The Doomscroll News Report

Amanda Stephens, Hanna Bilinski,Rti

Co-hosts Hanna Bilinski and Amanda Stephens tackle several of the largest international news stories from the past week that dominated their news feed, and put them in context and in the larger conversation of what's happening globally. In this opinion show, we invite experts to weigh in on ongoing events, and discuss it ourselves as two writers trying to stay informed, find meaning, and stop scrolling in today's ever-changing political landscape.

  1. 7h ago

    The effects of shuttering Radio Free Asia one year later with Gulchehra Hoja

    This week, we'll be discussing China’s newly implemented Ethnic Unity Law, and what that may mean for both members of China's ethnic minorities currently living in China, those living abroad in exile, and journalists covering China and its human rights abuses abroad. We'll also be taking a look at the effects of the Trump administration's defunding and essentially shuttering of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia over a year after its drastic cuts to international programs. Joining us on the program is an expert in all of those areas,  Gulchehra Hoja. She shares with us her experience growing up in East Turkestan, or as China calls it "Xinjiang Province," how she went from a host working for CHinese state media to a reporter for Radio Free Asia, the kind of work that she was able to do in that position, and the devastating and tragic effects the current Trump administration cuts have had. She also gives us her take on the chilling effect China's new legislation is likely to have at home and abroad.  Read along with us: China's new law: 1. China's new 'ethnic unity' law raises legal risk concerns in Taiwan (Wen Kuei-hsiang, Sophia Yeh, Chen Kai-yu and Sunny Lai , Focus Taiwan), 2. Is China’s new ethnic unity law a step towards forced assimilation? (Einar Tangen, Zumretay Arkin, William Yang, and Mohammed Jamjoom, Al Jazeera’s “Inside Story” podcast) Hoja's past reporting: 1. Internment Camps in Xinjiang’s Aksu Separated by Crematorium Targeting Uyghur Families, Women & Children , 2. Uyghur refugees face deportation from Kazakhstan, 3. For Uyghur family, a legacy of rootlessness, 4. “Ethnic integration policy” and Uyghur assimilation Forced Labor Investigations Hoja's book:  A Stone is Most Precious Where It Belongs: A Memoir of Uyghur Exile, Hope, and Survival (Gulchehra Hoja)

  2. Jul 6

    Mayors and maternity, and the USA turns 250

    This week, lonely host Amanda Stephens is joined by returning guest Michelle Chiang to talk about the Japanese politicians stirring the pot by... just being pregnant and taking medical leave? And also how we feel about this year's momentous July 4th as Americans abroad. Read along with us! Japaenese politicians and "matahara": 1. A Mayor Is Taking Maternity Leave in Japan. Some Men Are Furious. (Javier C. Hernández and Kiuko Notoya, The New York Times), 2. A mayor in Japan announced her maternity leave - and got the whole country talking (Kurumi Mori, BBC), 3. She’s Upending Japanese Politics With Two Words: ‘I’m Pregnant’ (Javier C. Hernández and Kiuko Notoya, The New York Times) The Great American Fair: 1. The Great American State Fair Celebrates America, and Trump (Brent McDonald, Whitney Shefte, Caroline Kim and Ben Laffin, NYT videos), 2. Freedom 250 website, the official website of the fair

  3. Jun 29

    Starbucks gets a history lesson, and the UK will get a new PM

    This week, in Hanna's absence, Amanda discusses current events with fellow Rti-hosts who may have a stake in the global turmoil. First, Michelle Chiang joins to discuss why Starbucks South Korea got a state-mandated history lesson last Monday, then Fil Leskovsky and Eloise Phillips join to discuss Keir Starmer's resignation, and the only member of British politics we all still support. Read along with us!Starbucks: 1. Gwangju Biennale honours sacrifice that brought democracy to South Korea (Justin McCurry, The Guardian), 2. How a Starbucks marketing stunt spiralled into mass boycotts in South Korea (Raphael Rashid, The Guardian), 3. Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion (Raphael Rashid, The Guardian), 4. Gwangju Uprising, (Wikipedia) Keir Starmer: 1. Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister (Richard Wheeler, BBC), 2. Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister two years after historic election victory (Pippa Crerar, The Guardian),  Larry: 1. Larry the Cat outlasts six British Prime Ministers (Reuters), 2. Literal cat fight breaks out between Downing Street and British Foreign Office (DAN BILEFSKY, The Seattle Times, via The New York Times)

  4. Jun 22

    Screwworm in is back, Middle East MOUs, and World Cup moments we love

    This week hosts Amanda and Hanna are tackling screwworm in the United States, the Iran war again (with a little early guessing about the newly-announced MOU), and wrap up with all the fun interactions taking over our feeds of world-cup travelers discovering a new love for host-cities. Read along with us! Screwworm: 1. How Nuclear Flies Protect You from Flesh-Eating Parasites (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell/ Youtube), 2. Flesh-eating screwworm has reached the US — a comeback driven by organized crime (Max Saltman, CNN), 3. Political blame game follows as screwworm parasite threatens cattle in Texas (Jeffery Collins and AP, PBS), 4. Screwworm spread tests US readiness after Trump staffing cuts (Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill) Middle East MOU: 1. Inside Trump’s New Deal with Iran ( Rachel Abrams and David E. Sanger, The New York Times' Podcast "The Daily"), 2. Trump says the US and Iran have signed a deal to end the war - as it happened (Kylie MacLellan, Farouq Suleiman, Dagmarah Mackos and Zoe Law, Reuters), 3. Oil and gas unlikely to return to prewar prices for months even if Hormuz reopens (Jillian Ambrose, The Guardian), 4. Iran declares victory and Israel holds its ground as US framework deal faces first test (Aleksandar Brezar, Euronews) Fifa interactions: 1. FIFA World Cup Fans Visiting America Are Going Viral for the Most Wholesome Reasons (Liz Kocan, CNET)

  5. Jun 15

    Race riots in Northern Ireland, commencement speech drama, and the Pope's encyclical

    Hanna and Amanda talk about the way the internet has become fuel for fanning the flame of extremist movements and actions and when it's time to call a spade a spade. We also talk about how everyone can't stop talking about AI, often to the wrong crowds; even the Pope has written new religious doctrine about getting it under control.

  6. Jun 8

    SpaceX and Anthropic go public, the ceasefires that couldn't, and animal lookalikes

    This week, hosts Amanda and Hanna talk stocks-- or try to-- as they cover what it means for SpaceX and other AI companies going public on the stock market. Then a review of what's happening in Iran, and the ceasefires (or less-fires?) in the middle east, the pressure Trump is facing domestically to end the war, and wrap up with a fun new animal look-alike in the New Delhi zoo. Read along with us! Stocks: 1. 8 Things To Know Before SpaceX Goes Public (Joel Shulman and Sophia Acevedo, Forbes), 2. How Elon Musk Engineered the World’s biggest I.P.O. (Ryan Mac and Michael Barbaro, NYT "The Daily" Podcast), 3. Can the stockmarket swallow Anthropic, SpaceX and OpenAI? (The Economist), 4. Anthropic IPO and Alphabet stock offering reminiscent of dot.com bubble – expert (The Independent UK Finance, via Yahoo) Iran: 1. 'Crazy' phone call between Trump and Netanyahu complicates Iran talks (Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC), 2. Israel and Lebanon agree to implement ceasefire if Hezbollah stops attacks (David GrittenandHelen Sullivan, BBC), 3. US House delivers rebuke to Trump as it votes to halt Iran war (Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, BBC), 4. Ukraine hit by large-scale Russian attacks (CNN, via Reuters), 5. Hezbollah rejects new Israel-Lebanon ceasefire (DW News, Youtube) Zoo lookalike: 1. Buffalo named Donald Trump for his golden locks is a sensation at a Bangladesh zoo (Al Emrun Garjon and Julhas Alam, AP)

  7. Jun 1

    World-record heat, FIFA problems, and the Enhanced Games disappoints

    Hosts Hanna and Amanda tackle the heatwaves that struck near the end of May, why that may be one of MANY problems for the very-quickly-upcoming FIFA games, and what even happened with the so-called "Enhanced Games." Read along with us! Heat wave: FIFA controversies: Enhanced Games:

  8. May 25

    Trump Xi Summit, Ebola Virus, and good news actually?

    This week, hosts Amanda and Hanna discuss the ripple effects of the Trump-Xi summit, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, and media reforms in Hungary after Orban's depature and why they may actually give us... hope? Trump-Xi Summit: 1. What was actually achieved at Trump and Xi’s ‘stalemate summit’ in Beijing? (Amy Hawkins, The Guardian), 2. Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence, hours after summit with China's Xi (Ian Aikman, BBC), 3. MOFA response to US President Trump’s comments to the media following the Trump-Xi summit (Taiwan’s MOFA), 4. Taiwan will not provoke conflict nor give up sovereignty, says president (Koh Ewe, BBC), 5. Trump claims he will speak to Taiwan’s president, departing from decades-long diplomatic norms (Alastair McCready and other agencies, The Guardian) Ebola outbreak: 1. Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than first thought, WHO doctor warns (BBC News Youtube), 2. A rare Ebola strain is spreading with no vaccine. Here's what you need to know (Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR), 3. US funding cuts have hampered response to the deadly Ebola crisis, aid workers say (Lauren Kent and Jennifer Hansler, CNN) Hungarian Media: 1. Orban's media empire crumbles after Hungary election defeat (Anita Komuves, Reuters)

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About

Co-hosts Hanna Bilinski and Amanda Stephens tackle several of the largest international news stories from the past week that dominated their news feed, and put them in context and in the larger conversation of what's happening globally. In this opinion show, we invite experts to weigh in on ongoing events, and discuss it ourselves as two writers trying to stay informed, find meaning, and stop scrolling in today's ever-changing political landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Stephens, Hanna Bilinski,Rti
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2018-2026 Rti - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    The Doomscroll News Report