Recode Decode: Ben Hubbard

Decoder with Nilay Patel · with Ben Hubbard · March 23, 2020 · 60 min

Summary

This episode offers a critical analysis of Mohammed bin Salman's rise to power in Saudi Arabia, examining his political strategies, the international ramifications of events like the Jamal Khashoggi murder and the Jeff Bezos phone hack, and the Saudi government's use of digital tactics like Twitter bots. It's a must-listen for understanding geopolitical dynamics and the intersection of tech and authoritarianism.

Key takeaways

• Mohammed bin Salman's consolidation of power has involved resisting genuine political liberalization despite a modernizing reformer image.
• The Saudi government utilizes sophisticated Twitter bot armies to control narratives, suppress dissent, and create an illusion of widespread internal support.
• International incidents like the Khashoggi murder and Bezos phone hack are crucial for understanding Saudi Arabia's global standing and the perceived ruthlessness of its leadership.
• Investigative journalism into opaque, powerful regimes like Saudi Arabia highlights the challenges and ethical considerations of reporting on high-stakes geopolitical topics.

Topics covered

Episode description

Ben Hubbard, the Beirut bureau chief for the New York Times, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about his new book, MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed Bin Salman. Hubbard explains how he started writing about Saudi Arabia and its crown prince, MBS's unexpected rise to power, and the recent international incidents that have made him more notorious in the west: The murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and the hacking of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's phone. He also discusses the Saudi government's relationship with the Trump administration, how bin Salman has resisted political liberalization, and how he has used armies of bots on Twitter to distract critics online. Plus: Is there any meaningful dissent within Saudi Arabia that could unseat MBS? Featuring: Ben Hubbard (@nytben), author, MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed Bin Salman Host: Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large More to explore: On Reset, Arielle Duhaime-Ross explores why — and how — tech is changing everything. On Recode Media, Peter Kafka interviews business titans, journalists, comedians and podcasters about the collision of tech and media. On Pivot, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talk about the big tech news stories of the week, who's winning, who's failing, and what comes next. And on Land of the Giants, Jason Del Rey chronicled the rise of Amazon. Season 2 will focus on Netflix and is coming soon! About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Follow Us: Newsletter: Recode Daily Twitter: @Recode and @voxdotcom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Frequently asked about this episode

What's takeaway #1 from this episode?

Mohammed bin Salman's consolidation of power has involved resisting genuine political liberalization despite a modernizing reformer image.

What's takeaway #2 from this episode?

The Saudi government utilizes sophisticated Twitter bot armies to control narratives, suppress dissent, and create an illusion of widespread internal support.

What's takeaway #3 from this episode?

International incidents like the Khashoggi murder and Bezos phone hack are crucial for understanding Saudi Arabia's global standing and the perceived ruthlessness of its leadership.

What's takeaway #4 from this episode?

Investigative journalism into opaque, powerful regimes like Saudi Arabia highlights the challenges and ethical considerations of reporting on high-stakes geopolitical topics.

Listen

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