What happens in Moldova? Why was the election so close? How has Russia tried to hijack the elections in Moldova? Are Moldovan and Romanian languages different? What are the generational and regional differences in Moldova?

We talked to an actual Moldovan (they aren't that rare..) about this often overlooked country. Recorded in October 2024.

Recommended sources for further information:

Rise Moldova https://www.rise.md/english/

Vlad Lupan, on Twitter: @VladLupan 

Paula Erizanu @paulaerizanu 

Denis Dermenji https://www.rferl.org/author/denis-dermenji/bmvkqt

Victor's book recommendation: Playing the Moldovans at Tennis: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/994023.Playing_the_Moldovans_at_Tennis

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Joe and Pingu have a catch up on the victory plan, the status of the battlefield in Ukraine, the ongoing elections, North Korea, and nukes. Recorded on the 20th of October, 2024.

What do we know about the victory plan?

What purpose will North Korean troops play in the war?

What do people misunderstand about North Korea?

Does Ukraine have nuclear weapons?

We discuss, and venture some educated guesses.

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Why did Russia seem totally unbothered by Ukraine’s counter attack into Kursk? 

What do the various elections around the world mean for Ukraine?

What happened with the downed F-16 in Ukraine?

Will Joe get over his cold that you can hear? 

Why is AI worrying? 

Find out in this episode of The Think Tank! 

With Dr. Joseph Place and Pingu

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Dr. Joe and not Dr. Matt talk to Shaun Pinner. One of the British soldiers in the Ukrainian armed forces captured in the defence of Mariupol. They discuss his background, what the media gets wrong about Ukraine and its overlooked successes, what the future of the conflict looks like, why online activism is important, and what's great about life in Ukraine. 

Read his book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/300663/shaun-pinner 

Listen to Letters from Ukraine via Twitter: @UkrainianWriter

Support: https://www.braveu.fund/

https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/300663/shaun-pinner

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Joe and Matt chat with Olga of Uzhhorod, a Ukrainian from Zakarpattia, an oblast which borders Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. They discuss Olga’s experience of language in the country, myths about the country, how things are changing, growing up in a multilingual environment, absurdity of russian propaganda, why language is not equivalent to nationality, and how to fight back. 

Ongoing Fundraiser for Olga’s friend: https://choko.link/slashsquad 

Joe’s Blog Post about Zakarpattia: https://jjplace.co.uk/?p=109

Joe’s article about language policies: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11212-023-09612-3 

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• Why is the russian law so bad? 
• Who are the Georgian Dream party? 
• What is the opposition and protest movement doing? 
• How can we help Georgia defend democracy?
• Elbridge Colby vs NAFO, Kharkiv under attack, and Fico and the disinfo mill.

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Joe and Matt return (again) to catch up after some time. Matt shares his impressions of the "Victory" parade. Joe has upgraded. They also discuss the events recently and past, and how the modern social media cycle continues to warp our understanding of war. And Brezhnev lives.

Episode Links:

https://x.com/MattPPea/status/1788486814723887163

https://twitter.com/soldier_fella

https://u24.gov.ua/

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