The fast-spreading variant is already causing economic turmoil. Mar from Spain joins Tony to discuss how Omicron has completely disrupted Europe. Adama in Africa discusses Desmond Tutu’s legacy. Change Is Hard offers Joe Biden lessons on how to run a Morning Zoo program.
Today on Change Is Hard, President Biden takes live unscreened calls on Christmas Eve and receives a yuletide "Let's go Brandon."
Omicron triggers a return of 2020 lockdowns. Netherlands cancels Xmas, NYC cancels public gatherings, France reinstates travel restrictions. Mark from the UK joins Tony with analysis. The Log4j cyber security flaw scrambles users around the globe. China, Iran and N Korea are accused of exploiting the flaw. Rob, a cyber-security specialist, joins Tony with details on how you can protect yourself.
Putin & Biden hold a video meeting, after which Russia accelerates its weapons and troop buildup on the Ukrainian border. Yuri joins Tony to offer analysis from a Russian perspective. Omicron grows across Europe. Mar in Spain tells Tony how citizens are reacting to the virus and new government behavior modifications.
The US & Russian presidents meet to discuss Ukraine. Is Putin planning an invasion? What deterrence is Biden willing to offer? Illia from Ukraine joins Tony with analysis. Oguz in Turkey discusses the collapse of the lire and massive inflation. In Change is Hard, Tony & Adam discuss the firing of Chris ‘Fredo’ Cuomo.
A new Covid variant triggers global panic. The world imposes a travel ban on 8 African nations. New York declares state-of-emergency. Adama from Africa tells Tony why S Africa is being punished for being responsible. Kamran from Iran tells Tony why Iran believes it has a good chance in Vienna tomorrow when nuclear talks restart.
Austria becomes the 1st democratic nation to mandate that all citizens get vaccinated. A nationwide lockdown kicks in tomorrow, after a lockdown for the un-vaxxed is met with fierce blowback. Julia in Vienna tells Tony why Austria’s government is taking drastic measures. Natalyia in Kiev joins Tony to discuss the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border.
Europe braces for massive Covid surge…Austria locks down un-vaccinated… Germany, Norway, Belgium reinstate behavior modification. . .Mar from Spain joins Tony with analysis.
In this special edition of VTA, Batya Ungar-Sargon joins Tony to discuss journalism’s decline. Discover if democracy can survive without it.
Iraq’s PM house is attacked by drones. PM survives. Nobody claims responsibility. Will US military intervene? Yonadam Khanna joins Tony from Baghdad.
Facebook changes its name to Meta. Is this a tactical move in its war with sovereign governments? Tony and Adam offer analysis in the Change Is Hard segment. Oguz in Istanbul tells Tony about Biden's meeting today with Erdogan. Kamran from Iran offers analysis of Iran's interest in restarting nuclear talks.
China displays hypersonic weapons that surprise the US. Riki Ellison joins Tony from Guam to discuss how the US will respond to China’s military advancements. Turkey’s Erdogan declares the US ambassador persona non grata. Oguz in Istanbul tells Tony why Turkey’s president is expelling the ambassador.
Italy imposes the most comprehensive Covid vaccine mandate program in the free world. Alberto from Rome tells Tony why the mandate is happening and if Italians support it. A British MP is murdered while meeting with constituents. Mark from the UK explains how divisiveness is growing in the UK and may result in curtailing democracy.
Today on Change Is Hard, podcast host Joe Rogan takes CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta to task over ivermectin, Southwest Airlines gaslights America and the US is giving reparations to the Afghani family killed in a drone strike.
China escalates its efforts to bring Taiwan back under Chinese rule. Riki Ellison joins Tony to discuss China’s strategy and what the US plan is to defend Taiwan. Raziya from Afghanistan updates Tony on life under the Taliban. Iraqi MP Yonadam Khanna joins Tony from Baghdad on election day. Find out how US foreign policy will be impacted by Iraq’s new government.
Massood updates Tony on the status of life under Taliban rule. Find out why it’s almost impossible to leave the country. Cesar from Honduras tells Tony how large numbers of migrants from all over the world are moving through his country on their way to the US.
Haitian migrants elevate the US border crisis. Why are so many Haitians at the border? And why is Biden outlawing mounted border patrol? Garaudy from Haiti joins Tony. Germany holds elections to decide Merkel’s replacement. Mark in Europe tells Tony that Merkel’s exit shifts power across the EU.
Today on Change Is Hard we're discussing border patrol on horseback, Kamala Harris' latest giggle fit and Justin Trudeau trips over his own wokeness.
Biden cuts nuke sub deal with Oz, triggering a massive diplomatic spat with France. Does this deal help the US against China? Riki Ellison offers analysis. Canada votes tomorrow and polls are too close to call. Lorrie from Toronto tells Tony why Justin Trudeau may have erred in calling elections.
VTA’s voices from around the world reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Raziya from Afghanistan joins Tony for the 1st time with an update on the Taliban rule and American exit.
Is Afghanistan the graveyard of empires? Yuri from Russia tells Tony how the Soviet war in Afghanistan led to the collapse of the USSR, and what lessons the US may take after its exit. Kamran from Iran offers analysis on how Biden’s exit from AF-PAK resets the nuclear negotiations.
One of VTA’s longest-serving voices tells Tony how he fled Kabul after the Taliban knocked on his door. Kareem from Egypt offers analysis of how the US military blunders will impact its strength throughout the Middle East. Hear from the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan on how his country is reacting to the US exit.
Massood in Kabul updates Tony on his attempts to flee Afghanistan. Tawfik, a reformed terrorist, offers analysis of the Taliban and if it’s possible for them to ‘reform.’ Rashed in Pakistan tells Tony why Pakistan is declaring victory in Afghanistan. Mark from the UK explains how Biden’s actions impact the ‘Special Relationship.’
Biden orders 5,000 troops to evacuate embassy in Kabul as Taliban win America’s longest war. Massood in Kabul tells Tony how the Afghan & U.S. grossly underestimated the Taliban. Hilaly in Pakistan tells Tony how Pakistan is preparing for likely humanitarian crisis as Afghans flee country.