Popular Front - podcast cover

Popular Front

Jake Hanrahanpopularfront.co
Popular Front is a grassroots media organisation that focuses solely on war and conflict. We go deeper than mainstream news in a way that makes important war coverage accessible for everyone. The podcast focuses on the niche details of modern warfare and under-reported conflict. See more at www.popularfront.co

Episodes

49. Libya: Warlords, Militias, and Western Abandonment

We speak to researcher and author Frederic Wehrey as he returns from the frontlines of the recent conflict in Libya, between General Haftar's forces and GNA militias. He explains what's going on, why it's happening, and what the war looks like on the front. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jul 16, 201935 minSeason 1Ep. 49

48. ISIS in Iran

This week we speak to writer and researcher Séamus Malekafzali about the threats posed by an ISIS cell operating inside Iran. He explains how if the US goes to war with Iran, ISIS will likely thrive. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jul 06, 201946 minSeason 1Ep. 48

47. The New American Culture War

This week we speak to journalist Jacob Siegel about America's new culture war, where deepening political division is leading to escalating violence and hatred. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jun 30, 201950 minSeason 1Ep. 47

46. Is This Hong Kong's Last Stand?

We speak to Laurel Chor, a journalist on the ground in the midst of the protests currently sweeping across Hong Kong. She explains why an estimated 2 million people marched recently against the new extradition bill. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jun 19, 201933 minSeason 1Ep. 46

45. On the Ground for Sudan's Uprising

We speak to journalist Yousra Elbagir about what's happening with Sudan's revolution. She explains what she's seen--from the ground and in her investigative work--in Sudan, explaining how the uprising has been hijacked by a brutal paramilitary force. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jun 12, 20192 hr 43 minSeason 1Ep. 45

44. Afghanistan's Arms Dealing Networks

We speak to Franz Marty, a journalist who's been living in Afghanistan for the last four years. He's been searching for blackmarket Afghan arms dealers and has discovered a lot of the information around these operations is false. Here's how it really works... - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Jun 08, 201944 minSeason 1Ep. 44

43. The Congo Wars You Won't See in the News

We speak to independent researcher Ryan O'Farrell about the Congo's many militias and the splintering conflicts taking place there, specifically the recent ISIS cell whose members are slaughtering people in the jungle. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

May 21, 201948 minSeason 1Ep. 43

Shop Restocked

All the Staple t-shirts have been restocked in the shop and the Popular Front x Champion Cease and Desist Sweater is on sale now. Have a look. www.popularfront.bigcartel.com

May 20, 20193 min

42. Aid Under Fire with the Free Burma Rangers

We speak to Dave Eubank of the Free Burma Rangers about how his organisation of volunteers helps to save lives in some of the most dangerous conflicts on earth... - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

May 03, 201934 minSeason 1Ep. 42

41. The Underground ISIS Network Still Active in Mosul

We speak to researcher and analyst Rasha Al Aqeedi about her home city of Mosul and the grip ISIS has there. She tells us how ISIS first took over and how they're still around operating criminal networks throughout the city. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Apr 22, 201942 minSeason 1Ep. 41

40. When War Kills the Environment

Wim Zwijnenburg tells us about the hidden cost war has on the environment and how it's often used in battle, from toxic waste dumps in Ukraine to wildfires in Iran. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Apr 11, 201942 minSeason 1Ep. 40

39. Brexit, Bombs, and the New IRA

We speak to journalist Paulie Doyle about the so-called New IRA, a militant Irish republican group that's recently stepped up their political violence in both Northern Ireland and Britain. Paulie tells us about their recent letter bomb campaign, the Derry car bomb, and how, in part, Brexit is fuelling their will to fight. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Apr 03, 201938 minSeason 1Ep. 39

38. The American White Nationalist Street Fighting Crew Making Links in Europe

We speak to reporter Ali Winston about his investigations into a white nationalist street fighting crew in America known as the Rise Above Movement (RAM). RAM is arguably the first group on the US far-right that began to mobilise themselves in political street battles in the Trump era. Ali tells us how RAM made connections with European fascists, from Azov to the Casa Pound group. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.fro...

Mar 22, 201955 minSeason 1Ep. 38

37. How the Free Syrian Army's Uprising was Crushed

Elizabeth Tsurkov tells us how the secular uprising of the Syrian people was crushed by the brutality of the Assad regime, the rise of ISIS, and the terrible mismanagement of the US. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Mar 11, 201954 minSeason 1Ep. 37

36. The New Wave of Eco-Terrorism and Nihilist Militancy

We speak to radical environmentalist researcher and writer John Jacobi about the largely under-reported new violent wave of eco-extremism. He tells us how eco-terrorism is very much on the rise and how it's turning into something more dangerous: militant nihilism. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Feb 26, 201954 minSeason 1Ep. 36

35. The South African Farmers Preparing for a Civil War

We speak to journalist and author James Pogue about his recent visit to South Africa, where he spent time with radicals to find out the real truth behind the farmer killings. He discovered many are preparing for what they think will soon be a new civil war... - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Feb 12, 20191 hrSeason 1Ep. 35

34. Revolution, Coup, or War for Venezuela?

Venezuela is currently in chaos. The country has two people claiming to be the rightful president, more than 35 protesters have been shot dead in a week by paramilitaries, everyone is still starving, America is meddling, Russia is meddling, Maduro's still an authoritarian, and all people want to do is scream about who they support on social media from thousands of miles away. Cut through all that bullshit with this week's episode. We speak to Giancarlo Fiorella about the real situation in Venezu...

Jan 30, 20191 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 34

33. Kosovo: Conflict, Corruption, and a Brand New Army

Kosovo based journalist Valeria Plesch tells us about Kosovo's recent decision to start its own army and the trouble this could cause in a country still tense from the war in the 90s. We also talk about the crippling youth unemployment in Kosovo and the stagnating government made up of former guerrillas. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Jan 23, 201937 minSeason 1Ep. 33

32. The Group Chat Catching Fleeing ISIS Fighters

We speak to AFP correspondent Maya Gebeily about a WhatsApp network she discovered that has the sole purpose of catching fleeing ISIS fighters in Syria. Thousands of Syrians pool their information together in a network of group chats to try and stop the jihadists escaping justice. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Jan 18, 201945 minSeason 1Ep. 32

31. Insurgent Airforce: Weaponising Commercial Drones

Today we speak to Bellingcat researcher Nick Waters about his extensive work on the use of commercial drone bombs in war. We're talking about drones you can buy off of Amazon and use in your garden that have been converted by insurgents to drop bombs on their enemies. The use of these drone bombs has skyrocketed since ISIS started using them in Mosul in 2017. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Jan 07, 201940 minSeason 1Ep. 31

Popular Front 2019 - Moving Forward

Thanks for all the support. This year was just the beginning, 2019 will be a lot bigger for Popular Front. Have a good New Year. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

Dec 30, 20188 minSeason 1Ep. 31

30. Is This the End of Rojava?

This week Donald Trump decided to rapidly pull out all the US forces currently backing the Kurdish YPG militia in Northern Syria, known as Rojava to the Kurds. The YPG has proven to be the strongest ally for the US when fighting ISIS, but now they'll be left alone for Turkey to attack. We speak with journalist Wladimir van Wilgenburg, who's dedicated his career to covering the Kurdish issue. He speaks Kurdish fluently (both Sorani and Kurmanji) and was in Rojava just last week. - www.patreon.com...

Dec 23, 201826 minSeason 1Ep. 30

29. A Crossroads in Yemen's Forgotten War

We speak to John Arterbury, an analyst with his eyes firmly set on Yemen. He tells us how the war started, the current crossroads both sides are at, and his theories on why this conflict, where children regularly starve to death, goes so under-reported. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Dec 13, 201852 minSeason 1Ep. 29

28. The Russian Training Jihadist Special Forces

I'm away filming a documentary for Popular Front this week and didn't have time to get the planned episode ready in time. To avoid going a week without Popular Front I've used one of the Patreon bonus episodes to fill the void. It's the first and last time we'll do this. We'll hear from Abu Academic, who claims to be former Russian special forces. He's now using the skills he claims to have learned in Russia to train HTS jihadist fighters in Syria. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfro...

Dec 05, 201824 minSeason 1Ep. 28

27. Russia vs Ukraine: Trouble in the Sea of Azov

We got journalist Christopher Miller back on to talk about last week's clashes between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov. Everything you wanted to know about this escalating situation is right here. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Nov 29, 201829 minSeason 1Ep. 27

26. Assad's Tank Graveyard

Independent researcher Jakub Janovsky tells us how the Assad regime's tank fleet, one of the world's biggest, was reduced almost entirely to scrap metal and smouldering debris. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Nov 21, 201837 minSeason 1Ep. 26

25. The Real Cyberwar

There's a lot of hype and nonsense when it comes to reporting on cyber warfare, so we spoke to one of the best tech journalists around to explain what the real threats of cyberwar are right now. - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Nov 14, 201850 minSeason 1Ep. 25

24. Who are the Hashd al-Shaabi?

Phillip Smyth takes us on a deep dive into the world of the Hashd al-Shaabi, the Iranian backed militias (also known as the PMU, PMF, and "Shia Militias") fighting in Iraq. They've documented their own war crimes, shot unarmed protesters, and have been building the groundwork for their movement for years... So who are they? - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front...

Nov 07, 20181 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 24

23. The Pop Culture of Nuclear Apocalypse with War College

It's Halloween, so we're doing something a bit different. For this episode we teamed up with the guys from War College to have a chat about how nuclear war has so often influenced the pop culture around us. - patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - twitter.com/War_College

Oct 31, 201843 minSeason 1Ep. 23

22. Assassinations in Afrin

Alexander McKeever tells us all about the mysterious assassination squads of Afrin in Northern Syria. We hear about the tactics of Wrath of Olives and how Afrin was looted and ruined after the invasion by Turkish backed rebels. - patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - @jake_hanrahan

Oct 25, 201852 minSeason 1Ep. 22