Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

ABC Australia
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Feb 27, 2026 • 29min

How Mexico got stuck between Trump's fury and Cartel fire

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is stuck in a political trap. On the one hand, Trump has threatened to intervene if she doesn't tackle the country's cartels. On the other, her strike against notorious 'El Mencho' this week sparked violence and unrest, with some cities like Guadalajara shutting down for days. But is killing El Mencho the end of America's fentanyl woes, or the start of a new chapter in the 'War on Drugs'?David Mora from the International Crisis Group joins Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue from Guadalajara to talk about the Jalisco cartel's global drug networks, and why ordinary Mexicans are bearing the brunt of Sheinbaum's diplomatic tightrope-walking.Guest: David Mora, senior Mexican analyst with the International Crisis GroupGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 26, 2026 • 29min

Why the end of Ukraine's winter feels like a 'message of hope'

Four years ago, Vladimir Putin rolled Russian tanks into Ukraine at the start of a full-scale invasion. Now, as peace talks lead by Trump and the USA fail to make progress, there is no easy end in sight for the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War Two. With host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) in Kyiv for the anniversary of the war, she joins Kylie Morris in speaking to official Yuiry Sak about why Ukraine is emerging from Winter 'stronger and more united'. Guest: Yuriy Sak, former advisor to Ukraine's Ministry of Strategic IndustriesGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 25, 2026 • 28min

Could Andrew's arrest save the Royal Family from themselves?

With the possibility of charges against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, being removed from the line of succession could be the last of the former Prince's worries. But with the House of Windsor in freefall following the latest Epstein revelations, have King Charles and Buckingham Palace been transparent about what they knew, and when? Andrew's unauthorised biographer, Andrew Lownie, knows what its like to navigate the British Royal Family's web of power. He joins Geraldine Doogue and Latika Bourke to talk about the financial corruption at the centre of the Royal power, whether Albanese has jumped the gun on removal calls, and why he's still a monarchist.Guest: Andrew Lownie, historian and author of Entitled: The rise and fall of the House of YorkGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 24, 2026 • 29min

'Take a look in the mirror': ex-Pentagon official on why Australia should stand by the US

Should Australia turn its back on the United States? And what's at stake if it did? This episode hosts Kylie Morris and Hamish Macdonald turn their attention to the Indo-Pacific as the US scrambles to project power in the increasingly volatile region. To find out more they speak with former high-ranking US official Dr Ely Ratner, who argues America's traditional allies should show some resolve and strengthen their military pacts even as Trump tears up the international rules based order.  Guest: Dr Ely Ratner, former US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 23, 2026 • 29min

Your Call: 'Chinamaxxing', dancing AI robots, and China's rising cultural popularity

There's a growing trend on TikTok of being in a "very Chinese era of life". It's associated with changing shoes indoors, drinking hot water, and preparing traditional Chinese meals. It's being called 'Chinamaxxing'. But what exactly is this indicating more broadly?China has been growing in 'soft power' -- the kind of power that comes from cultural influence and intrigue rather than more forceful geopolitical approaches.Kaiser Kuo, heavy metal rocker and host of the Chinese current affairs podcast, Sinica Podcast, will join Hamish Macdonald and Geraldine Doogue to talk about the internal cultural shifts of China, including how much creative expression exists under Xi Jinping's regime.Guest: Kaiser Kuo, host of Sinica Podcast.Recommendations: Geraldine – The Infrastructure of Jeffrey Epstein's Power, The Ezra Klein Show Hamish – L-FRESH The Lion, 2006, The Year that Made Me------------- Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.  
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Feb 20, 2026 • 29min

US Senator Tim Kaine makes the case for AUKUS

It's not often we get the opportunity to ask a senior US official about AUKUS: Will the nuclear powered submarines be delivered? Can we trust Washington? Will America expect us to join them in any future conflict with China? Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald are joined by serving Democrat Senator Tim Kaine to talk all things AUKUS. Kaine represents the state of Virginia, where our nuclear submarines will be built. Back in 2016, Kaine was the Vice Presidential candidate in Hilary Clinton's Presidential bid. Now, he's the lead Democrat on the armed services and foreign relations committee, and a passionate advocate of the Australia-US alliance. Guest: Senator Tim KaineGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 19, 2026 • 15min

Emergency episode: Former Prince Andrew's arrest

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with King Charles making clear “the law must take its course.” Hamish, Latika and Kylie have jumped into a studio to discuss the shocking arrest of Prince Andrew and the allegations behind it.They examine the royal family’s response, the media scrutiny surrounding the case, and what it means for accountability.And they ask the bigger question: what could this moment mean for the future of the monarchy?
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Feb 19, 2026 • 29min

Have Zelenskyy's allies gone cold on the war in Ukraine?

As the four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looms, finding a diplomatic end to the conflict is more unlikely than ever. With Trump's back turned and Europe grappling with the prospect of war further west, where has Zelenskyy's support gone? Kylie Morris and Latika Bourke are joined by Ukrainian-born Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, who has reported on the conflict since its inception.Guest: Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign-affairs correspondent at The Wall Street JournalGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 18, 2026 • 29min

How Marco Rubio became MAGA's friendly face in Europe

At last year's Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance shocked the world with his fiery attack on Europe. This year, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio fronted the world's biggest security conference, attended by more than 60 heads of state, he got a standing ovation. But was his speech really that different? Fresh from the conference, co-host Latika Bourke (The Nightly) and fellow attendee Ravi Agrawal join Geraldine Doogue to talk all things Munich; the highs and lows; Elbridge Colby and the future of AUKUS; and how Ukraine was left in the cold. Guest: Ravi Agrawal, editor-in-chief of Foreign PolicyGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. 
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Feb 17, 2026 • 29min

Prof Brian Cox on whether Elon Musk owns the moon

As Artemis II prepares for launch, our first trip near the moon since the 1970s, a successful voyage could bring a lunar colony closer to reality. But as tech billionaires compete for NASA contracts, from Elon Musk's SpaceX to Jeff Bezos' Blue Origins, can we trust corporations to act on humanity's behalf?Hamish Macdonald and Jonathan Webb (Lab Notes) speak to rockstar physicist Professor Brian Cox, about who owns space, and why tech billionaires are not the bad guys, but not the good guys either. Guest: Professor Brian Cox, UN Champion for SpaceGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.auFind all the episodes of Global Roaming now via the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

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