The Jacob Shapiro Podcast An Imminent, Underreported War
Mar 13, 2026
Jody Ray, journalist who recently reported from Ethiopia and Eritrea, shares on-the-ground perspectives. He traces historical fault lines and Cold War echoes. He highlights Red Sea strategic stakes, Emirati investment contrasts in Addis, signs of renewed hostilities in Tigray, and the humanitarian toll on civilians. Short, vivid reporting brings a tense, underreported regional flashpoint into focus.
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How The 2020 Tigray War Started And Escalated
- The 2020 Tigray War began after federal election disputes amid COVID and quickly became a humanitarian catastrophe with widespread atrocities.
- The TDF pushed federal forces back and even debated taking Addis before the eventual peace protocol.
Red Sea Access Became A Flashpoint Post-War
- After the war Addis limited funds to Tigray and now accuses Eritrea of atrocities it previously downplayed, reframing Eritrea as an aggressor to justify countermeasures.
- Red Sea access is a central strategic aim pushing tensions with Eritrea.
Ruined Mekele Lodge With Fighters Living Inside
- In Mekele Jody saw ruined lodges and military belts left on the floor, showing lasting destruction from the first war.
- He filmed dilapidated tourist sites where former TDF fighters now live amid rubble and missing roofs.