The New Spring Revolution Alliance
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Su Mon, senior analyst for the Asia Pacific at the Armed Conflict Location Event Data organisation. This week on episode 58 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Spring Revolution Alliance is formed, the military detains well-known non-violent protester Htet Myat Aung, and we review another year of war in Myanmar—and what’s around the corner in 2026. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:04) The new Spring Revolution Alliance (03:34) Htet Myat Aung detained in Mandalay (06:28) With Su Mon, conflict in 2025 (13:57) The future of conflict in 2026 (19:29) PDFs lack of...
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Military Elections Loom & Atrocities Continue
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Jared Bissinger, visiting fellow at the Myanmar Studies Program at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, and research lead at Catalyst Economics. This week on episode 57 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, a silent strike simmers in towns and cities, overseas voters shun the military’s elections, airstrikes devastate civilians, and we discuss the Myanmar national economy’s opportunities and constraints going into 2026. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:37) Military atrocities and civilian airstrikes (03:40) Silent strike against elections ...
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Fighting in Mogok & A Climate Plan for Kawthoolei
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Ah Oo, member of the secretariat of the Kawthoolei Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Committee (KNRECC), and Paul Sein Twa, co-founder and executive director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network and also a member of the KNRECC. This week on episode 56 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, election pressures and protests intensify, battles rage in and around Mogok, the regime’s scam crackdown widens, and we discuss the new Kawthoolei Climate Action Plan. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:21) Fighting in Mogok (03:16)...
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Trump Unsettles Myanmar in US
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Michael Haack, an activist and board member of Campaign for a New Myanmar. This week on episode 55 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Karen National Liberation Army takes control of a Myawaddy scam compound, the military re-enters Mogok and Mongmit, Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko visits Nay Pyi Taw, and we talk about the Trump administration’s many bombshells this week affecting the legal status of Myanmar people in the US. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:12) KNLA takes scam compound (04:30) Military 505(a) amnesty “for elections”...
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Election Violence Hits Yangon & Shwe Kokko Raided
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Joseph Young, Daily Briefing newsletter writer for Frontier Myanmar. This week on episode 54 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the Karen National Liberation Army takes another border town, the Philippines announces its 2026 ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar, the military raids the Shwe Kokko scam compound, and we talk about China’s influence on northern Shan State and what’s behind the military’s moves in Myawaddy. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:16) Election violence hits Yangon (03:21) New ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar (04:13) KNLA takes Maw Taung...
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U.S. Scam Task Force & Rohingya Boat Tragedy
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Khin Hnin Phyu Soe, freelance journalist. This week on episode 53 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the US steps up its fight against scams in Southeast Asia as the regime continues its demolitions at KK Park, another Rohingya boat tragedy occurs, the military kills over 20 civilians in its attacks around the country, and we discuss the increase in underage girls marrying to avoid conscription. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (00:59) U.S. anti-scam task force and KK park in limbo (04:30) Rohingya boat tragedy off Langkawi (05:52) Conflict updates and...
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The Future of Mogok & Murmurings on Myitsone
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Laur Kiik, Burma studies researcher and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oslo. This week on episode 52 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the military detains civilians for supposedly criticising its so-called elections, the fallout from demolitions at KK Park scam compound increases, and we discuss livelihoods at the Myitsone confluence in Kachin State—including the likelihood of the Myitsone dam hydropower project being resumed. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:02) KK park demolition fallout (02:36) Military advances and...
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TNLA Signs Ceasefire
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Aung Khant, coordinator of the Myanmar Freedom of Religion or Belief Network. This week on episode 51 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, ASEAN dithers once again, the military’s UEC announces more election updates, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army signs a ceasefire ceding Mogok and Mongmit to the military, and we discuss religious freedom in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. Email the show at Timecodes— (00:00) Opening (01:45) ASEAN summit leads nowhere (02:24) Election updates (06:11) Ta’ang National Liberation Army ceasefire (08:28)...
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Scammers' Starlink Stopped & Summit Preview
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Hunter Marston, adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This week on episode 50 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, the UEC announces election campaigning restrictions, SpaceX cuts off Starlink for scammers, and we discuss the upcoming ASEAN summit scheduled for this weekend, U.S. and Chinese policy on Myanmar, and more. Email the show at Timecodes— 01m08s :: News round up, union members freed01m52s :: UEC restricts in-person election campaigning03m29s :: Scam raids, Starlink cut08m18s :: With Hunter Marson, China policy on Myanmar20m05s :: 47th ASEAN...
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TNLA Losses, AA Gains, & a Scam Inflection Point?
What's Happening in Myanmar
With Jacob Sims, visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Centre. This week on episode 49 of What’s Happening in Myanmar, election campaign updates and voter list concerns, the military retakes Hsipaw, and we discuss human trafficking and the fallout of the scam crackdown from earlier this year. Email the show at Timecodes— 01m10s :: Election updates 04m07s :: Nat Yay Kan lost to AA 05m02s :: PDF prison breakout in Hakha 05m46s :: Hsipaw lost to the military 07m20s :: With Jacob Sims, TIP human trafficking report 18m55s :: Scams since the crackdown 23m48s :: Indictment of Chen...
info_outlineWith Emily Fishbein, freelance journalist currently serving as a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network fellow, and Hpan Ja Brang, social justice activist and freelance journalist from Kachinland. This week on What’s Happening in Myanmar, the TNLA pushed firmly on the defensive, the Arakan Army permits Starlink registrations in war-torn Rakhine State, and we discuss the KIA’s resumption of rare earth mining around Pangwa.
Email the show at whimyanmar@proton.me
Timecodes—
01m04s :: TNLA put on the defensive
02m26s :: Arakan Army allows Starlink
05m16s :: With Emily Fishbein and Hpan Ja Brang, the Pangwa mining pause
33m50s :: Holding the KIO to account
42m43s :: Close
Our guests—
Emily Fishbein, freelance journalist currently serving as a Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Network fellow
Hpan Ja Brang, social justice activist and freelance journalist from Kachinland
Their feature story: ‘Strategic bargaining chips’: Kachin’s rare earth mining pause
Other new content on the Frontier website:
‘Worse than ever’: Inwa tourism in ruins
Bribes, graft and kickbacks: Corruption with impunity