The Tea with Myriam Francois

https://www.theteanetwork.coWho really rules the world?For decades, the global order had a clear centre. After the Cold War, the United States emerged as the world’s sole superpower while liberal democracy was proclaimed history's final destination. That story is now dead.As Western power cracks and the global economy reels from the fallout of the Iran war, the real winners are hiding in plain sight — mega-corporations more powerful than the states that host them. They profit from war no matter who wins. They're not just close to power, they're fused with it. And in some cases, they're not new players at all — just empire, rebranded.This week on The Tea, Professor and award-winning author Kojo Karam joins us to expose the rise of corporate power, the decolonisation project that was never finished, and whether the old empire has really disappeared — or simply changed shape.Also in the show:⚡ Britain’s Iran Playbook — the 1950s colonial blueprint still shaping Iran today⚡ The New War Profiteers — Saudi Aramco, BP and the Trump family: who’s cashing in?⚡ Corporations vs States — are mega-corporations becoming more sovereign than governments?⚡ BRICS & the Global South — a genuine shift in power, or the same interests in new places?⚡ Reparations and the empire-nostalgia comeback⚡ The end of the War on Drugs — A new corporate gold rush?👉 Subscribe for independent, unfiltered conversations🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcastsAUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Kojo KoramSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance Creswell, Iman SalehVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.theteanetwork.coFor decades, China was presented as the authoritarian rival to the West: censored, controlled and fundamentally opposed to liberal democracy. But that story is now more complicated. As trust in US leadership declines, China's technology and culture are gaining influence worldwide. Is China challenging the West — or quietly shaping its future?This week on The Tea, we're joined by journalist and bestselling author Yi-Ling Liu, founding China editor of Rest of World. In her debut book, The World Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet, she breaks down the contradictions behind the way China is often portrayed — and the complex reality behind the headlines.Also in the show:⚡ Inside China’s censorship (and self-censorship) system⚡ Why China’s rise is exposing America’s weaknesses⚡ The contradictions Western media often miss about China⚡ The hidden costs behind China’s economic miracle⚡ Behind “China-maxxing” trend ⚡YouTube influencers and the one-dimensional story about China⚡The AI arms race: real threat or Silicon Valley narrative?As Yi-Ling argues, China defies simple labels. It is a technological powerhouse, a deeply capitalist society — and a country still shaped by state control.👉 Subscribe for independent, unfiltered conversations🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #YiLingLiu #China #AI #capitalism #TikTokChina #ChinaMaxxing #Politics #news #currentaffairsAUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Yi-Ling LiuSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance Creswell, Iman SalehVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.theteanetwork.coSix months into the catastrophic US-Israeli war on Iran, Washington's stockpiles are severely depleted, oil and food prices are spiralling globally, and the Middle East is being rapidly reconfigured. Trump promised a quick victory, but the conflict has plunged the world into economic chaos—while war profiteers and elites on both sides cash in.This week on The Tea, we’re joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former New York Times war correspondent, and bestselling author Chris Hedges. Drawing on decades of reporting from conflict zones, he breaks down the terrifying reality of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the collapse of American hegemony, and why the empire is crumbling from within.Also in the show: ⚡ The fatal miscalculation: Why Washington has already lost the war in Iran ⚡ US vs. Israel: The real, dangerous rift between Trump and Netanyahu ⚡ War profiteering: Who is making billions while ordinary citizens pay the price? ⚡ The Gulf in crisis: How US bases turned regional allies into sitting targets ⚡ The death of American democracy: Why the US is no longer a functioning republic ⚡ Drone warfare & the future of conflict: How small nations are dismantling military superpowers ⚡ Direct action & resistance: Joining port workers, Greta Thunberg, and dockers refusing to ship armsAs Chris puts it, when a system seizes up and normal political mechanisms fail, direct action and holding power to account are the only true options left.👉 Subscribe for independent, unfiltered conversations at www.theteanetwork.co🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #ChrisHedges #IranWar #MiddleEast #Trump #USA AUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Chris HedgesSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducers: Nadege Bizimungu, Sanjna SelvaResearch: Aliza Kayan-Ahmed and Saba NoughaniVideo Editor: Max Bubnov An MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.theteanetwork.coThe internet promised freedom. But has it delivered?When the World Wide Web launched, it promised a borderless world of knowledge, connection and freedom. More than three decades later, a handful of tech giants control vast parts of our digital lives—shaping what we see, what we remember, and even how we think—while the internet has become an engine of censorship and surveillance. This week on The Tea, we're joined by the woman rewriting the history of the internet. Mindy Seu is a technologist, UCLA associate professor, and the author of “A Sexual History of the Internet”. She’s been tracking what the tech giants are scrubbing. Together, we ask the questions Big Tech would rather you didn't: Who decides what survives online? And is it still possible to reclaim the internet?Also in the show:⚡ The hidden history of the internet—from women, artists and activists erased from the story⚡ Open source, local networks & the fight to reclaim the web⚡ Sex, censorship & who gets erased online⚡ The Epstein files & the myth of the "forever internet"⚡ ChatGPT, AI & the danger of “yes men”⚡ Peter Thiel’s “Praxis” and Big Tech’s attempt to replace democracyAs Mindy argues, reclaiming the internet doesn't start with Silicon Valley. It starts with local communities building alternatives from the ground up.#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #MindySeu #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #BigTech #Internet #DigitalRights #Cyberfeminism #Surveillance #AI #Tech #PodcastAUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Mindy SeuSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance CreswellVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.theteanetwork.coWhat if your favourite video game was spying on you?Gaming isn't just entertainment anymore. With more than 3.5 billion players worldwide, it's become one of the most powerful cultural battlegrounds on Earth. From Beijing and Moscow to Riyadh, Washington and beyond, governments are investing billions in gaming—not just for profit, but to shape narratives and influence young audiences.This week on The Tea, we're joined by leading video games expert and author George Osborn to expose how states, corporations and political movements are turning the games we play into the next frontier of information warfare.Also in the show:⚡ China's crackdown on gaming ⚡ Roblox: the world's first digital nation?⚡ Hamza Saada and the democratisation of gaming⚡ Gamergate: where the far-right found its voice⚡ From Britain to Saudi Arabia and Russia: gaming as a tool of state power⚡ Can gaming escape surveillance and political manipulation?Gaming is no longer just about play. As our guest argues, it has become one of the defining arenas where politics, culture and power collide—and understanding it is essential to understanding the world we're living in.#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #GeorgeOsborn #Gaming #VideoGames #Politics #Geopolitics #Technology #News #CurrentAffairs #farright #USPolitics #UKPoliticsAUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: George OsbornSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Sana Serroukh Assistant Producer: Poppy Jacobs Research: Aliza Kayan-Ahmed and Iman Saleh Video Editor: Max Bubnov An MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

https://www.theteanetwork.coWas the creation of the state of Israel really the only answer to antisemitism?Nearly three years into Israel's genocide in Gaza, support for Israel has fallen sharply across much of the Western world. And as old political certainties begin to fracture, more people are asking questions that once seemed almost impossible to ask. Was Zionism inevitable? Were there other visions of Jewish freedom? And what can these forgotten traditions tell us about the future?This week on The Tea, we’re joined by award-winning artist and journalist Molly Crabapple. In her New York Times bestselling book Where We Live Is Our Country, she resurrects the extraordinary history of the Jewish Labour Bund — a movement that imagined Jewish liberation not through a nation-state, but through solidarity, equality and the fight for justice wherever Jews lived.Also in the show:⚡ Nationalism vs internationalism: two competing visions of Jewish liberation⚡ The Bund: the forgotten Jewish movement that challenged Zionism⚡ From antisemitism to Islamophobia: the politics of scapegoating minorities⚡ Hebrew vs Yiddish: the battle over Jewish identity and memory⚡ After Gaza: the sharp decline in support for Israel⚡ Zohran Mamdani and the legacy of Yiddish socialismAs our guest explains, these forgotten histories challenge the stories we’ve inherited — and force us to rethink identity, belonging and the fight for freedom today.These chapters are optimized for YouTube search and retention while accurately reflecting the flow of the discussion. #TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #MollyCrabapple #Zionism #Gaza #genocide #Israel #Palestine #TheJewishBund #Mamdani #antizionist #journalism AUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Molly CrabappleSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance Creswell, Martha MissinghamVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Is AI really getting smarter than us or are we falling for the biggest myth in tech?AI is transforming the way we work, think and create. As machines begin outperforming humans in more tasks, the race to AGI and even superintelligence is often treated as inevitable. But is it? Or are we buying into Silicon Valley's biggest story?This week on The Tea, we are joined by one of Britain's sharpest voices on the human impact of technology, Anne-Marie Imafidon CEO of Stemettes and trustee at the Institute for the Future of Work to unpack what AI is really changing, why intelligence is far more complex than Silicon Valley admits, and what it means to remain human in an age racing towards artificial superintelligence.Also on the show:⚡ AGI & the Silicon Valley narrative – AI hype or the next reality?⚡ What human intelligence really is⚡ AI and the future of work⚡ Can AI agents ever become conscious?⚡ The race to superintelligence – Who benefits?⚡ What it means to be human in the age of AIDespite the apocalyptic headlines, our guest argues that a dystopian future isn't preordained. AI remains a human technology, shaped by human choices. As she puts it: "Technology is that it is still democratic... You don't have to be funded by the big whoever to build alternatives."👉 Subscribe for fearless, independent conversations 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #AnneMarieImafidon #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AGI #FutureOfWork #Technology #OpenAI #HumanIntelligence #CurrentAffairs #newsAUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Anne-Marie ImafidonSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance CreswellVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Capitalism isn't in crisis. It is the crisis.Rising inequalities. Endless austerity. Genocide. Permanent war. Climate collapse. AI-driven job losses. For best-selling author and economist Clara Mattei, these aren't failures of capitalism—they're the system working exactly as designed.This week on The Tea, Mattei joins us to challenge one of the most powerful assumptions of our time: that there is no alternative. Drawing from her new book, Escape from Capitalism, Mattei argues that capitalism isn't natural or inevitable. It has always depended on political intervention, economic precarity, and the violent suppression of alternatives to keep itself alive. If today's crises feel permanent, this is because they're built into the model.Also in the show:⚡ BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street & the concentration of global wealth⚡ Billionaires' growing obsession with land grabbing⚡ China's hybrid model explained⚡ Militarism - The beating heart of capitalism⚡ Scandinavia and the myth of "humane capitalism"⚡ Palestine as a lens on how austerity, militarisation, and state power converge⚡ AI, automation & the loss of control⚡ What would it take to build a better economic system?If capitalism is functioning exactly as intended, the question isn't how to fix it—but how we can get out of this trap and build a better system. 👉 Subscribe for fearless, independent conversations.🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.#TheTeaWithMyriamFrancois #ClaraMattei #Capitalism #Inequality #Economics #news #AI #UKPolitics #USPolitics #Billionaires #genocide Check out the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation (FREE)https://www.freefreeforum.org/aboutHead here to check the FREE podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@UCimEsFacMz1lz6m6_MFgnmg AUDIO CREDITSPresenter–Producer: Dr. Myriam FrançoisGuest: Clara MatteiSenior Producer: Sara FarolfiProducer: Nadège BizimunguAssistant Producer: Poppy JacobsResearch: Constance CreswellVideo Editor: Max BubnovAn MPWR Productions show.Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on The Tea YouTube series and podcast are their own and do not reflect those of MPWR Productions or its licensees. The appearance of this YouTube programme and podcast on social media platforms does not imply endorsement by MPWR Productions. MPWR Productions disclaims any liability for damages arising from the use of the podcast and its recordings to the fullest extent permissible by law.This video is intended for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the guest and creators. The inclusion of public figures or journalists is based on publicly available information and does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.The views in this video do not establish a professional relationship with viewers and do not constitute legal, professional, or personal advice. Viewer discretion is advised.