On the Fringe

In this second live episode, Dave and Gavin walk through the Iran War’s effect on the upcoming US midterm election (which is today!) Over the last six months, the boys analyze what they see as the Trump Administration’s use of the war to share an ever-complex security burden required to stabilize the Middle East—with more partner countries in the region and Europe filling the void. Meanwhile, the...

The boys are on tour and this week Gav and Dave send their regards from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the land of coffee, socialism, capitalism and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit onthefringepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This week on On The Fringe, Dave and Gavin talk to Erin West, the founder of Operation Shamrock, a global nonprofit uniting law enforcement, industry, and everyday citizens to disrupt the world’s fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime: pig butchering scams. After 26 years as a prosecutor, Erin now leads a cross-border fight to expose the scam economy, mobilize action, and protect bo...

Join us on a wild language adventure on this quick bonus episode! Tangent: I (Dave) have been studying Mandarin Chinese for about 6 weeks now. One of my first go-to’s when learning a new language is to utilize information I already know to understand sentence structure and vocabulary. I’ve used maps of the world to learn various scripts and alphabets (Korean, Japanese, Russian, Bahasa Indonesia),...

Hey On the Fringe Community! Gav + I are both on the move. We will be posting a bonus episode tomorrow and then will be back like normal next weekend! Listen for a teaser about it. Have a great week + all the best from both of us! Dave + Gav This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit onthefringepodcast.substack.com/subscrib...

Hey all! In this episode we welcomed back Joe Barnes, a friend of the podcast and Russia hand. In February 2022, Joe set off on a trip on a trip through the former USSR and visited each one of the fifteen countries, then wrote a fascinating book about his experiences. In our hour-long chat (it’s a record) we dive into what is happening on the ground in each country, including the cultural and hist...

Singapore has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. (Sorry, made a mistake 15 seconds in!) And, the local government ( as it has done in the past to stop Singaporeans from doom scrolling ) came up with a plan to play matchmaker + provide more financial incentives to couples to have kids. In the episode, Dave + Gav analyze the new policy, and spot an important piece of the puzzle that governm...

This a quick bonus episode/update about the current war between Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan has signed on to the Makkah Accord, along with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to come to one another’s mutual defense. Will this agreement do anything to resolve the tit-for-tat conflict? Here’s our take. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get a...

In this episode, we dive into what the three countries that have signed on the Makkah Agreement (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan) have to offer one another, and why on paper this looks like an effective deterrence against a group like the Houthis or the Taliban. We also dive into why access does not equal utilization. Essentially, why the Saudis are largely left fending for themselves despite h...

According to CSIS, Intellectual property losses cost the U.S. economy between $225—$600 billion per year. These come from losing trade secrets, illegal technology transfers, and copyright infringement to name a few. It was recently reported that critical parts to the F-35 fighter jet were shipped commercially between Australia and the U.S. and routed through Hong Kong. Then, China took possession...

Recently, there’s been much talk of the events occurring around Yemen, but less talk about the group at the center of it all, Ansar Allah, generally referred to as the Houthis. In this episode, Gav and Dave talk about the origins of the group, and what makes them exceptional and dangerous….and such a potentially existential threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The boys talk about the Houthis' ba...

Our hearts go out to the Yemeni civilians who have been displaced after a decade of war. In this episode, we're shining a light on the growing humanitarian crisis on both sides of Gulf of Aden. To really understand what is happening in Yemen, you also have to look at the ongoing refugee crisis that is too big to no longer be ignored. The impact of the Houthis siezing more terrain and control of Ye...

On this bonus episode, the boys talk about Singapore’s interesting solution to the problem of constant electronic stimulation...paying people to read books. The country is trialling a program where people will be fiscally rewarded for their reading efforts, another entry in a long history of money-based social engineering out of the island state. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to On...

While working on another episode, Gavin and Dave ran into a sadly familiar problem, lamenting the absence of a once constant companion, that old fan favorite, the CIA World Factbook. Back in high school, we took the CIA World Factbook for granted diving into world flags, populations, and obscure info like how many airports does Ukraine have. Little did we know that there would come a day when it w...

In this episode, On the Fringe analyzes the implications of the growing geopolitical crisis in the Gulf and a potential crisis for oil markets due to Houthi forces exposing key terrain...and it miles away from the coast, in brains in Riyadh. On September 3rd, an attempt by the internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia to launch an offensive against the Houthi forces that control...

This week, Gavin and Dave have an old friend of the pod, fellow RPCV and veteran educator, Kevin Wong, back on to talk about the recently announced AI moratorium in New York City’s public schools. The one-year moratorium which temporarily bans the use of AI in the classroom from grades K-8, and limits how it can be used from 9-12, including mandates on limiting screen time and prohibiting teachers...

Last week, the UN General Assembly voted nearly unanimously to utilize maps with the more accurate Equal Earth scale instead of the commonly used Mercator scale. The United States voted against it, and the reason why may surprise you. Listen in to this bonus episode about why the US’s explanation to vote “no” is ironic, especially as President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario...

In what could be one of the most impactful geopolitical events of the year, an attempted coup that kicked off in the Republic of Niger on August 28th has upended a lot of long held ideas about the regional order in the Sahara. On this pod, Gavin and Dave explore how a failed putsch from disaffected junior officers in Niamey has led to Algeria’s first major foreign military deployment since 1973, a...

This week, Gav and Dave get the chance to talk Chauncy Wadsworth, a 22-year old American electoral reformist and PR professional, about how he got involved in politics, how he feels about the state of American politics today and why he’s still optimistic about the political future of America. In this wide-ranging conversation, Chauncy and the guys cover the corrosive effect of money on American po...

This week, Dave and Gavin kibbitz about the large settlement announced between Meta and 47+ US States and territories. While on paper a stunning legal victory, the actual cost to the social media titan is more symbolic than anything else, as this presents Meta with an opportunity to tweak its algorithm and start rolling out more autonomous AI agents who will be able to train off of the interaction...

On the morning of August 26th, along the Nepali-Chinese border, tragedy struck. Devastating flash floods wiped out entire villages, ports of entry, roads, and human lives. With a death toll currently around 800 and over 3,000 missing, the scale of destruction and devastation seems impossibly large for a country already struggling with environmental change and economic hardship. Gav and Dave talk a...

Hello, On the Fringe Community. I thought I’d posted this last week! In this episode, Dave and Gavin analyze what the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (the Mecca Agreement) between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan means for the Middle East and South Asia. This tripartite security pact outlines that members will come to one another’s aid in the event of an attack. Saudi and Pakistan had already...

Curious about where the fuel for an angry social media thread begins? It’ll likely surprise you—like it did us! Meme and engagement farms are popping up in Indonesia, providing opportunities for locals to earn thanks to YOUR clicks and arguing with someone you’ve never met in Cleveland. Dave and Gavin also tie the podcast into a reminder and practical advice at the end that everyone who uses the i...

In this episode, Dave and Gavin analyze and explore potential ramifications in South Korea (and in the region) due to the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises being abruptly shortened. Since his first term, President Trump has called out South Korea for not doing enough to bear the costs of U.S. military forces in Korea and supporting the United States. As Trump again signals displeasure with S...

In this episode, Dave and Gavin welcome back Sherman Tylawsky, a friend and past guest from season 3 of On the Fringe. Sherman ran for Congress in Nevada’s Second District and looks back on his campaign across the northern chunk of the state. He dives into why he ran, his approach to campaigning, and what he learned to build a greater understanding of Nevadans in his district and of America. Liste...