99). Podpage - If you're a podcast in need of a great website, go to podpage.com and sign up today. Accusonus - If you need some kickass, easy to use, and super powerful plugins for your audio creations and editing, check out Accusonus today! accusonus.com   --   Do We Have A Point? Website - www.dowehaveapoint.com Facebook Page - facebook.com/dowehaveapoint Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/dowehaveapoint Email - dowehaveapoint@gmail.com

Special guest Mike Wendling joins us again and we talk about how birds aren't real, dildos, butt plugs, and bow to the greatness that was Sir Christopher Lee. Make sure to follow, subscribe, rate, comment, and tell your friends about Do We Have A Point? Want Do We Have A Point? merch? go to store.dowehaveapoint.com to pick up some sweet swag --   Shout out to our affiliates:   Reppsports.com - Go to reppstports.com/free and enter the coupon code POINT15 to get a huge sample package for only S&H ($9.99). Podpage - If you're a podcast in need of a great website, go to podpage.com and sign up today. Accusonus - If you need some kickass, easy to use, and super powerful plugins for your audio creations and editing, check out Accusonus today! accusonus.com   --   Do We Have A Point? Website - www.dowehaveapoint.com Facebook Page - facebook.com/dowehaveapoint Facebook Group - facebook.com/groups/dowehaveapoint Signup For Email Notifications - http://eepurl.com/hwPUbv Email - dowehaveapoint@gmail.com

This episode was a panel discussion on the theme of disinformation held at the Association of British Science Writers for their online UK Conference of Science Journalists in October 2020. We focused on the difference between misinformation and disinformation, the tactics of those spreading pseudoscientific theories such as climate change denial, anti-vaccine misinformation and pseudoscientific racism. Our panel looked at how science journalists can cover and combat this dangerous form of online abuse. The panel was hosted by science journalist Angela Saini and the panelists were Amil Khan, Ewan Birney, Michael Marshall and Mike Wendling. Find out more about the original event here: https://www.absw.org.uk/events/5-uk-conference-of-science-journalists-2020 Host: Angela Saini Producer: Hester Cant Artwork: Hana Ayoob Music: George Ash

Media literacy is so important today since millions of Americans get their news from Social Media which unlike legacy press and TV is neither edited nor curated. Separating fact from fiction, conspiracy theory, falsehood and agitprop can be a full time job. The BBC Trending program tracks social media and shines the light of researched fact on fake news and disinformation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/james-herlihy/message

From the global pandemic to the US election, the extraordinary events of 2020 have both fuelled, and been shaped by, the online spread of falsehoods, propaganda and bizarre conspiracy theories. Trending’s Mike Wendling and Marianna Spring, the BBC’s specialist disinformation reporter, look back at some of the most viral rumours, how they debunked them, and discover what happened next. Producers: Jonathan Griffin and Sam Judah Picture caption: Photo illustration of a phone showing “fake news” Picture credit: BBC

How did a US-based conspiracy about Donald Trump gain followers in Scotland and the UK? BBC Trending editor Mike Wendling and Hope Not Hate researcher Dr. Joe Mulhall join Lucy and Phil to discuss how QAnon exploded online. Why is it starting to make appearances across the UK and Europe, from online groups to anti-mask protests outside of Holyrood? The team talk about the origins of QAnon, it's appeal to certain people, what we can learn from the USA, and the potentially dangerous consequences of letting the conspiracy grow this side of the Atlantic.

ADVENTageous Journey in the Wilderness The Youtube Link for the video of this service: https://youtu.be/_L4EFtY9U3Y What do you think of when you hear the word wilderness? Perhaps you think of a desert or wide wasteland. Perhaps you imagine a barren tundra or an arid expanse. I doubt you think advantageous, but every year John reminds us that the wilderness is indeed ADVENTageous. On the second week of Advent, John the Baptizer appears in the wilderness. Most of us would prefer to stay in the comforts we are accustomed too, but each year John appears to beckon us into the wilderness. It is the place where Israel wandered for 40 years. It is the place where we wait for 4 weeks of Advent. It is not the place we would volunteer to go especially in a year that has been wild with wilderness already. Yet each time we dare to journey into the wilderness, it is ADVENTageous to our spirits as John calls us to repent – or turn around – as we prepare for the Lord’s coming. It is ADVENTageous to our faith because the wilderness places – where we are stripped of our comforts, provisions, and facades – is where God always shows up. Worship Where You Are! Join us to Worship Where You Are this Sunday at 9AM & 11AM. As we gather together, on this Second Sunday of Advent, bring an Advent wreath or two candles to your worship space to light as we illuminate the sanctuary Advent wreath. We give thanks to this week’s WWYA Worship Leaders: Davis Perron, Kay Mueller, Janis Coltin, Dave Seddelmeyer, Tim Holck, Sara Burden-McClure, Deb Hilton, Laura Gonzalez, Courtney Petiprin, Mike Wendling, Mark Funderburk, Garry Durante, and Eric Daub and our tireless Production Crew: Sara Burden-McClure, Ian McClure, Reed Rinn, Jeff Buchle, and Matthew Wagner! The scriptures this week are Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 and Mark 1:1-8.

Mike Wendling, the current Director of Event Services & Housekeeping for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, joins me on the podcast to share his unique path towards working in sports. He talks about taking a year off to teach children in Belize, gives his opinion on the debate over paying student-athletes, and explains what it's like to work in collegiate athletics.

With the 2020 Presidential election less than 4 months away, Social Media and with it Fake News stories will loom large no doubt, much as they did in 2016. The BBC has a dedicated weekly program called BBC Trending which focuses on Disinformation stories. Why would the world's most respected broadcaster want to give any oxygen to conspiracy theories and disinformation stories ? It is a measure of how far the Internet and its' no holds barred culture has impacted how we get our news. In today's podcast, I interviewed Mike Wendling and I share his insights with you. BBC Trending can be heard on the BBC World Service every Friday at 9.30pm Pacific Daylight Time(PDT). Editor and Co-host is Mike Wendling. Make a point of tuning in, as I do. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/james-herlihy/message

The World Health Organisation calls it an “infodemic” – a flood of information about the coronavirus pandemic. Amid the good advice and the measured uncertainty, there’s a ton of false claims, conspiracy theories and health tips which are just plain wrong. We’ve been working to fight the tide of bad info, and in this programme BBC Trending reporters Marianna Spring and Mike Wendling trace the story of one specific viral post. It's a list of supposed facts about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself. Some of the tips are true, some are false but relatively harmless, and some are potentially dangerous. Who’s behind the post – and how did it spread? Here’s our list of seven key tips on how to stop viral misinformation: 1. Stop and think 2. Check your source 3. Ask yourself, could it be a fake? 4. If you’re unsure whether it’s true … don’t share. 5. Check each fact, individually. 6. Beware emotional posts. 7. Think about biases Presenters: Marianna Spring and Mike Wendling

Coronavirus has reached 24 counties outside of China, with 8 confirmed cases in the UK. As the disease is spreading so is a lot of information, some of it misleading. The World Health Organisation has warned that "trolls and conspiracy theories" are undermining their response to the virus. We speak to Mike Wendling from BBC Trending and Vitaly Shevchenko, Russian Editor at BBC Monitoring, about the theories being circulated. Presenter: Tina Daheley Producer: Lucy Hanock Mixed by Emma Crowe Editor: Philly Beaumont

Hello! Welcome to another edition of Inside The Newsroom. Today’s guest is… Rachel Botsman, an author, podcast host, Trust Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and an overall trust expert. Whether we like it or not, we live in an age where growing numbers of people believe the opinions of strangers over facts. Rachel has studied trust in the media for several years, so we dug deep into why believing facts isn’t popular anymore, and why correcting vulnerabilities within our brain could be the solution. Below is a post-game of everything we discussed and more. But first, here are some quick links to stories I enjoyed this past week. Enjoy 🧠Saudi Arabia Hacked Jeff Bezos — Scoop of the year so far as the prince of Saudi Arabia is alleged to have hacked the phone of Amazon’s Jeff BezosInstagram Face — How social media and plastic surgery have created a single, cyborgian lookNew York Times’ Dual Endorsement — The NYT broke tradition by endorsing two candidates, one of which is polling at three percent and the other currently the number one enemy of the progressive leftOh, and if you like what you read, how about clicking the ❤️ up top. I’ll be very grateful. 😘Rachel 👇What Is a Trust Expert?For more than a decade, Rachel’s explored what trust is, how it works and what its future looks like. In this TED Talk, she explains her work in more detail and how today we prefer to trust strangers online instead of facts and experts. The History of Fake NewsMisinformation, spin and lies have been around forever. The power and reach of the internet has allowed false information to be spread at speeds never seen before. A small Macedonian town called Veles is arguably the home of fake news, when in 2016 a band of fake websites began to spread false headlines on Facebook, such as “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President” and “FBI Agent Suspected in Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide”. The group of scammers saw the potential to make large amounts of money using clever algorithms to exploit Facebook’s shallow system of not checking the validity of information that gets posted on its platform. The Macedonian group exposed a sleeping giant, and of course when another giant began his bid for the White House, we were powerless to stop the vast networks already in place. Once mainstream politics entered the fray, fake news predictably exploded into a tidal wave of falsehoods, and not just because we have a Liar-In-Chief occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. How do we stop the poisonous cycle? Rachel has some ideas…Mike Wendling, BBCHow Your Brain Tricks You Into Believing Fake NewsNo matter how conscious we are of false information, it’s almost guaranteed that we’ve fallen foul of believing something that’s blatantly untrue. What’s even more remarkable is that in the Twitter age of retweets and likes, almost 60 percent of people will retweet a link without actually clicking on it. One of the best examples is from 2016, when satirical news website The Science Post posted a block of lorem ipsum text under the provocative headline “Study: 70% of Facebook users only read the headline of science stories before commenting”. The post was shared 125,000 times, buttressing studies that suggest 60 percent of people don’t read an article before retweeting it.Aside from laziness, our inability to verify articles before sharing them is to do with something called ‘confirmation bias’, the idea that we want something to be true so badly, that we only accept information that supports our theory. In her work, Rachel now sets out to disprove her theories instead of just telling herself they’re true. If she can’t disprove something, then she’s onto something. I’ve started to operate in a similar manner, especially when working on projects to do with climate change, where there is often too much material to read. Still, even a handful of checks per story has mitigated several errors and saved bundles of time. Katy Steinmetz, TimeMost of the Internet Isn’t Even RealThe Macedonian scammers were but a tiny chunk of the internet’s problem that has become far worse since 2016. According to a report by security firm Imperva in 2017, robot activity has been consistently more than that of humans, with bot activity eclipsing 60 percent in 2013. Fake YouTube views and anonymous egg avatars on Twitter are obviously incredibly concerning, if not just plain annoying. But you can easily live your online life without having to worry about petty trolls if you want to. Let’s call them ‘good bots’. What’s darker and more outright dangerous are the ‘bad bots’ — the malware that will try to hack your personal data if it’s the last thing it does. Case in point, Jeff Bezos (see above). What can we do about it? I haven’t a freaking clue. According to market-research firm CB Insights, more than a dozen bot startups raised first rounds of funding, so we may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg. 😳 Adrienne Lafrance, The AtlanticDeep Fakes: People Don’t Care What’s RealJust as we try to contain the epidemic of good and bad bots, we now have another headache. Deep fakes are videos which use technology to make a person appear to say or do something they didn’t say or do. Put more simply: anyone can make another person say anything they like. Take this deep fake of Mark Zuckerberg, originally posted to Instagram no less. Imagine how many people believed this was actually Zuckerberg before sharing to their networks…In terms of legal protection, consequences will inevitably depend on who and how the law is interpreted. On one hand, deep fakes can be taken as parody, which is incredibly hard to prosecute. But the Electronic Frontier Foundation sees things differently. Per civil liberties director David Greene: Fortunately, existing laws should be able to provide acceptable remedies for anyone harmed by deepfake videos. In fact, this area isn’t entirely new when it comes to how our legal framework addresses it. The US legal system has been dealing with the harm caused by photo-manipulation and false information in general for a long time, and the principles so developed should apply equally to deepfakes. If a deepfake is used for criminal purposes, then criminal laws will apply. For example, if a deepfake is used to pressure someone to pay money to have it suppressed or destroyed, extortion laws would apply. And for any situations in which deepfakes were used to harass, harassment laws apply. There is no need to make new, specific laws about deepfakes in either of these situations. On the tort side, the best fit is probably the tort of False Light invasion of privacy. False light claims commonly address photo manipulation, embellishment, and distortion, as well as deceptive uses of non-manipulated photos for illustrative purposes. Deepfakes fit into those areas quite easily. Rachel Botsman for WiredTech Companies Are Not On Our SideI’ve been trying to find this Katie Couric podcast for absolutely ages, and finally writing this newsletter triggered my memory. Tristan Harris used to work for Google as a design specialist, but became horrified at what he saw as special teams with the sole purpose of making us, the users, addicted to Google’s products and technology. This isn’t limited to just Google, and takes place throughout Silicon Valley. I can’t recommend the podcast enough, and below is a sneak peak…Related Episodes…#58 — Art Markman (University of Texas)#52 — Katie Notopoulos (BuzzFeed News)#43 — Kashmir Hill (New York Times)#41 — Jessica Lessin (The Information)#30 — Art Markman (University of Texas)Next Week…We’ll have Krystal Ball on to talk about the upcoming launch of her new book on populism, as well as the New York Times’ dual endorsement of Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar.Last Week…#60 — Michael Mann (Penn State University) on witnessing the Australian wildfires in person and the country’s climate policy recordJob CornerEach week I’ll feature a selection of new journalism jobs. This week, I’ve listed a range of openings at Insider Inc/Business Insider covering technology.INTERNSHIPS (scroll down)Associate Editor, TechEmerging Technology ReporterInternet and Digital Culture ReporterNews Reporter (London)Tech Billionaires ReporterTech Deals ReporterTech EditorTech Editor, EnterpriseTech Ideas and Innovation ReporterTech Reporter (London)Teen Digital Culture ReporterSenior Tech ReporterSports ReporterVisual Features Reporter, Tech Get on the email list at insidethenewsroom.substack.com

Vialucci Podcast Episode #60 BBC Journalist and Author Mike Wendling Charles and Theo chat with Mike Wendling who is a writer, producer, broadcaster and editor at BBC Trending which investigates social media stories, he's spent years covering extremism and internet culture for radio, online and television, and was part of the BBC team covering the 2016 US presidential election. He's also author of Alt-Right: From 4chan to the White House, which goes into the white nationalism, misogynist, far-right movement that rose to prominence during Donald Trump's successful election campaign in the United States. Watch, Listen and Follow on...YouTubePeriscopeTwitterFacebookI-TunesSoundcloudStitcher@VialucciMediaRecorded in London.Audio & Visual Production by Kerem Isik. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BBC's Mike Wendling explains the history of a message board subculture and discusses his book, "Alt-Right: From 4Chan to the White House"

Algerians have been celebrating the fact that their football team has made it to the final of the African Cup of Nations. But in Algeria, football is more than a sport. It was in the country’s stadiums that the desire for political change emerged. The nation’s autocratic leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika was ousted earlier this year and since then people have been getting to grips with new levels of freedom of expresssion, as Neil Kisserli has found. In the United States President Trump’s tweets about four non-white members of congress have caused uproar among his opponents. Mike Wendling has been to a pro-Trump gathering in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he encountered some unusual supporters of the president: “monarchists”. Chile is home to one of South America’s fastest growing economies. The agricultural sector plays a significant role, and exports include fruit, wine and fish. Salmon farming has become a big industry, but it can also sometimes be a dangerous one for those who work in it, as Grace Livingstone has learned. Over the next three decades, New Zealand hopes to rid itself of invasive species. Its Predator 2050 plan aims to eradicate stoats, rats, possums and other pests, in the hope of protecting the country’s indigenous wildlife. As Christine Finn has discovered, the project has garnered wide support. In China for centuries, the dominance of tea drinking may now be facing a challenge. Many young people are acquiring a taste for coffee, which may partly explain why foreign coffee shop chains have recently opened thousands of branches across the country. Andy Jones has been to Shanghai to hear why coffee may be poised to mount a challenge to tea.

After the mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand in which 50 people were killed there has been widespread shock that it happened in a country that regards itself as inclusive and welcoming. The attack was livestreamed on Facebook, and social media companies were criticised for waiting too long to take the footage down. But the attacker also posted on extreme free speech message boards – where a racist subculture is thriving. We speak to Mike Wendling, Editor of BBC Trending, who has been tracking this subculture, and to Dominic Casciani, who covers terrorism for the BBC, to find out how the security services are dealing with this new challenge. Producer: Philly Beaumont Editor: John Shields Mixed by Andy Mills

The Proud Boys say they are nothing more than a fraternal drinking club, but they regularly show up armed to far-right rallies across the US. On a marijuana farm in Oregon, Mike Wendling meets one of their local leaders – a man who, in between stints farming weed, survives on government disability benefits while also agitating for an end to all forms of welfare. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world: Sahar Zand has an unsettling visit to the Museum of Jihad in Afghanistan. Sian Griffiths skates across the world’s largest naturally-frozen ice rink and hears what impact rising temperatures are having on the outdoor skating season in Canada. Martin Vennard joins an old boys' club in Bangladesh. And Rob Crossan delves beneath the usual tourist traps in Tenerife and explores the volcanic subterranean tunnels which are home to the world’s ugliest invertebrate: a mutant with no wings or eyes.

Kim Jong Un’s train rolls into to Beijing as the North Korean leader meets President Xi. Kate Adie introduces stories, wit, and analysis from correspondents around the world: China correspondents were once known as tealeaf readers, now they’ve become motorcade analysts and trainspotters says Stephen McDonell, as he tries to unpick the meaning of Kim Jong Un’s surprise visit to Beijing. Jonah Fisher has the story of Nadya Savchenko and her journey from prison to national hero and back to prison again. Bethany Bell explores why Austria won’t be implementing a smoking ban any time soon and finds out what the coffee drinkers of Vienna think of that. Mike Wendling joins the pro-gun control crowds at the ‘March For Our Lives’ in Washington DC and reflects on how things have changed since he was a teenager in the US when he and his classmates would shoot at paper targets in their school’s basement. And in Morocco, Kieran Cooke learns what impact Chinese tourists are having on Fes and comes face to face with the head of a dead camel.

The past and future of fake news – what can be done about social media misinformation and what impact does it have around the world? Mike Wendling asks a panel of experts from Buzzfeed, the Poynter Institute, and First Draft News. Economists rely on data to describe what is happening in a country’s economy, such as the unemployment rate, average wages, and the number of people in poverty. But how individuals manage their money gives a different picture. Rachel Schneider, co-author of The Financial Diaries, describes the findings of a large study in the US. Why do some sleep disorders turn normal dreams into terrifying nightmares and what do they tell us about the workings of the brain? Neurologist, Dr Guy Leschziner, from Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals in London, introduces us to some of his patients with problems that include sleep paralysis and hallucinations and he explores the reasons why we dream. (Photo: A couple looking at their finances. Credit: Wayhome Studio/Shutterstock)

The events in Charlottesville were just one example of the sharp rise in the number of violent confrontations in America between far-right white nationalists and left-wing groups known as 'antifa' - short for "anti-fascists". Those on the right claim they're fighting to defend free speech or other deeply held American principles. But their opponents say they're promoting extremism and a brand of racial division far out of line with mainstream thought. Fights that once took place between the two groups online are now spilling out onto the streets of places like Berkeley, California and Portland, Oregon - liberal enclaves where far-right activists have held rallies and which have been turned into scenes of violence, and even murder. Mike Wendling has travelled to America's west coast to talk to underground antifa organisers and find out what they want - and what they're prepared to do to achieve their aims. Producer: Anisa Subedar.

Continued confusion has taken its toll on Catalonia since the disputed referendum. Bridget Kendall introduces correspondents’ stories from around the world. On the streets and at the school gates the question of independence is dividing the people of Barcelona. It is also disrupting their lives finds Pascale Harter. Owen Bennett-Jones hears tales of abandoned babies in Pakistan; unwanted infants hurled into ice-cold rivers and others saved from disaster by caring strangers. Mike Wendling meets masked Antifa activists in America. Who are these left-wing activists? And what do they really want? Lucy Ash explores an often forgotten chapter in the history of WW1 – the invasion of Russia by Britain, Canada and the US. And Leon McCarron has a shave in a barbers on the West Bank and gets a lesson in the history of the Samaritans.

What happened last night in Sweden? Ruth Alexander tells the strange tale that connects Donald Trump, rape in Sweden, immigration and her reporting on More or Less. Why did a network of Twitter accounts, usually the source of pro-Russian messages, pump out tweets about a very specific British election? BBC Trending’s Mike Wendling investigates. And why do some people stammer? More than 70 million people globally – that’s about 1% of the world’s population - are affected by this neurological condition. Becky Milligan talks to people with a stammer to find out the effect on their lives. She also discovers what treatments are available and whether stammering can be cured. Image: Getty / Joe Raedle

How many people attended President Trump’s inauguration? How many people went to the Women’s March in Washington DC the next day? A fierce debate has been raging about the numbers of people at each event. We explore the difficulties of counting people in a crowd. Tens of thousands of automated videos have appeared online recently. All feature photos of news events accompanied by a robotic voice. BBC Trending’s very own digital supersleuth Mike Wendling investigates who’s making them and why. Can deep-frozen bodies ever return from the dead? Mike Williams explores the science, the motivation and the ethics behind cryonics and asks whether frozen human bodies will ever be fit for a new life. (image: Attendees line the Mall at Trump's Inauguration Day in Washington DC. Photo: Lucas Jackson/Getty Images)

Mukul Devichand and Mike Wendling travel around the United States, talking to Black Lives Matter activists, the parents of young black men shot by police, civil rights elders like the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and police officials. In an election year that will be crucial to the country's future, can Black Lives Matter change America?

As a restaurateur and chef, Mike is no stranger to the kitchen; in fact, he has over 20 years experience working primarily in 2 and 3-star Michelin restaurants in France. He came to China in 2006 to open "le Royal Meridien" hotel where stayed for 5 years. After that he had the opportunity to open his first restaurant "Cuivre" then the second, then the third... Today Mike is going to share with us tips, tricks and lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey thus far.

Seasonal stories and festive fables: Mike Wendling strongly disagrees with the thought that New York City is the world's most magical place at this festive time of year; why Yolande Knell in Bethlehem is looking forward to two MORE Christmases in the coming weeks; Nick Thorpe meets a Gypsy 'Santa Claus' on an allotment in southern Hungary; Petroc Trelawny on how the glittering New Years's Day ball in Vienna has its roots in a dark era of Austrian history and in Paris, Joanna Robertson tracks down a seasonal delicacy which, while delicious, carries the unmistakeable whiff of ... gunpowder!

Fans of the Washington Redskins, one of the most popular American football teams in the country, are fiercely proud of their dark crimson Indian head logo. They say it is a sign of respect and that the name 'Redskins' goes back 80 years. But to many Native Americans, the indigenous people who lived in the United States before the arrival of European settlers, the word Redskins is hateful. For them it's a painful reminder of how their people have been oppressed and neglected even to this very day. Mike Wendling travels from North Dakota, to Minneapolis to Washington DC to explore the controversy which, thanks to social media and a growing number of Native American campaigners, has now become a burning national issue. On the Turtle Mountain reservation, Mike meets Jordan Brien, a young hip-hop artist with a troubled past who is determined to get the name of the team changed. He says his people shouldn't be reduced to mascots, and he urges young Native Americans to take a stand against racism. His cause has got the support of some in the US Congress and even President Obama has said that if the name is offensive to a sizeable group of people, the owners should "think about changing it". But for diehard fans like Chap Petersen, who has been going to Redskins games for four decades, such a change is unthinkable. And the club's owner Daniel Snyder has vowed never to discard the name whatever the press, pollsters and politicians say.

Reporters tell their stories: in this edition, Carrie Gracie travels to China's most troubled region Xinjiang - it's in the midst of a crackdown on what the authorities describe as 'terrorism driven by religious extremism'. Fergal Keane, just back from Ukraine, examines the circumstances which led to one of Europe's bloodiest conflicts in decades. Mike Wendling's in the United States where a campaign to persuade the Washington Redskins football team to change its name is gathering pace. Will Ross is in north eastern Nigeria where bows and arrows, magic and ancient hunting rifles are now being used in the battle against the Boko Haram jihadists. And David Mazower's at a festival in Poland where it's clear a growing number of Poles feel profound loss about the Jewish nation in their midst which was ripped apart in the Second World War.

Mike Wendling represents a new challenge to college athletic ticket sales: Analytics as the basis of how his job functions. Originally slated for looking at data support for ticket sales with Oklahoma State, Wendling has broadened his experience to now selling the entire ticket product. Analytics can be challenging for some, but with Wendling, he breaks down the various components of what makes a ticket sales unit, especially at a college athletic department, worth of pushing revenue generation. Twitter: @WendlingMike

Spain crawls painfully out of recession but Pascale Harter, in Barcelona, says so much damage has already been done to Spanish families; in America, six million manufacturing jobs have gone but there are still some things Made in the USA, as Mike Wendling's been discovering in New York State; one territory full of natural resources is Inner Mongolia, which is part of China. But, as Martin Patience has been learning, there are concerns that development's coming at a heavy cost to tradition and heritage; Edward Lewis climbs aboard the train to Luxor to ask passengers what they make of Egypt's military leader Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Simon Atkinson, in the deserts of Abu Dhabi, learns what exactly it is that makes a camel beautiful.

Reporters' despatches: already this year more than seven thousand people have been killed in the upsurge of violence in Iraq. Andrew Hosken explores a country full of widows, orphans and frightened people mourning the loss of loved ones. In America, two significant anniversaries - Allan Little has been to the locations involved, Gettysburg and Dallas, and uncovers surprising revelations about the state of the USA today. The president of Bulgaria's talking of 'emergency' as demonstrations against the government show no sign of letting up - Emma Jane Kirby's been talking to the protestors in the capital, Sofia. Peter Day visits a Chinese village where they haven't yet turned their backs on the 'Great Helmsman' Mao tse Tung. And as the big Thanksgiving Day American football matches approach, Mike Wendling reflects on a sport facing difficult questions about the safety of its players. The producer of From Our Own Correspondent is Tony Grant

When Mark Duggan was shot by armed police in Tottenham, north London on 4th August 2011, the Independent Police Complaints Commission immediately began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. It is normal procedure for the IPCC to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances of any fatal shooting by the police. At the time, IPCC Commissioner, Rachel Cerfontyne, said: "I will make certain that this investigation is thorough and answers the many questions that everyone has when such an incident occurs." Yet there is now the real possibility that a full inquest conducted openly and before a jury, will never be held into the shooting which triggered rioting in Tottenham, and which later spread across London and other English cities. Simon Cox speaks to people close to Mark Duggan about what impact this news is having in the community. He investigates whether the IPCC have the statutory powers they need in order to do their job properly. And, after the IPCC stated that their hands may well be 'tied' by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, Simon will ask whether it is time for a change in the law which currently prevents phone intercept evidence being heard in court. Producers: Hannah Barnes and Mike Wendling.

Is China's economic muscle crushing the heart out of blue-collar America? Justin Rowlatt's been to Ohio to find out. But while America's industrial heartland's feeling the pinch, Mike Wendling finds that, in the social networking industry, Americans lead the field; Mary Harper tells us about the city in the Horn of Africa which has risen from the ruins of war; the story of an extraordinary Englishman who's immersed himself in Afghan tribal life is told by Nadene Ghouri; while Christian Parkinson makes a very important purchase in South Africa -- with a herd of cows!

An undercover exploration of the glittering new capital city built by Burma's generals is carried out by Sue Lloyd-Roberts; Damian Grammaticas looks at the population count in China that will shed light on more than a billion lives; Daniel Schweimler finds a vacuum in Argentina after the death of former president Nestor Kirchner; anger and fear in Indonesia's restless province of Papua is reported by Rachel Harvey; while in a forest in the Czech Republic, Mike Wendling taps into the local passion for sausages, cold beer and a game that you may well have never heard of.....