Stage Talks with Bellingcat

"Tracing Deportation Flights" with Gillian Brockell

This week we dove head first into the world of flight tracking. How can you identify an ICE flight? What can tracking tools actually tell us? And what kinds of conditions are those being deported facing? We discuss all this and more with independent journalist and former Washington Post staffer Gillian Brockell. Think of this one as a one stop intro to flight tracking workshop, and listen whilst you have the tools in front of you. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on May 14th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Gillian's work: https://gillianbrockell.com/ [https://gillianbrockell.com/] Flight tracking site: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ [https://globe.adsbexchange.com/] Another flight tracking site mentioned: https://www.flightradar24.com/ [https://www.flightradar24.com/] New ICE flight tracking tool designed for legal professionals for when clients touch their jurisdiction (includes ICE hubs/callsign prefixes): https://lexingtonalarm.org/hfw-dashboard/ [https://lexingtonalarm.org/hfw-dashboard/] Acars site: https://tbg.airframes.io/dashboard/ [https://tbg.airframes.io/dashboard/] Aviation channel in Bellingcat Discord: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1319318313519812619 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1319318313519812619] ICE discussion channel in Bellingcat Discord: https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1371571764525535242 [https://discordapp.com/channels/709752884257882135/1371571764525535242] Seattle airport livestream: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/transit-transportation-roads/airport/about/ice-flights [https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/executive-services/transit-transportation-roads/airport/about/ice-flights] LiveATC.net: https://liveatc.net/ [https://liveatc.net/] ATC.com: https://www.atc.com/ [https://www.atc.com/] Advice on ADSB feeders: https://adsb.im/home [https://adsb.im/home] Bellingcat's historical flight tracking data tool (Turnstone): https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/05/turnstone-flight-tracking-tool/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/03/05/turnstone-flight-tracking-tool/]

"Navigating Chinese Social Media For Research" with Chu Yang

This week’s episode features researcher Chu Yang, a specialist in Chinese audience insights. She joins us to break down the most popular social media platforms in China, offering a clear overview of how they work and why they matter. Chu also shares practical tips for accessing these platforms from outside the country, along with useful tools for analysing trends both within China and across global Chinese communities. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on April 30th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: The guide on Xiaohongshu written by Chu Yang: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/04/20/xiaohongshu-rednote-open-source-guide/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2026/04/20/xiaohongshu-rednote-open-source-guide/] Mentioned resources: weibo.com/hot [http://weibo.com/hot] newrank.cn [http://newrank.cn] whatsonweibo.com [http://whatsonweibo.com] chinadigitaltimes.net [http://chinadigitaltimes.net] citizenlab.ca [http://citizenlab.ca] https://zh.greatfire.org/analyzer [https://zh.greatfire.org/analyzer] Chu's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chu-yang-cn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chu-yang-cn]

"Synthetic Propaganda - Tracing an AI-Driven Political Operation" with Effie Webb

This week we spoke with The Bureau of Investigative Journalism's AI reporter, Effie Webb about the use of AI in the political sphere and what researchers/journalists can effectively report on AI misuse. Effie uncovered what some experts are calling a first-of-its-kind case—where a registered political party paid for content from an AI-generated influencer pushing ideological messaging. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on April 16th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Effie Webb's original reporting: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-12/danny-bones-meet-the-ai-rapper-funded-by-a-far-right-party [https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-12/danny-bones-meet-the-ai-rapper-funded-by-a-far-right-party] Effie's follow up investigation on the cash in following her reporting: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-26/the-hate-economy-in-action-how-an-ai-rapper-tried-to-cash-in-on-our-coverage [https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-03-26/the-hate-economy-in-action-how-an-ai-rapper-tried-to-cash-in-on-our-coverage] Advance UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_UK [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_UK] Bellingcat coverage of Indian political parties using AI-generated images to spread hate: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai/]/?utm_source=rss [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/31/india-bjp-hate-speech-ai/?utm_source=rss] The Node Project website: https://www.thenodeproject.com/ [https://www.thenodeproject.com/] On AI lego videos from Iran conflict: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/15/iran-beating-us-social-media-wars [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/15/iran-beating-us-social-media-wars] AI generated band finding success on Spotify: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/an-ai-generated-band-got-1m-plays-on-spotify-now-music-insiders-say-listeners-should-be-warned [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/an-ai-generated-band-got-1m-plays-on-spotify-now-music-insiders-say-listeners-should-be-warned] One of our previous talks on digital political influence campaigns: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2021916/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/2021916/] On AI and the first amendment: https://www.freedomforum.org/artificial-intelligence-first-amendment/ [https://www.freedomforum.org/artificial-intelligence-first-amendment/] Bellingcat's Auto Archiver: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/13/the-open-source-tool-that-has-preserved-150000-pieces-of-online-evidence/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2025/08/13/the-open-source-tool-that-has-preserved-150000-pieces-of-online-evidence/] Effie's contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/effie-webb-ab29941938 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/effie-webb-ab2994193]

"Tracking The Traffickers" with Foeke Postma

This week we spoke with Foeke Postma of Bellingcat about the online trade of rare and protected species. He found traffickers not operating on the dark web, nor hidden forums but in plain sight- on social media platforms. Many of them used coded language to avoid detection. In this talk he discusses his investigative methods, what platforms could do more of to stop these networks and how you can help protect these vulnerable animals in small ways. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on April 2nd 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: Foeke's investigations on this topic: Indonesian trafficker: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/19/how-wildlife-traffickers-are-using-coded-language-to-sell-protected-animals-on-facebook/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/19/how-wildlife-traffickers-are-using-coded-language-to-sell-protected-animals-on-facebook/] Mongabay's coverage: https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/facebook-shuts-indonesia-groups-after-mongabay-and-bellingcat-report-illegal-wildlife-trade/ [https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/facebook-shuts-indonesia-groups-after-mongabay-and-bellingcat-report-illegal-wildlife-trade/] Malaysian trafficker: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/02/11/the-hunt-for-malaysias-elusive-wildlife-trafficker/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/02/11/the-hunt-for-malaysias-elusive-wildlife-trafficker/] Dubai trade: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2021/02/08/how-instagram-celebrities-promote-dubais-underground-animal-trade/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2021/02/08/how-instagram-celebrities-promote-dubais-underground-animal-trade/] Digital tips: Facebook bookmarklets: https://tools.myosint.training/ [https://tools.myosint.training/] Wildlife specific organisations: Cities: https://trade.cites.org/ [https://trade.cites.org/] Pitch to Bellingcat: submissions@bellingcat.com [submissions@bellingcat.com] Mental hygiene guide: https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/2022/11/23/how-to-maintain-mental-hygiene-as-an-open-source-researcher/] Link to Discord environment/wildlife topic channel: https://discord.gg/GQDsGvXJdf [https://discord.gg/GQDsGvXJdf]

"Identifying Munitions In The War With Iran"- with Bellingcat Researcher Trevor Ball

This week we spoke with Trevor Ball of Bellingcat about how to identify weapons used in conflict, including the munitions appearing in the Iran conflict. The talk was hosted by Charlotte Maher on March 12th 2026. Music featured is courtesy of Artlist. Recorded live in our Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat [https://discord.com/invite/bellingcat] Links: The Weapons Being Deployed https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/03/bombs-will-fall-everywhere-the-american-israeli-and-iranian-weapons-being-deployed-in-middle-east/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/03/bombs-will-fall-everywhere-the-american-israeli-and-iranian-weapons-being-deployed-in-middle-east/] The Incendiary Bomb Never Seen in Israel https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/07/the-incendiary-bomb-never-seen-in-israel-before/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/07/the-incendiary-bomb-never-seen-in-israel-before/] Video Of US Tomahawk Missile Strike Next to Girls’ School https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/08/video-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-strike-next-to-girls-school-in-iran/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/03/08/video-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-strike-next-to-girls-school-in-iran/] US Missiles Spotted Over Iraq https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/03/11/iran-war-iraq-tomahawks-munitions-syria-located-kurdistan-missiles-fired/ [https://www.bellingcat.com/news/middle-east/2026/03/11/iran-war-iraq-tomahawks-munitions-syria-located-kurdistan-missiles-fired/] OSMP The Iran War 2026 https://osmp.ngo/collection/the-iran-war-2026/ [https://osmp.ngo/collection/the-iran-war-2026/] Iran-Israel conflict June 2025 https://osmp.ngo/collection/iran-israel-conflict-june-2025/ [https://osmp.ngo/collection/iran-israel-conflict-june-2025/] US munitions used in Yemen 2025 https://osmp.ngo/collection/us-munitions-in-yemen/ [https://osmp.ngo/collection/us-munitions-in-yemen/] Bulletpicker - https://www.bulletpicker.com/index.html [https://www.bulletpicker.com/index.html] ODIN- https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG [https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG] Images shared by Iranian state media show remnants of a US Tomahawk missile https://bsky.app/profile/bellingcat.com/post/3mgnv5iscv226 [https://bsky.app/profile/bellingcat.com/post/3mgnv5iscv226] Talk with the OSMP team last year: https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/1945244/ [https://rss.com/podcasts/bellingcatstagetalk/1945244/] SIPRI https://www.sipri.org/ [https://www.sipri.org/] Identifying possible crater in Gaza: https://www.bellingcat.com/?p=40534 [https://www.bellingcat.com/?p=40534] CAGE: https://cage.dla.mil/Home/UsageAgree [https://cage.dla.mil/Home/UsageAgree] Conflict Armament Research field investigation on the Kh-101: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ea22b213d5414fefbcfe2f977ff07910 [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ea22b213d5414fefbcfe2f977ff07910]