The Global Story

How the Democrats are recalibrating after November’s loss, and how the new Trump administration will deal with environmental issues. On this episode, we also examine the key role that media has had in shaping the incoming president’s cabinet and agency leadership picks. Host Caitríona Perry is joined by Sumi Somaskanda and by Supervising Editor at the BBC’s Washington DC bureau, Courtney Subramanian.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. And every Saturday until the inauguration of Donald Trump on the 20th of January, we bring you an update on his Path to the Presidency. If you don’t want to miss an episode, follow or subscribe to The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts. You can email us at [email protected]

Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Charlie Jones

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen has been speaking to HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. In just a matter of weeks, he has gone from governing the province of Idlib, to leading a rebel offensive on Damascus, to becoming the de facto leader.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

The BBC has spoken to Israeli reservists who are refusing to return to the war in Gaza. Imbued with a sense of national duty following the October 7th attack by Hamas, but now troubled by the things they’ve witnessed in Gaza, some Israeli soldiers say they won’t return to the army.

We hear from one soldier who compares the devastation inflicted by Israel’s military in the Gaza Strip to an apocalypse, and said his colleagues would routinely loot and vandalise Palestinian houses, claims denied by the Israeli military authorities.

BBC special correspondent Fergal Keane has spoken to several of them, and tells our presenter Azadeh Moshiri why their stories reflect deep political divisions which exist within Israeli society.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles

Sound engineers: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

For months a court room in the small French town of Avignon has demanded the world’s attention and shaken attitudes towards sexual violence and consent. Throughout the trial, Gisèle Pelicot has faced the 50 men accused of her rape and sexual assault while she was unconscious, drugged by her husband.

On today's episode Caitríona Perry speaks to the BBC's Paris correspondent Andrew Harding about Gisèle Pelicot and how she refused to carry the shame of the 51 men she faced in court.

If you need support with the issues we’ve been talking about, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide: www.befrienders.org. In the UK, you can find a list of organisations that can help at bbc.co.uk/actionline

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran, Alix Pickles, Mhairi MacKenzie, Eleanor Sly

Sound engineers: Rohan Madison and Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Picture credit: EPA

Next year, Mexico will become the first country in the world to begin electing all its judges by popular vote. The radical judicial reform was passed by the Senate in September, where the ruling Morena party hold a commanding majority. They argue the change will promote transparency and accountability in a justice system which has faced accusations of corruption, nepotism, and bowing to political and criminal pressure. But critics say it is a direct threat to democracy which weakens the ability of the judiciary to hold the government to account - including the Supreme Court.

On today's episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's correspondent in Mexico, Will Grant. They examine the politics behind this shakeup, and discuss why many members of the legal community are protesting the measures.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Mariana Hernández Carrillo and Laurie Kalus

Sound engineer: Rohan Madison

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Donald Trump's return to the White House is seen as a potential threat to European security. Some believe he could abandon the transatlantic military alliance Nato - but the organisation's new secretary general Mark Rutte seems convinced he will be persuaded to stay.

On this episode of The Global Story, Katya Adler speaks with the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale about what impact losing the alliance’s biggest financial backer would have on the war in Ukraine - and the reasons why the incoming US President might be convinced to remain in Nato.

Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Laurie Kalus and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Philip Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Trump's immigration plans, their effect on agriculture, and social media clashes. On this episode, Caitríona Perry is joined by Sumi Somaskanda and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. They discuss Donald Trump's key policy priorities as it gets closer and closer to his inauguration. This week the president-elect vowed to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States on his first day in office. Mr Trump reiterated his plans for mass deportation for undocumented immigrants. What impact would that have on agriculture - a sector that relies heavily on migrant labour?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. And every Saturday until the inauguration of Donald Trump on the 20th of January, we bring you an update on his Path to the Presidency. If you don’t want to miss an episode, follow or subscribe to The Global Story wherever you get your BBC podcasts. You can email us at [email protected]

In 2022, mass protests erupted in Iran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Those protests dissipated after a fierce crackdown. But individual acts of defiance and stories that tell the cost of activism have been making the headlines in recent weeks.

In this episode, Parham Ghobadi tells Azadeh Moshiri about the life of Kianoosh Sanjari, a young man who faced the brunt of government oppression, and took his own life in an apparent final act of defiance against the regime.

Producers: Richard Moran and Alix Pickles

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

Is artificial intelligence making social media more dangerous? With online personalities increasingly dictating the way many of us live our lives, we are firmly in the age of the influencer. And with the advent of AI influencers, longstanding concerns about unrealistic beauty standards or unattainable lifestyle goals, are being argued even more strenuously by critics of the industry. But are the feeds of these AI-generated models any less 'real' than the enhanced profiles we have been exposed to for years?

On today's episode, Lucy Hockings is joined by the BBC's cyber correspondent Joe Tidy. He reveals all on his recent trip to meet the creators of one of the world's most successful AI influencers, Aitana...

Producers: Laurie Kalus and Mariana Hernández Carrillo

Sound engineer: Mike Regaard

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson

This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual violence.

When Bashar al-Assad’s power was challenged in 2014, the Islamic State group filled the vacuum in Syria. Now the Assad regime has fallen, ending 50 years of rule by the family. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group who toppled the president, are now faced with governing a country occupied by various factions.

On today's episode, Azadeh Moshiri speaks to Barry Marston, the head of the BBC's jihadist media team, to ask how much of a threat the Islamic State group is today, and whether this new power vacuum could present them with a new opportunity for their brand of terror?

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.

Producers: Richard Moran and Eleanor Sly

Sound engineer: Phillip Bull

Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas

Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson