New Books in Indigenous Studies - Olivier Hein, “Borneo: The History of an Enigma” (Hurst, 2026)

Borneo—split between two countries, home to some of the world’s oldest rainforests and a vast array of animal and plant life—is back in the news. The island is set to be home to Nusantara, Indonesia’s new planned political capital set to, maybe, open in 2028. And the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak—different from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia—are griping for more rights and authority to control its own wealth.

Author Olivier Hein tackles the long history of Borneo in his latest book titled, appropriately, Borneo: The History of an Enigma (Hurst, 2025). He tackles Borneo’s indigenous communities; the spread of Hindu, Chinese, Muslim and European influence; the rise of the White Rajah; and how Borneo is treated by today’s modern nations.

A former diplomat with the UN, the OSCE and the UK, Olivier Hein has undertaken postings in Kosovo, Turkmenistan, the USA and France. He is also the author of Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan. He is also a regular contributor to The Chap magazine.

You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Borneo. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia.


Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon.

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What A Day - The Cost Of War Is More Than Oil

The war with Iran has already killed more than a thousand Iranians, including 175 people killed at an elementary school on February 28th. According to multiple news outlets, a preliminary report from the U.S. military says the U.S. was at fault for that strike. President Donald Trump previously said Saturday that Iran was at fault for the attack and then, on Wednesday, replied, "I don't know about it," when a reporter asked him about the investigation. It's part of a larger pattern in the Trump administration's messaging about the war. From why we're in this conflict in the first place, to what our goals are, to when this war will end, there's a fog around everything. Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly joins the show to discuss how members of Congress are dealing with the White House's stonewalling.

And in headlines, President Donald Trump travels to Ohio and Kentucky to downplay concerns about the economy, no one has any idea what Kristi Noem's new job entails, and newly released deposition videos show a former DOGE staffer struggling to answer basic questions about DEI.

Show Notes:

The Indicator from Planet Money - Should colleges accept money from bad people?

At a dinner in 2010, physicist Sean Carroll is handed a phone. On the other end: A wealthy patron looking to potentially fund his research. Months later came an invite to a conference. It would take place on an island. The caller was Jeffrey Epstein. Sean declined. Many others didn’t.

On today’s show, why did so many academics say yes to Epstein’s invites and money? And what Epstein’s ability to ingratiate himself with them reveals about how science research is funded.  

Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! Twelve cities. Details and tix here: https://tix.to/pm-book-tour

Related episodes: 
What an Epstein recording reveals about how elites get jobs
American science brain drain

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter 

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NPR's Book of the Day - ‘One of Us’ is a British political drama based on the Boris Johnson era

In today’s episode, Elizabeth Day describes the protagonist in her new novel One of Us as the “quintessential outsider.” Martin Gilmour came from a difficult background, but won a scholarship to an elite boarding school in England. There, he befriends an aristocratic boy named Ben who will later ask Martin to keep an important secret. One of Us follows the implosion of their friendship – and Martin’s discretion – as Ben strives for political power. In today’s episode, Day and NPR’s Scott Simon discuss the novel’s central rivalry and Day’s interest in the Boris Johnson era of British politics.

To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday

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Tech Won't Save Us - The Left Doesn’t Hate Technology w/ Gita Jackson

Paris Marx is joined by Gita Jackson to discuss why the left’s hatred of AI is justified, why a different approach to technology is necessary, and how they’re reassessing their own relationships with digital tech.

Gita Jackson is a co-founder of Aftermath.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Global News Podcast - UN Security Council demands Iran halt attacks

At a meeting in New York, the UN Security Council has backed a resolution calling for Iran to stop its strikes on Arab Gulf states and Jordan, but making no mention of the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran. It also condemns the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Iran's allies China and Russia abstained from the vote. We also hear why US Democrats are calling for a public hearing into the strikes on Iran - one of which is suspected to have hit a girls' school, causing major loss of life. Also, aid agencies are warning of worsening drought in East Africa, scientists discover that bumblebee queens can breathe underwater and, as the Oscars approach, BBC news correspondents talk about their picks for this year's awards.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

The Best One Yet - ⭐ “DC LIVE Show” — Cava’s secret club. Gen Z’s Mall-renaissance. F-35’s main character jet. +CIA’s spy investors

Live… from Washington… it’s The Best One Yet!

We performed live at DC’s wild Arlington Drafthouse. Some extra razzle dazzle & sprinkle dinkle — but our usual daily Takeaways you know & love.


#1. Despite a Slop Bowl Recession, Cava’s crushing Sweetgreen… And just launched a secret invite-only club.

#2. The F-35 fighter jet is the most expensive weapon in history… but disruption takes a lifetime.

#3. Gen Z is driving a Mall Renaissance… because they crave the bPhone era (“Before iPhone”).

Plus, the microwave, the robotaxi, GPS, even Silly Puddy… all funded by the government - DC’s CIA is the OG VC.


Want to see the LIVE show in action? Watch it on YouTube or check out the highlights on Instagram @tboypod.

Even better… want to go to our next LIVE show? Buy tickets to The IPO Tour (our In-Person Offering) TODAY


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It Could Happen Here - The Fake Crisis Behind Trump’s Tariffs

As Trump fakes a balance of payments crisis to implement more tariffs, Mia faces her demons to explain what any of that means.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/senate-democrats-bill-small-businesses-trump-tariffs

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-new-tariffs-shift-focus-balance-payments-economists-see-no-crisis-2026-02-24/

https://archive.vn/E3fwh#selection-479.0-482.0

https://www.toyassociation.org/PressRoom2/News/2026-News/court-orders-refunds-for-ieepa-tariffs-implementation-process-ongoing.aspx

https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2026/feb/us-dollar-role-as-reserve-currency

https://sudanreeves.org/2018/05/10/the-collapse-of-sudans-economy-is-accelerating-along-with-human-suffering/

https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/page-one-economics/2016/11/01/international-trade

https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/ap-macroeconomics/ap-open-economy-international-trade-and-finance/the-balance-of-payments/a/the-balance-of-payments

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/bolivias-balance-payments-crisis-brings-back-bad-memories

https://www.elibrary.imf.org/display/book/9781557758286/ch02.xml

https://www.krwg.org/local-viewpoints/2026-03-10/scotus-decision-on-tariffs

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gov-healey-demands-refunds-mass-182527561.html

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5775500-businesses-sue-trump-tariffs/

https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/page-one-economics/2025/oct/what-is-the-balance-of-payments

https://www.investopedia.com/insights/what-is-the-balance-of-payments/

https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-bill/10710/text

https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/the-balance-of-payments.html

https://adamtooze.substack.com/p/chartbook-434-back-to-the-1970s-again

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files/docs/publications/frbslreview/rev_stls_196103.pdf

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/952314

https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/022/0003/003/article-A003-en.xml

https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3545&context=faculty_scholarship

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