Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With Julia Macfarlane, Jamie Timson and Julia O’Driscoll.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Russian spying
Claims emerged this week that an alleged Russian intelligence agent took advantage of the Homes for Ukraine refugee scheme to bring his family to the UK. The report sparked fears that other spies might also have come to Britain under the scheme. At the time, some ministers suggested that security checks on applicants from Ukraine were inadequate. Could more have been done to weed out Russian agents?
Climate lawsuit
A court trial is currently underway in the US state of Montana, with 16 young plaintiffs alleging that the state has failed to protect their constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment”. As one of the country’s biggest coal exporters, the local economy depends on fossil fuels – but extreme weather events are threatening the state’s prosperous outdoor recreation industry too. This is the first climate case of its kind to reach the courtroom in America, but how significant will its outcome be?
Literary warfare
The novelist Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote “Eat, Pray, Love”, has decided to cancel the release of her latest book, set in Siberia in the 1980s, after a Ukrainian campaign against its Russian setting. What are their objections, and should Gibert have agreed to their requests? Or are we in danger of a counterproductive cancellation of all things Russian?
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Minnesota's legal system buckles under Trump's ICE surgeIN THE SPOTLIGHT Mass arrests and chaotic administration have pushed Twin Cities courts to the brink as lawyers and judges alike struggle to keep pace with ICE’s activity
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Big-time money squabbles: the conflict over California’s proposed billionaire taxTalking Points Californians worth more than $1.1 billion would pay a one-time 5% tax
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‘The West needs people’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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The Week Unwrapped: Why are there so many Russian ships in the Channel?Podcast Plus, what does a ‘feminist’ approach to cancer involve? And who is Mickey’s new boss?
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The Week Unwrapped: Why is China clearing out its generals?Podcast Plus, can the Conservatives win back the centre? And what’s gone wrong with Britain’s hearing aids?
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The Week Unwrapped: What can we learn from a tool-wielding cow?Podcast Plus, have we reached ‘peak billionaire’? When should troops disobey their superiors?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will Uganda’s pop-star politician prevail?Podcast Plus, is dodgy data undermining medical research? And what does a new app reveal about Chinese society?
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The Week Unwrapped: Is Elon Musk’s AI tool a platform for abuse?Podcast Plus can Mumsnet predict who will be the next PM? And who is still watching Avatar sequels?
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The Week Unwrapped: What’s the cost of PFAs?Podcast Plus why is George Osborne joining OpenAI? And has universal basic income finally come of age?
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The Week Unwrapped: what’s scuppering Bulgaria’s Euro dream?Podcast Plus has Syria changed, a year on from its revolution? And why are humans (mostly) monogamous?
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The Week Unwrapped: Will drought fuel global violence?Podcast Plus why did Trump pardon a drug-trafficking president? And are romantic comedies in terminal decline?
