The 85%

This week, Canada, Mexico, and the United States begin yet another round of talks about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement – what President Donald Trump has deemed "the worst trade deal in history." On this episode of the podcast, we focus on NAFTA from Mexico's perspective: how it has affected the country, and what's at stake if it collapses.

First, reporter Maya Kroth (@theemaya) brings us a story about a craft beer brewer in Tijuana whose success depends upon a free flow of supplies across the border.

Then, host Joseph Dana talks with Carlos Bravo Regidor (@carlosbravoreg) a professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico City, about how NAFTA is being debated in the Mexican press, and how the trade deal has influenced culture.

Finally, Fernando Hernández (@microgdl) reports on the landscape of resistance to NAFTA, from an indigenous presidential candidate to a former shoemaker.

This week, Canada, Mexico, and the United States begin yet another round of talks about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement – what President Donald Trump has deemed "the worst trade deal in history." On this episode of the podcast, we focus on NAFTA from Mexico's perspective: how it has affected the country, and what's at stake if it collapses.

First, reporter Maya Kroth (@theemaya) brings us a story about a craft beer brewer in Tijuana whose success depends upon a free flow of supplies across the border.

Then, host Joseph Dana talks with Carlos Bravo Regidor (@carlosbravoreg) a professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico City, about how NAFTA is being debated in the Mexican press, and how the trade deal has influenced culture.

Finally, Fernando Hernández (@microgdl) reports on the landscape of resistance to NAFTA, from an indigenous presidential candidate to a former shoemaker.

Saudi Arabia is in a moment of profound transformation. From allowing women to drive to rounding up prominent businessmen at Riyadh's Ritz Carlton, the actions of the royal family - driven by crown prince Mohammad bin Salman - captured the world's attention in 2017, and will only continue to do so in the year ahead. In this special edition of the podcast recorded in Abu Dhabi at The National newspaper, we consider the changes unfolding in Saudi Arabia from a regional perspective.

In conversation with emerge85 Lab editor-in-chief Joseph Dana, emerge85 co-director Mishaal Al Gergawi (@algergawi) and Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi), editor of the UAE's leading English-language newspaper The National, discuss the challenges facing Saudi Arabia, what western media are missing, and the future of the regional order.

Saudi Arabia is in a moment of profound transformation. From allowing women to drive to rounding up prominent businessmen at Riyadh's Ritz Carlton, the actions of the royal family - driven by crown prince Mohammad bin Salman - captured the world's attention in 2017, and will only continue to do so in the year ahead. In this special edition of the podcast recorded in Abu Dhabi at The National newspaper, we consider the changes unfolding in Saudi Arabia from a regional perspective.

In conversation with emerge85 Lab editor-in-chief Joseph Dana, emerge85 co-director Mishaal Al Gergawi (@algergawi) and Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi), editor of the UAE's leading English-language newspaper The National, discuss the challenges facing Saudi Arabia, what western media are missing, and the future of the regional order.

In this year-end conversation, Emerge85 Lab co-directors Afshin Molavi and Mishaal Al Gergawi sit down with Joseph Dana, the lab's editor-in-chief, to take stock of 2017 in the 85 world and consider what lies ahead. They discuss the return of growth, unexpected shifts in Iran and Saudi Arabia, why Americans still use iMessage, spices, horror movies, and much more. Don't miss it.

Also, listeners: we'd love to hear from you! We're doing a series about cinema, and we want to know about a recent film you saw from the 85 world -- that's Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East -- and the environment in which you saw it. A packed theater in Bangkok? A pop-up in Rio? New York? Berlin? Describe the film and where you saw it in a short voice memo, and email it to [email protected]. Remember to include your name and where you're calling from. Thanks!

In this year-end conversation, Emerge85 Lab co-directors Afshin Molavi and Mishaal Al Gergawi sit down with Joseph Dana, the lab's editor-in-chief, to take stock of 2017 in the 85 world and consider what lies ahead. They discuss the return of growth, unexpected shifts in Iran and Saudi Arabia, why Americans still use iMessage, spices, horror movies, and much more. Don't miss it.

Also, listeners: we'd love to hear from you! We're doing a series about cinema, and we want to know about a recent film you saw from the 85 world -- that's Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East -- and the environment in which you saw it. A packed theater in Bangkok? A pop-up in Rio? New York? Berlin? Describe the film and where you saw it in a short voice memo, and email it to [email protected]. Remember to include your name and where you're calling from. Thanks!

India's Supreme Court is reckoning with one of the nation's most ambitious and contested initiatives in recent years: the biometric identification database known as Aadhaar. Aadhaar has amassed the data—including iris scans, photos, and fingerprints—of more than a billion Indians, and is supposed to improve the distribution of welfare benefits and reduce corruption. But critics argue it has gone too far, representing an intrusion into the lives of Indians as well as a security risk.

Host Afshin Molavi hears from scholar Keith Breckenridge (@BreckenridgeKD) about the colonial-era origins of biometric data collection. And he talks with journalist Samanth Subramanian (@Samanth_S) about how Aadhaar has become de facto mandatory in India, and why that's cause for concern.

You can read Samanth Subramanian's article about Aadhaar on our website, Emerge85.io.

India's Supreme Court is reckoning with one of the nation's most ambitious and contested initiatives in recent years: the biometric identification database known as Aadhaar. Aadhaar has amassed the data—including iris scans, photos, and fingerprints—of more than a billion Indians, and is supposed to improve the distribution of welfare benefits and reduce corruption. But critics argue it has gone too far, representing an intrusion into the lives of Indians as well as a security risk.

Host Afshin Molavi hears from scholar Keith Breckenridge (@BreckenridgeKD) about the colonial-era origins of biometric data collection. And he talks with journalist Samanth Subramanian (@Samanth_S) about how Aadhaar has become de facto mandatory in India, and why that's cause for concern.

You can read Samanth Subramanian's article about Aadhaar on our website, Emerge85.io.

Used clothes from the West are ubiquitous across the African continent. But now, leaders in several East African countries are trying to phase out imports of foreign hand-me-downs, arguing that they stifle local textile industries.

Host Afshin Molavi talks with Simon Allison (@simonallison), Africa editor of the Mail and Guardian, about how the used clothing debate throws issues around trade, aid, and globalization into sharp relief. Plus, a look at fashion and social change in Rwanda with Kigali-based designer Matthew Rugamba (@Mr_rugamba).

Used clothes from the West are ubiquitous across the African continent. But now, leaders in several East African countries are trying to phase out imports of foreign hand-me-downs, arguing that they stifle local textile industries.

Host Afshin Molavi talks with Simon Allison (@simonallison), Africa editor of the Mail and Guardian, about how the used clothing debate throws issues around trade, aid, and globalization into sharp relief. Plus, a look at fashion and social change in Rwanda with Kigali-based designer Matthew Rugamba (@Mr_rugamba).