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600.000 Venezolanos se han quedado en situación irregular en Estados Unidos tras el vencimiento de su estatus de protección temporal (TPS), concedido por la administración Biden y revocado por Donald Trump. Les permitía permanecer en el país de manera legal al considerarse que no podían regresar a su país natal de manera segura. RFI abordó con integrantes de ONGs pro-migrantes en Estados Unidos en qué situación se quedan y qué opciones tienen estos cientos de miles de venezolanos. Con entrevistas de Manu Terradillos y Justine Fontaine "La gente (está) muy angustiada, muy desesperada. Si no tienes una petición de asilo, si no tienes ninguna otra opción, tienes el riesgo de ser deportado si te detienen." Wiliam Díaz, fundador de "Casa de Venezuela", una ong que ayuda jurídicamente a migrantes en Estados Unidos, explica el sentimiento de la comunidad venezolana, después de que este viernes 7 de noviembre 250.000 de ellos se quedasen sin su TPS, el estatus de protección temporal. Se unen a los 350.000 que lo perdieron hace unas semanas, tras una victoria judicial de Donald Trump para revocarlo. En total son 600.000. Algunos aún están protegidos temporalmente, al haber interpuesto previamente una demanda de asilo, o contar con algunos meses más de permiso de trabajo, pero la gran mayoría se quedan expuestos si deciden quedarse. Rachel Schmidtke es responsable para Latinoamérica de la ONG Refugees International en Estados Unidos: "La mayoría van a quedar sin estatus en Estados Unidos y eso significa que están en una situación muy precaria. Van a perder su permiso para trabajar, entonces no van a poder trabajar de forma digna ni tampoco formal en Estados Unidos y también pueden ser sujetos a la detención. O pueden ser deportados, entonces esas personas ya están en una situación de muy alto riesgo. Esta situación, unida a las agresivas actuaciones de los agentes de ICE, el servicio de inmigración y aduanas, hace que aquellos que permanecen en territorio estadounidense, opten, como cuenta William Díaz, por vivir escondidos: "Nadie quiere estar en redes sociales, nadie quiere declarar a los medios y nadie quiere incluso participar en eventos. Este fin de semana hubo un evento de festividad religiosa tradicional de Venezuela y la asistencia fue muy pobre." Ante la perspectiva de vivir de manera clandestina o ser detenidos, otra solución es abandonar el país antes de verse obligados a hacerlo. Los solicitantes del TPS recibieron esta protección por el riesgo que supone regresar a Venezuela. Rachel Schmidtke explica que en Refugees International se buscan alternativas: "Muchos que no quieren regresar a Venezuela por razones obvias, pero quizás quieren irse a Colombia o a España o a otros países donde (podrían) vivir en una situación más segura, donde tienen familia. Tenemos que empezar a mirar si otros países pueden abrir más rutas legales para estas personas. La ONG Casa de Venezuela trabaja para solicitar que se aplique una Deportación Diferida, para ganar tiempo, pero la administración Trump no parece proclive a otorgar prórrogas.
600.000 Venezolanos se han quedado en situación irregular en Estados Unidos tras el vencimiento de su estatus de protección temporal (TPS), concedido por la administración Biden y revocado por Donald Trump. Les permitía permanecer en el país de manera legal al considerarse que no podían regresar a su país natal de manera segura. RFI abordó con integrantes de ONGs pro-migrantes en Estados Unidos en qué situación se quedan y qué opciones tienen estos cientos de miles de venezolanos. Con entrevistas de Manu Terradillos y Justine Fontaine "La gente (está) muy angustiada, muy desesperada. Si no tienes una petición de asilo, si no tienes ninguna otra opción, tienes el riesgo de ser deportado si te detienen." Wiliam Díaz, fundador de "Casa de Venezuela", una ong que ayuda jurídicamente a migrantes en Estados Unidos, explica el sentimiento de la comunidad venezolana, después de que este viernes 7 de noviembre 250.000 de ellos se quedasen sin su TPS, el estatus de protección temporal. Se unen a los 350.000 que lo perdieron hace unas semanas, tras una victoria judicial de Donald Trump para revocarlo. En total son 600.000. Algunos aún están protegidos temporalmente, al haber interpuesto previamente una demanda de asilo, o contar con algunos meses más de permiso de trabajo, pero la gran mayoría se quedan expuestos si deciden quedarse. Rachel Schmidtke es responsable para Latinoamérica de la ONG Refugees International en Estados Unidos: "La mayoría van a quedar sin estatus en Estados Unidos y eso significa que están en una situación muy precaria. Van a perder su permiso para trabajar, entonces no van a poder trabajar de forma digna ni tampoco formal en Estados Unidos y también pueden ser sujetos a la detención. O pueden ser deportados, entonces esas personas ya están en una situación de muy alto riesgo. Esta situación, unida a las agresivas actuaciones de los agentes de ICE, el servicio de inmigración y aduanas, hace que aquellos que permanecen en territorio estadounidense, opten, como cuenta William Díaz, por vivir escondidos: "Nadie quiere estar en redes sociales, nadie quiere declarar a los medios y nadie quiere incluso participar en eventos. Este fin de semana hubo un evento de festividad religiosa tradicional de Venezuela y la asistencia fue muy pobre." Ante la perspectiva de vivir de manera clandestina o ser detenidos, otra solución es abandonar el país antes de verse obligados a hacerlo. Los solicitantes del TPS recibieron esta protección por el riesgo que supone regresar a Venezuela. Rachel Schmidtke explica que en Refugees International se buscan alternativas: "Muchos que no quieren regresar a Venezuela por razones obvias, pero quizás quieren irse a Colombia o a España o a otros países donde (podrían) vivir en una situación más segura, donde tienen familia. Tenemos que empezar a mirar si otros países pueden abrir más rutas legales para estas personas. La ONG Casa de Venezuela trabaja para solicitar que se aplique una Deportación Diferida, para ganar tiempo, pero la administración Trump no parece proclive a otorgar prórrogas.
Suchitra Vijayan speaks with Abdullahi Boru Halakhe in a conversation that traces the longue durée of exploitation and violence in the Congo from the colonial atrocities of King Leopold II to the resource wars that continue to devastate the region today. They unpack how the technologies of extraction and the politics of dispossession remain intertwined, shaping a global system in which Congolese land, labour, and life continue to underwrite the comforts of the Global North. Abdullahi situates Congo's crisis within the history of empire and its afterlives. He revisits the 19th-century “civilising mission” of Henry Morton Stanley and Leopold's personal ownership of the Congo Free State, connecting it to today's extraction of coltan, cobalt, and gold that powers Silicon Valley. From the uranium that fuelled the Manhattan Project to the minerals driving AI and green tech, he argues that the Congolese people have been made to pay for the world's progress with their blood and labour. The conversation then turns to Rwanda's complicity in the ongoing violence. Abdullahi unpacks how the legacies of the 1994 genocide, and the First and Second Congo Wars that followed, continue to shape Rwanda's sub-imperial role in the region. He details how Rwanda and Uganda act as conduits for resource extraction, exporting minerals that geologically do not exist within their borders, and how the profits of this trade flow through the Gulf states to Western markets. In this network, Congo becomes the epicentre of a global pipeline linking African sub-imperial powers, Gulf petrostates, and Western tech conglomerates: a chain of exploitation that transforms human suffering into industrial capital. The discussion broadens into an examination of how the same extractive and militarised logics underpin genocides and wars across the Global South from Congo to Sudan to Palestine. Abdullahi identifies the United Arab Emirates as a central malign actor, financing wars and shaping political economies of violence under the guise of development and modernity. What emerges is a picture of a world where the technologies of genocide — surveillance, securitisation, and resource militarisation — are integral to the global order. The episode closes with a meditation on history as resistance. For Abdullahi, liberation begins with reclaiming historical knowledge and refusing amnesia. From the Bandung Conference to the dreams of pan-African solidarity, he insists that history offers both warning and possibility: a reminder that despair is political, but so is hope. As Suchitra notes, this conversation marks a rare moment in the Technologies of Genocide series — one where history itself becomes a site of liberation, and knowledge a tool against the algorithmic erasure of human struggle. — Abdullahi Boru Halakhe is the Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa at Refugees International. He is an African policy expert with over a decade of experience in security, conflict, human rights, refugee work, and strategic communications. He has advised organisations including the International Rescue Committee, International Crisis Group, Amnesty International, BBC, the EU, AU, USAID, and the UNDP. Abdullahi holds a Master's in International Security Policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
Remaking humanitarianism: Dispatches from the future How can we reimagine the international humanitarian system so that it builds on – rather than undermines – the response communities are already creating? What would it take to align funding and infrastructure? And what is standing in the way? The New Humanitarian and Refugees International have taken these questions around the globe, producing a series of dispatches from the future that highlight the strategies, values, and visions guiding community-driven responses to crisis – and show what's possible. We brought these dispatches to the heart of UNGA to grapple with what it will take to remake humanitarianism – and what must change for the system to have any future at all.
Why has Donald Trump not spoken out about famine in Gaza? He publicly acknowledged last month that 'children looked very hungry' there. What's behind his silence now? And is it a green light for Israel to continue its genocide by starvation? In this episode: Jeremy Konyndyk, President, Refugees International. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General, Palestinian National Initiative. Matt Duss, Executive Vice President, Center for International Policy. Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
00:08 — Khury Petersen-Smith, Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he researches U.S. empire, borders, and migration. 00:33 — Yael Schacher, director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. 00:50 — Griselda Chavez, is an Infant Development Specialist at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and has worked there for fourteen years. The post US, Israel, Iran and the War They All Claim Victory Over; Plus, Trump Administration's Refugee Resettlement Ban and Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Third Country Deportations; Plus, Children's Hospital Oakland Strike Over Union Contract appeared first on KPFA.
After the U.S. attacked three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Tehran and Iran fired missiles at the largest American military installation in the Middle East. And according to President Donald Trump, Israel and Iran have agreed to a cease-fire.MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the latest developments in the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States.Guests:Shaherzad Ahmadi is an associate professor of history at the University of St. Thomas. Her research has focused on the history of the Iran-Iraq War that began in 1980. She is also the author of “Bordering on War.” Eric Schwartz is a professor and chair of the global policy area and former dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He is a former president of Refugees International and served as assistant secretary of state under President Barack Obama.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Why does Donald Trump seem to be fixated by foreign nationals? He's barred citizens from a number of countries from entering the United States. He says he wants to keep the country safe. But what are the implications of these new measures? And are his concerns justified? In this episode: Yael Schacher, Director, Refugees International. Steven Heller, US immigration lawyer. Johanna Leblance, US foreign policy specialist. Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
0:08 — Yael Schacher, director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. 0:33 — David Dayen, executive editor of the American Prospect. His latest book is “Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power.” The post SCOTUS Revokes Biden Era Parole Status for Migrants; the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Explained appeared first on KPFA.
00:08 — Abdullahi Halakhe is Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa at Refugees International. 00:33 — Charlie Eaton is Associate Professor of Sociology at UC Merced. His latest book is Bankers in the Ivory Tower: The Troubling Rise of Financiers in US Higher Education. He is also the author of the Progressive Disclosure newsletter on Substack. The post Two Years of War in Sudan; Plus, Harvard Stands up to the Trump Administration appeared first on KPFA.
What are the long-term, intended and unintended consequences of the USAID funding freeze? How the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, and other executive orders from the new Trump Administration related to the US-Mexico border and the End of the Sensitive Zones Policy will impact the rights, safety, and lives of refugee women and girls in the U.S. and worldwide? In this interview with Devon Cone, Senior Advocate for Women and Girls at Refugees International, we explored the factors behind the growing disinterest in the protection of migrants' human rights and we examined how these measures will disproportionately affect women and girls fleeing violent conflict in Afghanistan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and countries in the Northern Triangle of Central America. Join us in this exploration and subscribe to our podcast newsletter community here.Listen to related episodes: 91. Dr. Paul Slovic & Dr. Scott Slovic on the Science Behind the Limits of Compassion112. Devon Cone on COVID-19 Impact on Migration & Humanitarian Crises179. Marta Saiz on Human Rights Journalism & Foreign Affairs190. Dr. William T. Armaline on The Crisis of Human Rights in the Age of Global CapitalismRecommended links to this episode:Refugees International Official WebsiteWhat Do President Trump's Week One Actions Mean for Refugees International's Global Advocacy?No Model of Refuge: Sudanese Refugees in EgyptThe Nuba Mountains: A Window into the Sudan CrisisGaza Dispatches: Hunger and Siege“They Left Us Without Any Support”: Afghans in Pakistan Waiting for SolutionsIn Apparent Quid Pro Quo Deal, Panama and Costa Rica Facilitating U.S.-Sponsored Human Rights Violations of Asylum Seekers Tell Your Member of Congress: Save USAID, Save Lives
During President Donald Trump's first week of his second term, he signed an executive order that paused the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Later, the White House froze all federal funding that goes to organizations who welcome and support refugees coming into the U.S. But last week, a federal judge in Seattle blocked Trump's efforts to suspend the system for resettling refugees. The judge ruled that while the president has broad authority over who comes into the country, he cannot cancel the law Congress passed to establish the program. However, the Justice Department said it would consider a quick appeal, saying Trump's actions are well within his authority. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the federal refugee program and how the Trump administration directives are affecting refugee resettlement efforts in Minnesota.Guests:Micaela Schuneman is the senior director of immigration and refugee services for the International Institute of Minnesota — a social service agency that offers refugee, immigration and citizenship services.Eric Schwartz is a professor and chair of the global policy area and former dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He is the former president of Refugees International. And as Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration during President Obama's administration, he was responsible for the U.S. refugee resettlement program.
Fighting is intensifying in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwanda-backed M23 group is making further territorial advances. So with diplomacy having failed, what are the risks the conflict may escalate into another regional war? In this Episode: Kambale Musavuli, Researcher at the Center for Research on the Congo. Angela Muvumba Sellström, Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute. Abdullahi Halakhe, peace and policy analyst and Senior Advocate at Refugees International. Host: James Bays Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!
So much has happened in the past few weeks. And we've seen a speed game of sorts being played by the Trump administration to try to act as rapidly as possible to rework the administrative state of the government. One example of that is the attempts to end the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The letters have even been taken off of the building. But is any of this even legal and what are the implications of gutting USAID? Jeremy Konyndk is the president at Refugees International. He served as a senior official at USAID in the Obama and Biden administrations. Konyndk joins WITHpod to discuss progress that has already been undone, diplomatic repercussions, the effects on American soft power and the uncertain future of USAID.
President Trump on Friday called for the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development, America's main humanitarian and development agency. The administration has already been dismantling USAID, over the last few weeks, forcing employees out and cutting off billions of dollars in foreign aid. Under the plan, the agency is to be left with less than 600 staff out of about 10,000. Critics, like former USAID official Jeremy Konyndyk say the closure will “put millions of lives at risk” and could undermine US foreign policy. We'll look at what feeding USAID into the “woodchipper,” as Elon Musk has pledged, means for those who rely on its services, which include HIV treatment, disaster relief, and children's health. Guests: Jeremy Konyndyk, president, Refugees International. He also led USAID offices during previous administrations. Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer, Partners In Health Elissa Miolene, reporter covering USAID and the U.S. government, Devex
Its funding pulled, and its staff sent home. The world's largest international humanitarian donor, USAID, is under assault. If the Trump administration doesn't restore the flow of aid who will fill the void? And what does it mean for global US influence? In this Episode: Hardin Lang, Vice president for programs and policy at Refugees International. Natasha Lindstaedt, US foreign policy specialist and a professor of government at the University of Essex. Alan Boswell, International Crisis Group's project director for the Horn of Africa. Host: Elizabeth Puranam Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!
On Day One, Donald Trump froze nearly all U.S. foreign aid. On Day Eight, the State Department issued a stop-work order for USAID. This is causing massive ripple effects around the world. USAID staff and contractors are being laid off in droves. HIV patients in several African countries are being turned away from clinics where they had long received crucial medicines. Humanitarian and development non-profits in the United States and across the globe that depend on contracts from USAID and the U.S. government are now wondering if they'll be able to continue their work. Joining me to discuss the impact of this sudden curtailing of nearly all U.S. foreign assistance is Jeremy Konyndyk. He is a veteran humanitarian affairs official who led USAID's response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa during the Obama administration. Now, he leads Refugees International, an advocacy group. He is in a unique position to speak freely on this topic because the NGO he currently leads does not receive government funding—whereas other NGO leaders fear retribution if they speak out. https://www.globaldispatches.org/
An explosive diplomatic row between the US and Colombia over the deportation of unauthorised immigrants on military planes. It's been quickly defused for now, but threats of further action are being made. What does this signal about the new Donald Trump presidency? In this Episode: Niall Stanage, White House Columnist, The Hill newspaper. Sergio Guzman, Director, Colombia Risk Analysis. Rachel Schmidtke, Senior Advocate, Latin America, Refugees International in the US. Host: Elizabeth Puranam Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes!
This is the second episode of a mini-series exploring the connection between the climate crisis, migration and human rights. This time, Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo and Jocelyn Perry help us get to the bottom of how climate change drives displacement and enhances other crises, such as poverty, loss of livelihood, and tensions relating to dwindling resources. We, then, also discuss what is being done in terms of advocacy, litigation, and policy responses to mitigate these effects. Dr Oluwatoyin Adejonwo is the founding and executive director of the Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (3CSD), a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Law at University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She holds a PhD in International environmental law. Jocelyn Perry is the senior advocate and program manager of the climate displacement program at Refugees International. She is also completing a Doctorate in Public Policy at the University of Oxford focusing on stakeholder involvement in climate adaptation planning across the United States. Sources: 'Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it particularly impacts the displaced' | UNHCR Climate change and displacement: the myths and the facts - World | ReliefWeb Enhancing protection and empowerment of migrants and communities affected by climate change and disasters in the Pacific region (Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji) | International Labour Organization Global Compact on Refugees – booklet | UNHCR Advisory Board Members | The Global Compact on Refugees | UNHCR ETR-2024-web.pdf How Climate Migration Will Reshape America - The New York Times
00:08 — Abdullahi Halakhe is Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa at Refugees International. 00:33 — Will Oremus is a Technology news analysis reporter for the Washington Post. The post State Department Declares Genocide in Sudan; Plus, Meta Ends Factchecking Programs appeared first on KPFA.
Can power truly shift in a sector whose origins are rooted in colonialism? If not, what lies beyond the international aid system as we know it? On the sidelines of UNGA 2024, The New Humanitarian, the Center for Transformational Change, and Refugees International convened a panel to examine the systemic limitations of the current global aid architecture, whether it can evolve for the better, and what comes next. SPEAKERS Lina Srivastava, founder of the Center for Transformational Change (moderator) Hanin Ahmed, Emergency Response Room volunteer and Sudanese activist Alex Gray, Director, International Funds at The Center for Disaster Philanthropy Aarathi Krishnan, Founder of Raksha Intelligence Futures and former Head of Strategic Foresight at UNDP Asia-Pacific Nadine Saba, Co-founder and director of Akkar Network for Development-AND; Grand Bargain Sherpa * This panel was part of a doubleheader event on Navigating the Limits and Evolving Role of Humanitarian Aid held on 27 September, 2024. ____ Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or have your say on Twitter using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. ____ SHOW NOTES From Gaza to Sudan: The limits and future of humanitarian aid
Jeremy Konyndyk is president of Refugees International. A committed humanitarian advocate and seasoned emergency operator, he has served in senior appointments in two U.S. administrations and in a range of U.S. and overseas NGO leadership positions. His talk, “Refuge At Risk: Can Humanitarian Law Survive 21st Century Geopolitics?” was recorded for broadcast on October 15, 2024.
US immigration policy has become one of the most contentious issues in American politics, but there is one point on which most of us agree: our immigration policy is broken. And while the sheer number of interests involved mean that an easy fix is unlikely, the best place to start is with a sound understanding of how we got the immigration system we have today. As a historian of immigration who currently serves as Director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International, Yael Schacher has a particularly well informed perspective on this issue. In this episode, Yael walks us through the history of immigration policy in the US and shares what she sees as the major challenges that stand in the way of reforming our current immigration system. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
Join Ocean House owner, actor, and bestselling author Deborah Goodrich Royce for a conversation with New York Times bestselling authors and mother/son duo Elliott Ackerman and Joanna Leedom-Ackerman. They discuss their books: Joanne Leedom-Ackerman's The Far Side of the Desert and Elliott Ackerman's 2054. About the Authors: Elliot Ackerman is the author of the novels Halcyon, Red Dress in Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, Green on Blue, and the memoirs The Fifth Act and Places and Names. His books have been nominated for numerous awards, including the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a Marine veteran, having served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. About 2054: From the acclaimed authors of the runaway New York Times bestseller 2034 comes another explosive work of speculative fiction set twenty years further in the future, at a moment when a radical leap forward in artificial intelligence combines with America's violent partisan divide to create an existential threat to the country, and the world It is twenty years after the catastrophic war between the United States and China that brought down the old American political order. A new party has emerged in the US, holding power for over a decade. Efforts to cement its grip have resulted in mounting violent resistance. The American president has control of the media but is beginning to lose control of the streets. Many fear he'll stop at nothing to remain in the White House. Suddenly, he collapses in the middle of an address to the nation. After an initial flurry of misinformation, the administration reluctantly announces his death. A cover-up ensues, conspiracy theories abound, and the country descends into a new type of civil war. A handful of elite actors from the worlds of computer science, intelligence, and business have a fairly good idea of what happened. All signs point to a profound breakthrough in AI, of which the remote assassination of an American president is hardly the most game-changing ramification. The trail leads to an outpost in the Amazon rainforest, the last known whereabouts of the tech visionary who predicted this breakthrough. As some of the world's great powers, old and new, state and nonstate alike, struggle to outmaneuver one another in this new Great Game of scientific discovery, the outcome becomes entangled with the fate of American democracy. Combining a deep understanding of AI, biotech, and the possibility of a coming Singularity, along with their signature geopolitical sophistication, Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis have once again written a visionary work. 2054 is a novel that reads like a thriller, even as it demands that we consider the trajectory of our society and its potentially calamitous destination. Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is a novelist, short story writer, and journalist. Her works of fiction include Burning Distance, The Dark Path to the River, and No Marble Angels. She has published PEN Journeys: Memoir of Literature on the Line and was the editor for The Journey of Liu Xiaobo: From Dark Horse to Nobel Laureate. Former International Secretary of PEN International, she is a Vice President of PEN International and a former board member and Vice President of PEN American Center. She serves on the boards of Refugees International, the International Center for Journalists, the American Writers Museum, and Words Without Borders and is an emeritus director of Poets and Writers, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, and Human Rights Watch and an emeritus trustee of Brown University and Johns Hopkins University. Joanne is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Texas Institute of Letters. A former The Christian Science Monitor reporter, Joanne has taught writing at New York University, City University of New York, Occidental College, and the University of California at Los Angeles extension. About The Far Side of the Desert: A terrorist attack—a kidnapping—the ultimate vacation gone wrong Sisters Samantha and Monte Waters are vacationing together in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, enjoying a festival and planning to meet with their brother, Cal—but the idyllic plans are short-lived. When terrorists' attacks rock the city around them, Monte, a U.S. foreign service officer, and Samantha, an international television correspondent, are separated, and one of them is whisked away in the frenzy. The family mobilizes, using all their contacts to try to find their missing sister, but to no avail. She has vanished. As time presses on, the outlook darkens. Can she be found, or is she a lost cause? And, even if she returns, will the damage to her and those around her be irreparable? Moving from Spain to Washington to Morocco to Gibraltar to the Sahara Desert, The Far Side of the Desert is a family drama and political thriller that explores links of terrorism, crime, and financial manipulation, revealing the grace that ultimately foils destruction.
0:08 — Basav Sen is Director of the Climate Justice Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. 0:33 — Maureen Tkacik is investigations editor at the American Prospect and a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. 0:45 — Yael Schacher is the director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. The post Narendra Modi Wins Third Term in India Elections; DOJ Files Civil Antitrust Lawsuit Against Live Nation-Ticketmaster; Plus, Biden Executive Order Restricts Asylum Seeking Across US Border appeared first on KPFA.
For humanitarian professionals, people whose job it is to deliver aid in conflict and disaster zones, Gaza is unique. Unlike other crises that suffer from lack of attention, the situation in Gaza is a top priority for governments around the world. Accordingly, there is no shortage of aid available to stem the crisis, which in some parts of Gaza has crossed the famine threshold. Rather, it is distributing the aid that has become the challenge, both in terms of getting the aid through Israeli inspections and, once in Gaza, getting the aid to where people need it most. My guest today, Jeremy Konyndyke, is the President of Refugees International and a veteran humanitarian professional who served as head of USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance from 2013-2017. We kick off discussing why humanitarian groups, the United Nations, and the Biden administration are so concerned about a full-scale Israeli assault on Rafah in southern Gaza. We then discuss the propriety of a humanitarian pier the US is constructing off the coast of Gaza and why the crisis in Gaza is so different from other humanitarian crises around the world. We conclude our conversation with an important discussion of the crisis in Darfur, and specifically the complicity of the United Arab Emirates in supporting a genocidal paramilitary.
Hamas on Monday announced it had agreed to a proposal for a ceasefire deal, renewing hopes a truce with Israel could be reached. Israeli officials said while the proposal didn't meet all of its demands, it would send a delegation to Cairo to continue talks in hopes of reaching a deal. The movement on a possible ceasefire came as Israeli officials also ordered more than 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate parts of eastern Rafah. In this city, more than a million people are sheltering. Jeremy Konyndyk, president of the humanitarian group Refugees International, explains how an Israeli invasion of Rafah could further destabilize Gaza.And in headlines: The New York judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial fined the former president another $1,000 for violating a gag order, Indiana holds its primary election today, and Conde Nast reached a tentative labor agreement with its unionized workers.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
Hello and welcome again to yet another episode of the Migration & Diaspora Podcast, where we showcase projects and people from the field of migration and diaspora engagement. I'm your host Loksan Harley from Homelands Advisory, your independent migration and diaspora agency. Now, it's been a while since we talked about Latin America on this podcast, so I'm very excited to present to you a conversation with Mara Tissera Luna, one of the region's preeminent experts on migration and especially children on the move in displacement situations, which is precisely the topic of the day. About Mara Mara is an international consultant focusing on displacement and protection responses in Latin America and the Caribbean. She's a fellow at the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University and has provided technical advice and applied research to UNICEF, the University of Edinburgh, Refugees International, and International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) in 14 countries, contributing to 25+ reports, handbooks, and short articles. What we talk about In today's episode, we talk all about the rather harrowing protection issues faced by children in situations of displacement in Latin America, including: The state of play of forced displacement in the region. Specific trends in the displacement of children. Solutions to address these very pressing needs. Mara draws both from her recent research on very young children in Guatemala, as well wider research on the topic. We've included some links to some of these sources in the show notes as there is a lot to know and we couldn't cover anything in a 45-minute podcast. Anyway, without further ado, I'd like to thank you again for tuning in and we hope you enjoy the show. Links Connect with Mara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maratisseraluna/ Mara's website and newsletter sign-up: https://latinamerica.website/maratisseraluna Georgetown University's programme "Promoting Early Childhood Development for Young Children on the Move in Northern Central America,": https://globalchildren.georgetown.edu/posts/innovations-to-support-early-childhood-development-and-protection-for-young-displaced-children-in-guatemala Mini-guide "Research for Advocacy & Systemic Change: A Ridiculously Simplified Guide to Intersectional & Decolonial Research + examples.": https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FK-wuDhJ3bHsvb85U_crh-M5Y51l66-O/view Background Paper "Protecting Children in Escalating Conflict and Crises: Armed Violence, Climate Shocks, and Displacement", Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action: https://alliancecpha.org/en/annual-meeting-2024/background-paper ODI and UNICEF's “Children on the move in Latin America and the Caribbean: Review of evidence”: https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/reports/children-on-the-move-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean An in-depth, graphical overview of what's happening at the U.S.-Mexico border right now, from the Washington Office on Latin America's Adam Isacson: https://vimeo.com/918977850 The world's most neglected displacement crises in 2022: https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/the-worlds-most-neglected-displacement-crises-in-2022/ The MDPcast Ep22: Latin America's migration mega-trends: https://www.homelandsadvisory.com/podcast/episode/2790db1d/episode-22-latin-americas-migration-mega-trends-with-felipe-munoz-from-the-inter-american-development-bank The MPDcast Ep5: Chlidren on the move in West and Central Africa: https://www.homelandsadvisory.com/podcast/episode/20c80d46/episode-5-children-on-the-move-in-west-and-central-africa-context-vulnerabilities-and-protection-needs
Why is Pakistan expelling Afghan refugees? Afghanistan says the move is illegal. Pakistan insists it's for security reasons. Is this politically motivated? And how will Taliban officials deal with it? In this episode: Nilofer Afridi Qazi, Social Worker by Trade. Faiz Zaland, Professor, Political Science, Kabul University. Devon Cone, Senior Advocate, Women and Girls, Refugees International. Host: James Bays Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Almost the entire population of Gaza needs aid, but only a fraction of what's needed is entering the besieged strip. For more on the current humanitarian crisis there, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jeremy Konyndyk. He's the president of Refugees International, a global humanitarian organization, and previously served in the Biden and Obama administrations. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Almost the entire population of Gaza needs aid, but only a fraction of what's needed is entering the besieged strip. For more on the current humanitarian crisis there, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jeremy Konyndyk. He's the president of Refugees International, a global humanitarian organization, and previously served in the Biden and Obama administrations. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Jeremy Konyndynk is the President of Refugees International. In this conversation with Lars Peter Nissen he discusses how we can reform the humanitarian sector and how far we have come.
Refugees International, The New Humanitarian, and Asylum Access hosted an event on the sidelines of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva for a candid conversation about how to truly include refugees in the policy decisions that shape their lives. SPEAKERS Sana Mustafa, Asylum Access CEO (moderator) Ana Maria Diez, President of Coalición por Venezuela and Fellow at Refugees International Matai Muon, South Sudanese refugee and graduate student Mohammed Naeem, Deputy Director of Strategy and Partnerships at American Immigration Council, and Advisor on the U.S. Refugee Advisory Board Farhad Shamo Roto, Founder of Voice of Ezidis and Fellow at Refugees International Hafsar Tameesuddin, Co-Secretary General, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) ____ Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or have your say on Twitter using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism. ____ SHOW NOTES Flipping the Narrative The roots of the refugee protection system are colonial and racist by Sana Mustafa Let refugees be economic contributors by Matai Muon
Rick Neal is a well-known progressive advocate in Central Ohio, but his political conscience has long been driven by his passion for and professional experience in humanitarian relief, especially in Asia and Africa. On Episode 137, taking a few weeks off from challenges here in Ohio, Dan Skinner talks with Rick about his experience as a humanitarian relief worker with Peace Corps, Oxfam, and Refugees International. Topics include the challenges of securing adequate funding, geopolitical complexities, and how to ensure Ohioans don't forget the serious crises that exist around the world, even as we tend to our own challenges here at home. Listen, as well, as Rick explains why medical and public health professionals in Ohio might consider jumping in to do this important work. Show notes and stream at prognosisohio.com/episodes/neal
With over 10,000 deaths in just over a month of fighting, Gaza is in crisis. Yet the situation may get worse before it gets better. The president of Refugees International, Jeremy Konyndyk, joins Kori Schake and David Rothkopf to warn of how this humanitarian crisis could spin further out of control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
With over 10,000 deaths in just over a month of fighting, Gaza is in crisis. Yet the situation may get worse before it gets better. The president of Refugees International, Jeremy Konyndyk, joins Kori Schake and David Rothkopf to warn of how this humanitarian crisis could spin further out of control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is ten years long or short in the life of a writer? Fiction writer and journalist Joanne Leedom-Ackerman shows us how her perspective on this has shifted. She offers us a prompt via Rainer Maria Rilke to get us thinking about our own writing lives and to get us to build narrative with what she describes as concentric circles in this Inspiration Takeover, a series of mini-episodes with different writers who offer us a little dose of inspiration. Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is a novelist, short story writer, and journalist. Her works of fiction include upcoming novel The Far Side of the Desert and also Burning Distance, The Dark Path to the River, and No Marble Angels. Her nonfiction book PEN Journeys: Memoir of Literature on the Line was recently published, and she is the senior editor and contributor to The Journey of Liu Xiaobo: From Dark Horse to Nobel Laureate. She has also published fiction and essays in books and anthologies, including Short Stories of the Civil Rights Movement; Remembering Arthur Miller; Snakes: An Anthology of Serpent Tales, Fiction and Poetry by Texas Women, the Bicentennial Collection of Texas Short Stories and Beyond Literacy. A reporter for The Christian Science Monitor early in her career, Joanne has won awards for her nonfiction and published articles in newspapers and magazines, including World Literature Today, The Christian Science Monitor, The Los Angeles Times, GlobalPost, and others. Joanne is a Vice President of PEN International and the former International Secretary of PEN International and former Chair of International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee. She also serves on the boards of the International Center for Journalists, Refugees International, the American Writers Museum and Words Without Borders and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Edward R. Murrow Center at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the ICRW Leadership Council. She is a former board member and Vice President of PEN American Center and past President of PEN Center USA. She is an Emeritus Director of Poets and Writers, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and Human Rights Watch, where she served as Chair of the Asia Advisory Committee. She is an Emeritus Trustee of Johns Hopkins University and Brown University and has served on the Board of Trustees of Save the Children and the International Crisis Group.
0:08 — Dean Baker is a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. 0:33 — Yael Schacher, is the director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. The post Federal Interest Rates; Plus, Another Migrant Boat Sinking off the European Coast appeared first on KPFA.
Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International, is a humanitarian leader, emergency operator, and policy innovator. He joins us to share his thoughts on diverse crises. During the Turkey/Syria earthquake, donors failed to surge resources to Syrian civil groups, something that is indefensible a decade plus into Syria's war. U.S. policy on the southern border is narrowly understood to be law enforcement versus protection of rights of individuals in flight, a disappointment not expected of the Biden administration. USAID has struggled to overcome its internal divisions to begin building an enduring emergency health security response capability. American opponents of public health and science are winning the battle for opinion and influence, with little political leadership pushing back from the opposing side. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many low- and middle-income countries rejected the West's appeals for solidarity. The West had shown “zero solidarity” for their needs during the pandemic. With Ukraine, those countries are now responding “in kind.”
The Rohingya people have suffered decades of persecution in Myanmar, most recently in 2017 when the country's security forces launched a major crackdown on the minority group—causing more than a million Rohingya to flee the country. While the vast majority of Rohingya sought refuge in neighboring Bangladesh, India has been home to tens of thousands Rohingya refugees.A new report by The Azadi Project and Refugees International—A Shadow of Refuge: Rohingya Refugees in India—sheds light on the plight of Rohingya in India, drawing from field visits in Delhi and Hyderabad. The authors of this new report are Daniel Sullivan and Priyali Sur and they join Milan on the show this week to talk more about their report.The trio discuss the absence of an Indian law on refugees and asylum seekers, the Rohingya's living conditions in India, and the shrinking number of vocal advocates for their cause. Plus, the three discuss the foreign policy implications of the refugees and what role the United States might play. Episode notes:[VIDEO] “Displaced and Detained: Rohingya in India,” The Azadi Project, May 16, 2024.Khushboo Sandhu and Meryl Sebastian, “Rohingya and CAA: What is India's refugee policy?” BBC, August 19, 2022.Refugees International, “The Situation of the Rohingya and Deadly Sea Crossings,” March 1, 2023.
On May 11th a pandemic-era policy, known as Title 42, will expire. This was a Trump administration policy which used public health concerns as a pretext expel migrants from the United States before they could claim asylum under US and international law. Title 42 has continued under the Biden administration but is set to expire. American officials are bracing for a massive increase in the number of people seeking asylum at the southern US border. This is shaping up to be a humanitarian crisis and bureaucratic crisis rolled up into one. Joining me to help explain recent migration patterns in the Americas and the Biden administration's approach to migration at the southern US border is Yael Schacher, director for America's and Europe and Refugees International. We kick off discussing one key node in an increasing number of migrants journeys known as the Darien Gap. We then have a broad discussion about the patchwork of US policies intended to handle asylum claims and offer a legal pathway to entry to the USA.
Episode #161: Dan Sullivan, the Director of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East at Refugees International, joins this episode to discuss the challenges facing the Rohingya community. Most of the world began to pay attention to the Rohingya crisis in 2017, when over 700,000 people fled a genocidal campaign against them, creating the largest refugee settlement in the world in Bangladesh. Sullivan led an effort pressuring the United States to recognize the anti-Rohingya campaign for what it was: his campaign was termed, “Call It A Genocide!”The Rohingya have face so many challenges in Burma because of their Muslim faith, which puts them at odds with the majority Bamar, and even with the native Rakhine who are their regional neighbors and who themselves have historically been at odds with the Bamar majority. Although the Rohingya have been on their land for at least a century, their citizenship continues to be challenged. They have been cast as scapegoats through the hateful rhetoric of Bamar Buddhist nationalists, and victims of violence and assault at the hands of the Burmese military.While the Rohingya are finally settling more comfortably into their camps in Bangladesh, under the surface, there is a growing sense of desperation. This has led thousands of Rohingya to flee and seek a better life elsewhere, often by boat. Some are turned away by any neighboring countries they manage to get to, many others drown, and others get returned to the Burmese military.Sullivan says that many Rohingya currently look at the work of the National Unity Government (NUG) with hope. This is in contrast to the betrayal that many felt when the NLD, and Aung San Suu Kyi in particular, defended the military's actions against the Rohingya at The Hague. Even so, should the NUG ultimately prevail, there remains much concern as to how they would translate sympathetic and inclusive statements about the Rohingya into a viable and realistic repatriation plan.
Today we're kicking off a new collaboration with the Refugee Advocacy Lab, and the Refugee Storytellers Collective – The Women of Refuge Podcast Series!Over the course of the year, we will bring you personalized, first-hand accounts from resilient women who have powerful and inspiring stories. Our goal is to introduce you to your refugee neighbors and build bridges, and community while combatting false narratives about refugees.As we begin this journey, today's guests are Basma Alawee, National Campaign Director for “We Are All America”, and Executive Director of Weavetales – and Kate Brick, the Director of the Refugee Advocacy Lab at Refugees International.After introducing you to these two phenomenal Daughters of Change, we will discuss what their organizations do individually and collectively, why we are doing this series, the power of personalized stories - and how they foster healing and community.Links to Check Out:Refugee Storytellers Collective websiteRefugee Storytellers Collective nomination form (we accept nominations year-round!)Refugee Advocacy Lab WebsiteRefugee Advocacy Lab on Twitter: @RefugeeAdvcyLabRefugee Advocacy Lab on Instagram: @refugeeadvocacylabRefugee Advocacy Lab on Facebook - The Refugee Advocacy LabRefugee Advocacy Lab LinkedInEmail the Refugee Advocacy Lab - @Kate Brick & @Sarah ShefferFollow Daughters of Change:Website:Facebook:InstagramLinkedInMarie's LinkedIn:Daughters of Change Podcast Producer: Sarah StaceySarah's LinkedIn Profile
Host Jamie McGoldrick speaks with Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International. They go over a variety of issues in the humanitarian space. Jeremy discusses major changes he would like to see in the system, arguing local groups need a bigger seat at the table with how donor dollars are used. Jamie and Jeremy talk about current crises, including Ukraine and Yemen, and how crises today are lasting longer than crises several decades ago. Jeremy explains why humanitarians have to navigate politics, saying aid workers receive blame for political mistakes made by states. Also, Jeremy lays out his goals for Refugees International which include giving a voice to those who are being neglected.
Since I've joined the board of Action Against Hunger, I've been on a learning journey. How big of a deal is the global food crisis? Why hasn't it been solved? What can we do about global hunger? Of course, my preferred way to learn is to call up experts and together explore tough questions on the podcast. THE IMPACT. - Cathryn Dhanatya, PhD, works at the intersection of health and research and advocacy, and sits on the Advisory Board of Action Against Hunger. She leads Growing Good, was the Chief Scientific Administrative Officer for Stand Up To Cancer, and held leadership research positions at UCLA and USC. - Michelle Brown has a career in advocacy and development. After many years as the UN representative for Refugees International, she is now the Associate Director of Advocacy for Action Against Hunger. - Get more information on the work of Action Against Hunger and support via my fundraising page. THE JOURNEY. In our conversation, we explore: - Influences: what led both Cathryn and Michelle to work in international development and advocacy - Listening to communities: getting close means learning as much as helping - Hunger: there isn't a lack of food; there is a lack of distribution that's fair and equitable - Proximity: understanding hunger close to home and around the world, and how all of it affects us - Beyond hunger: not just about food, it's about access to health, clean water, education, livelihoods and income - The climate crisis: and how it is inextricably linked to the hunger crisis - Systemic change: transferring power to local communities
In this week's episode, we discuss the Biden administration's new parole program for Venezuelans – the details of the program and who qualifies, the reasoning behind the program, how the dynamics at the border affect this program and possible future programs modeled after it, and how the program might inform the future of the resettlement regime. Yael Schacher, Director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International, Matthew La Corte, Government Affairs Manager for Immigration Policy at the Niskanen Center, and Theresa Brown, This Week in Immigration regular, join to discuss. This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Want to listen to more podcasts focused on immigration? You can find all episodes here.
As Iran enters its fourth week of protests, Roya Hakakian joins Uriel Epshtein for a conversation on Iran and its place in the global battle between tyranny and freedom. They discuss the murder of Mahsa Amini, the irrationality of Iran's morality police, and how the situations in Ukraine and Iran are connected. Roya Hakakian is a writer, journalist, poet, and political activist. She was a founding member of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center and is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Roya has served on the board of Refugees International, a non-profit dedicated to human rights and the relocation of refugees, and as a fellow at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale University. Her writing appears in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and NPR's All Things Considered.The Winter is Here podcast and the newsletter The Democracy Brief will be running on alternating Thursdays. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit renewdemocracy.substack.com
Annie Duke is a renown public speaker and decision strategist. For two decades, she was one of the top poker players in the world, including winning a World Series of Poker bracelet and the $2 million winner-take-all WSOP Tournament of Champions. Her study of the science of smart decision-making began with a National Science Foundation Fellowship, which she used study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Among her charity work and television appearances, Annie was a runner-up to Joan Rivers on Celebrity Apprentice, during which she raised $700,000 for Refugees International. She is a natural teacher and storyteller with an active mind that constantly searches for accurate truth. I highly recommend Annie's new book, Thinking in Bets, which comes out this week. In her life after poker, she is a featured speaker, writes a newsletter and a blog, and advises companies on improving their decision-making process. Have a look at her website, annieduke.com, for more information. Our conversation discusses Annie's path from an Ivy League education to professional poker, the nature of a bet, how we form beliefs, why we make bad decisions, and what we can do to improve our decision-making process. Towards the end, we also talk about bankroll management, poker faces, and advice she would give the President on how to make better decisions. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
Estados Unidos es el destino de miles de personas que son objeto de trata. Según las Naciones Unidas, más del 60% de las víctimas son mujeres y niñas. La mayor parte de las víctimas son traídas por tratantes mexicanos con fines de explotación sexual.Para tratar de entender esta situación y su alcance, hoy vamos a platicar con Rachel Schmidtke, quien es defensora para América Latina en Refugees International. Schmidtke nos va a aclarar quién opera las redes de tráfico humano, cómo influyen las políticas migratorias y qué pasa con estas mujeres, una vez que pasan la frontera hacia Estados Unidos.
Almost 3 million people – largely women and children – have fled Ukraine in the last 19 days. As the numbers continue to rise, humanitarian organizations and advocates are warning that the conditions at Ukrainian borders could put these refugees at especially high risk for human trafficking. Plus, China tries to play both sides in Russia's war on Ukraine. Guests: Daphne Panayotatos, advocate for Europe with Refugees International and Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian. Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird, Alex Sugiura, and Ben O'Brien. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices