Global Politics with Leo

President Trump says he’ll soon decide what to do about US weapons sales to Taiwan - and that decision matters far beyond the island itself.

In this episode, I break down the full story: how the Chinese Civil War created two rival governments, why the US recognised Beijing in the 1970s while continuing to support Taiwan unofficially, and what the “Six Assurances” mean today.

I explain why Taiwan is so important:
Economically
Geopolitically
Reputationally

If during the Cold War the US prioritised Europe, today the strategic focus is the Indo-Pacific - and Taiwan is central to that shift.

Global Politics with Leo brings you the most important international stories, with clear explanations and evidence-based analysis — without the noise.

You can email me at [email protected]
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marco Rubio used his speech at the Munich Security Conference to outline how the US sees global security under Donald Trump. His tone was softer than others in the administration - but the message was clear: Europe will need to take far more responsibility for its own defence.

Plus:

Russia blocks WhatsApp and pushes a state-backed messaging app
China removes tariffs on imports from 53 African countries
Ireland rolls out a basic income for artists
South Korea’s intelligence agency signals Kim Jong Un’s daughter may be his successor
Puerto Rico passes a controversial fetal recognition law
A new poll shows strong support for political change in Venezuela

Global Politics with Leo brings you the most important international stories, explained clearly and without the noise.

You can email me at [email protected]

You might know me from TikTok and Substack as Leo Explains or LeoExplains10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three major elections over the weekend - in Portugal, Thailand, and Japan. Japan’s result was the most consequential by far. We break down how Sanae Takaichi turned a fragile leadership position into a historic landslide, what her agenda looks like, and why her rise matters for Japan’s economy, China relations, and the US alliance.

We then look at Indonesia’s preparations to deploy up to 8,000 troops to Gaza as part of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan. What is the International Stabilisation Force meant to do, who’s willing to participate, and what happens if Hamas or Israel refuses to comply?

We also cover:
Marco Rubio’s politically charged visit to Hungary and Slovakia ahead of Viktor Orbán’s toughest election in years
A Reuters investigation revealing Ethiopia’s alleged role in the Sudan War & the UAE alleged role.
Kenyan citizens being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine, and how African countries are being pulled into the war.

Global Politics with Leo brings you the most important international stories, with clear explanations and evidence-based analysis. New episodes break down geopolitics, conflicts, power struggles, global affairs and world news in a simple way without the noise.

You can email me at [email protected]

You might know me from my political education content on social media and Substack as Leo Explains or LeoExplains10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A court in Nigeria has ordered the UK government to pay $572 million to the families of coal miners killed by colonial police during a strike in 1949. We break down what happened at the Enugu mines, how it links to Britain’s colonial rule, and why the ruling matters more than 75 years later.

Also:

We also cover the World Economic Forum’s investigation into its CEO, Børge Brende, over past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.
Lebanon accuses Israel of spraying glyphosate over southern villages. We explain what’s known about the environmental risks and why claims about cancer are contested.
The UN’s financial crisis, with warnings it could run out of money within months. Reuters reports the US accounts for 95% of unpaid regular budget dues - around $2.19bn.
The US is preparing to fund MAGA-aligned think tanks in Europe.
Saudi Arabia announces major new investments in Syria.

Global Politics with Leo brings you clear, evidence-based analysis of the international stories that actually matter — without the noise.

You can email me at [email protected]

You might know me from my work on social media and Substack as Leo Explains / LeoExplains10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics in this episode:

(1) Spain is pushing a major package of new digital laws - and while the proposed ban on social media for children under 16 grabbed most of the headlines, it’s only a part of a much bigger shift. In this episode, I break down the four key proposals, why some of them matter far more than the ban itself, and why what happens in Spain is likely to shape digital policy in other countries.

I go through each proposal one by one, looking at the arguments from the Spanish government and supporters of these laws, as well as the main criticisms - including those from Telegram founder Pavel Durov. This isn’t about defending tech CEOs, but about understanding the trade-offs between regulation, free speech, platform power, and government control.

(2) I also cover a new Amnesty International report on North Korea based on interviews with people who escaped the country.

(3) Finally, I look at the Trump administration’s $200 million humanitarian pledge to Sudan, why that number needs context, and what it tells us about the sharp reduction in US humanitarian aid overall.

Global Politics with Leo brings you the most important international news stories, with clear explanations and evidence-based analysis. Short, focused episodes covering geopolitics, conflicts, power struggles, and global affairs - without the noise.

You can email me at [email protected]

You might know me from my educational content on social media and Substack as Leo Explains / LeoExplains10.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.