After 75 years of Chinese Communist Party rule in Tibet, and as Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, approaches his 90th birthday, Tibet is at a critical juncture. FRONTLINE’s documentary Battle For Tibet goes inside the long-running struggle over the future of the mountainous region.Award-winning producer and director Gesbeen Mohammad joins The FRONTLINE Dispatch to discuss what the film reveals about life in Tibet now, and the uncertain future for Tibetan Buddhism, language and culture. Drawing on undercover footage, interviews with Tibet and China experts, Chinese government statements, and accounts from Tibetans now living in exile, Battle For Tibet examines the Chinese government’s tight control over the territory, including its system of boarding schools and a vast network of surveillance inside places like monasteries. “Tibet is one of the world's most tightly guarded regions,” Mohammad told Raney Aronson-Rath, FRONTLINE’s editor-in-chief and executive producer. “So it felt like an important area to examine…particularly as there are various allegations that some of the policies are infringing on Tibetan’s religion and unique culture.” You can stream Battle For Tibet on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/battle-for-tibet/">FRONTLINE’s website</a>, FRONTLINE’s <a href="https://youtu.be/WDyMHiC_WGI?si=1eJr7icRz5sROYa5">YouTube channel</a>, or the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS App</a>. Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? Sign up for <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/">The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;After 75 years of Chinese Communist Party rule in Tibet, and as Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, approaches his 90th birthday, Tibet is at a critical juncture. FRONTLINE’s documentary &lt;em&gt;Battle For Tibet&lt;/em&gt; goes inside the long-running struggle over the future of the mountainous region.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Award-winning producer and director Gesbeen Mohammad joins The FRONTLINE Dispatch to discuss what the film reveals about life in Tibet now, and the uncertain future for Tibetan Buddhism, language and culture. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Drawing on undercover footage, interviews with Tibet and China experts, Chinese government statements, and accounts from Tibetans now living in exile, &lt;em&gt;Battle For Tibet&lt;/em&gt; examines the Chinese government’s tight control over the territory, including its system of boarding schools and a vast network of surveillance inside places like monasteries. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Tibet is one of the world's most tightly guarded regions,” Mohammad told Raney Aronson-Rath, FRONTLINE’s editor-in-chief and executive producer. “So it felt like an important area to examine…particularly as there are various allegations that some of the policies are infringing on Tibetan’s religion and unique culture.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can stream &lt;em&gt;Battle For Tibet&lt;/em&gt; on &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/battle-for-tibet/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FRONTLINE’s website&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, FRONTLINE’s &lt;a href="https://youtu.be/WDyMHiC_WGI?si=1eJr7icRz5sROYa5"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;YouTube channel&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, or the &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PBS App&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? Sign up for &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

Director Gesbeen Mohammad on making ‘Battle For Tibet’ and the long-running struggle over the future of the mountainous region.

After 75 years of Chinese Communist Party rule in Tibet, and as Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, approaches his 90th birthday, Tibet is at a critical juncture. FRONTLINE’s documentary Battle For Tibet goes inside the long-running struggle over the future of the mountainous region.

Award-winning producer and director Gesbeen Mohammad joins The FRONTLINE Dispatch to discuss what the film reveals about life in Tibet now, and the uncertain future for Tibetan Buddhism, language and culture. 

Drawing on undercover footage, interviews with Tibet and China experts, Chinese government statements, and accounts from Tibetans now living in exile, Battle For Tibet examines the Chinese government’s tight control over the territory, including its system of boarding schools and a vast network of surveillance inside places like monasteries. 

“Tibet is one of the world's most tightly guarded regions,” Mohammad told Raney Aronson-Rath, FRONTLINE’s editor-in-chief and executive producer. “So it felt like an important area to examine…particularly as there are various allegations that some of the policies are infringing on Tibetan’s religion and unique culture.” 

You can stream Battle For Tibet on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/battle-for-tibet/">FRONTLINE’s website</a>, FRONTLINE’s <a href="https://youtu.be/WDyMHiC_WGI?si=1eJr7icRz5sROYa5">YouTube channel</a>, or the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS App</a>. 

Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? Sign up for <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/">The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter</a>.

Life in Tibet and What Comes Next

Longtime FRONTLINE correspondent and director Martin Smith returns to talk about his latest documentary, China, the U.S. &amp;the Rise of Xi Jinping. With President Trump vowing larger tariffs in his second term, the documentary examines China’s rise to economic prominence, the life and vision of its longstanding leader, and rising tensions with the United States over issues such as trade and the future of Taiwan. Smith sat down with FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath to talk about the challenges of making the documentary — including not being able to film inside China — and why he chose to focus on the life and career of President Xi. “He's the leader of our chief global rival, and I think a lot about him is not understood,” Smith told Aronson-Rath. “We thought it was important for people to understand who he is, where he came from, what made him into the man he is.” You can watch China, the U.S. &amp; the Rise of Xi Jinping, from the award-winning team of Smith, producer and director Marcela Gaviria and producer Brian Funck, on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/china-the-u-s-the-rise-of-xi-jinping/">FRONTLINE’s website</a>, FRONTLINE’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ew0cbG1IU&amp;t=3900s">YouTube channel</a> and the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS App</a>. Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/">Sign up for The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;Longtime FRONTLINE correspondent and director Martin Smith returns to talk about his latest documentary, &lt;em&gt;China, the U.S. &amp;amp;the Rise of Xi Jinping. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With President Trump vowing larger tariffs in his second term, the documentary examines China’s rise to economic prominence, the life and vision of its longstanding leader, and rising tensions with the United States over issues such as trade and the future of Taiwan. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Smith sat down with FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath to talk about the challenges of making the documentary — including not being able to film inside China — and why he chose to focus on the life and career of President Xi. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“He's the leader of our chief global rival, and I think a lot about him is not understood,” Smith told Aronson-Rath. “We thought it was important for people to understand who he is, where he came from, what made him into the man he is.” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can watch &lt;em&gt;China, the U.S. &amp;amp; the Rise of Xi Jinping,&lt;/em&gt; from the award-winning team of Smith, producer and director Marcela Gaviria and producer Brian Funck, on &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/china-the-u-s-the-rise-of-xi-jinping/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;FRONTLINE’s website&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, FRONTLINE’s &lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ew0cbG1IU&amp;amp;t=3900s"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;YouTube channel&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and the &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PBS App&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sign up for &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; newsletter&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

Director and correspondent Martin Smith returns to discuss his latest FRONTLINE documentary, ‘China, the U.S. & the Rise of Xi Jinping.’

Longtime FRONTLINE correspondent and director Martin Smith returns to talk about his latest documentary, China, the U.S. &amp;the Rise of Xi Jinping. 

With President Trump vowing larger tariffs in his second term, the documentary examines China’s rise to economic prominence, the life and vision of its longstanding leader, and rising tensions with the United States over issues such as trade and the future of Taiwan. 

Smith sat down with FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath to talk about the challenges of making the documentary — including not being able to film inside China — and why he chose to focus on the life and career of President Xi. 

“He's the leader of our chief global rival, and I think a lot about him is not understood,” Smith told Aronson-Rath. “We thought it was important for people to understand who he is, where he came from, what made him into the man he is.” 

You can watch China, the U.S. &amp; the Rise of Xi Jinping, from the award-winning team of Smith, producer and director Marcela Gaviria and producer Brian Funck, on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/china-the-u-s-the-rise-of-xi-jinping/">FRONTLINE’s website</a>, FRONTLINE’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4ew0cbG1IU&amp;t=3900s">YouTube channel</a> and the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS App</a>. 

Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/dispatch-newsletter-subscription/">Sign up for The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter</a>.

Martin Smith on China Under Xi

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).In the aftermath of Lewiston, healing and recovery is taking many forms. One shooting location was renovated and reopened. Another has become a nonprofit that serves some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. One victim’s father now advocates for increased gun control while dozens of others have joined a lawsuit against the federal government. And the shooter’s sister has made it her mission to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury among military service members.In our final episode of “Breakdown,” we look at how some have turned their anguish into action.To hear the previous episodes in the series, subscribe to Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: &lt;em&gt;Breakdown&lt;/em&gt; (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the aftermath of Lewiston, healing and recovery is taking many forms. One shooting location was renovated and reopened. Another has become a nonprofit that serves some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. One victim’s father now advocates for increased gun control while dozens of others have joined a lawsuit against the federal government. And the shooter’s sister has made it her mission to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury among military service members.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In our final episode of “Breakdown,” we look at how some have turned their anguish into action.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To hear the previous episodes in the series, subscribe to &lt;em&gt;Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action&lt;/em&gt; on &lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Apple Podcasts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Spotify&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt;. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).

In the aftermath of Lewiston, healing and recovery is taking many forms. One shooting location was renovated and reopened. Another has become a nonprofit that serves some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. One victim’s father now advocates for increased gun control while dozens of others have joined a lawsuit against the federal government. And the shooter’s sister has made it her mission to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury among military service members.

In our final episode of “Breakdown,” we look at how some have turned their anguish into action.

To hear the previous episodes in the series, subscribe to Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>.

'Breakdown' Episode 6: 'I think there's hope'

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).Four members of Maine's deaf community died in Lewiston in October 2023 in what is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting of deaf people in the U.S. The pain of that loss was magnified by the barriers to communication and information deaf survivors and loved ones faced in the immediate aftermath.Episode 5 examines the outsize impact of the Lewiston shooting on those who are deaf and hard of hearing, how the community often feels forgotten and why the tragedy has become a catalyst for equity.To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>, or stay tuned for more episodes on The FRONTLINE Dispatch.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: &lt;em&gt;Breakdown&lt;/em&gt; (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Four members of Maine's deaf community died in Lewiston in October 2023 in what is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting of deaf people in the U.S. The pain of that loss was magnified by the barriers to communication and information deaf survivors and loved ones faced in the immediate aftermath.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Episode 5 examines the outsize impact of the Lewiston shooting on those who are deaf and hard of hearing, how the community often feels forgotten and why the tragedy has become a catalyst for equity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to &lt;em&gt;Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action&lt;/em&gt; on &lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Apple Podcasts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Spotify&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, or stay tuned for more episodes on &lt;em&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).

Four members of Maine's deaf community died in Lewiston in October 2023 in what is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting of deaf people in the U.S. The pain of that loss was magnified by the barriers to communication and information deaf survivors and loved ones faced in the immediate aftermath.

Episode 5 examines the outsize impact of the Lewiston shooting on those who are deaf and hard of hearing, how the community often feels forgotten and why the tragedy has become a catalyst for equity.

To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to Breakdown: Turning Anguish Into Action on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>, or stay tuned for more episodes on The FRONTLINE Dispatch.

'Breakdown' Episode 5: 'We're still here'

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).When a gunman opened fire in a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, last October, he used an autoloading rifle to fire 54 rounds in less than two minutes. Eighteen were killed and 13 wounded.Although nearly half of Maine households owns a firearm, the state is considered one of the safest in the country. Episode 4 examines the history and politics of guns and hunting in Maine, the state’s unique “yellow flag” gun laws and its powerful gun lobby, which shaped state officials’ response to the Lewiston shootings.To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to Breakdown on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>, or stay tuned for more episodes on The FRONTLINE Dispatch.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: &lt;em&gt;Breakdown&lt;/em&gt; (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When a gunman opened fire in a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, last October, he used an autoloading rifle to fire 54 rounds in less than two minutes. Eighteen were killed and 13 wounded.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although nearly half of Maine households owns a firearm, the state is considered one of the safest in the country. Episode 4 examines the history and politics of guns and hunting in Maine, the state’s unique “yellow flag” gun laws and its powerful gun lobby, which shaped state officials’ response to the Lewiston shootings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to &lt;em&gt;Breakdown&lt;/em&gt; on &lt;a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Apple Podcasts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Spotify&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, or stay tuned for more episodes on &lt;em&gt;The FRONTLINE Dispatch&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

The FRONTLINE Dispatch Presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, the Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE)

The FRONTLINE Dispatch presents: Breakdown (from Maine Public Radio, The Portland Press Herald, and FRONTLINE).

When a gunman opened fire in a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, last October, he used an autoloading rifle to fire 54 rounds in less than two minutes. Eighteen were killed and 13 wounded.

Although nearly half of Maine households owns a firearm, the state is considered one of the safest in the country. Episode 4 examines the history and politics of guns and hunting in Maine, the state’s unique “yellow flag” gun laws and its powerful gun lobby, which shaped state officials’ response to the Lewiston shootings.

To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to Breakdown on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breakdown-turning-anguish-into-action/id1775738651">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4aggrRfyqbJqioOwKBUQ3E">Spotify</a>, or stay tuned for more episodes on The FRONTLINE Dispatch.

'Breakdown' Episode 4: 'They controlled it all'

FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath sits down with journalists and filmmakers for probing conversations about the investigative journalism that drives each FRONTLINE documentary and the stories that shape our time.Produced at FRONTLINE’s headquarters at GBH in Boston and powered by PRX.The FRONTLINE Dispatch is made possible by the Abrams Foundation Journalism Initiative.

FRONTLINE Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath sits down with journalists and filmmakers for probing conversations about the investigative journalism that drives each FRONTLINE documentary and the stories that shape our time.

Sign In

The FRONTLINE Dispatch

Details

Recent Episodes