Shows
The Vibe TalksElizabeth Vargas Hosts Girl Talk Logic’s First On-Location "Test Pilot" Shoot: Cheating Rumors & Real Drama?!This is a “Test Pilot” Shoot for a Reality Style Talk Show!Elizabeth Vargas, formerly of The Real Housewives of Orange County, invites the Girl Talk Logic ladies for a jam-packed day of cupcakes, shopping ‘til they drop, eating cheese as they please and a flower contest to blow off steam—while dishing on the juiciest pop culture headlines. From Teddy Mellencamp’s brain cancer to the ladies take on Mauricio allegedly cheating on Kyle Richards, to hot gossip from around the Bravo universe, nothing is off limits.But not everything goes as planned—dr...
2025-04-1947 min
DeSci CollectiveYatan Blumenthal Vargas - Ep. 3 Brain Series - DeSci Collective PodcastDeSci Collective hosted by Dr. Maryna Polyakova features Yatan Blumenthal Vargas from the Cerebrum DAO Neuroscience community to share his experiences and background in neuroscience and brain health.LinksDiscord Server - https://discord.gg/KtjXYsjBB7Twitter - https://twitter.com/DeSciCollectiveCommunity Building and Marketing Services sponsored by the team at what. in SwitzerlandCommunity Building and Marketing Services sponsored by the team at what. in Switzerland
2024-02-0547 min
Movie FriendsThe OC 20: Luke WardWelcome to The OC 20, Luke! We love Luke, played by Chris Carmack, and we talk about his many, many ups and downs over the first season including: Getting shot, break ups and his fabulous guitar playing. The OC just wouldn't be the same without his story, and so we knew we absolutely had to give him his own episode. Listen now or we'll punch you. Ad-free versions of all of our episodes are available on our Patreon When you sign up you also get access to our bonus shows, Discord server, decoder ring, shout out...
2023-08-1723 min
Bianco VargasInside Out (2023 - 03 - 20) Bianco Vargas - Bianco Vargas - Inside Out 031 Proton Radio01 - Gorkiz - Quiet Sunset (Ambient Mix)
02 - J.P. Velardi, Daniela Casavola - Fire Walk With Me (Original Mix)
03 - Augusto Dassano, Joaco SAlerno - Soul Diesel (Luciano Scheffer RMX)
04 - Tonaco - Ancient Memories (DJ Ruby Remix)
05 - Rafael Cerato - Vibrance (Quivver Remix)
06 - Ruben Karapetyan - 32 Days & One Week
07 - Ginchy - Distorted Reality (Extended)
08 - Rocio Portillo, Karim Sar Sar, Valley (AR) - Condor Plateado (Original Mix)
09 - Ignacio Salgado - Deep Dreams (Original Mix)
10 - ISMAIL.M, Redspace - Lost in Bali (Extended Mix)
11 - Bondarev, Forty Cats - Collider (Da Luke Remix)
12...
2023-07-2159 min
Bianco VargasBianco Vargas Special mix for Inside Out Março 202301 - Gorkiz - Quiet Sunset (Ambient Mix)
02 - J.P. Velardi, Daniela Casavola - Fire Walk With Me (Original Mix)
03 - Augusto Dassano, Joaco SAlerno - Soul Diesel (Luciano Scheffer RMX)
04 - Tonaco - Ancient Memories (DJ Ruby Remix)
05 - Rafael Cerato - Vibrance (Quivver Remix)
06 - Ruben Karapetyan - 32 Days & One Week
07 - Ginchy - Distorted Reality (Extended)
08 - Rocio Portillo, Karim Sar Sar, Valley (AR) - Condor Plateado (Original Mix)
09 - Ignacio Salgado - Deep Dreams (Original Mix)
10 - ISMAIL.M, Redspace - Lost in Bali (Extended Mix)
11 - Bondarev, Forty Cats - Collider (Da Luke Remix)
12...
2023-03-171h 00
"The World in 2:00"What does the future hold for the UN?UN expert Richard Gowan peers into his crystal ball to diagnose the problems facing the UN in the near term.
2019-07-1302 min"The World in 2:00"Does the UN Human Rights Council have its swagger back?From condemning China’s treatment of Muslim minorities to probing the gory details of the drug war in the Philippines, the Geneva-based council is making headlines this month.
2019-07-1202 min"The World in 2:00"UN chief warns African terror threats ‘spreading’'Maybe a decade ago, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was essentially the only terrorist organization operating in the Sahel. Now there's at least 10.'
2019-07-1102 min"The World in 2:00"France, UK to commit more troops to SyriaForeign Policy reported Tuesday that the two American allies will each boost their troop presence in Syria by 10 to 15 percent.
2019-07-1002 min"The World in 2:00"UN official 'appalled' by US migrant detention centersThe U.N.’s top human rights official says she's “appalled” by conditions facing migrants detained after illegally crossing America’s southern border.
2019-07-0902 min"The World in 2:00"The planetary benefits of 1 trillion new treesIs the UAE pulling out of Yemen, and new research touts the benefits of reforesting Planet Earth.
2019-07-0502 min"The World in 2:00"Airstrikes kill dozens at Libyan migrant detention facilityAt least 44 migrants detained in the Libyan capital of Tripoli were killed in an airstrike this week, an attack a U.N. envoy said “clearly could constitute a war crime.”
2019-07-0302 min"The World in 2:00"The planet's 'carbon diet' is out of whackNew research finds emissions already locked in by the world’s existing infrastructure are enough to overshoot the goals of the Paris climate agreement.
2019-07-0302 min"The World in 2:00"Did Iran just violate the 2015 nuclear deal?A new week brings a new threat to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, as Iran said Monday it has now stockpiled more low-enriched uranium than is under the terms of the agreement.
2019-07-0202 min"The World in 2:00"Big picture: Iran's willingness to talkThe Rand Corporation's Ariane Tabatabai assesses Iran's willingness to engage in diplomatic talks with the U.S.
2019-06-2802 min"The World in 2:00"Big picture: The human cost of gender identity rulesU.N. human rights rapporteur Victor Madrigal-Borloz weighs in on how restrictive definitions of gender identity can harm transgender people.
2019-06-2702 min"The World in 2:00"Big picture: The US as a Mideast peacemakerKhalid Elgindy of the Brookings Institution shares his thoughts on whether another country could ever replace the U.S. as the lead Mideast peace broker.
2019-06-2602 min"The World in 2:00"Big picture: 2020 positions on tradeKim Clausing predicts where the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates will land in their positions on international free trade deals.
2019-06-2502 min"The World in 2:00"Big picture: China vs. the US at the UNStewart Patrick of the Council on Foreign Relations tells the program that China is happy to fill in the leadership vacuum created by a U.S. retreat at the United Nations.
2019-06-2402 min
"Wake" with Luke Vargas"Open" – the case for freer trade and migrationIf the 2016 election changed the way America talks about trade, corporate taxation and immigration, economist Kimberly Clausing wants a reset. In her new book, “Open,” she tries to identify where our American discourse on trade, immigration and global capital went astray, and argues that free trade deals, higher corporate taxes and immigrants are being falsely portrayed as the cause of the economic and social insecurity felt by many Americans. This week on Wake we’re joined by Reed College economist Kim Clausing to hear her diagnosis of what’s actually plaguing modern American economic life and what...
2019-06-2430 min"The World in 2:00"UN adopts workplace violence treatyThe global #MeToo movement – and let’s be honest, anyone who’s ever worked a job – scored a big legal victory on Friday as UN members adopted a first-of-its-kind convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.
2019-06-2102 min"The World in 2:00"The fuss over H-1B visasThe U.S. threatened to cap the number of skilled Indian workers granted special H-1B visas this week, opening a new front in the Trump Administration's effort to overhaul immigration policy.
2019-06-2102 min"The World in 2:00"Can America lead at the UN from outside?President Trump's nominee for U.N. Ambassador said Wednesday the U.S. can still be a global leader, even if it withdraws from key treaties and U.N. organizations.
2019-06-1902 min"The World in 2:00"US-Iran tensions have the world on edgeThe remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal have had choice words this week for both the U.S. and Iran as tensions between the countries continues to mount.
2019-06-1902 min"The World in 2:00"The world's 'pollution sinks' fight backBad news for U.S. and other countries used to exporting their trash abroad: the world's 'pollution sinks' are fighting back.
2019-06-1702 min"The World in 2:00"Why Congo's Ebola outbreak isn't a global risk – yetThe WHO stops just short of declaring an ongoing Ebola outbreak a global health crisis.
2019-06-1502 min"The World in 2:00"Can Japan calm US-Iran tensions?Iran’s Supreme Leader rejected the prospect of talks with the U.S. on Thursday, upending a diplomatic visit by Japan's prime minister.
2019-06-1302 min"The World in 2:00"Hong Kong protesters return to the streetsThousands of protesters clogged Hong Kong on Wednesday, battling police in a desperate effort to block an extradition bill that hands broad new powers to China.
2019-06-1202 min"The World in 2:00"Can a video game avert nuclear war?A new video game aims to avert nuclear war by making diplomatic simulations cheaper and easier to run.
2019-06-1202 min"The World in 2:00"Sudan's military digs in for fight vs. pro-democracy protestersSudan's diverse and historic pro-democracy protest movement faces a new test after the departure of long-time President Omar al-Bashir: getting rid of military leaders.
2019-06-1002 min"The World in 2:00"Prepare for more UN impasse!The new members of the U.N. Security Council are likely to amplify geopolitical divisions already impeding agreement on the world's crises.
2019-06-0802 min"The World in 2:00"US planning $2 billion Taiwan arms saleThe U.S. is reportedly preparing a more than $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan in a move likely to provoke tensions with China amid an ongoing trade spat.
2019-06-0602 min"The World in 2:00"Why Africa's displacement crises go ignoredThe world’s most neglected displacement crises are all in Central Africa, according to a new report issued by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
2019-06-0502 min"The World in 2:00"Is EU migration policy a 'crime against humanity'?Did E.U. leaders commit 'crimes against humanity' by limiting search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean? A new claim before the ICC says yes.
2019-06-0502 min"The World in 2:00"NATO edges toward enlargementThe Balkan nation of North Macedonia took a step toward joining NATO on Monday. What would that mean for Europe, the U.S. and Russia?
2019-06-0402 min"Wake" with Luke VargasDiscrimination Based on Gender ID and Sexual OrientationFrom adopting more conservative definitions of gender identity to instructing the State Department to spend more time focused on old-school 'natural law' rights, protections for the gay, lesbian and transgender communities appear to be under threat in the U.S. Victor Madrigal-Borloz is a U.N. Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and researches the laws and rhetoric that shape the lives of gay, lesbian and transgender individuals. After a year-and-a-half on the job, we’ll ask him how the U.S. stacks up against the rest of the world and what steps can be taken to reduce vi...
2019-06-0334 min"The World in 2:00"How long will Mexico bear Trump's insults?While Mexico is responding cautiously to President Trump's latest tariff threat, that could change if the country's migration efforts remain unacknowledged.
2019-05-3102 min"The World in 2:00"Where Netanyahu goes from hereIsraelis will head to the polls again in September after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to build a ruling government after an April vote.
2019-05-3002 min"Wake" with Luke VargasCan Maximum Pressure Work With Iran?The current U.S. effort to economically weaken and diplomatically subdue Iran seems like the very definition of a “maximum pressure” campaign. But maximum pressure doesn’t mean optimal pressure. If the U.S. wants Iran to engage in new talks to replace a 2015 nuclear deal, is the current approach the best way to go about that? What makes a successful pressure campaign and is this one of them? This week on Wake we’ll talk to the Rand Corporation's Ariane Tabatabai about the big picture of the US-Iran standoff, what both sides want and what to...
2019-05-1430 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas'The Men Who Stole Africa'Investigative reporting by Reuters has unearthed a multi-billion dollar African gold smuggling operation through the United Arab Emirates. That gold is one of many natural resources that leave Africa without any revenue making its way back to the people of Africa – or should we say, anyone but Africa’s ruling elite. This week on Wake we’ll talk to the BBC’s Paul Kenyon about his book, “Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa,” about his work reporting on and studying some of Africa’s less savory leaders and what their habits can teach us. If you enjoy this...
2019-05-0226 min"Wake" with Luke VargasArctic conflict isn't inevitableRussian President Vladimir Putin presented his vision for Russia’s development of the Arctic earlier this month. He predicted commercial use of a northern sea route connecting Europe and Asia via the Arctic Ocean would increase four-fold by 2025 and he promised Russia would be there to make the new shipping lane “safe and commercially feasible.” But as the Arctic ice pack thins, the region could be used for more than shipping. Russia is reopening and modernizing a number of Soviet-era Arctic military bases and claiming vast tracts of the continental shelf as its own. This week o...
2019-04-2326 min"Wake" with Luke VargasThe World is Alright, AmericaRead the headlines and you'd think the world is in chaos. American leaders have spent decades warning that the world is full of dangers, and that failing to address them – often at great expense in lives lost and dollars spent – could spell ruin for the United States. It's an odd refrain to hear from the most powerful nation on Earth, and as this week's guest argues, it's also inaccurate given that the world safer, freer and healthier than ever before. By playing up threats to America, is the U.S. is losing track of the more serious threa...
2019-04-1326 min"Wake" with Luke VargasAmerica's Palestinian 'Blind Spot'Israelis head to the polls in closely-watched elections next week, and if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reelected the Trump Administration is reportedly prepared to unveil a long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan crafted by the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. But this is not the two-state solution deal long pushed by U.S. administrations. Instead, the U.S. will likely mobilize foreign economic assistance to the West Bank in Gaza, but not force Israel to make tough concessions on occupied territory or control of Jerusalem. This week on “Wake” we’ll talk to a former Palestinian peace ne...
2019-04-0526 min"Wake" with Luke VargasThe EU's Controversial New Copyright LawThe E.U. passed sweeping new online copyright legislation this week known as Article 13, handing a victory to ‘content creators’ over platforms like YouTube and Facebook that monetize content. Big players in music, film and media love the law. Others fear a world in which corporate media strengthens its hand while independent creators find their content wrongly blocked by overly-cautious platforms whose new algorithms care little about fair use or free speech protections. This week on Wake we’ll look at the new rules that set out to tame the Wild West of online content. ...
2019-04-0126 min"Wake" with Luke VargasUnderstanding the Global Water CrisisSeven western states agreed this week share the waters of the Colorado River, something that’s proved difficult after two decades of drought. Success of the deal hinges on dramatically cutting water usage, but at least there’s a pledge to cooperate. Yet around the world, population growth paired with rising demand for water-intensive consumer goods is rapidly draining available fresh water faster than they can be replenished, and in many cases, there are no blueprints in place to correct that imbalance. This week on “Wake” we’ll look at the risk of an American and global...
2019-03-2326 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas'Combat Obscura': An Unfiltered Look at the US at WarThe U.S. military has been at war in Afghanistan for more than 17 years. “Combat Obscura,” a new documentary out today offers a rare behind-the-scenes look of that war, mixing combat footage with glimpses of the more mundane daily efforts by young American men and women to make sense of a complex culture and discern combatants from civilians. The U.S. is finally trying to end the war in Afghanistan and is engaged in talks with the Taliban to do so, but watching this footage from 2011 makes you realize the U.S. probably shou...
2019-03-1526 min"Wake" with Luke VargasIs an Arab Spring 2.0 Underway?Anti-government protesters are in the streets of Algeria and Sudan. In Algeria, they’re angry with 82-year-old President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s decision to seek fo fifth term in office, despite being too ill to even make a public appearance. To the east and south across the Sahara Desert, protests against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir are in their third month as organizers impressively defy a state of emergency, violence and intimidation. This week on “Wake” we’ll consider whether the Middle East and North Africa are experiencing a second “Arab Spring,” and if so, what’s different this t...
2019-03-0926 min"Wake" with Luke VargasStopping the Weaponization of SpaceOuter space isn’t about to be militarized, it’s been militarized for decades, and as China, Russia and the U.S. race to outdo each other in a new domain of battle, the world is waking up to the risks that war in space pose for everyone back on Earth. When destroying a satellite with a missile or laser can bring communications networks and financial institutions to a halt – effectively shutting off countries from the world or businesses from markets – it’s troubling just how few rules exist to stop that from happening. This week on Wa...
2019-03-0126 min"Wake" with Luke VargasShould Terrorists Lose Their Citizenship?“Banishment is back.” That’s the assessment by one prominent legal scholar as countries start to strip terrorists of their citizenship – sometimes rendering them stateless in refugee camps in Syria and the world’s other distant battlefields. This week on Wake we’ll look at the legality and practicality of denationalization, and consider whether fear of returning terrorists is pushing western countries to toss out the established judicial playbook and resort to extraordinary legal tactics we might come to regret. Helping us to do that are this week's guests: Jo Shaw, Salvesen Chair of European Insti...
2019-02-2226 min"Wake" with Luke VargasHow (and How Not) to Reform the World BankPresident Trump has named his selection to lead the world bank. David Malpass is a veteran of Ronald Reagan’s treasury department and the George H. W. Bush's State Department, but it's his more recent criticisms of the World Bank’s size and multilateralism in general that are turning heads. With America already pulling back from the United Nations, NATO and other multilateral institutions, is the World Bank next? This week on Wake we’ll look at the history, present and future of the World Bank and consider how it could change in the Trump era.
2019-02-1526 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas50: A Farewell to Arms Control?President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from a key 1980’s nuclear arms control agreement this month, accusing Russia of violating the INF Treaty for years and saying there was no reason for the U.S. to keep playing by the rules. Trump said maybe he could make a new deal with Russia and China, but if not, the U.S. would out-innovate and out-spend its rivals – hardly sounding concerned about another nuclear arms race. This week on Wake we’ll consider if that’s where the U.S. and Russia are heading, or if there ar...
2019-02-0926 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas49: The Costs of Chinese IP TheftThe U.S. indicated the Chinese telecom company Huawei this week, accusing the firm of stealing intellectual property from T-Mobile. That's part of a larger U.S. complaint that China’s economic rise has been aided by the systematic pilfering of trade secrets from abroad and the funneling of that information back to domestic industries. This week on Wake we’ll consider the extent of China’s intellectual property theft, what the can the U.S. can do about it and whether we’re headed for a "technology cold war." Helping us to do tha...
2019-02-0126 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas48: What's Next for Venezuela?It’s been a historic week in Venezuela, as opposition lawmaker Juan Guaidó claimed the title of Interim President and said Nicolás Maduro had usurped power and was illegitimate in the eyes of the Venezuelan constitution. Venezuela is on edge – Maduro has okayed violence against protesters, Guaido is in hiding, American diplomats have been ordered to leave the country as the world takes sides in the presidential crisis. This week on Wake we'll recap what’s happening in Venezuela and what could come next. Helping us to do that is this week's guest:
2019-01-2526 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas47: The Real Crisis South of the BorderPresident Trump says the U.S. is facing a crisis at its southern border as tens of thousands of migrants wait to lodge asylum claims or attempt to pass into the U.S. illegally. But the real crisis driving that migration is thousands of miles south in the 'Northern Triangle' region encompassing Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. This week on 'Wake' we'll explore the breakdown in governance in those countries that's fueling waves of migration. Helping us do that are this week's guests: Douglas Farah, senior visiting fellow, National Defense University Sarah...
2019-01-2026 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas46: Forecasting a US exit from AfghanistanPresident Trump wants out of Syria and his aides say the U.S. is keen to reassert itself as a liberating, not an occupying military force. Amid a push to wind down prolonged conflicts, should we expect an end to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan? Helping us answer that question are this week's guests: Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for 21st Century Security Gil Barndollar, director of Middle East studies at the Center for the National Interest Graeme Smith, author, "The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in...
2019-01-1226 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas45: Living in an 'Age of Walls'We’re living in an age of migration. The U.N. reports more than 25 million people are seeking shelter from conflict worldwide, as millions more uproot their lives in search of opportunities that don’t exist in their home countries. Many of us would do the same if put in their shoes. And yet, countries are increasingly locking down their borders to keep migrants out. Making the case that we're living in an 'age of walls' is our guest: Tim Marshall, author, "The Age of Walls: How Barriers Between Nations Are Changing Our World" If...
2019-01-0526 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas44: Bolsonaro In, Merkel Out and Populism on the MarchThe world witnessed two major leadership shakeups this week in Brazil and Germany, and both seem to signal personality politics are the flavor of the moment. This week we’ll talk to a Brazilian political scientists about that country’s new far-right president, a biographer of Angela Merkel about the German chancellor’s slow transition out of power and an expert on populism to consider how global political sentiments are changing an age of anxiety. Our guests are: Cesar Zucco Jr., political scientist at Brazil's Fundação Getúlio Vargas Joyce Marie Mushaben, distinguished professor...
2018-11-0244 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas43: The US Retreat on Refugee LeadershipThe Trump Administration just lowered its refugee admissions ceiling for the next fiscal year to its lowest number in 40 years, and that’s not the only change afoot. Christian refugees also appear to be getting precedence over Muslims fleeing conflicts in places like Syria, Yemen or Somalia. This week on Wake we’ll go behind the numbers to see what’s changing in US refugee admissions policy. Helping us do that are: Kathleen Newland, senior fellow and co-founder of the Migration Policy Institute Daniel Schneiderman, deputy U.S. program director at the
2018-09-2244 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas42: US-Iran Relations After the Nuclear DealOn the heels of meetings with the leaders of Russia and North Korea, President Trump says he’s open to talking with Iran’s leaders without precondition. Curiously, that offer of face-to-face dialogue came just days after Trump threatened Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani. Several months after the American exit from the Iran deal, we’re looking today at where the deal stands, how Iran is faring with the deal in limbo, and trying to discern where US policy is heading. Helping us do that are: Daryl Kimball, executive director, Arms Control Association Shampa Biswas...
2018-08-1744 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas41: Making Sense of the 'New' Russian MilitaryRussian President Vladimir Putin bragged this week that a new generation of Russian nuclear weapons would be "years, and perhaps decades ahead of foreign analogues." Those comments follow a video presentation earlier this year in which new Russian missiles were seen breaking through the clouds and heading straight for what appeared to be Florida. This week on Wake we’ll take a look at the recent upgrades to Russia’s military capabilities in recent years and consider whether or not upgrades to the country's armed forces should give the US and NATO something to worry abou...
2018-06-2944 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas40: North Korea's Economic FutureSeated across from Kim Jong Un at a negotiating table in Singapore last week, President Donald Trump said he showed the notorious dictator a video of what a brighter North Korea could look like. The message of that video: there’s a prosperous economy awaiting Kim if he only shelves his nukes and plays nice. This week we’re putting aside the nuclear element of that offer and focusing on North Korea’s economy and what it could possible become, under the status quo or in an era of new North Korean relations. Our guests this w...
2018-06-2344 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas39: What to Expect in SingaporeFor months, President Trump built up expectations that North Korea’s nuclear program could be quickly negotiated away in historic talks with Kim Jong Un in Singapore. But expectations have since shifted to talk of an agreement to end the Korean war, and instead of asking for sanctions relief, North Korea says it wants security guarantees from the U.S. This week on Wake, we’ll try to cover as many angles of the Singapore talks as we can, from the evolving demands of the U.S. and North Korea, to the particular desires of Chin...
2018-06-1150 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas38: Armenia's April RevolutionPeople power prevailed in Armenia in April, as mass demonstrators dislodged Prime Minister (and former president) Serzh Sargsyan, who changed the county’s constitution in a bid to remain in office. After a peaceful revolution, Armenia has a new leader and is embarking on a laundry list of complex political and economic reforms. This week on Wake we’ll dive into what Armenia’s revolution tells us about the country’s future, the future of the Transcaucasus and the states of the former Soviet Union. Helping us do that are this week's guests: Rich...
2018-05-2544 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas37: The Origins and Future of Boko HaramYears of military efforts to destroy Boko Haram have failed to eradicate the terror group. Boko Haram continues to stage daring attacks, kidnap civilians and fuel a regional refugee crisis that's displaced hundreds of thousands. This week on Wake we’ll trace the origins of Boko Haram consider how the group fits into the global terrorism landscape. Helping us do that are this week's guests: Scott MacEachern, professor of anthropology at Bowdoin College, author, "Searching for Boko Haram: A History of Violence in Central Africa" Tricia Bacon, assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law...
2018-05-1944 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas36: Why We Can't Ignore RussiaJust the word 'Russia' conjures up a range of loaded associations from Ukraine to collusion, Syria to election meddling, Sergei Skripal to nuclear weapons. The Cold War is over, but the U.S. continues to push Russia on a range of issues across the far corners of the globe. This week on Wake we'll ask if the U.S. would be better off ignoring Russia, and we'll learn several reasons why we absolutely can't. Helping us to demystify Russia are: Amb. Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, author, "From Cold W...
2018-05-1144 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas35: Cuba's Historic Leadership ChangeCuba recently underwent a historic presidential leadership change, turning the page on decades of rule by brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro with the election of Miguel Díaz-Canel. But far from being a shock to the system, Díaz-Canel is a party stalwart, groomed by the Castros for a leadership role and likely to continue in their footsteps. This week on Wake we’ll consider what Díaz-Canel's presidency means for the future of Cuba, and we’ll step back to survey the state of the US-Cuba relationship and whats likely to change – and not change –...
2018-05-0144 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas34: How to Build a World ParliamentThe idea for a global parliament, a citizen legislature, and the sovereignty of the human being dates back centuries. It’s an idea with roots in ancient Greece and the Roman Republic. It traces back to birth of the United States, the French Revolution and the establishment of the U.N. out of the rubble of World War II. This week on Wake we’ll talk with the leader of a movement to create a global parliament aimed at addressing major problems that nation states are struggling to address. Andreas Bummel, director of Democracy Without Borders and a...
2018-04-2044 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas33: Behind the Immigration HeadlinesFrom day one of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has directed his ire at Mexico and raised questions about the motives and character of Mexicans seeking a life in the United States. As President, that focus on Mexico has only intensified. Trump frequently disparages the Mexican government, he’s strips away what little legal protections existed for young migrants and created new agencies entirely focused on amplifying news about crimes committed by immigrants. This week on Wake we’re going behind the headlines – and definitely behind the Tweets – to look at how the current political climate...
2018-04-1044 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas32: Is the EU in Crisis?The headlines are filled with grave proclamations about the future of the European Union. Recent Italian elections swept eurosceptic parties into office, a vocal Front National in France is taking inspiration from President Trump while Eastern and Central European states band together to defy the E.U. on immigration. But are things really as bad as they seem? Maybe collective governance of 28 member nations is bound to be messy, and maybe some pressure is just what the E.U. needs to revitalize its mission a quarter-century after its founding. Helping us perform a health check...
2018-03-1944 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas31: The Politics of TravelTourism is diplomacy. A single tourist may not move markets or drive political change, but tourism responds to the times, rising and falling along with political rhetoric, immigration policy and cultural shifts. This week on Wake we’re exploring recent trends in global and domestic travel, considering what the U.S. can do to draw more visitors to America’s shores and how Americans tourists can be better ambassadors abroad. Our guests this week are: Rick Steves, travel guidebook author and TV host Amos Snead, spokesperson, Visit U.S. Coalition If you enjoy this...
2018-03-1244 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas30: Freedom in RetreatFreedom around the world is in retreat as "democracy faces its most serious crisis in decades." This week on Wake we’ll try to get to the bottom of these worrying trends overseas and turn the focus on the U.S., to see what’s changing here at home and what if anything, the U.S. can do to set a model for the world. Our guests this week are: Sarah Repucci, senior director for global publications at Freedom House Thomas Carothers, director of the Democracy and Rule of Law Program at the Carnegie Endow...
2018-02-2744 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas29: China's 'Millennials' Make WavesChina’s young generation is large, fiercely competitive and tapped into global education, commerce and tourism. This dynamic cohort is coming of age as China itself reawakens from a 'Century of Humiliation' and increasingly drives the world economy. This week on Wake we’re looking at China's 'millennials' – what could be the world’s most influential generation. Our guest is: Zak Dychtwald, author of "Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World." If you enjoy this discussion, follow us on Twitter @WakeOnAir. Reach the program by email at wake@talkmedi...
2018-02-1544 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas28: The Future of UN PeacekeepingUnited Nations peacekeeping is at a crossroads. Under threat, over-extended and beset by scandal, perhaps is it's no surprise the Trump Administration made the U.N. peacekeeping budget an early target of funding cuts. This week on Wake we'll ask if reforms can modernize peacekeeping and whether peacekeeping advances or sets back American interests. Heling us answer those questions are: Ambassador James Dobbins, senior fellow at the RAND Corporation and former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Norrie MacQueen, honorary research fellow at the University of St. Andrews. If you enjoy th...
2018-02-0930 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas27: The Social Costs of Offshore Finance In 2015, the Panama Papers peeled back the lid on how the world's uber rich shelter money in offshore accounts. More revelations in 2017 known as the Paradise Papers showed us how little has changed. This week on Wake we're diving into the world of offshore finance and what the public needs to know about the costs of financial dealings intended to remain private. Our guests include: Dr. Mary Alice Young, senior lecturer in law, Bristol Law School, University of the West of England George Turner, writer and researcher, Tax Justice Network. If you enjoy thi...
2018-01-1822 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas26: Rethinking North KoreaAt every stop along President Trump’s state visit to Asia in November, he said the U.S. and its allies were stepping up pressure on North Korea. But months on, it seems not much has changed. In conversation with Cheon Seong-Whun this week we’re taking a step back to consider if we’re looking at North Korea all wrong, and if seeing the country differently could unlock new policy options. This week's guest: Cheon Seong-Whun, visiting research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. If you enjoy this discussion, please follow u...
2017-12-2322 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas25: Is There a Trump 'Africa Policy'?U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has just returned from a big trip to Africa. She visited refugee camps South Sudan, famine victims in Ethiopia, and in Congo, she insisted that long-postponed elections finally be held. Upon her return to New York, she announced $60 million in US funding to create an anti-terror fighting force in Africa’s Sahel region. Ten months into the Trump administration, is Africa now on the agenda? Is there a U.S. “Africa policy” per se, and does that matter? To help us answer those questions are: Joshua Meservey, senior policy analyst...
2017-11-0522 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas24: Can 'Impact Investing' Replace Charity?U.S. stock market keep on hitting record highs. New technology promises to make us more connected, as medical breakthroughs raise hopes of better, longer lives. And yet by most accounts global wealth is as concentrated as ever. the psychological downsides of technology get more press than their benefits and expensive new drugs offer cures only if you can afford them. Something isn’t working. This week on Wake we’re looking at the promise and the limitations of 'impact investing, a new way to steer global capital toward social good. This week's exper...
2017-10-2022 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas23: Sizing Up Israel's Global 'Charm Offensive'When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.N. General Assembly last month he said Israel’s global standing has never been higher: “After 70 years, the world is embracing Israel, and Israel is embracing the world.” Netanyahu said relations with the US are at new highs, and that in the past year he’d visited six continents to improve Israel’s diplomatic ties. Relations with Egypt are on the mend, and there’s even talk of secret diplomatic channels opening with Saudi Arabia. This week on Wake we’re looking at the state of Israel’s fo...
2017-10-1222 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas22: How to Better Regulate the InternetEarlier this month, Facebook said it was handing over information about suspicious advertising purchases made on its network by Russian companies and individuals. The disclosure raises questions about whether the world’s largest social networks were used to influence the 2016 election. This week on “Wake” we’re going on a world tour of internet regulation, looking at how countries, including ours, are trying to balance competing interests of national security, privacy and free speech. Is such a balance even possible when internet and information companies like Facebook wield so much power? To help us answer that que...
2017-10-0522 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas21: Natural Disasters and Climate ResilienceFrom Hurricanes Irma to Jose to Maria, an active atlantic storm season has ravaged wide swaths of the Caribbean. The storms themselves receive wall-to-wall media coverage, but when they pass, the story of reconstruction quickly drops from the front page, and post-storm assessments become the stuff of academics and city planners, not the public at large. And yet, climate scientists tell us the storms will get worse. Should we be using natural disasters as an entry point into a discussion about climate change and adaptation? To help us answer those questions are:...
2017-09-2322 min"Wake" with Luke VargasThe crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine StateIn recent weeks, a military campaign by Myanmar’s Buddhist government in a remote corner of the country has displaced at least 400,000 people, most of them Rohingya Muslims. International observers are banned from visiting conflict areas, but there are reports of mass killings, perhaps an ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. What’s happening in Myanmar, and what can and should the international community do to intervene? To help us answer those questions are: Pierre Peron, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Myanmar Cindy Huang, senior polic...
2017-09-1522 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas19: History's Warnings of a US-China WarIt might seem unthinkable, but history suggests war between rising and ruling powers is far from unusual. What does that mean for the U.S. and China?
2017-08-1922 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas18: The Iran Deal in the Age of TrumpWhen the Iranian nuclear deal was signed two years ago in the summer of 2015, President Obama hailed the deal as preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, as a victory for multilateral diplomacy. The deal is technically still in effect, but it’s under siege by President Trump, who’s eager to find evidence of Iranian non-compliance. Will the Iran deal survive President Trump? What happens to the U.S., to Iran if the deal implodes? To help us answer those questions are: Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council and a...
2017-08-1122 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas17: Sanctions in All Shapes and SizesRead, watch or listen to the news and you’re likely hear about a sanctions threat. With military action often too costly or politically unpopular, the sanction looms as the tool of choice to respond to events in North Korea, Iran, Russia or Venezuela. So how did we get here? Why are American policymakers so in love with the sanction? What questions should the public be asking to understand the effect these sanctions have on US foreign policy? To help us answer those questions are: Richard Nephew, research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on G...
2017-08-0622 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas16: Iraq After the Islamic StateThe Iraqi city of Mosul has been liberated from Islamic State control. Iraq’s Prime Minister walked through the rubble of the city streets and declared victory. But what’s next? Could another terror group spring up in the Islamic State’s place? Will Iraq’s Kurds be rewarded for their gallantry on the battlefield? Can Iraq’s government ever represent a country rife with sectarian division? And where does the U.S. fit in? To help us answer those questions are: Daniel Serwer, academic director of conflict management at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced I...
2017-07-2922 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas15: Rethinking Nuclear Weapons PolicyThis month, 122 nations finished work on a nuclear weapons ban treaty. The goal, to rid the planet of nuclear weapons. The Cold War is over, but states with nuclear weapons remain very attached to their 15,000 warheads. Is it time to do away with those weapons or at least rethink nuclear weapons policy? Is the new global treaty the right way to pursue denuclearization? To help us answer those questions are: Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Alexandra Bell, senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non...
2017-07-2022 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas14: Famine in an Age of PlentyIn Central Africa, East Africa and in war-torn Yemen, tens of millions of people are on the verge of starvation. If you thought modern agriculture and a global economy would prevent famine, think again. So what are we doing wrong? Why can’t we conquer famine? What can the U.S. and the world do to address the current crisis? To help us answer those questions are: Deepmala Mahla, South Sudan country director for Mercy Corps Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman, special advisor to the president of the United States Institute for Peace and former U.S...
2017-07-1430 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas13: Free Trade Lives On, Beyond America's BordersAfter four years of talks, a brand new E.U.-Japan free trade deal is complete. With the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a US-EU trade deal on hold, and a protectionist U.S. President, what can we expect on the global free trade horizon? Is the rest of the world continuing to deal as the U.S. backs away? To help us answer those questions are: Iana Dreyer, founder and editor of Borderlex.EU, an online news outlet that focuses on EU trade policy Caroline Freund, senior fellow at the Peterson In...
2017-07-0830 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas12: Back to AfghanistanThe Pentagon is said to be readying plans to send 4,000 new U.S. troops to Afghanistan, scaling up U.S. involvement there 16 years after the Afghan war began. But where is the public discourse about why the troops are needed? It’s even hard to tell what President Trump thinks – he’s told his generals they’re in charge of setting troop levels. What is the mission in Afghanistan? What can we learn from Trump’s approach to the war? To help us answer those questions are: Peter Viggo Jakobsen, Associate Professor in the Department of...
2017-06-2930 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas11: Access to Essential MedicinesEarlier this year, an expert panel of the World Health Organization updated the Essential Medicines List, a collection of the most effective medicines used to treat the most prevalent health conditions. To save lives, extend life expectancies and raise billions out of poverty, these essential medicines need to be made available. How well is the world doing in that quest? What about here in the U.S., and where does the principal of health access figure in the health reform push in Washington? To help us answer those questions are: Suzanne Hill, Director of t...
2017-06-2230 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas10: Climate Shocks: Ecology & Human HealthPart two of a two-part look at the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. President Trump’s announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement sent a strong signal about his administration’s priorities; if climate change is occurring, it’s not urgent enough for the U.S. to get worked up about. But reports from the front lines of ecology, public health, and humanitarian crises are loud and clear: climate change is not something we can wish away. Today we’ll hear from three experts about how climate c...
2017-06-1630 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas9: Climate Shocks: Economics & DiplomacyPart one of a two-part look at the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. The scientific consensus is that climate change will wreak havoc on the planet if unchecked. That’s why more than 190 countries signed on to the Paris Agreement. President Trump’s pullout from Paris is one sign the U.S. administration thinks it can dodge the issue of climate change and isolate itself from a changing planet. But other countries are taking the risk of climate change a lot more seriously. What do they know that...
2017-06-0930 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas8: The Vatican's Impressive Diplomatic ReachThere’s the Catholic Church, and then there’s the Holy See. A nation with diplomats in 183 countries — and they’re not sitting on their hands. From starting up talks between the U.S. and Cuba to trying to mediate the crisis in Venezuela, the Vatican diplomatic corps is as active as ever. What role can Vatican diplomacy play in the world? Could the Church’s diplomatic contributions be more useful now than ever? Helping us consider those questions are: Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Vatican Permanent Observer to the United Nations. Father Drew Christiansen, Distinguished Professor of...
2017-06-0122 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas7: Playing favorites in the Saudi-Iran feudLast weekend, President Trump visited Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip. King Salman welcomed Trump with a lavish reception. And when Trump gave a big speech on Islam, he lavished praise on Saudi Arabia for its anti-terror efforts and its promotion of equality. Trump’s main target, meanwhile, Iran. Trump says Saudi Arabia and Iran, but does he mean Sunni and Shia? Is the U.S. taking sides in one of the world’s most contentious religious struggles? And if so, what might the consequences be? Dr. Lina Khatib, head of the Middle East a...
2017-05-2622 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas6: Is Venezuela's Simmering Crisis About to Boil Over?Venezuela has descended into chaos. Thousands have been marching in the streets for weeks to protest President Nicolás Maduro, whom them accuse of trampling the constitution, using every means necessary to cling to power. All the while, inflation, unemployment, curfews, rations and violence against protesters are making life in Venezuela miserable and dangerous. What is driving the crisis in Venezuela? Have we reached a tipping point? Helping us to consider those questions are: David Smidle, senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, specializing in Venezuela. Juan Nagel, professor of economics at Univ...
2017-05-1922 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas5: How Cheap Renewable Energy can Change the WorldRead up on solar energy prices and you’ll find a headline proclaiming record low rates for power generation. Renewable energy prices are becoming competitive with fossil fuels. On a given day, Germany generates most of its power from renewables. China is mass producing affordable solar panels, while American engineers and entrepreneurs dream up radical new technologies. How is cheap renewable energy changing the world? How could it reshape America? Helping us to consider those questions are: Ethan Zindler, head of the Americas division at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Mara Prentiss, professor of Phys...
2017-05-1122 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas4: How Cheap Oil is Changing the WorldThe days of $100 a barrel oil are over. Since 2015, prices have hovered near $50 as oil producers keep pumping, often in a desperate bid to support government revenues. The new price landscape spells ruin for some, but opportunity for others. How is cheap oil affecting life in America? What does it mean for the future? For the fight against climate change? Helping us to consider those questions are: Thina Saltvedt, chief analyst for Macro Oil at Nordea Markets. Morgan Downey, author of “Oil 101,” and CEO of Money.Net. Robert McNally, author of “Crude Volatility” and president of...
2017-05-0522 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas3: The Costs and Benefits of Overseas BasesAs we speak, more than 150,000 troops are positioned in nearly 80 countries. Hundreds of U.S. bases serve as deterrents against adversaries, others as an assurance to allies, and still more as stops along a global military supply chain. What are the intended and unintended consequences of these deployments? What exactly are we trying to accomplish? Helping us to consider that question are: Michael McNerney, the Associate Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the Rand Corporation. David Vine, author of the 2015 book, “Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm Amer...
2017-04-2822 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas2: Drug Policy Across the AmericasFor decades, the U.S. led a fierce campaign against the cultivation, distribution and sale of illegal drugs. In some states, and a select few countries, attitudes and policies have begun to change. But under a new U.S. administration, the war on drugs could be poised for a comeback. How will policies across the hemisphere impact the Trump Administration’s crackdown on drugs? Helping us to consider that question are: Kasia Malinowska, Director of the Global Drug Policy Program at Open Society Foundations. John Walsh, Senior Associate for Drug Policy at the Washington Office on Lat...
2017-04-2122 min"Wake" with Luke Vargas1: Mapping the US-China RelationshipWhen Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Trump earlier this month, US strikes in Syria overshadowed their encounter. But there's far too much at stake for US-China relations to stay quiet for long, from the possibility of a trade war, to the simmering question of North Korea, controversy in the South China Sea and competing global visions. Helping us break it all down are: Elizabeth Wishnick, Professor of Political Science at Montclair State University and a Senior Research Scholar at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia. Ann Lee, author of the book, "What th...
2017-04-1422 min