Sat down with the Great State Mural crew (@mongoliafocus.bsky.social and @ananddairtan.bsky.social) to talk about Mongolian music, climate change, and fiddles (of both the horse- and camel-headed varieties): www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e026

Beyond the horsehead fiddle there is a camelhead fiddle? 😮 This & how musical heritage helps us think abt 🇲🇳's future in current episode of State Great Mural - #Mongolia Portrayed where @ananddairtan.bsky.social & I speak with Kip Hutchins, @songsforhorses.com www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e026 🐴 🎻 🐫

Great conversation about all things horsehead fiddle and his book "A Song for the Horses - Musical Heritage for More-than-Human Futures in #Mongolia" that @ananddairtan.bsky.social and I had with @songsforhorses.com www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e026

Earlier in April, @ananddairtan.bsky.social & Dolgion recorded Great State Mural podcast episode w/ Anu-Ujin Lkh to discuss misguided Tuul Expressway proposal. podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/u... Now, Anand has offered update on suspension of these plans. podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/i... #MGLpoli

In early April I noticed foodtrucks in Ulaanbaatar, partly as consequence of banning of kiosks. mongoliafocus.com/2026/04/new-... Now, under guise of PM Uchral 'liberalization', are the tuts making a comeback? pca.st/zzv4nd4z

Ichinkhorloo Kh (USC Ctr of Diplomacy) on UNCCCD CoP17 in Ulaanbaatar: "Hosting offers diplomatic visibility, strengthens international reputation, & allows host country to help shape global conversations." uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/confere... #MGLfp

Mongolia not mentioned in implications of Dalai Lama succession @thediplomat.com thediplomat.com/2026/04/the-... but lots of implications as I heard on recent visit to Ulaanbaatar. mongoliafocus.com/2026/04/new-...

"Mongolia reminded me that stillness, presence, and relationship are the soil from which learning takes root. In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, there is much we can learn from this beautiful country about how to slow down, listen deeply, and lead with respect."

"Working with UNICEF and Mongolia’s Ministry of Education, the UK is supporting Mongolia’s decision to make English its official second language through the provision of English‑language teaching, including in remote and nomadic communities."

Can't verify source or publication, but claims of specific cyber-attacks on govt of #Mongolia by group claimed to be "Chinese". Short article really raises more questions than offering news or analysis. www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks...

Brief report abt work of #Mongolia peacekeepers, incl 6 women (of 23) on UN Mission in South Sudan, here guarding fuel trucks for supplies. unmiss.unmissions.org/en/news/mong... #MGLfp #UNMISSS

#Mongolia civil service moves to more flexible work with a home office day per week. zarig.mn/1i0y Will this have an impact on traffic? Not if school traffic drives a lot of downtown Ulaanbaatar traffic, but maybe...

In @littleredpodcast.bsky.social @proflind.bsky.social speaks abt 🇨🇳 export of surveillance & "governance". pca.st/8r0x3lif Long-standing fear bubbling up arnd traffic cameras in #Mongolia as example. On Great State Mural, we discussed 🇲🇳 attitudes to privacy, etc. www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e022

Inside #Mongolia notes in most recent newsletter that 18.4% of employees are public sector. For relative sense, 🇩🇪 just over 1 in 10, so significantly lower. Low pop density probably requires relatively higher density of admin, wonder what other factors lead to high 🇲🇳 proportion.

Regularly, but intermittently returning to Ulaanbaatar, there are always observations that have me buzzing upon return. Some of these, I share in conservation w/ @ananddairtan.bsky.social & Dolgion in most recent episode of The Great State Mural podcast. www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e025

I was in Ulaanbaatar recently and discuss impressions from my visit on the newest episode of The Great State Mural. pca.st/had8rd45

What I heard in geopolitics discussions in #Mongolia earlier this month. mongoliafocus.com/2026/04/new-... #MGLfp

Over the last few days I received quite an overwhelming number of e-mails in relation to this piece: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a.... I'll try to answer them all, albeit gradually. The piece is superficially about Russia. But I think it's fundamentally about understanding one's own identity.

Souvenir from Ulaanbaatar: New ger lamp shining a light into my living (room).

Challenges that PM Uchral faces: "factionalism, econ fate beyond 🇲🇳's control, lack of accountability (eg Tuul highway), democratic erosion" #MGLpoli

For many years, I have taken note of changes that I observe in Ulaanbaatar. My last trip has prompted updates to that list. mongoliafocus.com/2026/04/new-... #Mongolia

Sadly, another glorious Mongolia trip comes to an end. Farewell!

Was thrilled to meet Great State Mural listeners in Ulaanbaatar last night together with @ananddairtan.bsky.social

Looking forward to meeting Great State Mural listeners in two hours at News Café!

Great State Mural podcast listeners, come meet @ananddairtan.bsky.social and me at 18:30h at the News Cafe in Ulaanbaatar!

Income/asset declarations by Uchral cabinet members Lowest income reported by HUN's Naidalaa. HUN's Dorjkhand and MPP's Damdinnyam at similar level. Highest MPP's J Enkhbayar. news.mn/r/2859047/ #Mongolia #MGLpoli

In addition to Podcast Meet-Up tomorrow, also joining in a discussion abt @vdeminstitute.bsky.social democracy indices on #Mongolia, tomorrow 16:30h in Ulaanbaatar, see attached.

Listeners of our Great State Mural podcast or those generally interested in our #Mongolia analysis, meet-up tomorrow (Tu, Apr 7) at 18:30h at the News Café in Ulaanbaatar!

Maybe alternative energies are gaining a bit of momentum in #Mongolia. Here, reporting on project in Dornod, tho announcement of intent, not completion. As is the case elsewhere, battery storage included in project to ease feed-in to overburdened elxtricity grids. zarig.mn/1huv

Why did the sheep cross the road? To follow the goats!

Highway on Tuul River seems entirely preposterous to me. Won't alleviate traffic, crazy cost, destroys one of great recreation resources of Ulaanbaatar... @ananddairtan.bsky.social , Dolgion, and guest Anu-Ujin Lkh discuss on new Great State Mural episode www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e024 #SaveTuul

Yesterday, #Mongolia PM N Uchral announced his cabinet. mongoliafocus.com/2026/04/uchr... For a quick take on these appointments, listen to newest episode of Little State Mural www.agulamedia.com/podcast/l002 CWGP out, National Coalition in, some shuffling of portfolios and people. #MGLpoli

Yes, food trucks in Ulaanbaatar. The mayor banned small shops, so people moved to trucks to park then permanently where the shop was. #Mongolia

Yes, April is protest season in Ulaanbaatar. At the same time, another group at side entrance. Didn't catch their cause, probably Tuul highway!? #Mongolia #MGLpoli

Ulaanbaatar version of attempt to combat rental scooters thrown about everywhere in cities... Note: no scooters here, but perhaps not the season for scooting, yet.

With @ananddairtan.bsky.social & Dolgion, I have recorded a "Great State Mural" episode that specifically focuses on global indices like @vdeminstitute.bsky.social or Freedom House, their methods, and what this means for #Mongolia open.spotify.com/episode/5574... #VDem #MGLpoli

Political things moving fast again in #Mongolia. Our quick take on N Uchral's appointment as prime minister. www.agulamedia.com/podcast/l001 #MGLpoli

New #Mongolia PM N Uchral at 39 only 3rd-youngest to be appointed (Ts Elbegdorj and R Amarjargal were younger in late 1990s), but still... ikon.mn/n/3mf3 #MGLpoli

In just 10 months, Mongolia has now weathered three changes of governments, highlighting the lack of political stability.

Yes, I have seen actual visual evidence of construction of the aerial tramway in #Ulaanbaatar in the form of pillars to carry the cables and a terminus station on the Yarmag end, tho both looked a bit weathered already. Happily no evidence of construction of Tuul highway. No word on metro.

#Mongolia parliamentary session in progress, N Uchral nominated to be PM. ikon.mn/n/3mf4 #MGLpoli

Proposed construction of Tuul River highway causing a lot of unhappiness in Ulaanbaatar... #MGLpoli #Mongolia

Wait, is this a deliberative poll on Sovereign Wealth Funds? montsame.mn/mn/read/394343 Just as Stanford/deliberative-disciple Zandanshatar's turn at Prime Minister may be ending? #MGLpoli

Even if new PM/cabinet may be on horizon for #Mongolia, policies will not change as a result. Also, Ulaanbaatar will be abuzz w/ speculation abt various individual alliances behind developments, as always, and as I observed and discussed last year. mongoliafocus.com/2025/04/stab... #MGLpoli

According to ikon.mn Exec Council of #Mongolia -n People's Party has accepted resignation of PM Zandanshatar. ikon.mn/n/3mda But in various moments of government turmoil, we've all previously read/heard such announcements in the past, only for nothing to really happen... #MGLpoli

#Mongolia media reporting that PM Zandanshatar is asking to resign. Just nine months in office if turns out to be the case. Started weak, MPP infighting continues, as we discussed earlier this month in "Great State Mural" 🎙️ episode. www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e021

Updated Scorecard to include 2026 @bertelsmannst.bsky.social #Transformation Index. " #Mongolia remains stable democracy, tho weak rule of law, structrl inequality & fragmented governance limit institutional effectiveness & quality of public service delivery." mongoliafocus.com/mongolia-sco... #BTI

Updated #Mongolia Scorecard with 2025 Freedom in the World score which has remained stable, 🇲🇳 remains in "free" category. mongoliafocus.com/mongolia-sco...

In case you're wondering what that "Great State Mural - #Mongolia Portrayed" crew of hosts looks like, here's us during a recording session. www.agulamedia.com/podcast 🎙️🇲🇳📷

What does it mean that all @vdeminstitute.bsky.social subindices on #Mongolia democracy have gone up for 2025? Not sure it does mean much, I am much more comfortable w/ 5/10-year trend. Some thoughts on earlier @kailmarkvart.bsky.social thread in blog post. mongoliafocus.com/2026/03/demo...