What Just Happened?

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Lead Americas analyst Lewis Galvin to unpack President Trump’s recent announcement regarding a potential deal involving Greenland. They explore the military and economic implications of the proposal, assess the fragility of the agreement, and examine sovereignty concerns for both Denmark and Greenland. The discussion also covers NATO’s response, the str...

Lead Americas Analyst Lewis Galvin is joined by Claire Brady, Principal Analyst for North America, and Alex Marciniak, Intelligence Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at Sibylline, to discuss the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela.  They explore the strategic implications of the operation, the geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. foreign policy, and review the broader impact on...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Karan Vassil, Intelligence Analyst on the Eurasia desk here at Sibylline, to explain the recent Russian Oreshnik missile strike against Lviv in western Ukraine. They explore the strategic implications of the Oreshnik missile strike, discuss the geopolitical tensions surrounding NATO borders, and review the broader progress of the war throughout 2025.  ...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa to take a look at the ongoing protests in Iran, driven by economic frustrations amid broader geopolitical tensions. They discuss the government's response, including internet blackouts, and explore the potential for escalation and regional implications.    What Just Happened is now on You...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by the former host of What Just Happened to say farewell and discuss the recent US military operation in Venezuela, known as Operation Absolute Resolve. Together, they explore the strategic implications of the operation, the historical context of the Maduro regime crisis, and the potential future scenarios for Venezuela's political landscape.   If you enjo...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa. Together, they delve into the recent altercation in Tigray between the Tigray Defence Forces and the Tigray Interim Administration. They discuss the strategic interests of the involved parties, the implications of the Pretoria Agreement, and the complex international dynamics at play. Megan pro...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Layla Guest, an intelligence analyst for Eurasia here at Sibylline. Together, they look into the recent peace process negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, focusing on the 28-point peace plan and its revisions. They discuss the strategic interests of the involved parties, the proposed territorial concessions, and the international reactions. Layla...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa. Together, they delve into the ongoing conflict in Sudan, focusing on the recent developments in the Darfur region. They discuss the strategic manoeuvres of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), highlighting the humanitarian crisis and international reactions. Megan...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Alex Marciniak, Intelligence Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at Sibylline. Together, they discuss the unexpected results of the Argentinian midterm elections, exploring the significant win for President Javier Milei and his La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party, which outperformed pre-election polling. Alex provides insights into the implications of this...

In this episode, Shiza Abbasi, Principal Analyst for South Asia at Sibylline, joins Ignacio Ayala to discuss the recent armed confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The conversation delves into the factors driving these tensions, including the role of the TTP and the strategic dynamics at play. Shiza provides insight into the potential for escalation and the implications for regional sta...

In this episode, Noam Ostfeld, Principal Analyst for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey at Sibylline, joins Ignacio to discuss the recent surge in nationwide protests across Morocco and the resulting escalation in security risks. The conversation examines the factors driving the unrest, the government’s response, and the implications for businesses and individuals operating in affected areas...

In this episode, Annabelle Walker, Associate Analyst for Europe at Sibylline, joins Ignacio to discuss the recent surge in drone incursions across Europe, with a particular focus on Russian activities in NATO airspace. The conversation explores the implications of these incursions, NATO's responses and potential future indicators of escalating tensions. Annabelle highlights the significance of the...

In this episode, Ignacio Ayala is joined by Latin America Intelligence Analyst Alex Marciniak to discuss the US naval deployment off Venezuela's coast. The deployment is aimed at combating drug trafficking and exerting geopolitical pressure on the Maduro regime and follows two strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels earlier in September. Together, they explore the roles of Venezuelan crimina...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Lewis Galvin, the Lead Analyst for the Americas at Sibylline, to discuss the recent political violence in the United States and the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. They explore the immediate aftermath and the broader implications of this event, examining the responses from high-profile political figures and the role of social media in am...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Omar Khadr, our analyst for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey, to discuss the recent Israeli airstrike on Hamas headquarters in Doha. They delve into the implications of this unprecedented move, examining the potential regional repercussions and the geopolitical dynamics at play. Omar provides insights into the immediate impact of the strike on ceasefi...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Karan Vassil, Intelligence Analyst for Europe and Eurasia, to discuss the ongoing political crisis in France. They examine the recent announcement by Prime Minister Bayrou, who has called for a vote of confidence on 8 September to secure support for his 2026 budget. The discussion explores the implications of this move and its potential impact on France’s gove...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa, to discuss Israel's new push to occupy the entirety of Gaza. They delve into the recent announcements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the implications of these plans, and the potential humanitarian impact on Gaza's densely populated areas. Megan provides insights into the geopolit...

In this episode, Ignacio delves into the recent shifts in Japanese politics following the upper house election. Our Principal Analyst for the Asia Pacific region, Jonah Kaplan, joins Ignacio to explain the fragmentation of political power as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party loses its majority, and smaller parties rise with distinct policy proposals. Together they explore the implications of thi...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Eurasia Intelligence Analyst Layla Guest to discuss the recent developments between Ukraine, the US and Russia. They delve into President Donald Trump's notable policy shift aimed at pressuring Russia to end the war in Ukraine, the new military assistance plans for Ukraine, the potential impact of severe tariffs on Russia and the broader implications for inter...

In this episode, Alexander Marciniak from the Latin America desk joins Ignacio to explore the complex dynamics of drone warfare in Haiti. They discuss the increasing use of drones by Haitian security forces, the impact on civilian safety and the broader implications for the region. The conversation also covers the formation of the 'Viv Ansanm' gang coalition and the adoption of drone warfare acros...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe from the Middle East and Africa desk to understand the recent strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and discuss the damage inflicted, the current state of Iran's nuclear capabilities and the implications for Iran's intentions regarding nuclear weapon development. Megan provides insights into the complexities of nuclear weapon development, the st...

In this episode, Alexander Marciniak from the Latin America desk joins Ignacio to unpack the current political situation in Colombia, focusing on President Gustavo Petro's labor reform, the implications of a popular consultation and the potential for a constitutional assembly. It also addresses the ongoing violence in the country and the upcoming elections, highlighting key candidates and voter co...

In this episode, Ignacio Ayala is joined by Lead Americas Analyst Lewis Galvin and Principal Middle East and Africa Analyst Megan Sutcliffe to unpack the recent escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, focusing on Israel's Operation Rising Lion, which involved high-intensity airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Megan and Lewis discuss the implications of these strikes,...

In this episode, Ignacio Ayala is joined by Associate Americas Intelligence Analyst Azul Hidalgo Solá to discuss the recent protests in Los Angeles triggered by the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions. They walk through the deployment of the National Guard, the legal implications surrounding the protests, the escalating tensions between state and federal authorities, the potenti...

In this episode, Ignacio Ayala is joined by Karan Vassil to review the recent Ukrainian drone operation targeting Russian air bases, its implications for military capabilities and the potential impact on ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The discussion highlights the unprecedented use of first-person view (FPV) drones, the operational planning behind the attack and the subsequent ef...