Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Max Moser
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] cfr.org/article/how-drone-war-ukraine-transforming-conflict
[2] nytimes.com/2024/07/02/technology/ukraine-war-ai-weapons.html
[3] https://www.politico.eu/article/robots-coming-ukraine-testing-ground-ai-artificial-intelligence-powered-combat-war-russia/
[4] breakingdefense.com/2024/02/the-revolution-that-wasnt-how-ai-drones-have-fizzled-in-ukraine-so-far
[5] anduril.com
To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days, visit brilliant.org/wendover
Youtube: YouTube.com/WendoverProductions
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Max Moser
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] cfr.org/article/how-drone-war-ukraine-transforming-conflict
[2] nytimes.com/2024/07/02/technology/ukraine-war-ai-weapons.html
[3] https://www.politico.eu/article/robots-coming-ukraine-testing-ground-ai-artificial-intelligence-powered-combat-war-russia/
[4] breakingdefense.com/2024/02/the-revolution-that-wasnt-how-ai-drones-have-fizzled-in-ukraine-so-far
[5] anduril.com
![Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Conquer Global Golf
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] https://wrestlenomics.com/2020/11/09/how-we-know-wwe-gets-paid-about-50-million-by-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia-for-each-event/
[2] https://companiesmarketcap.com/entertainment/largest-entertainment-companies-by-market-cap/
[3] https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.533776/gov.uscourts.nysd.533776.57.0.pdf
[4] https://wrestlenomics.com/2022/09/20/opinion-crown-jewel-main-event-shows-wwe-still-has-at-least-one-dictator/
[5] https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/players-support-pga-tour-saudi-arabia-super-golf-league/
[6] https://golf.com/news/timeline-liv-golf-how-we-arrived-pro-golf-civil-war/
[7] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/sports/golf/senate-hearing-pga-liv-saudi.html?searchResultPosition=5
[8] https://golf.com/news/how-liv-golf-vs-pga-tour-began/
[9] https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-10-PSI-Majority-Staff-Memorandu[…]bian-Public-Investment-Fund-with-Consolidated-Appendix.pdf Saudi Arabia’s Plan to Conquer Global Golf](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mYGTNHfgZ8E/mqdefault.jpg)

![The Most Dangerous Subway in America
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Max Moser
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Select visuals courtesy the Boston Globe
References
[1] https://transitapp.com/apta
[2] https://www.massdottracker.com/wp/divisions/mbta/mbta-budget-capital-performance/#:~:text=This%20measures%20how%20much%20of,in%20FY19%20before%20the%20pandemic
[3] https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/FY24%20Itemized%20Budget.pdf
[4] https://news.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/born_broke.pdf
[5] https://www.mbta.com/leadership/mbta-board-directors
[6] https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-08/FTA-Safety-Management-Inspection-Report-for-MBTA-and-DPU_0.pdf The Most Dangerous Subway in America](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nDXsVhFG7TE/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Logistics of Evacuating Afghanistan
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Writing by Sam Denby
Research by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References:
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-58219963?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=611935efd825f75cc4e28bc2%26%27Kabul%20airport%20under%20fire%27%20-%20US%20embassy%262021-08-15T15%3A55%3A53.917Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:25e5f939-3186-47a5-a0a0-32ad03b6b4aa&pinned_post_asset_id=611935efd825f75cc4e28bc2&pinned_post_type=share
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-58219963?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=61194b77de5452771131ec4e%26Commercial%20flights%20out%20of%20Kabul%20suspended%262021-08-15T17%3A24%3A36.924Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:03317446-1415-4a20-8707-3fcdaa47cbe4&pinned_post_asset_id=61194b77de5452771131ec4e&pinned_post_type=share
[3] https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1426815375707099136?s=20
[4] https://twitter.com/Zabehulah_M33/status/1426905752782966786?s=20
[5] https://twitter.com/MilMonWorld/status/1427025918652977156?s=20
[6] https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-from-the-department-of-state-and-department-of-defense-update-on-afghanistan/
[7] https://twitter.com/NicolaCareem/status/1427122975971561475?s=20
[8] https://twitter.com/Maxar/status/1427287696578392064?s=20
[9] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-58219963?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=611a061627b37217d37d5261%26US%20takes%20control%20of%20Kabul%20airport%20to%20evacuate%20staff%20from%20country%262021-08-16T06%3A44%3A51.544Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:64cf88b5-cfe1-46c9-9e33-dee403c5819e&pinned_post_asset_id=611a061627b37217d37d5261&pinned_post_type=share
[10] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-58219963?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=611a1acc27b37217d37d5283%26Deaths%20reported%20at%20Kabul%20airport%262021-08-16T08%3A29%3A37.467Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d48f6464-902d-495b-b752-db87275ed935&pinned_post_asset_id=611a1acc27b37217d37d5283&pinned_post_type=share
Select footage courtesy Getty and AP; Select imagery courtesy Geolayers; Select music courtesy Epidemic sound The Logistics of Evacuating Afghanistan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o4tuhWvKduU/mqdefault.jpg)

![Samsung’s Dangerous Dominance over South Korea
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] https://www.eia.gov/international/rankings/world?pa=264&u=0&f=A&v=none&y=01%2F01%2F2021&ev=fals
[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/264439/oil-reserves-in-selected-countries-since-1990/
[3] https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/KOR/south-korea/gdp-gross-domestic-product
[4] https://medium.com/@aislingbhroin/the-korean-war-the-importance-of-a-forgotten-war-e7772b7b322
[5] https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/gdp-per-capita
[6] https://images.samsung.com/is/content/samsung/assets/global/ir/docs/2020_Business_Report.pdf
[7] https://research-doc.credit-suisse.com/docView?language=ENG&format=PDF&source_id=csplusresearchcp&document_id=1034191531&serialid=aedFqU4PFKhOIEqdnUM5dJs447EiSMsRWJSv8JjJFu4%3D&cspId=null
[8] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1314374/south-korea-samsung-groups-revenue-as-a-share-of-gdp/
[9] https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/closer-look-samsung-offers-insights-south-korean-society
[10] https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/04/19/474621999/to-the-list-of-high-stakes-tests-in-korea-add-the-samsung-sat
[11] https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/why-samsungs-lee-jae-yong-might-have-bribed-choi-soon-sil/
[12] https://www.kjis.org/journal/view.html?spage=203&volume=3&number=1#T1
[13] https://www.piie.com/publications/chapters_preview/341/2iie3373.pdf Samsung’s Dangerous Dominance over South Korea](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oL0umpPPe-8/mqdefault.jpg)
![The NFLs Logistics Problem
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Animation by Vincent de Langen
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Special thanks to Patreon supporters Adam Chelminski, Arkadiy Kulev, Charles Zilinski, Chris Allen, Connor J Smith, Daddy Donald, Etienne Dechamps, Eyal Matsliah, Hank Green, John & Becki Johnston, Kyle, MyNameIsKir, Plinio Correa, Qui Le, Remi_Scarlet, Tom Dooner, Tyler Hamm, and Vaughn Mudrick
Music by http://epidemicsound.com
Select footage courtesy the AP Archive
Delta 757 video courtesy PDX Aviation
References:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sports_leagues_by_revenue
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sports_leagues_by_revenue
[3] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1640782-the-anatomy-of-a-53-man-roster-in-the-nfl
[4] http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ee4faa/article/team-travel-directors-preparing-as-if-there-will-be-a-2011-season
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/8hf8eu/mlb_team_charter_planes/?st=jygao9i9&sh=71d96432; https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ua2505
[6] https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ua2534
[7] https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ua2534
[8] https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n76054
[9] https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n76064
[10] https://onemileatatime.com/nfl-charter-flights/
[11] https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/dl8870; https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/dl8871
[12] https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2018/05/28/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NFL-planes.aspx
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_International_Series
[14] https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/where-is-the-nfl-headed-next
[15] https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/la-sp-chargers-london-20181019-story.html; https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertkidd/2018/10/10/uk-definitely-ready-for-london-nfl-team/#4f6fbfe1220a
[16] https://www.espn.com/soccer/tottenham-hotspur/story/3108630/nfl-helping-fund-new-tottenham-hotspur-stadium-sources
[17] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/18/sports/football/seattle-seahawks-london.html
[18] https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/inside-the-buffalo-bills-hotel-the-grove-watford-home-to-the-first-uk-eclipse-hybrid-turf-pitch.html
[19] https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/roger-goodell-on-nfl-in-london-theres-no-question-a-team-could-be-successful-here/
[20] https://www.privatefly.com/us/private-jets/large-airliner-hire/Boeing-747-400; https://www.paramountbusinessjets.com/aircraft/boeing-747-400.html; https://thepointsguy.com/news/touring-crystal-skye-777/; https://www.cntraveler.com/story/this-private-boeing-787-dreamliner-costs-74000-dollars-an-hour;
[21] https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-not-excited-for-long-plane-flight-but-eager-for-a-new-experience-and-hopefully-getting-a-win-in-london/
[22] https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/8/27/12672296/hawaii-schedule-2016
[23] https://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2017/9/6/general-hawaiian-airlines-uh-athletics-team-up-for-2017-18-sports-travel.aspx
[24] https://sunwolves.or.jp/en/schedule/2019/ The NFLs Logistics Problem](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pJ_LUFBSoqM/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Electric Vehicle Charging Problem
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Writing by Sam Denby
Research by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
Select footage courtesy the AP Archive
References
[1] https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/surveying-consumers-electric-vehicles
[2] https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/master-site/en/global/home/technology-and-innovation/electric-vehicle-adoption/accelerating_the_evolution_study.pdf
[3] https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev; https://www.tesla.com/model3/design#overview; https://www.nissanusa.com/shopping-tools/build-price/cars/nissan-leaf/2021/40-kwh/29125:BABYp:AqoD5iM/exterior; https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10567
[4] https://www.tesla.com/model3/design#overview; https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev;
[5] https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/updated-model-3-charging-profiles-durations.145054/; https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-ev; https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/electric-cars/leaf/features/range-charging-battery.html
[6] https://neo.ubs.com/shared/d1N4RjMdUf/; https://insideevs.com/news/444567/electrify-america-new-lower-rates/
[7] https://neo.ubs.com/shared/d1N4RjMdUf/
[8] https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-tsla-4q-earnings-report-2020-11611708257
[9] https://www.plugshare.com/location/284932
[10] https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/16/standardization-of-ev-charging-in-the-eu/
[11] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020
[12] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020
Musicbed SyncID:
MB01HTQRCFL7NVP The Electric Vehicle Charging Problem](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pLcqJ2DclEg/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Gov Agency That Manages Americas Worst Land
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Max Moser
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
References
[1] https://kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/2016/01/05/checkered-past/
[2] https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/map-hiking-route-ufo-skip-site-roswell-nm-2024.pdf
[3] https://burningman.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-BMP-SRP-Additional-Stipulations.pdf
[4] https://journal.burningman.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BLM_BurningMan2023_Inspection.pdf
[5] https://exhibits.stanford.edu/rr/catalog/tb303xn7959
[6] https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/nepa/93518/175008/212562/Burning_Man_Event_SRP-Final_EIS_Vol2.pdf
[7] https://www.unitedcountry.com/properties/co/colorado-cattle-ranch-with-grazing-permits-for-sale/1064132/ The Gov Agency That Manages Americas Worst Land](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qARQV3WDv4o/mqdefault.jpg)
![The One Tiny Law That Keeps Amtrak Terrible
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
Historic US rail map data courtesy Bygone Maps, LLC and licensed under CC-BY-SA (historic rail graphics correspondently avaliable under a CC-BY-SA license)
References
[1] https://homesignalblog.wordpress.com/2021/12/27/efficiency-and-the-decline-of-american-freight-railroads/
[2] https://wx4.org/to/foam/maps/2Wx4/001/1905-05ColoradoMidland_PTT.pdf
[3] https://wx4.org/to/foam/maps/2Wx4/001/1909ca_SP-SRR-A%26WP-L%26N_WashingtonSunsetRoute.pdf
[4] https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/28-class-i-operating-ratios-reach-new-lows-in-2019/
[5] https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/class-i-operating-ratios-reach-another-new-low-despite-pandemic/
[6] https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/Amtrak_Root_Causes_Final_Report_9_8_08_with_508_charts.pdf
[7] https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Host-Railroad-Report-Card-2021-Final-v2.pdf
[8] https://www.freightwaves.com/news/economics/flashback-friday-interstate-commerce-commission-1-2
[9] https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsleaders-jp-morgan-greatly-influenced-us-railroads-in-the-late-19th-century
[10] https://www.enotrans.org/article/amtrak-at-50-the-rail-passenger-service-act-of-1970/
[11] https://transportgeography.org/contents/applications/rail-deregulation-united-states/ The One Tiny Law That Keeps Amtrak Terrible](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qQTjLWIHN74/mqdefault.jpg)
