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Erin and Jake started the show talking about Donald Trump's first day back in office as the 47th President of the United States. His second inauguration had to be held indoors due to an arctic front in DC, keeping the guest list small—just 750 people, including some big names in tech like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. In his speech, Trump pledged a "golden age" for America, took some jabs at the Biden administration, and proposed an "External Revenue Service" to investigate imposing international tariffs. Among the nearly 100 executive orders signed on Trump’s first day were declarations of a national emergency at the southern border, policies to block new asylum seekers, and efforts to undermine birthright citizenship. Trump also withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, reversed drilling protections, and scrapped diversity and inclusion programs across federal agencies. Finally, he established there being only two genders as federal policy and removed protections for transgender people in federal prisons.

Then they broke down how exactly the Israel-Hamas ceasefire of 2025, brokered by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, was reached. The deal consists of a three phase plan, starting with a 42-day long ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages taken 15 months ago, focusing on women, children, and the elderly, while Israel agreed to release around 100 Palestinian prisoners and pull back from populated areas of Gaza. The second phase will try to establish more permanent peace agreements, with discussions to secure the release of remaining hostages and a full Israeli withdrawal. Finally, the third phase will focus on rebuilding Gaza and returning any remaining hostages' bodies. But the deal remains tenuous given the record of distrust between Israel and Hamas—a dynamic closely followed by figures like Ursula Von Der Leyen and global leaders at the World Economic Forum.

Speaking of which, Erin and Jake unpack the Davos 2025 highlights, where leaders like Volodymir Zelensky and global business elites gathered to tackle geopolitical challenges, and the future of crypto under the Trump administration. Oxfam’s latest report revealed that billionaires grew even wealthier in 2024, with predictions of five trillionaires emerging within a decade, up from their prediction a year ago that there would only be one in this time. Generally speaking, the forum highlighted a looser crypto regulatory environment in the Trump era, and there was a focus on how the business community can respond to growing geopolitical tensions around the world. 

Finally, they wrap up with a round of Have You Heard Headlines: a rebel attack in Colombia that killed 60, former Pakistani PM Imran Khan’s 14-year sentence for corruption, a

Erin & Jake kicked the week off with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's unexpected resignation announcement on Monday, which he gave amid mounting disapproval within his party and economic roadblocks like rising inflation and tariff threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Billionaire Elon Musk tweeted about Trudeau, saying, “Girl, you're not the governor of Canada anymore, so doesn't matter what you say.” 

They broke down the situation in South Korea, in which in early December President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, was swiftly impeached, and is now barricaded inside his residence, resisting arrest with the secret service protecting him. After two impeachments (one for his immediate successor, for not launching an investigation into President Yoon), the country now has a relatively stable government while navigating this new crisis. 

Finally, they discussed how European leaders are pushing back on Elon Musk’s interference in their elections, claiming his platform, X, has been amplifying support for far-right political parties throughout the continent. In the UK, this has taken the form of pushing lies against the leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer; in Germany, it means over support for the far-right party, the AfD. 

This week’s top headlines include a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Tibet, killing at least 126 and injuring more than a hundred more in the disaster near Mount Everest. In France, far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine Le Pen, died on Tuesday at 96, leaving a legacy marked by Holocaust denialism and inflammatory remarks. 

In the U.S., Donald Trump’s election was certified by a session presided over by Kamala Harris, his main opponent in the election. At a press conference on Tuesday, he doubled down on his ambitions to annex Greenland and Canada, and control territories like the Panama Canal. 

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg announced he will be ending fact-checking on platforms like Facebook and Instagram in favor of community notes, which experts warn will increase misinformation. And finally, a deadly winter storm hit the northern U.S., the strongest in decades, while greater Los Angeles fights wildfires...

This week, Erin and Jake broke down the aftermath of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte which left more than 20 dead, and another 1,500 injured. They also talked about the complex politics of the island, including ongoing poverty and neglect by the French government, a lack of discussion about the nearby country of Comoro, and the potential link between the storm's intensity and climate change. Next, they talk through the political crisis in Germany, with the vote of no confidence against Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, the scheduling of new elections in February, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. And because it’s the last episode of the year, they went continent-by-continent to discuss the biggest stories of the year, and how they’re feeling about the world in 2025. (Heads up, it’s not great.)

In the Have You Heard? weekly news breakdown, the duo talked through South Korea’s impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the assassination of a high-ranking Russian general by Ukraine’s security service, and France’s new Prime Minister (and fourth of the year), François Bayrou. They also covered Denmark’s decision not to extradite anti-whaling activist Paul Watson to Japan over attacks of fishing vessels and how an 18-year-old from India won the world championship in chess, making him the youngest champion in history.

This week, Erin and Jake discussed how Syria faced a huge and unexpected shift as the Assad regime collapsed after 13 years of civil war, with a rebel group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) having taken control of key cities like Aleppo and Damascus, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia. HTS leader Mohammed Al-Sharaa, known for his past ties to Al-Qaeda, claimed to advocate for inclusivity of religious groups in the region, but concerns persisted over strict religious rule for religious minorities and women, in part because of recent memories of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. They also covered South Korea, where President Yoon Seok-Yeol's controversial martial law declaration last week sparked mass protests and allegations of insurrection, leading to his defense minister Kim Yong Hyun's resignation and a criminal investigation into Yoon’s actions. Finally, they examined the situation in Romania, which faced political chaos after the second round of its presidential election was canceled by the Romanian Supreme Court due to alleged Russian interference backing ultra-nationalist Călin Georgescu. So far, there’s no new date for the presidential election to resume. 

In the Have You Heard headline breakdown, Erin and Jake broke down the Pennsylvania arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, with reports saying that his lawyer, Tom Dickey, said that Mangione is resisting extradition to New York. In the UK, they talked about a decision by the country’s health secretary banning puberty blockers for minors due to "unacceptable safety risks," limiting their use to clinical trials. In Brazil, they touched on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recovering from surgery after a fall in October, and was expected to return to the capital city after a recovery from the brain bleed. They discussed the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to the public after a massive fire in 2019, with a ceremony attended by world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, US President-Elect Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And they went through how scientists tracked a humpback whale that broke records by migrating over 8,000 miles, or 13,000 kilometers, in a journey that might be related to climate change's impact on food sources and breeding grounds.

Sources…
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria:

• France24 - Why the Assad regime collapsed in Syria – and why so fast
• The AP - The fall of Bashar Assad after 13 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty
• Politico - Has Syrian rebel leader al-Golani really shaken off his al Qaeda past?

South Korean martial law chaos:

• The Guardian - South Korea police raid President Yoon’s office over martial law declaration
• Al Jazeera - South Korea’s President Yoon declares emergency martial law
• The AP - What to know about martial law and the impeachment vote threatening South Korea’s...

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire run through some updates in US politics, including how President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, and some of Donald Trump’s incoming appointments, some of whom helped write Project 2025. Then they discuss the ongoing situation in Syria with the resparking of the Syrian Civil War and involvement by Russia and Iran to push back opposition forces around Aleppo, and how it all relates to Hamas, Israel, and the situation in Gaza. Finally, they break down the recent 2024 Irish Elections, what the exit polls said, how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael did, and how Michael Martin may become taoiseach.

Then, in the Have You Heard rundown of the week’s biggest news, they break down how French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to be ousted by the far right and the left in the French parliament and who French President Emmanuel Macron could pick in his place, Israel attacking Lebanon in violation of last week’s ceasefire and Israel’s claim that Hezbollah hasn’t retreated, the UK voting to approve assisted dying for terminally ill patients who have a short life expectancy, how South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol just declared martial law and accusing opposition parties of colluding with North Korea, and Belgium making history as the first country to allow sex workers to sign employment contracts which will allow them access to social benefits denied to them for decades. 


Sources for…
Joe Biden Pardoning Hunter Biden:

• The AP - Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous pledges not to
• BBC - White House defends Biden as Republicans and Democrats criticise pardon for Hunter

Donald Trump and Project 2025:

• The AP - After Trump’s Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles
• CBS News - See the list of Trump Cabinet picks and more White House appointments so far
• The Bulwark Podcast - Bill Kristol and Elaina Plott Calabro: A Sordid Lot

Ongoing Syrian Civil War:

• CNN - What’s Happening in Syria? A Simple Guide
• Al Jazeera - Syria Tracker: Maps and Charts
• BBC - More Russian strikes as Syrian rebels advance after taking Aleppo
• ReliefWeb - Escalation of hostilities in Syria - Flash update #1 (December 2nd, 2024)

2024 Irish Elections:

• BBC - Fianna Fáil emerges as largest party in Irish election
• The Guardian...

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the recent 2024 presidential elections in Romania, including how Călin Georgescu ran a TikTok campaign to win first place. Then they talk about the Pelicot trial in Mazan, France, with Gisele Pelicot’s courage to put her husband, Dominique Pelicot, in prison for 20 years for rape charges. And finally, they break down the state of a Hezbollah ceasefire, with officials from Israel and Lebanon meeting to discuss what that Israeli ceasefire might look like. Plus, how the ICC filed an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Then, in the Have You Heard rundown of the week’s biggest news, they break down Trump’s proposal for tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the ousting of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and the new nominee, Pam Bondi, the ICCs arrest warrant for Netanyahu and a former defense minister, the death of six tourists in Laos from suspected menthol poisoning, and a recent court case in Hong Kong that protects same-sex couples’ rights to certain housing and inheritance benefits. 


Sources for…
The Romanian Election:

• The Guardian - Shock as pro-Russia independent wins first round of Romanian election
• Politico - Who is Călin Georgescu, the far-right TikTok star leading the Romanian election race?
• Politico - Romania’s far-right, pro-Russian lurch spells big trouble for EU and NATO

The Pelicot Trial in France:

• BBC - Prosecutors demand 20-year jail sentence for husband in mass rape trial
• The Guardian - Prosecutors demand 20-year jail term for Dominique Pelicot
• France 24 - French prosecutors demand 20-year sentence for ex-husband in Pelicot mass rape case

The Potential Israel Lebanon Ceasefire:

• Al Jazeera - Israel bombs Lebanon’s Beirut; cabinet discusses possible ceasefire
• The New York Times - Netanyahu Signals Openness to Cease-Fire With Hezbollah, Officials Say
• The International Criminal Court (ICC) - ICC Pre-Trial… issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant

Have You Heard Headlines:

• CNN - Trump ups the ante on tariffs, vowing massive taxes on goods from Mexico, Canada and China on Day 1

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss reaching the 1,000 day mark in the Russia-Ukraine war and how the US is allowing American missiles in Ukraine to be fired at Russia, ongoing protests in New Zealand around a treaty with the Maori indigenous people that could be completely changed, and the sentencing of 45 people for involvement in the Hong Kong democracy protests in 2019 and 2020. Then, in the Have You Heard rundown, they talk about Dr Oz for the head of medicare and medicaid and Linda McMahon for Education Secretary in Trump’s cabinet, the retiring of a Spanish tennis legend, and the story of a Russian whale spy that ran away from home.

Sources for…
American missiles in the Russia-Ukraine war:

• Al Jazeera
• CNN

Trump’s cabinet picks:

• The Associated Press
• The Kyiv Independent
• Business Insider
• Libération

Maori protests in New Zealand:

• Al Jazeera
• BBC

Sentencing in Hong Kong after democracy protests in 2019:

• BBC
• Al Jazeera
• Sky News UK

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the incoming Trump administration, including Elon Musk appointed by Trump and Mike Huckabee as the Ambassador to Israel, the current situation with a minority government in Germany, and the current situation in Gaza, including Secretary Blinken’s recent comments. Plus, Have You Heard for a weekly breakdown of the week’s biggest headlines.

In this special episode, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire talk through the results of the 2024 election in the US and Trump’s landslide victory, where the Kamala Harris campaign might have gone wrong, and who will win the House of Representatives in 2024.

This week, Erin Flanagan and Jake Shropshire discuss the live election results map and where to be looking in the United States for election updates and the Trump vs Harris results. Then they go over how the port of Spain weather caused massive flooding in the European country, and how more than 200 soldiers were taken hostage in Bolivia. Plus, have you heard for a weekly breakdown of the biggest headlines.