International Law
185 episodes · Page 2 of 8
#5347: What "On the Sidelines" Actually Means in Diplomacy
A "sidelines" meeting sounds casual. It's actually a fully scripted format with its own rules — and the Greenland signing shows why the label matters.
#5346: Why the UN's Biggest Week Is All About the Sidelines
The UN General Assembly meets year-round — so why do heads of state fly in for one frenzied week each September?
#5307: Selling Holy Air and Moon Deeds
Moon deeds, bottled Banff air, and a proposal to sell Holy Air from Jerusalem — what makes novelty gifts actually work?
#5296: What North Korea's Borders Actually Look Like
Sixty-three defectors reached South Korea this year — every one through a third country. Here's what the DMZ, China, Russia, and sea routes really ...
#5293: Air Koryo and the ICAO Alignment Problem
What flying North Korea's flag carrier actually feels like — and why a cut-off state still shows up to ICAO meetings.
#5243: The Antenna on the Consulate Roof
When a host country cuts the water and the fiber, one thing still reaches London: the HF antenna bolted to the consulate roof.
#5242: Two Neighbors, Two Invasion Plans
Canada drew up a plan to invade the U.S. in 1921. The friendly-neighbor story is only 80 years old.
#5180: Egypt's Gaza and Israel's Jerusalem: Two Legal Suspensions
Egypt ruled Gaza for 19 years without annexing it. Israel applied full law to East Jerusalem in 1967. Two occupied places, two very different legal...
#5176: IAEA Reports Iran: What the Vote Actually Does
The IAEA Board reported Iran to the Security Council for the first time in 20 years — over 440kg of uranium it can't locate.
#5146: Who Decides What Food Aid Gets Sent?
There's no master list of survival foods — just a performance standard. And "acceptable" is written into it.
#5048: ESTA and the Quiet Revolution in Border Tech
Why did Israel's Visa Waiver entry spark a deep dive into ESTA's real purpose? It's not the security check you think.
#5039: Who Actually Counts Wars? The Data Behind the Headlines
The UN doesn't track wars. Here's who does, how they define them, and what the numbers really show.
#5038: Ukraine's War: How Narratives Shifted but the Invasion Didn't
How Putin's justifications evolved from "denazification" to a civilizational war—and why Ukraine's legal counterattack matters.
#5035: The Map That Lied: Africa vs. Mercator
The UN just voted 164-1 to correct a 450-year-old map distortion. Here's why Mercator still shapes how we see the world.
#4956: Settlements Under Law: Israel, the West Bank, and the ICJ
The ICJ says settlements are illegal. Israel says the land is disputed. Here's both legal arguments.
#4950: The Siege: Ancient Warfare’s Darkest Tactic
From Roman circumvallation to Gaza — how sieges became war crimes, yet persist.
#4948: Why Mercenaries Keep Wars Going
How for-profit armies become stakeholders in endless war.
#4946: When Settler Violence Became a Pattern
How a 90% closure rate on complaints reveals a system designed for impunity.
#4945: What Actually Counts as a War Crime?
A ground-up look at IHL, the Geneva Conventions, and where the law leaves room for genuine disagreement.
#4938: What's the Point of War Laws?
Exploring the tension between clear treaty obligations and fuzzy battlefield enforcement.
#4937: Proportionality Under International Law: What It Actually Means
The legal definition of proportionality is nothing like what you hear in news coverage. Here's what the law actually says.
#4936: The 4,000-Year History of International Law
From a stone treaty in Mesopotamia to the UN. How did promises between states become law?
#4935: How the World Court Actually Works (via a Genocide Case)
South Africa vs. Israel as a map of the ICJ’s jurisdiction, provisional measures, and enforcement gap.
#4934: Collective Punishment: What the Law Actually Says
The prohibition on collective punishment is absolute in international law. No exceptions, no military necessity loophole. Here's what it actually r...