About this episode

Jacob Shapiro discusses the underreported conflict brewing between Ethiopia and Eritrea with journalist Jody Ray.

Jacob Shapiro sits down with journalist Jody Ray, who just returned from on-the-ground reporting in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This convo is a gateway into one of the most underreported conflicts brewing today - a potential war over Red Sea access with echoes of Cold War rivalries, ethnic fracture lines, and a region that's been through hell once already. If you enjoyed the conversation, check out more of Jody's work below! -- Timestamps: (01:22) - Meet Jodi in Nairobi (01:38) - Why Ethiopia Matters (03:20) - Ethiopia Basics (05:44) - Cold War Backstory (07:13) - From Empire to Derg (10:28) - TPLF Rule and Abiy Rise (12:37) - How Tigray War Started (14:55) - War Aftermath and Red Sea (16:46) - Why Tigray Didn't Take Addis (18:48) - Eritrea Explained (23:17) - Regional Powers and the Dam (25:38) - Little Dubai in Addis (27:24) - Addis Boom And Displacement (28:47) - Capital City Versus Hinterlands (30:32) - Nightlife And Image Management (31:21) - Tigray Trip And War Signs (32:28) - Life In Mekelle After War (35:12) - Drone Strikes And Media Crackdown (37:30) - Fighters And Civilian Resolve (40:38) - Plea To The International Community (42:26) - Ethiopia Fragmentation And Armed Regions…

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