Javier Milei's rise is marked by his emergence as a prominent Argentine economist, political commentator, and politician. Known for his charismatic and unconventional style, Milei gained widespread attention for challenging traditional economic policies and advocating for free-market principles. His critique of government intervention, fiscal conservatism, and bold communication style contributed to his popularity. The MO's Manila Chan speaks to Argentine journalist Lautaro Fernández about Milei and Argentina's future under his leadership.

Gonzalo Lira tragically died in an Ukrainian prison earlier this month after languishing for weeks in what some have called a 'dungeon'. The American-Chilean YouTube commentator, filmmaker, and journalist gathered a large audience over YouTube following Russia's special military operation in February 2022. His consistent criticism of the Ukrainian government from his apartment in Kharkov soon landed him in hot water with the authorities, leading to a dramatic escape attempt across the border into Hungary after being released from an initial prison sentence in 2023. Now global outrage over his death is focusing attention on the United States' decided lack of intervention on behalf of an American citizen and the torturous prison conditions for Gonzalo in Ukraine. On this episode of the MO Manila Chan is joined by the Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute Daniel McAdams to discuss this latest attack on free speech in the so-called 'free world.'

The Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit was held in San Francisco, California and featured representatives from some of the most powerful economies in the world, including the United States and China. This summit set in place an imperative meeting between the presidents of the world's largest economies: Joe Biden of the U.S. and Xi Jinping of China. What was accomplished at the summit and could a conference like this improve relations between China and The U.S.? The M.O.'s Manila Chan speaks to geopolitical analyst Anna Ge about the future of such summits. 

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been ongoing since the last years of the Soviet Union. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have made historical claims over the disputed territory; this prompted the first war in the early 1990s. The Armenians were victorious in the first war, but the second war favored Azerbaijan, who 'reclaimed' several territories, including the historical city of Shusha. What sparked this territorial dispute and why does it remain a hot topic for peace between the neighboring nations? The MO's Manila Chan speaks to Syrian-Armenian journalist Kevork Almassian about the conflict and what it will take to establish peace between the two nations.

In this installment of The Modus Operandi, host Manila Chan explores the issue of political corruption in Ukraine. From American mainstream media to the halls of Congress and even neighboring states, there has been a gradual decline in support. Today, we engage in a conversation with former Ukrainian diplomat and whistleblower Andrii Telezhenko, who will dissect the reasons behind the diminishing veneer of victory and support for Volodymyr Zelensky