Summer is
traditionally a quiet time for politics, with most governments taking some form
of recess during the hot months. But this year is proving to be a notable
exception.
اضافة اعلان
Since early June,
US public hearings held by the House committee investigating the January 6 riot
have brought one revelation after another about
Donald Trump’s conduct. July
brought upheaval across the pond, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was
dramatically ousted by his own party. That same week saw the assassination of
Shinzo Abe, a former Japanese prime minister, a tragic crime made all the more
shocking by Japan’s low level of gun violence.
It is an unsettling
time for governments around the world. And if you feel like leaning into the
chaos, these five podcasts dig deep into political tales and scandals,
including the origin of Vladimir Putin’s two-decade reign in Russia and the US
authorities’ bungling response to Hurricane Katrina.
‘Floodlines’
It’s hard to encapsulate the impact of a catastrophic event like
Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed lives, homes, and livelihoods on an unimaginable scale
in Louisiana during the summer of 2005. This searing series from The Atlantic
approaches the disaster by focusing first on individual stories — like that of
Le-Ann, a 14-year-old tomboy whose life was transformed overnight by the
hurricane — before unpacking the dysfunctional government response that made
Katrina “an unnatural disaster” (as the podcast’s tagline has it).
The series,
reported and hosted by Vann R. Newkirk II, an Atlantic senior editor, combines
interviews with survivors and officials, including Michael Brown, former
director of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, to create a detailed
picture of everything that went wrong. Beginning way back in 1856 with the
evocative story of the Last Island hurricane (the first of many harbingers of
things to come in Louisiana), “Floodlines” is a tightly structured and
comprehensive chronicle of a catastrophe that’s surprisingly easy to binge in a
single sitting.
Starter episode:
“Antediluvian”
‘The Big Steal’
Putin’s unprovoked war on
Ukraine has plunged Europe into societal and
economic turmoil, and represents the apex of a grudge the Russian leader has
held ever since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Presented by Gavin Esler,
a BBC journalist, “The Big Steal” traces the roots of Putin’s obsession with
Ukraine, and how his ascent to power began when he was a KGB officer based in
East Germany. Beginning with the story of the clash between Putin and Mikhail
Khodorkovsky, the Russian businessman who is now in self-exile after being
imprisoned for 10 years on tax evasion and fraud charges, “The Big Steal”
offers plenty of troubling insight into Putin’s psyche and is essential
listening for anyone trying to make sense of his actions.
Starter episode:
“The Rivals”
‘British
Scandal’
To use an appropriately
English phrase, this deft series from Wondery does exactly what it says on the
tin, delivering wry and detailed retellings of political controversies.
“British Scandal” kicked off last spring with a five-part series delving into
the slaying of
Alexander Litvinenko, the KGB agent-turned-defector who died
after drinking a radioactive cup of tea given to him by a former comrade. Like
many of the scandals covered, this story is harrowing and absurd in equal measure
— Litvinenko’s killers inadvertently left a huge trail of radiation behind them
across hotels, bars, and public transit in central London. Each episode
intersperses a gripping central narrative with quick-witted asides from the
hosts, Alice Levine and Matt Forde, who find the humor in each saga without
making light of the often nightmarish reality.
Starter episode: “The Litvinenko Affair —
Poisoned”
‘The Eleventh’
You do not need any
familiarity with Australian political history to get hooked on this docuseries,
which chronicles one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s history. On
November 11, 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was removed from office by
representatives of
Queen Elizabeth II. This unprecedented act was viewed by
many as a constitutional coup and sparked fierce debate about Australia’s
supposed independence from Britain. Though some mysteries about Whitlam’s
dismissal may never be solved, “The Eleventh” lays out the complex backstory
and repercussions in enthralling fashion.
Starter episode: “Sweet Spot”
‘The Fault Line:
Bush, Blair, and Iraq’
In recent years, the
presidential legacy of George W. Bush (by his own admission, according to some
reports) has benefited significantly by comparison to Trump. Thanks to Trump’s
disregard for political norms, and the broader dissolution of civility in
Washington, it has become easier for some liberals to look back on the Bush era
more generously — but this meticulous series, from Somethin’ Else and Sony
Music Entertainment, aims to put a stop to that. Hosted by veteran journalist
David Dimbleby, “The Fault Line” explores the 18-month period between 9/11 and
the beginning of the Iraq War, and how Bush and British Prime Minister Tony
Blair added a divisive chapter to the two countries’ “special relationship.”
Even if you think you already know every detail of this story, think again.
Starter episode: “The Truth Shall Set You Free”
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