The Great State Mural - Mongolia Portrayed

Jaksot

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  Detained for Thinking: Mongolia's Free Speech Crisis 16.09.2026 45min

  A philosopher says, "There are no such people as Mongolians." Two weeks later, he's in pretrial detention.Molor-Erdene—a controversial Mongolian philosopher and public intellectual—was detained on September 2nd under Article 19.9 of the Criminal Code, which covers "undermining national unity," a charge carrying a sentence of five to twelve years. His alleged crime: stating on a Facebook talk show that "Mongolians" as a people don't exist, that Chinggis Khan wasn't Mongol, and that Mongolia's historical identity is a construction that holds the country back from thinking about its future.We break down what Molor-Erdene actually argued, and was his argument were sufficient to be detained. More importantly, we examine what this case reveals about the state of free speech in Mongolia: a "national unity" law loosely used to undermine freedom of speech, a Justice Minister with a pattern of deploying legal power against critics, and a political environment where the chilling effect may already be doing its job.We also ask: where was the Justice Minister when an MP was on attacking Mongolia's Kazakh minority with racist language? Why is abstract philosophical provocation a criminal matter, but concrete ethnic discrimination is not?NOTE: Minister of Justice, S Amarsaikhan was dismissed on Sept. 16 on unrelated issues discussed in this episode.Please comment and rate the show,And If you have suggestions for the show get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd you can support us at Buy Me a Coffee — buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural — thank you. or Donate directly to our bank account: MN790015003105153063Hosts: Anand, Dolgion, JulianKeywords: Mongolia | free speech | national unity | Molor-Erdene | Amarsaikhan | censorship | authoritarianism | Freedom of Speech | Chinggis Khaan|
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  Mongolia Hosts the World: COP17 02.09.2026 1t 1min

  COP17 is over. Nearly 200 parties spent two weeks in Ulaanbaatar trying to turn desertification pledges into actual action. Did the parties turn their pledges into unanimous binding declarations?We discuss how COP17 turned out, the major decisions, and the overall sentiment. We are joined by guests who know more about Rio conventions, Enkhuun Byambadorj of Breathe Mongolia, who worked with the UNCCD's Civil Society Organizations panel throughout, and Sainsanaa Amarsanaa, COP29 youth delegate and the host of the Beyond Greenhouse podcast.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comSupport us on Buy Me a Coffee: The Great State MuralLocal bank account: MN790015003105153063Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHosts: Anand Tumurtogoo, Julian DierkesGuests: Enkhuun Byambadorj (Breathe Mongolia), Sainsanaa Amarsanaa (Beyond Greenhouse)Keywords: COP17 | UNCCD | Mongolia | desertification | land restoration | civil society | drought | Ulaanbaatar
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  Running on Fumes: Can Mongolia Find an Alternative to Their Fuel Crisis? 19.08.2026 55min

  Mongolia has been facing fuel shortages since the start of summer. The conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and Ukraine's drone strikes on key Russian infrastructure have had their measure impact on Mongolia's fuel supplies. Even as reports show fuel being constantly transported into Mongolia, the country has had less than 20 days of reserves. Recently, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources went around Ulaanbaatar cracking down on petrol businesses that have been lying about running out of fuel. This has caused major disruptions across the country. This isn't the first time Mongolia has faced fuel shortages, but should this be a wake-up call for Mongolia to plan ahead, look for alternatives -- even look towards China's booming EVs and let go of its old fears of China? We discuss this with Telmen Altanshagai, an energy security specialist, and her recent article in The Diplomat.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you're a supporter of us at Buy Me a Coffee, The Great State Mural — thank you for keeping the show going.Local Bank account for donations: MN790015003105153063Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHosts: Anand, DolgionGuest: Telmen AltanshagaiKeywords: Mongolia | fuel shortage | energy security | Russia | Strait of Hormuz | Ukraine war | electrification | China
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  Remembering Natsagdorj, father of Modern Mongolian Literature 05.08.2026 1t 9min

  Simon Wickham-Smith joins us on this episode. Simon is the foremost scholar and translator of contemporary Mongolian literature into English, he's spent decades bringing Mongolian prose and poetry to readers who'd otherwise have no way in — work that culminated in Politics and Literature in Mongolia (1921-48), one of the only English-language studies of the period. Simon and we discuss his book and what Natsagdorj Dashdorj meant to Mongolians and why he is so revered and should he be revered.Here is the link to Simon's book: Politics and Literature in Mongolia (1921-1948) | Simon Wickhamsmith |Simon’s podcast conversation about that book on New Books Network: East Asian StudiesAnd here is the link to read English translation of the Tears of Venerable Lama: TEARS OF A VENERABLE LAMA | Translation StudiesIf you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you're a supporter of us at Buy Me a Coffee, The Great State Mural — thank you for keeping the show going. And if you live in Mongolia you can directly support the podcast by donating to our account:Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHosts: Anand, JulianGuest: Simon Wickham-SmithKeywords: Mongolia | Natsagdorj | Mongolian literature | Simon Wickham-Smith | 1921 revolution | Mongolian People's Republic | translation | poetry | Soviet literature
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  Modern Mongolia, and Traditional Festivities (NAADAM) 08.07.2026 48min

  We sat down and spoke with Dorjpagma "Dono" from Modern Mongolia. Modern Mongolia is a page that tries to shed light on Mongolia's culture, both past and present. The page—and formerly the podcast—has helped many Mongolia enthusiasts understand the country's nuances, as well as the current developments in its culture. As this episode coincides with Mongolia's biggest holiday, it would be almost sacrilegious not to talk about Naadam: its significance for Mongolians, and how hard it can be for some of them to truly engage with the sporting events at the heart of the holiday.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you're a supporter at Buy Me a Coffee, buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural — thank you for keeping the show going.For anyone in Mongolia, you can donate to Agula Media’s Golomt Bank Account: MN790015003105153063. Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHosts: Anand, JulianGuest: Dorj Bagam (Dono — Modern Mongolia, @modernmongolia on Instagram)Keywords: Mongolia | Naadam | Eriin Gurvan Naadam | wrestling | horse racing | archery | cultural heritage | Modern Mongolia | tradition | child jockeys
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  Russia and Mongolia, the big brother 24.06.2026 53min

  For decades, Russia was the "big brother" — the country that built Mongolia's industry, schooled its elites, and shaped a century of its history. China gets the headlines now. But Russia never left, and the war in Ukraine has dragged the relationship back into the light.Social and cultural anthropologist Dr. Marissa J. Smith joins us to map where Mongolia stands with Russia in 2026. Holding degrees in anthropology and Russian from Princeton University and Beloit College, her research traces where post-socialist and Western communities of practice meet in rural space — exactly the terrain where Russia's hold on Mongolia is most tangible. We dig into what still binds the two countries: the 2016 Erdenet takeover and Mongolrostvetmet, fuel dependence, geography, and the long shadow of shared history.Then we turn to the present. How has the invasion of Ukraine narrowed Mongolia's room to maneuver? What was Putin's visit — staged under an ICC arrest warrant — really meant to signal, and to whom? Is the Mongolian public, and especially its younger generation, growing more critical of Russia than its government dares to be? And is Power of Siberia 2 the game-changer it's sold as, or a project still waiting on someone who needs it badly enough?Russia is still a counterbalance to China — but for how much longer, as the two neighbors draw closer?If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you're a supporter of us at Buy Me a Coffee, The Great State Mural — thank you for keeping the show going.Three Universals: The Big BrotherThe big brother helps us.The big brother tells us what to do.The big brother is still watching.Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHosts: Anand, Dolgion, JulianGuest: Dr. Marissa J. SmithKeywords: Mongolia | Russia | Ukraine war | Putin | Power of Siberia 2 | foreign policy | China | post-socialism
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  Defamation, Repealed — Defamation, Reloaded 10.06.2026 1t 2min

  Mongolia's Parliament repealed Article 13.14 — the criminal defamation clause that haunted the country's journalists for years. A victory for press freedom? Not so fast.Duuya Baatar, founder and chairperson of the Nest Center for Journalism and Innovation Development and founder of the Mongolian Fact Checking Center, joins us to explain why the repeal is only a beginning. The numbers tell the story: between 2020 and 2024, more than 2,000 cases were opened under 13.14. Only 5% ever reached a court. Just 0.3% ended in a guilty verdict. The other 99.7%? Journalists dragged from police station to police station, district to district — too busy defending themselves to do their jobs. Intimidation by procedure. SLAPP, Mongolian style.And 13.14 was never the only weapon. Over 100 Mongolian laws regulate media or information in some form. Clauses 17.6 and Provision 19 are already being deployed against newsrooms. Now Parliament wants a replacement defamation law — one that defines AI-generated content as false information, grants special protection to public officials who simply deny the facts, threatens whistleblowers with disqualification from office, and covers even what you say out loud in a meeting or a classroom. A boy was already detained for making a meme.So what happens when a Press Freedom Bill regulates more than it frees? When the Constitutional Court hands civil society its strongest legal tool in decades, can advocates use it before lawmakers write the next sleeping provision? And why are Mongolia's politicians so afraid of criticism in the first place?The law is dead. What comes to replace it may be worse.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you're a supporter at Buy Me a Coffee, buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural — thank you for keeping the show going.Three Universals: The Three Sins of the StateThe gossipers of the khashaa have sinned.The bearers of truth have sinned.The writers of posterity have sinned.
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  Mongolian People's Party Civil War 2.0 27.05.2026 50min

  On May 16th, Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor dismissed Ulaanbaatar Mayor Nyambaatar Khisgee, citing his failure to control surging beef prices and alleged corruption in the Tuul Highway construction project. Nyambaatar fired back, saying that the charges are fabricated, the dismissal is political, and Uchral only has his job because he took away Oyun-Erdene's election victory. He vowed to fight until he ripped the three veins from his lungs.We break down what's really happening inside the MPP. Is this a legitimate anti-corruption move — or a factional purge? Who actually controls the party's money, and what does that mean for the 2028 elections?And if you're a supporter at Buy Me a Coffee, buymeacoffee.com/greatstatemural — thank you for keeping the show going.Keywords: Mongolia | MPP | Ulaanbaatar | Mongolian politics | Mongolia's Democratic Party | Inflation | budget deficit | Strait of Hormuz
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  Six Headlines for the month of May 23.05.2026 12min

  The Democratic Party elects a former finance minister — once imprisoned on money laundering allegations tied to the Oyu Tolgoi deal — as their new General Secretary, and possibly their presidential candidate for 2027. Parliament debates holding hearings on the Epstein files, with two former Mongolian presidents named in the documents. A government ministry posts an AI-written condolence statement full of factual errors about a beloved writer, the minister deflects all blame, and the person who hit "post" loses their job — Mongolia's first documented firing over AI use. A 19-year-old conscript soldier dies in a hazing incident, the latest in a long pattern the military cannot seem to stop. A landmark Constitutional Court ruling against a criminal defamation law is being quietly replaced by something journalists say could be even worse. And Prime Minister Uchral fires the mayor of Ulaanbaatar in a very public market visit — a move that could signal the next round of civil war inside the Mongolian People's Party.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me a Coffee, The Great State Mural, you can access bonus content and help keep this show going.Host: AnandKeywords: Mongolia | Democratic Party | AI government | press freedom | military hazing | Ulaanbaatar mayor | Mongolian People's Party
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  Disinformation and its effect on Mongolia 13.05.2026 50min

  Disinformation is not just a media problem. It is a democracy problem—and in Mongolia, it is becoming a crisis.Researcher and civic activist Batsugar Tsedendamba, board member of the Independent Research Institute of Mongolia (IRIM), joins us to unpack IRIM's landmark study on Mongolia's disinformation landscape. Who is spreading it? Who is funding it? And who is hurting from it? We examine domestic and foreign sources of disinformation and how social media has amplified its reach.If you have suggestions for our show, please get in touch at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me a Coffee, The Great State Mural. You can listen to extra recordings as we dig further into Mongolia's civic space and what real democratic accountability might look like.[Three Universals] the "Fool":Fool me once, shame on you.Fool me twice, shame on me.Fool me three or more times—then I am not the fool, you are the fool! WHO is western propaganda. It is the vaccines that is how they control you. You are THE fool!Hosts: Anand, DolgionGuest: Batsugar TsedendambaKeywords: democracy | disinformation | civil society | media | politics
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  K G Hutchins “A Song for the Horses” - Many Wonders of the Morin Khuur 10.05.2026 1t 6min

  The morin khuur—the Horse Head Fiddle—is one of Mongolia's most recognizable traditional musical instruments and symbols: a bridge between the nation and the horse, a tool that invokes the Khiimori, and much more.Ethnomusicologist ⁠Kip Hutchins⁠, author of A Song for the Horses, breaks all of these aspects down. We speak with Kip about the morin khuur as a living tool in herding practice. Follow Kip on ⁠BlueSky⁠.If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.Three Universals to “Defray Boasting“:The foolish man praises himself.The unfoolish man praises his wife.The least foolish man praises his horse.Show notes:New Book Networks podcast interview with KG HutchinsArtists mentioned during the conversation, roughly in order of their mention:Story of the Weeping Camel (film)⁠Bayan Mongol Variety Group⁠: Жалам хар (A Black Horse)The Hu⁠Soyol Erdene⁠⁠Altan Urag⁠Bold: Mongol Pop⁠Aryuna Nimaeva⁠: Эрбэд соохор (Erbed Sokhor)Jonon⁠Namgar⁠⁠Altai-Khangai⁠⁠Khusugtun⁠
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  $1 Billion Highway: A path to progress, or is it an environmental catastrophe for Ulaanbaatar? 10.05.2026 52min

  Ulaanbaatar's mayor wants to build a $1 billion highway along the Tuul River—the city's last remaining river and the primary source of water for 1.7 million people. The mayor contends that the project is essential to alleviate Ulaanbaatar's congestion issues, and he has thoroughly evaluated all environmental risks. But experts can't get the data for the project. Where are the environmental impact assessments? Why wasn't the public consulted before approving the project?In this episode, we sit down with urban governance expert and civil engineer Anu-Ujin Lkhagvasuren, who has spent five years working with the municipality and the World Bank on Ulaanbaatar's transportation challenges. She breaks down why building more roads has never solved traffic congestion anywhere in the world, why the mayor's own numbers don't add up, and what she believes is really driving 24 simultaneous mega-projects in a city that can barely keep its lights on. We also get into Belt and Road debt traps, forged signatures on environmental documents, and whether the #SaveTuul movement can win.52minHosts: Anand, DolgionGuest: Anu-Ujin LkhagvasurenDate Recorded: April 2 2026Original Release Date: April 4 2026Keywords: urban planning | corruption | Ulaanbaatar
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  Ulaanbaatar Stories - Julian’s Visit to UB 10.05.2026 51min

  Recently Julian visited Mongolia, mainly Ulaanbaatar, in late March and early April. We discuss the things he noticed during his latest visit to the coldest capital in the world—Ulaanbaatar.51minHosts: Anand, Dolgion, JulianDate Recorded: Apr 10 2026Original Release date: Apr 15 2026Keywords: Ulaanbaatar | social change | art & cultureShow notes:Blog posts:Change in Ulaanbaatar (regular notes since 2011)Foreign Policy UpdateProducts, Projects and Locations mentioned:OchironeRoomKukhnar Contemporary Art SpaceBird Jazz CaféHeritage WorkshopGer Lamp
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  Is Mongolia actually a democracy, or is it just performing like one? 10.05.2026 50min

  Mongolia ranks poorly on some of the world's most cited democracy indices. But what do those rankings actually measure—and do they tell the real story of how the country operates?In this episode, we break down how international democracy indices score Mongolia. Are those scores misleading? And whether Mongolian leaders are using these benchmarks as genuine governance tools or political cover. We try to answer all of those in this episode.Three Universals “Three Universals of Indices“:The index of the pointing varietyThe index of the book varietyThe index of the measuring varietyDate Recorded: Mar 25 2026Originally Released: Apr 1 2026Keywords: democracy | global indices | social scienceShow notes:Julian’s recent discussion of the uptick in VDem indices for MongoliaJulian’s Mongolia Scorecard collecting Mongolia’s score/rank on many different indicesV-Dem Graphing ToolsV-Dem MethodologyFreedom House Freedom in the World
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  Mongolia's Indifference to Data Security 10.05.2026 34min

  In this episode, we sit down with Robert Ritz from the American University of Mongolia, who also runs Data.mn. Robert has been working in Mongolia for over a decade and is one of the few people actively teaching data literacy and championing the importance of data in the country — and he also happens to be our biggest supporter of the podcast.Beyond that, we dive into how Mongolians perceive and relate to data, explore some of the major data security incidents that have unfolded in Mongolia, and discuss what measures have been put in place to address and prevent data breaches. All of which leads us into a broader conversation about Mongolian attitudes toward data and privacy.
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  The three talking heads of GSM - deep dive into explaining Mongolian folk tradition of 'Three Universals' 09.07.2025 18min

  While our podcast primarily explores Mongolia’s politics and society, we’ll also take time to dive into the rich cultural heritage and traditions that shapes Mongolia.In this special episode, we introduce a foundational theme of the show: “The Three Universals” — a concept rooted in Mongolian oral folk tradition. And our own three universals at the top of the episodes will serve as a guiding thread — our “north star” — for future discussions.Whether you're new to Mongolian culture or looking to reconnect with its philosophical roots, this episode offers a meaningful introduction to the values that continue to shape Mongolia today.get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd support our work by becoming member at ⁠The Great State Mural
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  Tsagaan Sar, Mongolian Lunar New Year 18.02.2026 36min

  In this special episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, in celebration of Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year, we have a more lighthearted episode. We talk about what Tsagaan Sar means to us, our experiences, and some tips for those who are maybe celebrating it for the first time.If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can listen to extra recordings as we briefly discuss the current status of the MPP's infighting and how it came about.
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  Constitutional Court Revives Zandanshatar’s Government in Mongolia 29.10.2025 47min

  It’s alive — it’s alive! Much like Frankenstein’s resurrection, Mongolia’s Constitutional Court has brought the government back to life.It’s been a turbulent month in Mongolian politics. The ruling party’s leadership battle fractured the party, government, and parliament—leading to the ouster of the prime minister and the resignation of the speaker. But in a dramatic turn, the Constitutional Court ruled the vote to dismiss the prime minister unconstitutional, marking a major moment in Mongolia’s legal and political history.This ruling reaffirms Mongolia as a nation governed by law — yet it also raises new questions about the limits of power in a single-chamber parliament.In this episode of The Great State Mural, lawyer Manduul Altangerel joins us to unpack the implications of the Constitutional Court’s decision and what it means for Mongolia’s political and legal systems.If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd if you are a supporter of us at Buy Me Coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural. You can listen to extra recording from this episode.
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  Who we are and why this podcast? 18.06.2025 10min

  Due to technical issues, our main topic discussion on the new Prime Minister of Mongolia was lost. But we still wanted to give something to our listeners, so please enjoy why and how we started this podcast.if you have comments and suggestions for future episodes, please reach out to us at info[at]agulamedia.comand if you would like to support this podcast, please become member at The Great State Mural
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  Double Whammy: Mongolia’s Prime Minister and Parliament Speaker Ousted 17.10.2025 36min

  SPECIAL EPISODE:Mongolia saw unprecedented political crises in its democratic history. As Mongolia's ruling party—the Mongolian People's Party (MPP)—waged war within itself over the leadership position, the battle culminated in both Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav and Speaker of the State Great Khural Amarbaysgalan Dashzegve being dismissed in a single parliamentary session.Zandanshatar’s removal marks one of the shortest tenures for a Mongolian prime minister, a fate he might have avoided.In this episode of The Great State Mural: Mongolia Portrayed, we break down what led to this turmoil, how party infighting brought the government to its knees, and what might come next for Mongolia’s political future.If you have any suggestions for our show, please get in touch with us at info[at]agulamedia.comAnd support our work by becoming member at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Great State Mural