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
230 episodes
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...
Brutal cold threatens Ukraine as Russia continues to attack energy grid
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Alex Moore discuss the energy crisis impacting Ukraine due to relentless Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, plus more on the Munich Security Conference, Lunar New Year celebrations, former South Korean President ...
Deadly militant attacks rattle Pakistan’s restive Balochistan region
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Awais Ahmad discuss the recent militant attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan, plus more on an election in Japan, a court hearing for Bangladesh's ousted prime minister, a general strike in Argentina, and US immigration enf...
Tempers flare after Minneapolis sees its second fatal shooting by federal agents
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Joe Veyera discuss the shooting and protests in Minneapolis, plus more on South Korea and Japan’s defense ministers meeting, an election in Costa Rica, Colombia’s president visiting the White House, and the Winter Olymp...
EU-US trade on thin ice as Trump demands control of Greenland
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Owen Bonertz discuss US President Trump's demands to control Greenland, plus more on Australia Day, India’s summit with the EU, Bangladesh resuming flights with Pakistan and a US government funding deadline.Subsc...
Tensions continue to rise in Iran as Trump threatens attack amid protests
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Ahmed Namatalla discuss the deadly protests in Iran and a looming potential U.S. attack, plus more on an election in Portugal, the Davos World Economic Forum, Japan restarting a nuclear plant and a US Supreme Court hear...
Venezuela on edge after US military strike and capture of leader
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Jess Fino discuss the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela after American troops raided the country and captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro, plus more on a parliamentary election in Benin, protests in Nige...
Frustration grows as manhunt for Brown University gunman continues
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Theresa Seiger discuss the Brown University shooting and manhunt, plus more on Russian President Putin’s annual press conference, a meeting on the Thai-Cambodia border conflict, an important deadline for the French parl...
Thailand-Cambodia border conflict heats up as clashes resume
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Vivian Wang discuss the deadly border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, plus more on a general strike in Italy, elections in Libya and Chile and an ECOWAS meeting on Guinea-Bissau.Subscribe to the show...
Venezuela tensions rise as US continues drug boat strikes
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Owen Bonertz discuss rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, plus more on an annual summit for India and Russia, legislative elections in Hong Kong, a social media ban for teens in Australia and a gener...
UN backs Trump’s Gaza plan amid ceasefire violations
Editors Jimmy Lovaas and Agnese Boffano discuss the UN Security Council vote to back US President Trump's plan for Gaza, plus more on the G20 meeting in South Africa, an election in Guinea-Bissau, Mexican truckers and farmers striking and the E...