{"podcast":{"title":"Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc","slug":"borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689","podcast_index_feed_id":7338689,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/IRD1459061282","website_url":"https://thisisironclad.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/dfd338de-31c1-11f0-a1c3-23ba1990f8e7/image/9bfd60ae3eee758123e41304ab51cbb3.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"IRONCLAD","episode_count":66,"summary":"Cartel violence. Kidnappings. Disappearances. The headlines don’t tell the full story. Borderland: Dispatches, an IRONCLAD Original, delivers raw, on-the-ground updates from Mexico’s cartel war. Hosted by investigative journalist Katarina Szulc, the series offers real-time snapshots of a conflict reshaping the future of both Mexico and the U.S. With rare access to traffickers, law enforcement, and civilians caught in the crossfire, these fast-moving episodes expose the brutal truth behind the drug war. New dispatches drop every Thursday.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689"},"episode":{"title":"Iran and Chinese Migrants Using VIP Cartel Smuggling Routes — Security Risks in the U.S.","slug":"iran-and-chinese-migrants-using-vip-cartel-smuggling-routes-security-risks-in-the-u-s","published_at":"2026-03-12T21:44:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/iran-and-chinese-migrants-using-vip-cartel-smuggling-routes-security-risks-in-the-u-s","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD3153386149.mp3?updated=1775163246","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD3153386149.mp3?updated=1775163246","summary":"On this episode, Katarina sits down with independent journalist Jorge Ventura to discuss his exclusive reporting on cartel smuggling networks along the California border. He explains how migrants from the Middle East and China are being smuggled through Mexico via high-cost “VIP” routes, often coordinated through hotels, mosques, and encrypted communications. He also details emerging national security concerns, including individuals classified as special interest aliens and potential sleeper cells in the United States. Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices","meta_description":"On this episode, Katarina sits down with independent journalist Jorge Ventura to discuss his exclusive reporting on cartel smuggling networks along the Ca…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1474,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/episodes/iran-and-chinese-migrants-using-vip-cartel-smuggling-routes-security-risks-in-the-u-s/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/iran-and-chinese-migrants-using-vip-cartel-smuggling-routes-security-risks-in-the-u-s.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}