Factal Forecast
Factal Forecast takes a look at the biggest news stories coming in the next week and why they matter. From the editors at Factal, we publish our forward-looking podcast each Thursday to help you get a jump-start on the week ahead.
Episodes
240 episodes
Muslim region in Philippines holds historic election as separatist violence concerns persist
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Matthew Hipolito discuss election-related violence in the southern Philippines' Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, plus more on a NATO Chiefs of Defense meeting, the UN General Assembly Debate, elections i...
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attack Saudi Arabia, threatening to expand Iran war
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the escalation of the war in Yemen, plus more on the BRICS summit, a parliamentary election in Sweden, Mexico’s Independence Day, and a parliamentary election in Russia. Subscribe to ...
Nepal flood death toll tops 1,200 as rescuers race to find thousands more missing
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Halima Mansoor discuss the devastating flooding in Nepal, plus more on a rail strike in Italy, the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11...
Southern Thailand rocked by coordinated arson attacks
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Halima Mansoor discuss the recent coordinated arson attacks in southern Thailand, plus more on a voting rights march in Washington, D.C., a constitutional referendum in Guinea-Bissau, the start of the US Open, and a pre...
US government pauses Big Bend National Park border project as backlash grows
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Joe Veyera discuss a controversial border project involving Big Bend National Park in Texas, plus more on an IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., an annual speech from Singapore’s prime minister, a doctors’ strike in Parag...
Rescuers race to find survivors after deadly Colombia earthquake
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jeff Landset discuss the deadly earthquake in Colombia, plus more on Pakistan's Independence Day, the migrant influx in Spain’s Ceuta, several primary elections in the US, and tariffs on Canada possibly kicking in.<...
Misinformation triggers deadly border rush by migrants in Spanish territory of Ceuta
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jess Fino discuss the rush of migrants at the border between Morocco and the Spanish territory of Ceuta, plus more on a WorldPride March in Amsterdam, regional elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, several primary...
Chile hit with catastrophic flooding as El Niño threatens even more rain
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jeff Landset discuss the devastating flooding in Chile, plus more on an election in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a State of the Nation Address in the Philippines, an inauguration for Peru’s new president, and a meetin...
US-Iran hostilities heat up as other regional conflicts threaten to boil over
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the renewed U.S. blockade and attacks on Iran as well as new escalations in Yemen, plus more on Colombia’s new congress getting started, former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appearing in a ...
Death toll and damage estimates soar after catastrophic earthquakes in Venezuela
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jeff Landset discuss the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, plus more on the 250th Independence Day in the United States, an impeachment trial for Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, Israel attending a UN p...
First named storm of 2026 Atlantic hurricane season brings flooding to US Gulf coast
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Alex Moore discuss the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, plus more on Juneteenth, a runoff election in Colombia, primary elections in New York, Maryland, and Utah, and the World Cup “Pride Match.”...
Dozens killed and thousands displaced after powerful earthquake rocks southern Philippines
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Halima Mansoor discuss the earthquake in the southern Philippines that's left dozens dead, hundreds injured, and thousands displaced, plus more on a UFC fight at the White House, a referendum in Switzerland, the EU Summ...
US plan to open Ebola quarantine center in Kenya sparks deadly protest
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Halima Mansoor discuss protests in Kenya over an Ebola quarantine facility for Americans, plus more on an oil workers strike in Norway, elections in Armenia and Peru, and the opening game of the World Cup.Subscri...
US-Iran peace deal remains elusive despite Trump’s claim it’s ‘largely negotiated’
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jordan Seagrove discuss the elusive Iran peace deal, plus more on the Champions League Final, elections in Colombia and Ethiopia, and a general strike in Portugal.Subscribe to the show:
Bolivia gripped by nationwide protests as it faces worst economic crisis in decades
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jeff Landset discuss the protests spreading across Bolivia amid their worst economic crisis in decades, plus more on an election in Cyprus, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, talks on a U.S.-Mexico-...
Iran war at impasse as Trump rejects peace proposal, says ceasefire ‘on life support’
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the Iran war impasse and growing public concern, plus more on a primary election in Louisiana, a general strike in Italy, Taiwan’s legislature voting on impeachment against President Lai, and NOA...
Hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands as fifth case confirmed
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Matthew Hipolito discuss the deadly hantavirus outbreak affecting a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, plus more on Victory Day in Russia, a U.S. Supreme Court deadline on an abortion drug, a national strike in Belgium,...
Mali rocked by attacks from alliance of al-Qaida-linked militants and separatists
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Owen Bonertz discuss the recent coordinated attacks across Mali by al-Qaida-linked militants and separatists, plus more on the UAE's exit from OPEC, South Korea’s plan for nuclear-powered submarines, local elections in ...
Iran threatens retaliation as US blockade of Iranian ports continues
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the Iran blockade, plus more on air traffic controllers striking in Spain, an election in Bulgaria, Trump’s tariff refund tool going live, and a redistricting referendum in Virginia.Our...
Heavy rains and floods kill dozens in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Awais Ahmad discuss the deadly flooding in Afghanistan and Pakistan, plus more on elections in Peru and Benin, meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and a major strike impacting the Los Angeles...
Ukrainian drones violate Baltic airspace amid campaign to hammer Russian oil exports
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and James Morgan discuss Ukraine's recent strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and the drones that have strayed into Baltic and Finnish airspace, plus more on elections in the Maldives, U.S. Vice President Vance visiting H...
Travelers and TSA workers feel the pain as DHS shutdown drags on
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Joe Veyera discuss the ongoing DHS shutdown, plus more on Eid al-Fitr coming amid war in the Middle East, elections in Slovenia and Denmark, and FIFA qualifiers in Mexico.Subscribe to the show:
Iran war continues as ships targeted in vital waterway
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the latest escalations in the Iran war, plus more on Kazakhstan voting on a new constitution, an election in Vietnam, trade negotiators from the U.S. and Mexico meeting, and a European Council Su...
Killing of cartel leader sparks days of narco-terrorism in Mexico
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Alex Moore discuss the killing of Mexican cartel leader "El Mencho" and the deadly narco-terrorism that followed, plus more on Senate primaries in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas, the annual meetings of China's top l...
US weighs possible strikes in Iran as nuclear talks drag on
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the threat of U.S. strikes in Iran, plus more on U.S. Supreme Court opinions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Israel, an International Criminal Court hearing against former Phi...