The Lede

By New Lines MagazineNews News Commentary

The Lede episodes

January 26 1,000 Days of War in Sudan
For this month’s edition of Global Insights on The Lede, journalist Isma’il Kushkush and international law expert Mutasim Ali join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the lack of international attention on the war in Sudan, and the prospect of success for peace talks underway in Cairo.
Produced by Finbar Anderson
34 min
January 19 Inside the System That Built the Modern World
Sven Beckert joins Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede to unpack how capitalism came to shape our modern world, as set out in his new book, “Capitalism: A Global History,” taking in Aden, Cairo, and Guangzhou along the way.
Produced by Finbar Anderson
41 min
January 12 Inside the Rise of France’s Far Right
The Financial Times journalist and writer Victor Mallet joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the rise of the far right in France, the prospects of victory for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, and his new book, “Far-Right France.”
Produced by Finbar Anderson
49 min
January 05 Queens, Cities and States in the Making of Africa
In this first episode of 2026, award-winning broadcaster Zeinab Badawi joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss why traditional histories of Africa miss the mark, remarkable African figures from Cleopatra to Shaka Zulu, and Badawi’s book “An African History of Africa.”
Produced by Finbar Anderson
43 min
December 29, 2025 Listen Again: How America’s Margins Became the Mainstream
Listen again to this rerun episode of the podcast, in which journalist Gabriel Gatehouse, host of The Coming Storm and the documentary “Seeking Satoshi,” joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how exploring America’s fringe movements is the key to understanding the modern United States.
Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
December 22, 2025 From Emotional Video Games to Early Music Chanting: The Christmas Episode
For this year’s Christmas special episode, New Lines editors highlight some of their favorite stories from the magazine and reflect on the power of culture to bring people together.

A Palestinian Citizen of Israel Reflects on Life in the Shadow of Genocide in Gaza – by Rida Abu Rass
Confessions of a Syrian Barrel Bomber – by Kamal Shahin
When a Dutch Drug Kingpin Needed a New Base, Sierra Leone Welcomed Him With Open Arms – by Oliver Dunn and Josef Skrdlik
The South Asian Vote May Be Split for Zohran Mamdani in New York City – by Yashica Dutt
Produced by Finbar Anderson
54 min
December 15, 2025 Making the Case for American Power
Author and political scientist Shadi Hamid joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to argue his case for a U.S.-led world order, as set out in his new book, “The Case for American Power.”
Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 1 min
December 08, 2025 How Power Hides Itself
Following the National Guard shootings in Washington, D.C., and recent revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and, separately, a Syrian charity, investigative journalists Murtaza Hussain and Lynzy Billing join Faisal Al Yafai to consider why and how powerful institutions and people cover their own tracks.
Produced by Finbar Anderson
54 min
December 01, 2025 Lifting the Lid on the Criminal Underworld
On this week’s episode, the historian and writer Mark Galeotti joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss his new book about the global criminal underworld, “Homo Criminalis,” and why he thinks Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict could be a useful starting point.
Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 7 min
November 24, 2025 Why the Internet Got Bad, and How To Fix It
On this week’s episode, bestselling author and tech blogger Cory Doctorow joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss why the internet has steadily, but noticeably, become unusable, as he sets out in his new book “Enshittification.”
Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr

About The Lede

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This is The Lede, the New Lines Magazine podcast. Each week, we delve into the biggest ideas, events and personalities from around the world. For more stories from New Lines, visit our website,…