Put Simply

In the fourth part of a special series examining the X-Press Pearl disaster in Sri Lanka, we speak with Dr. Amelia Wenger, a distinguished Conservation Scientist and Water Pollution Programme Lead with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), who has delivered a forensic independent assessment of the maritime disaster.

Two weeks into the Israel-U.S. led war on Iran, the consequences are spreading far beyond the battlefield. Oil prices have surged, markets are rattled, and fears are growing over what happens next in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. As the death toll rises, Iran continues its attacks across the region, and political leaders offer little clarity on the endgame, Erdem Koch, Ozan Ibrisim and Rodney McCune ask the question on everyone’s mind: is this conflict heading toward de-escalation, or are we only at the beginning of something much bigger?

The US and Israel has launched its largest Middle East operation in two decades but what exactly is the objective? Nuclear deterrence? Regime collapse? Strategic pre-emption? On this week’s episode of Put Simply, Erdem Koch, Ozan Ibrisim and Rodney McCune break down Trump’s shifting rhetoric, the risks of escalation, and whether America is drifting toward another prolonged conflict.

Are tensions between Washington and Tehran about to boil over? This week, Erdem Koch, Ozan Ibrisim and Rodney McCune unpack whether conflict with Iran is truly imminent, what Trump’s newly assembled “Board of Peace” signals about US foreign policy, the return of political dynasty politics in Bangladesh, the fate of a former South Korean president, and why Trump’s approval ratings are trailing Biden’s at the same stage of his presidency.

The Jeffrey Epstein files could shake the foundations of European politics and may even cost UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer his job. But across the Atlantic, the scandal has barely caused a ripple. Why?

Meanwhile, voters in Japan and Thailand re-elect their incumbents.

On this week’s episode of Put Simply, Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune, and Ozan Ibrisim discuss the global ripple effects of the Epstein revelations, the silence in Washington, and what the latest Asian elections say about the mood of the region.

Donald Trump removes Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, sending shockwaves through Latin America and beyond. Is this the start of a Trump-led global reset? On this week’s episode of Put Simply, Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune, and Ozan Ibrisim unpack the stunning power shift in Venezuela, explore how Trump pulled it off, and ask what this could mean for the global order moving forward.

Last Sunday, Sydney’s Bondi Beach—one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks—was the scene of unthinkable violence. Two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah event, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more. Among the victims: a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor.

On this week’s episode of Put Simply, Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune and Ozan Ibrisim speak with David Imber—a communications professional and member of Australia’s Jewish community—about the rise of antisemitism, the failures of prevention, and what comes next for a nation in mourning.

In this penultimate episode, we peel back the layers of the legal fallout surrounding the X-Press Pearl disaster. From jurisdictional battles to compensation claims, our hosts Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune, and Ozan Ibrisim trace the intricate web of lawsuits, investigations, and political pressure that followed in the wake of the spill.

In the second episode of our four-part special on the X-Press Pearl incident, Sri Lanka’s maritime disaster, Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune, and Ozan Ibrisim take a hard look at the official reports that followed the spill, as well as the environmental toll taken by a leaking toxic cargo.

Five hours of high-stakes diplomacy in Moscow end with no deal on Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin rejects parts of a US-backed peace plan. Back in Washington, President Trump launches a xenophobic tirade against immigrants, shocking even longtime observers of his rhetoric. Meanwhile, Republicans narrowly hold onto a key congressional seat in Tennessee, and mass protests force Bulgaria’s government to scrap a controversial budget plan. On this week’s episode of Put Simply, Erdem Koch, Rodney McCune, and Ozan Ibrisim unpack a week of failed peace, political firestorms, and public fury.