The Friday Brief with Phoenix Ricks

Everyone has an opinion on the latest Ukraine-Russia peace plan. Will it benefit Ukraine long-term? Was it originally written in Russian? Is the U.S. properly advocating for our ally, Ukraine? Something is being left out of this conversation, and it is how this war is impacting the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa. But now, with European Union leaders in Angola for the EU-AU summit, this is the perfect time to talk about it. In this episode, we explore the links between these crises via the Wagner Group's participation. 

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Election night 2025 was a significant milestone for the Democratic Party. In this episode, we look at Abigail Spanberger's winning strategy in Virginia, Miki Sherrill's hard-fought win in New Jersey, and Zohran Mamdani's captivating campaign, which has changed the trajectory of New York City politics. 

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Hurricane Melissa is a Category 5 storm that is heading toward Jamaica. This historic storm has already claimed lives in the Caribbean, and it's expected to have devastating impacts when it makes landfall in Jamaica. What can we proactively do now to help Jamaica recover in the aftermath? Plus: why are U.S. warships headed to Latin America and the Caribbean? Is the Trump administration's war against "narco-terrorism" an effective strategy to stop the drug trade, or is it a Top Gun photo op? 

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By now, you've seen the images or read the news clips: the White House's East Wing is being (at least partially) demolished. Why is Donald Trump building a $300 million ballroom? Who will pay for it? Is this level of White House renovation unprecedented or expected? In this episode, Phoenix Ricks discusses the history of White House reconstructions and the efforts to preserve the current design of the White House. Plus: No Kings protests swept the nation last week, and if the U.S. bailout is any indication, the "A" in MAGA stands for Argentina. 

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A new geopolitical story is unfolding in Afghanistan. The Taliban has a fragile ceasefire in place with Pakistan (which accused the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistan militants), and they are trying to restore diplomatic relations with India. What is China's role? And why does the U.S. want to open discussions about Bagram Airbase? All in under 15 minutes!

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If you blinked or were listening to The Life of A Showgirl, you may have missed that France's new prime minister resigned within 14 hours of announcing his government. How does France's system work? Why do they have a president and a prime minister? In this episode, we break down France's current political crisis and dive into the great expectations for Sanae Takaichi, the first female Prime Minister of Japan. 

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Internet and mobile services are being restored today across Afghanistan. Did the Taliban shut off access as part of an "immorality" ban? Or is something else happening? We delve into China's oil feud with the Taliban and examine potential reasons for this disruption. In Congo, former president Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death for war crimes. But, where in the world is he? Plus: Israel intercepted an aid flotilla; Madagascar's president dissolved the government; the U.S. Congress shut down the government; and American farmers are paying the price for Trump's trade wars. All in under 15 minutes!

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Three news stories in the U.S. aren't being discussed nearly enough. One of those stories is about Tom Homan, the border czar (or more properly, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement), being the subject of a 2024 FBI sting operation. What was he accused of doing, and why did the U.S. Department of Justice quietly drop the case this month? Plus: we're diving back into the curious case of Jeffrey Epstein and attacks on free speech in the United States. As always, we deliver the news in under 15 minutes!

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Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, upping the stakes on how to handle transnational crime. Yesterday, the U.S. military fatally struck a boat carrying alleged "narco-terrorists" in international waters. Was that legal? And what are "narco-terrorists?" We're delving into the classification of Tren de Aragua and its relationship with the Cártel de los Soles (Cartel of the Sun), which is so shrouded in mystery that some people doubt its existence. Plus: Will Trump send law enforcement to Chicago despite Governor Pritzker's statements, and why is DC's Mayor Bowser changing her tune? All of this in under 15 minutes! 

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Welcome back! We've returned from our August recess to discuss the trial against former President Joseph Kabila in the Congo, Israel's rapidly deteriorating public diplomacy strategies, and, yes, the reactions of European nations to the end of the U.S. de minimis tax benefit and the start of 15% tariffs. With some countries halting shipping to the U.S., how will the U.S. government respond? Has the Trump administration worked with global shipping companies to explain the changes? How will this impact U.S. consumers and small and medium-sized businesses in Europe? We're covering all of this in under 15 minutes. 

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