Mexico's El Mencho, Ukraine's fourth year of war, and Chinamaxxing versus the Olympics

Mexico's El Mencho, Ukraine's fourth year of war, and Chinamaxxing versus the Olympics

Author: Amanda Stephens, Hanna Bilinski,Rti March 2, 2026 Duration: 0:00

This week, we're talking about the death of Mexican cartel leader "El Mencho" and ensuing fallout, the fourth year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and finally we close by addressing the controversy over some winter Olympic athletes and how it does or doesn't intersect with the "Chinamaxxing" social media trend.

Read along with us!

Mexico vs El Mencho: 1. Mexico's most wanted drug lord 'El Mencho' killed in military operation (Will Grant and Jack Burgess, BBC), 2. Mexico sends thousands of soldiers to stop violence after death of drug lord (Jack Burgess, BBC), 3. Romantic tryst led to Mexican cartel leader's capture, death (Raul Cortes, Aida Pelaez-fernandez and Sarah Morland, Reuters), 4. Cómo murió el Mencho: detalles del operativo, mensaje del Gobierno de México, testimonios, y más (CNN en Español)

Ukraine marks four years of war: 1 . Ukraine remembers its dead as war enters a fifth year (Paul Adams and Laura Gozzi, BBC), 2. Four years on, Russia’s war in Ukraine has transformed conflict and shattered global security (Nick Paton Walsh, CNN), 3. 4 years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a look at the war by the numbers (AP, PBS)

What is Chinamaxxing: 1. Why Everyone Is Suddenly in a ‘Very Chinese Time’ in Their Lives (  Zeyi Yang and Louise Matsaki, "Made in China" newsletter: WIRED)


Every week, writers Hanna Bilinski and Amanda Stephens find themselves stuck in the same cycle: falling down a rabbit hole of alarming headlines and relentless updates. The Doomscroll News Report is their attempt to climb back out and make sense of it all. Instead of just recapping the major international stories that flooded their feeds, they pause to place each event within a broader context, asking what it really means for the global conversation. This isn't a straight news broadcast; it's a dialogue between two curious observers who bring on knowledgeable guests to deepen the discussion. By weaving together expert insight with their own perspectives as individuals striving to stay informed, they create a space for understanding that goes beyond the reactive nature of the daily news cycle. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a necessary conversation that seeks clarity and connection amidst the noise, offering a thoughtful alternative to the endless scroll.
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