Episode 13: Narcos vs. Mormons

Episode 13: Narcos vs. Mormons

Author: Steve Palley, Pete Newsom November 7, 2019 Duration: 36:40
This week, a horrific tragedy unfolded in the high desert of Northern Mexico, where three SUVs full of women and children were gunned down with automatic weapons and subsequently burned to ashes. The fact that these folks were members of a Mormon fundamentalist sect that emigrated to the area in the late 19th century and still hold dual US / Mexican citizenship has refocused US attention on the ongoing Mexican Drug War -- an ongoing low-intensity conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of innocents (as well as plenty of not-so-innocents) and disrupted one of the world's largest economies for the past 15 years or so.Steve and Soumi peer through the lens of this outrage to examine Mexican and American policies towards the cartels; the basics of supply and demand; endemic violence and state failure; and who we think is ultimately to blame (hint: they're not in Mexico).Further reading:Bloomberg: AMLO Declines Trump's Help After Six Children Killed in Attack CNN: Amid Mounting Drug War Deaths, Mexico's President Sticks to his Strategy

Navigating the daily deluge of headlines can leave anyone feeling adrift. The Elucidators: Decoding Global News is a weekly conversation designed to provide a compass. Hosts Steve Palley and Pete Newsom don't just recount the events; they unpack the historical context, the political forces at play, and the often-overlooked connections between seemingly disparate stories. Each episode takes a notable global affair and patiently breaks it down, moving beyond the sensational soundbite to explore the 'why' and the 'what next'. You'll hear them analyze the mechanics of government decisions, debate the efficacy of political rhetoric, and offer grounded commentary that prioritizes understanding over alarm. This podcast operates on the belief that being an informed citizen requires more than just consumption-it requires digestion. By tuning in, you're not simply getting a news update; you're getting a framework for thinking critically about power, policy, and the narratives that shape our world. The goal is to leave each discussion with a clearer, more nuanced picture of the forces shaping our collective future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 48

The Elucidators: Decoding Global News
Podcast Episodes
Is NATO Still Great-O? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:57
@RealDonaldTrump threatened to pull out 1/3 of the American troops stationed in Germany…without telling Congress…or Ze Germans. Nice guy!What does this mean for the future of NATO—the world’s oldest multinational militar…
Trump vs Xi Jinping vs Tedros: WHO Needs This During COVID-19?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
Q: How did a mild-mannered Ethiopian microbiologist end up one of the most talked about people in the ongoing pandemic?A: International politics.This week, Steve and Soumi discuss how Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the…
Coronavirus in China: The Wuhan Flu, Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:25
Since we first discussed the #coronavirus outbreak in China last week, A LOT has changed: There are now more than 7,800 confirmed #nCoV2019 cases and 212 deaths worldwide... as well as over a hundred full recoveries.The…
Pandemic in China: Crouching Virus, Frightened Planet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:48
This week, Steve and Soumi discuss the new #Coronavirus, the threats of pandemics in a globalized world, and what countries can do to handle problems that are bigger than nations.Buckle up cuz #pandemics can come at you…
Iran vs. USA: It Can Always Get Worse! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:28
January 8: The Iranian regime says Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed a couple hours prior because of "mechanical errors."January 11: Actually… we shot it down because we mistook it for an incoming missile…
Iran vs. USA: Tensions Drone On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
Follow this maze, if you can.Last week, #Trump ordered the assassination of #Iran General Qassem #Soleimani as payback for Iran-linked Shia militias protesting in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, #Iraq.The Iraqi par…
Iran vs. USA in Iraq: Green Zone Blues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
*BREAKING NEWS ALERT*Just before we were about to post this episode Thursday evening, President Trump ordered a targeted assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad Airport.Welp.Soleima…
Episode 19: India Modi-fies Citizenship Laws [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Q: How can a law offering a path to citizenship for religious refugees from neighboring countries lead to nationwide protests?A: When the law excludes Muslims from that path... and there are already 200 MILLION Muslims i…