Orcas, penguins, rockfall fatality, nude tourists, asylum & travel warnings, tariffs, drunk driving

The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local perspective. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to discuss the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week:

✨ A recent program by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service sheds light on the capture and export of orcas in the 1970s and 1980s. The profits from this trade helped finance the only aquarium ever operated in Iceland—and yes, this is how Keiko (of Free Willy fame) was captured.

✨ Icelanders often pronounce “V” and “W” the same way.

✨ A tragic rockfall accident occurred last week in south Iceland, near Eyjafjallajökull.

✨ We talk about the former Minister of Infrastructure’s fingers—for no particular reason.

✨ A man was arrested in the small town of Raufarhöfn for stealing a car and driving it while drunk and high. We also discuss a custom 1970s Cadillac that can be found in the same town.

✨ Nude tourists in Icelandic hot springs. Occasionally a thing.

✨ An American transgender woman was denied asylum in Iceland this week. We explore the hypocrisy of the decision, especially given that Iceland has issued travel warnings for transgender individuals traveling to the U.S.

✨ In that context, we discuss how, under the Patriot Act, it has been legal since 2014 for U.S. authorities to detain American citizens on American soil—without due process—if suspected of aiding “the enemy” in the war on terror. We cover recent detentions of foreign travelers and Green Card holders.

✨ And finally, Iceland faces the same U.S. tariff rates as... penguins. 

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This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.
The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter.

The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication.

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