Intrigue Explained

The Biden Administration takes the trade war with China up a notch by significantly increasing import taxes on a range of Chinese electric vehicle, technology, and medical goods - plus, a brief update on the new Russian offensive in Ukraine. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang*) break down the big stories in in...

The TikTok "ban" has been signed into law, so we dive into how it happened, the reasoning behind it, what might happen next and the geopolitics of it all. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang*) break down the big stories in international news. The show is based on reporting from International Intrigue's free dai...

On the 20th of April, the US House of Representatives passed a bill appropriating billioins in aid for Ukraine. With world travelling co-hosts John and Helen taking some much needed rest, this bonus episode has Dmitry breaking down seven common arguments against US aid to Ukraine and offering his suggestions on how to engage with them. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three forme...

Recorded on the 12th of April as intelligence agencies were warning of an Iranian attack on Israel, this episode features a discussion about the likelihood of such an attack, its implications, and the policy choices involved. It also discusses the Western strategy of releasing the intelligence and how that might shape possible responses. Note: A lot of the speculation in the episode has now been o...

A 2024 survey of experts across Southeast Asia found that for the first time, more would see themselves aligned with China than the US in a hypothetical confrontation between the two superpowers. What are the implications of that shift, and more broadly is soft power and public perception abroad a significant factor in foreign policy? A version of this podcast was initially uploaded without any ac...

A double feature episode discussing the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall Music Centre in Moscow, and the French President's increasingly assertive posture on the world stage. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang*) break down the big stories in international news. The show is based on reporting from Inter...

In this first episode of what could well be an endless series, resident China experts Helen and John walk us through China Politics 101 following a robust discussion of the proposed TikTok divestment bill in the US Congress. The episode draws its name from two 'sessions' taking place earlier in March: the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress. About...

Is espionage running rampant, and is the new Western strategy of dragging it out into the light a winning one? We dive into the world of spies and spooks following some shocking allegations by the head of Australia's domestic counter-intelligence service ASIO and a spate of high-profile incidents around the world. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowl...

Against John's better judgement, trade nerd Dmitry attempts to provide a vaguely accessible explanation of the World Trade Organization and its 13th Ministerial Conference. Also includes brief discussions of the 2nd anniversary of Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine and the US veto of another UN Security Council Resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show whe...

Following the comments by Former President Trump about a failure by some European states to meet their NATO spending commitments, we dive into the question: Should US taxpayers be underwriting European defense? About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang) break down the big stories in international news. The show is ba...

In an episode sure to do wonders for their inboxes the hosts (who have attended four times between them) try to explain the World Economic Forum's annual Davos meeting, and why everyone keeps shouting about it. All hail the lizard people! About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang) break down the big stories in intern...

Recorded on the 658th day of the Russian escalation, against the backdrop of opposition to Western funding for Ukraine in Washington and Brussels, we take a look at the state of the war and grapple with some of the hard questions facing policymakers. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang) break down the big stori...

It's the first day of COP28 and there's a new fund, controversy about the host and 70,000 people loitering around the coffee stall. We dive into some of the geopolitics. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang) break down the big stories in international news. The show is based on reporting from International Intri...

Former Australian diplomats John, Helen and Dmitry share some thoughts on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the actors in the region and what may come next. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry Grozoubinski and Helen Zhang) break down the big stories in international news. The show is based on reporting from International Intrigue's free daily ne...

Former Australian diplomats John, Helen and Dmitry reflect on the first meeting between President's Xi Jinping of China and Joe Biden of the United States. We talk about why both sides agreed to a meeting now, who it was a win for, and how businesses may be looking at China as an investment destination. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where three former diplomats (John Fowler, Dmitry...

Former Australia diplomats John, Helen and Dmitry break down the foreign policy side of AI regulation, including the joint declaration the Bletchley AI Safety Summit and the Biden Administration's Executive Order on all things AI Safety. We debate whether now is the right time to regulate, the dangers of regulatory capture, and unpack some of the ways AI could transform diplomacy and negotiations....

James also known as 'Spaghetti Kozak' is an American who has spent more than a year fighting for Ukraine as part of the AFU, and even longer than that fighting all-comers in the Twitter war that has raged since the war started. In this special bonus episode of Intrigue Explained, Dmitry put to James some of the most infuriating takes and opinions on the Ukraine war floating around the internet. Yo...

James also known as 'Spaghetti Kozak' is an American who has spent more than a year fighting for Ukraine as part of the AFU, and even longer than that fighting all-comers in the Twitter war that has raged since the war started. In this special bonus episode of Intrigue Explained, Dmitry sat down with James for a wide-ranging discussion of the war, social media, grifters, geopolitics and understand...

Dmitry and John debate whether the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China is a signal of US weakness. Also on the show: Two stories focused on Saudi Arabia: Their exploring joining the BRICS Development Bank (the NDB); Their succesful attempt to purchase the PGA Golf Tour About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where two former diplomats (Dmitry Grozoubinski and John...

Dmitry and John debate whether democracies are at a disadvantage in international relations compared to their more authoritarian counterparts. Also on the show: What the US debt limit deal means for international relations; and An update on the tense situation in Kosovo. About the show: Intrigue Explained is a show where two former diplomats (Dmitry Grozoubinski and John Fowler) and the people the...

Former diplomats Dmitry and John debate whether the West should seek to restrict the media channels of foreign adversaries. Is it smarter in the long term to ban stations like RT, or to ignore them? Also on the show: The incurions into the Belgorod Oblast by Russian paramilitaries hostile to the Kremlin; and the massive fine issued to Meta by the European Union over Facebook's user data transfers...

This week Dmitry and John debate whether the West needs to stop faffing around and start splashing cash if it wants to keep up with the unromantic investment diplomacy of its geostrategic adversaries. Also on the show: President Biden abruptly cancels his visit to the Asia Pacific in order to deal with the debt ceiling crisis at home; The Wagner Group's Prigozhin was allegedly in talks with the Uk...

This week Dmitry and John naval gaze on whether their lives had any meaning, or more specifically about whether there's still a role and function for diplomats posted overseas under the traditional embassy model. Also on the show: The upcoming elections in Turkey, where Erdoğan faces his first true challenge at the ballot box since 2014 amid high inflation and a more unified opposition; and Civil...

This week Dmitry and John revisit the Russian invasion in Ukraine, providing an update on the situation, discussing the anticipated Ukrainian spring counteroffensive, and what China's recent forays into Ukraine war diplomacy might mean. We also cover: The South African debate about whether to follow their ICC obligations and arrest Vladimir Putin if he travels to the country for the upcoming BRICS...

In our most contentious debate episode yet, Dmitry and John get into it over whether French President Macron was wrong in his remarks about the desirability of Europe moving away from a dependence on the US and toward 'Strategic Autonomy', the very different optics of his and Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen simultaneous visits and the implications for Taiwan. We also cover: The recent leaks of U...