Hump Day Recommendations, June 12, 2024

Listen: “Mania for Subjugation,” This latest episode of Hardcore History from podcaster Dan Carlin tries to get inside the heads of Alexander the Great and his very dramatic family to explore what we know about the psychology of the man responsible for spreading Hellenism from Cappadocia to the Khyber Pass. As always, a thoroughly entertaining and fascinating piece from the greatest podcaster in the game. – Matt

Listen: To the latest This American Life, “Come Retribution.” Donald Trump’s rhetoric has only intensified since his conviction in NYC. This podcast looks at what his retribution might look like from the people who have the most to lose if he’s reelected: the whistleblowers and ex-staffers who believe he may be coming for them. – Riley

Watch: “Ren Faire.” HBO's new docuseries has been described as “Game of Thrones meets Succession” but takes place at a Texas Renaissance festival, and that's about all I can do to describe it, other than to say you will not regret watching it. It’s produced by the Safdie brothers and is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. – Alex Gibson, senior producer of “GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

Listen: “Empire.” Love podcasts? Love history? Then I would highly recommend checking this out. The hosts discuss the rise and fall of an array of different empires and the personalities and stories of key players along the way. It’s fascinating and will definitely keep you entertained. – John

More from GZERO Media

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a fireside chat during the Moms for Liberty National "Joyful Warriors" Summit, in Washington, U.S., August 30, 2024.
REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is calling on House Republicans to shut down the government on Sept. 30 if Congress doesn’t pass a Republican bill to change voting rules across the country.

Law students from different public and private universities in CDMX demonstrate against the Reform of the Judicial Branch launched by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
(Photo by Josue Perez/Sipa USA).

On Wednesday, Mexico’s lower house approved a controversial judicial overhaul bill that would force federal judges to seek election.

These images and videos show the aftermath of a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Lviv.
Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Cover Images

Ukraine had an eventful and tragic Wednesday. Seven people were killed as Russia carried out an attack on the western city of Lviv, which is far from the front lines, in a grim reminder that nowhere in Ukraine is safe as the war continues.

Nicolas Maduro standing in front of protestors in Venezuela.
Jess Frampton

Earlier this week, the US Justice Department seized the airplane used by Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, his equivalent of Air Force One.

- YouTube

In a world where humanity put a man on the moon before adding wheels to luggage, the rapid advancements in AI seem almost paradoxical. Microsoft’s chief data scientist Juan Lavista, in a recent Global Stage conversation with Tony Maciulis, highlighted this contrast to emphasize how swiftly AI has evolved, particularly in the last few years.

The X account of Elon Musk in seen blocked on a mobile screen in this illustration after Brazil's telecommunications regulator suspended access to Elon Musk's X social network in the country to comply with an order from a judge who has been locked in a months-long feud with the billionaire investor, Sao Paulo, Brazil taken August 31, 2024.
REUTERS/Jorge Silva

The battle between Brazil and Elon Musk has now reached the stars — or the Starlink, at least — as the billionaire’s satellite internet provider refuses orders from Brazil’s telecom regulator to cut access to X.