Oct 15, 2026 · 29 min
Ukraine says Starlink restrictions expose wartime defenses
Zelensky feels 'betrayed' by Trump
The episode connects Ukraine’s battlefield vulnerability to shifting American support while placing that dispute alongside crackdowns, geopolitical realignment and conservation efforts.
- 1Ukraine says restrictions on Starlink and Starshield have weakened defenses as Russian attacks intensify and US support shifts.
- 2Albanian protests, Turkey’s closure of Halk TV and Sally Rooney’s publishing suspension show pressure on dissent across Europe.
- 3Kenya’s 2029 athletics hosting bid faces scrutiny over doping, while conservation stories spotlight wildlife photography and invasive-species detection.
Don't miss
The episode’s most striking image is Federico Veronese’s photograph of a female elephant carrying her dead calf.
The brief
Ukraine accuses Donald Trump and Elon Musk of weakening its wartime defenses by restricting Starlink and Starshield access as Russian attacks intensify and US support shifts.
The episode widens its lens to unrest in Albania and Turkey’s closure of opposition broadcaster Halk TV, tracing demands for accountability and a broader crackdown on critics.
China and North Korea reopen a long-delayed bridge as strategic ties deepen, while Sally Rooney suspends UK publishing over concerns that royalties could breach counter-terrorism law.
Sebastian Coe defends Nairobi’s 2029 World Championships amid scrutiny of Kenya’s doping record, arguing the event can leave a lasting sporting and institutional legacy.
The closing reports turn to conservation: Federico Veronese photographs an elephant carrying her dead calf, while Labrador Ski tracks invasive carpet sea squirts in Scotland.
Books & mentions
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Beautiful World, Where Are You
A Sally Rooney novel directly connected to the episode’s reporting on her suspended UK publishing.
Conversations with Friends
Rooney’s debut novel provides another route into the author’s work discussed in the episode.
Normal People
The screen adaptation is mentioned as part of the possible impact of the publishing dispute.