This podcast is engaging, informative, and well produced. As someone who spent several years working in China, it's very relatable. Also avoids the typical journalistic narratives of wokeness and liberal bias.

Great podcast. Hoping for something more on Russia considering the current events ! Binged both seasons in two work days!

Lacks any serious depth on the subjects and parrots the State Department line on every topic. Several references and allegations have been disproven by independent investigators and the UN. But, they go ahead and state it as fact even if the source had to rescind the original story.

Started season 2. I bet this could be interesting, but the “background” takes over the words. Just can’t do it.

I don’t doubt that the things reported in the first one and a half episodes are untrue. However, the bias in the reporting from the content to the background music to the word choice is notable. May as well have just recorded themselves saying “China is evil” repeatedly for the duration of the episode. It is a shame to see people with so little integrity that they feel comfortable publishing this type of content.

Wonderful podcast. So interesting.

Good info. I’ve listened to 3 episodes but each time I click the next episode it is unavailable

Jeff Semple and team have produced a riveting podcast focused on contemporary developments as significant as any in history. Many episodes cover issues that may come to be seen for their huge global and historical significance. When I was a kid, and well into adulthood, I thought everything significant happened in the past. Boy was I wrong. Some of histories most significant shifts are happening right now and this podcast is fearlessly addressing many of them. Starting with Russia and China and, I hope, much much more to come.

I’m loving this podcast and can’t wait to hear more episodes! Keep telling us what’s happening with Russia. Fascinating stuff!

Pretty interesting content. The podcast doesn’t dive deeply into the topics, but gives enough information for you to learn a little more about some of the darker side of Russian culture. Pretty informative for someone who was too young to remember post-Soviet Union Russia. The shorter episodes definitely make this an easy listen!

Good stuff so far

This podcast like other podcasts and news networks out there is just a thinly veiled attempt to cash in on Russia hysteria by sensationalizing aspects of Russia’s purported involvement in the 2016 elections. From just the first episode, the host uses hyperbolic language and one-sided reporting to puff up the efficacy of the Internet Research Agency’s social media campaign. They conveniently leave out facts that deflate their narrative - for example, the fact that the IRA spent $100,000 on Facebook ads and around $4,000 on Google ads in an election where more than $1 billion dollars were spent in political ads. Also left out from the podcast, just “11% of the total content” attributed to the IRA and 33 percent of user engagement with it “was related to the election.” And what’s more, the IRA’s most shared pre-election Facebook post was a cartoon of a gun-wielding Yosemite Sam. Over on Instagram, the best-received image urged users to give it a “Like” if they believe in Jesus. Not exactly the most sophisticated “influence campaign.” This podcast ignores such information - and unfortunately there is also virtually no engagement with the Russian perspective besides a former troll who has a tattoo of Russia’s fringe opposition leader on his arm. If you were looking for a deep, honest discussion about Russia - then you came to the wrong place.

Great one to share with your stupid cousin who spouts “Russia is our friend.” A bit heavy on the dramatic backgroud music.

Never heard of Global News or Jeff Semple; but first show is listenable, dramatic & serious. Great start