logo
episode-header-image
May 27
20m 7s

Understanding Cambodia's Scam Economy, w...

The Diplomat
About this episode

Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz is joined by Jacob Sims, a columnist for The Diplomat, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, and a leading expert on transnational crime and human rights in Southeast Asia. Sims is the author of a series of essays for The Diplomat focused on the cyberscam economy in Cambodia which landed The Diplomat its first appearance as a finalist in the Society of Publishers in Asia -- or SOPA --2026 Awards for Editorial Excellence

The winners will be announced on June 18 but today we have Sims on the podcast to talk about Cambodia’s scam economy, its global reach and its domestic roots.

You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

Up next
May 18
Southeast Asia’s Mandalas of Multialignment
Prashanth Parameswaran joins the Asia Geopolitics podcast to explain how multialignment shapes Southeast Asia’s foreign policy and the region’s strategic importance.Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) are joined ... Show More
20m 43s
May 12
The Geopolitics of the Trump-Xi Meeting
Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda and Katie Putz are joined by Editor-in-Chief Shannon Tiezzi to preview U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China, where he’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There’s a bevvy of possible agenda items, but ... Show More
20m 8s
Apr 27
Iran Crisis: Pakistan’s Prominence and India’s Strategic Silence
While Pakistan has stepped up to try and mediate between the U.S. and Iran, India has taken a much quieter approach. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire has been extended indefinitely, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda ... Show More
18m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
Trump 2.0: America First, India….?
Donald Trump is back in the White House, defying predictions of a close race by securing a comfortable win against Kamala Harris. His return has significant implications for the world—and for India. From trade and tariffs to immigration and foreign policy, Trump's decisions could ... Show More
11m 22s
May 2025
Is Trump's free plane a gift too far for Republicans?
It’s Donald Trump’s first major trip in his second term as president and he’s chosen to visit the Gulf in a four-day whirlwind tour. He began in Saudi Arabia for a friendly meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among other issues he agreed to lift sanctions on Syri ... Show More
26m 37s
Oct 2024
Will conflict in the Middle East impact the US election?
How important is the United States when it comes to resolving conflict in the Middle East, and how much power does the U.S. president really have in the region? With the election just weeks away, Justin and Sarah look at how the conflict might affect voters, and what it means for ... Show More
28m 44s
Mar 2025
How should Trump deal with Putin?
<p>What do we know about President Trump’s long term strategy when it comes to dealing with Russia, and where does that leave America’s relationship with Europe and Ukraine? </p><p>Justin, Sarah and Anthony get an inside view from Celeste Wallander, one of Biden and Obama’s top s ... Show More
25m 10s
Sep 2024
Much Ado Over Ladoo
The controversy surrounding the iconic Tirupati laddoos has sparked a political firestorm. What began as allegations of adulterated ghee has escalated into a major showdown between Andhra Pradesh’s political figures, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy. Host Nidhi Sha ... Show More
24m 30s
Apr 2025
How the ‘world’s coolest dictator’ is helping Trump
Justin and Sumi take a closer look into the deepening relationship between Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, as the row over the deportation of migrants to the Central American country escalates.Could the Trump administration run into further trouble with the ... Show More
35m 22s
Sep 2025
What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Is A.I. Taking Your Job?
If you’re hunting for a job, the odds are increasingly likely you’ll have an interview with an artificial intelligence “recruiter.” And why not? It’s also increasingly likely you’ll be working with A.I. anyway. Guest: Danielle Abril, technology-in-the-workplace reporter for the W ... Show More
27m 33s
Mar 2025
Trump’s Tariff Salvo at India: The Geopolitics
What does a trade deal with the US really mean for India? How can we strengthen our global trade position while keeping crucial partnerships in defense, technology, and space safe from political crossfire? In this candid conversation, host Anirban Chowdhury sits down with ET’s Pr ... Show More
13m 7s