Warning: This week’s episode will focus on sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers. Reader, listener and viewer discretion is advisedThis week, I talk about Ukrainian civilians who survived sexual assault from Russian troops during the war. Ukraine is investigating  nearly 300 cases of sexual assault, but that number is likely much higher. Today, I am talking with Nadiia Volchenska, co-founder of the Sylni foundation, which was founded soon after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 202s to support survivors of sexual assault. Translating for Nadiia is Vira Stadnyk - communications manager at the Sylni Foundation. FINANCIALLY SUPPORT Sylni’s work here.Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest: Nadiia VolchenskaProducer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsRead about this subject Reparations to be paid to survivors of wartime sexual violence in Ukraine (The Guardian)Ukrainian survivors of sexual violence, torture say country will have to share burden of their trauma (CBC)Exclusive: Ukraine accuses Russian snipers of abusing child, gang raping mother (Reuters)

This week’s episode is about the ongoing protests in Georgia in response to the country’s ruling political party, Georgia Dream, moving forward with its “foreign agent.”Officially titled “On the Transparency of Foreign Influence," the bill, if passed into law, would require organizations in the country receiving more than 20% of their funding from overseas to register as “foreign agents” or face large fines. Protesters say it is similar to laws spearheaded in Russia by Vladimir Putin.Here this week to talk about the protests and why the bill is driving so many people to the streets around Georgia is Katie Shoshiashvili, Senior Corruption Researcher at Transparency International Georgia, who focuses on democracy reporting and research on democratization in the EU's Eastern Partnership region. Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest: Katie ShoshiashviliProducer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsLinks to read about this subject:Georgia presses on with Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill despite huge protests (CNN)2024 Is a Year of Opportunity for Georgia (National Interest)Georgians Call for Ex-Leader's Release on Revolution Anniversary (VOA)Georgians dream of EU membership as their leaders move closer to Putin (The Guardian)

#ukraine #russia #putin #warinukraine #blackdiplomats #ukrainianhistory #history #harvard Terrell J. Starr spoke with Havard Professor of Ukrainian History Serhii Plokhii about Putin’s obsession with fake Ukrainian history, Ukrainian resistance against Russian colonialism, Stepan Bandara, fighting Kremlin disinformation and more.Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest: Serhii PlokhiiProducer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime stamps00:00: Welcome03:15: Mental Health Check-In10:40: Teaching Ukrainian History At Harvard 15:32: Putin's Fake Ukrainian History20:08: Similarities between Putin and Trump26:00: Ukrainian Resistance Against USSR31:40: Stepan Bandera 43:40: Russification Of Ukraine49:20: How 2014/2022 Invasions Changed Ukraine

#crimea #crimeantatars #ukraine #russia #ukrainianhistory #historyTerrell spoke with Tamila Tasheva, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea about liberating Crimea, human rights violations on the peninsula, Crimean history and what people get wrong about what’s happening there. Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest: Tamila TashevaProducer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime Stamps00:00:Welcome00:51: Mental Health02:28: Who are Crimean Tatars?05:15: How Ukraine Monitors Crimea During Occupation 14:14: Human Rights Violations Against Crimean Tatars19:40: Disinformation Over Crimea28:38: What Happens To Transferred Russians In Liberated Crimea 31:25: Why Khrushchev Transferred Crimea To Ukraine35:28: Crimean Liberation Will Happen41:50: Message To House Speaker Mike Johnson

#ukraine #russia #putin #zelensky #warinukraine #blackdiplomatsTerrell J. Starr spoke with Ukrainian security expert Maria Avdeeva about Russia’s ongoing missile attacks against civilian targets, Germany’s reluctance to send Taurus missiles, why Russia doesn’t want peace, her own work documenting war crimes and so much more.Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest:. Maria AdveevaProducer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime stamps00:00: Welcome01:30: Mental Health Check-In07:30: Why Russia Targets Civilians10:35: Russia Doesn't Want Peace23:14: Attacks On Ukrainian Energy System 27:20: Why Ukraine Won't Stop Fighting 32:40: Ukrainian Military Surprised The World46:10 Why Germany Won't Provide Taurus Missiles 58:20: Russian Opposition01:04:34: Documenting War Crimes

#ukraine #blackdiplomats #foreignpolicy #un #unitednations #nobelprize Terrell Jermaine Starr speaks with Ukraine’s first Nobel Peace Prize Winner Oleksandra Matviichuk about her work as a war crimes documentor, the broken United Nations system, why it’s not possible to have peace with Russia and building solidarity with Africans and Palestinians. Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest:. Oleksandra Matviichuk Producer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime stamps00:00: Welcome01:22: Mental Health Check-In02:43: Path to Nobel Prize09:09: Putin's Genocide Against Ukraine12:55: Hopes For Palestinian and Ukrainian Solidarity22:00: Making "Peace" With Russia25:00: Maidan CIA Coup Myth 27:28: Ukraine's Democracy Since 2014

I spoke with Christopher Shell and Nola Haynes about Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats, why Black people should care about foreign policy, Andrew Tate’s arrest, uncommitted voter movement and more.Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuests: Christopher Shell is a fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Nola Haynes is a national security and foreign affairs analyst. Producer: Mike HullSupport us financially!Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomatsPayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime stamps:00:00: Welcome01:48: Mental Health Check-In05:55: Putin's Latest Nuclear Strike Threat 15:20: Black People and Foreign Policy32:36: Biden's Response To Gaza44:04: Romania To Extradite Andrew Tate To UKWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZY3_2uQzzrU

#ukraine #russianinvasion #foreignpolicy #trump #natoThis week, Terrell Starr and Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk discuss how Ukrainians are reacting to the possibility of Trump winning the U.S. election, her curiosity over Black support for Trump, NATO’s relationship with its Eastern European members and her trip to South Africa that convinced her Ukraine needs to build solidarity ties with Africa. Host: Terrell Jermaine StarrGuest: Olga Tokariuk Producer: Mike HullCheck us out on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@BlackDiplomatsOfficialSupport us financially!Support us financially on Venmo: @BlackDiplomats CashApp: $BlackDiplomats PayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomatsTime stamp:00:00: Welcome00:50: Mental Health Check-In09:22: Ukraine and the 2024 Presidential Election27:00: How Ukrainians Can Build Solidarity With Africa43:36: Trump and Black Support

Terrell J. Starr and guest Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon discuss the second year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the African students who faced discrimination while fleeing the war, House Speaker’s Mike Johnson’s refusal to bring the U.S. Senate’s bill to the floor for a vote, how MAGA’s racism is blocking Ukraine military aid and Alexei Navalny’s death.Host: Terrell J. StarrGuest: Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon (Book her here)Producer: Mike HullSupport us financially on Venmo: @BlackDiplomats, CashApp: $BlackDiplomats, PayPal: https://paypal.me/blackdiplomatspod and Patreon: patreon.com/blackdiplomats  Time Stamps00:00: Welcome03:32: Mental Health Check-in04:08: Two-Year Mark of SECOND Russian Invasion of Ukraine08:57: African Students Who Fled the War 23:25: Mike Johnson Refuses Vote on Ukraine Aid44:20: Navalny’s DeathHow stalled U.S. aid for Ukraine exemplifies GOP’s softening stance on Russia (PBS)Foreign students fled Ukraine as war broke out. Some remain in limbo, while others fear deportation (CNN)More than 14 million people fled homes in Ukraine since Russia invasion: UN (Al Jazeera)Navalny's body returned to mother, spokeswoman says (BBC)

Greetings, everyone.  This week, I was a guest on Andrea Chalupa’s Gaslit Nation podcast, where we discussed Alexei Navalny’s death and how we should all be reflecting on it. This recording is from her most recent episode. We also talked about how New York State Attorney General Tish James and Fulton County  District Attorney Fani Willis are defending American democracy from Donald Trump’s attacks on our democratic institutions. Thanks for listening!Show notes:DEFIANT Fani Willis HITS BACK At Misconduct Claims In HEATED Testimony: ‘IT IS A LIE!’--Roland Martin Unfiltered (YouTube)Fani Willis’ testimony evokes long-standing frustrations for Black women leaders (AP)What we know about Alexei Navalny's death in Arctic prison (Reuters)Body of Alexei Navalny to be held for two weeks for 'chemical analysis', family told (BBC)We need to have a talk about Alexei Navalny (The Washington Post)

This week, we’re replaying our May 10 show about Palestine. We’re pretty sure you’re aware of the terrorist attacks Hamas committed against Israeli civilians October 7 and Israel’s response. What is making matters worse is the massive disinformation that is going around on social media. Twitter is a cesspool of disinformation, where even the best and most seasoned reporters are being tripped up by false accounts and videos.Black Diplomats wants to fight against the disinformation by resurfacing the May 10 episode we aired about Palestine.It features Palestinian human rights lawyer Diana Buttu and independent journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous. We were talking about the then one-year anniversary of Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing, but we got into Israel’s apartheid government and why the West tolerates it.We hope this will add some much-needed context about what’s happening now. Thank you for listening and please stay safe.News articles:A timeline of Israel and Palestine’s complicated history (VOX)This Gaza war didn’t come out of nowhere (VOX)We cannot stand by and watch Israel commit atrocities (The Washington Post)Muslim members of Congress face spikes in death threats (NBC)Verified Accounts on Musk’s X Spread 74 Percent of Israel-Hamas War Misinformation (Rolling Stone)Who was behind the Gaza hospital blast – visual investigation (Channel 4)

The fifth and final episode of “Liberating Iran” features Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda. She talks about being Black in Iran and the racism she and other Black Iranians face under Tehran’s brutal theocracy. This episode is one of the few pieces of reporting that deals with the lives of Black Iranians in any meaningful way. There is pretty much no reporting on Black Iranians, but this episode does address some aspects of how they are experiencing the uprisings in Iran.You can learn more about Priscillia’s work at the Collective for Black Iranians, which may very well be the only place where you can learn about Black Iranians. Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats.

The fourth episode of “Liberating Iran” features Yegi Rezaian, who tells us about her life as a reporter in Iran and her efforts to free her husband Jason, with whom she was falsely imprisoned after he was accused of being a U.S. spy in July 0f 2024.Please go and buy his book, “Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison―Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out”This is the fourth of five episodes that will publish each Saturday, with the final show airing September 9. Next week’s episode, the fifth and last of the series, will feature Priscillia Kounkou-Hoveyda., who’ll talk about being Black in Iran and how news around the protests have left Black Iranians voiceless.Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats. Articles of note#FreeJason: The inside story of The Post’s role in global efforts to free Jason Rezaian from IranAxis of Immigration TedTalk by Yegi Rezaian

The third episode of “Liberating Iran” features Nahid Siamdoust, who takes us through the history of Iranian feminism and the decades of female musical expression that defines today’s protests in Iran. Please go and buy her book, “Soundtrack of the Revolution: The Politics of Music in Iran.”This is the third of five episodes that will publish each Saturday, with the final show airing September 2. Next week’s episode, the fourth of the series, will feature Yegi and Jason Rezaian , who’ll talk about the role of media in Iran. Jason’s story is well know, so Yegi will be the primary subject of the episode and discuss her behind-the-scenes role and helping to secure Jason’s freedom from Iranian imprisonment and how this impacted her life personally. Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats. Some links to stories used in episodeShe’s a Professional Iranian Singer But is Banned from Singing on Stage in Her Country (Center for Human Rights in Iran)What the Success of Women-Led Protests Tell Us About Iran’s Future (TIME)The History of Women's Rights in Iran (Brut America)

The second episode of “Liberating Iran” deals with the 1953 CIA coup that overthrew Iran's leadership and how that event provides better context for Washington’s relationship with Tehran—not the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover. Historian Pouya Alimagham helps us understand how devastating the West’s role in undermining has been to fostering better relations with Tehran’s leadership and why Americans have been fed a false narrative on Iranian people and its history.Please go and buy Pouya’s book, “Contesting the Iranian Revolution: The Green Uprisings.”This is the second of five episodes that will publish each Saturday, with the final show airing September 2. Next week’s episode will feature Nahid Siamdoust, who’ll talk about the role of women in Iranian history and the role music has played in the current protests.Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats. Notable links to stories used in episode:CIA involvement in 1953 Iranian coup (CNN)U.S. Secretly Gave Aid to Iraq Early in Its War Against Iran (NYT)Iran is surrounded by US military bases and facilities. Here's a snapshot (ABC)

The first episode of “Liberating Iran” drops today. Assal Rad breaks down the Iran Deal and the political history between the U.S. and Iran that explains why relations between the two nations are so frayed. Please go and buy Assal’s book “State of Resistance: Politics, Culture & Identity in Modern Iran." This is the first of five episodes that will publish each Saturday, starting August 5 and ending September 2. Next week’s episode will feature historian Pouya Alimagham who’ll break down the West’s efforts to undermine Iran’s democracy and why so many Americans have bought into false narratives about Tehran’s leadership.Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats. Notable links to stories used in episodeFact-Checking Donald Trump’s Reasons For Leaving Iran Deal. (Washington Post)Chris Cuomo Interview with Benjamin Netanyahu  (CNN)Is Maximum Pressure Working Against Iran? (NBC)

Coming July 29:A five-part series about Iran through the eyes of Iranians - protest, history, music, Black Iranian struggle, what the U.S. always gets wrong, and how we can get it right this time.Join host Terrell J. Starr as he unlearns years of media hype to find out the real history of Iran.

Good evening from Kyiv!Today’s show is all about the ongoing and ever-changing newscycle revolving around the aftermath of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed mutiny of the Russia’s Ministry of Defense. I break down the aftermath of how Russian President Vladimir Putin is responding to everything and the need to not try and predict what’s coming next.The following segment deals with Ukraine’s top intel chief’s claim that Russia mined the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and there is a real chance they might blow it up. Today’s show will feature Dina Urich, Head of department of temporarily occupied and unoccupied territories and a Board Member at Helping to Leave, an organization that has helped more than 20,000 people flee Russian captivity. Thank you all for tuning into this week’s episode of Black Diplomats. Please give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats.

This week on Black Diplomats, I start off with news about the Kakhova dam explosion in the Kherson region that has claimed at least 5 lives and is causing a massive ecocide in the area.  For on the ground coverage, please read these articles that break down what is going on:The New York Times: U.S. Official Says Spy Satellites Detected Explosion Just Before Dam CollapseThe Moscow Times: Norwegian Seismologists Detect Explosion Signals From Ukraine DamThe Kyiv Independent: Zelensky: 'Russia needs to bear full responsibility for ecocide'Please support Black Diplomats! Give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. Also support our work financially on CashApp at $BlackDiplomats, Venmo @BlackDiplomats and on PayPal at paypal.me/BlackDiplomats. My featured guest this week is Nerdeen Kiswani, a Palestinian organizer from New York City and close friend of Fatima Muhammed, the CUNY law graduate student who delivered the student address at this year's graduation. As you all know by now, Fatima’s speech was unfairly criticized for its strong stance against white supremacy and Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians. Of course, it’s all bullshit and untrue. You can listen to it here. The time stamp is 1:16:54-1:28:30.Nerdeen, who delivered CUNY Law School graduation address, also drew criticism and accusations of antisemitism for her remarks, which challenged the very white supremacy and Israeli apartheid Fatima did recently. We spoke about that, why everyone should stand up for Palestine and more. Enjoy.Here is Nerdeen’s full biography: Nerdeen Kiswani is a Palestinian organizer from New York City. She is the founder and chair of Within Our Lifetime - United for Palestine, a community organization revitalizing the revolutionary spirit of the Palestinians in exile in pursuit of liberation. Nerdeen has spoken for the Palestinian cause at events and conferences worldwide and has organized rallies with tens of thousands of attendees in support of Palestine.Nerdeen recently graduated from the CUNY school of Law and has organized successful campaigns on and off campus to pass a resolution by the student government and faculty of CUNY Law to cut all ties and divest from all israeli...

On this episode of Black Diplomats we're doing something different.Terrell is on his way back to Ukraine so he sat down with BD producer Michael Hull to talk about his plans for the summer, some special projects we have coming up, and what the media needs to do to help the world survive the 2024 election cycle.Plus - what does Terrell do for his mental health? Can't have a Black Diplomats interview with asking the guest what they're doing to stay healthy!Please give us 5 star ratings on Spotify, iTunes or wherever you listen to us. And remember to support Black Diplomats by giving to Terrell on PayPal at://paypal.me/blackdiplomats, CashApp: $BlackDiplomats and venmo at account.venmo.com/u/blackdiplomats. Thank you for listening!