Apple has removed Meduza’s flagship news podcast ‘What Happened’ from Apple Podcasts, without explaining the reason

Earlier this summer, the Russian state censorship authority had asked Apple to block the show

Update: Two days after it was removed, “What Happened” is again available on the Apple Podcasts streaming platform. Apple did not provide a reason for suddenly removing and restoring the podcast.

Meduza has received a notice from Apple, informing our media that our flagship podcast “What Happened” has been removed from the Apple Podcasts streaming platform.

“What Happened” is Meduza’s daily Russian-language news show about “news that remain important long after they stop being news.” Its host, Vladislav Gorin, discusses the most pressing issues in Russian society with leading independent experts. The show is a vital source of in-depth analysis for many listeners in Russia and abroad.

Here’s how Apple communicated its decision to Meduza:

We found an issue with your show, Что случилось [What Happened], which must be resolved before it’s available on Apple Podcasts. Your show has been removed from Apple Podcasts.

Although the notice says nothing about the reasons for removing “What Happened,” earlier this summer Meduza learned about a complaint submitted to Apple by the Russian state censorship authority Roskomnadzor (RKN). Claiming that Meduza had violated the law, RKN demanded that Apple remove “What Happened” from its servers.

In January 2023, the Russian authorities outlawed Meduza, designating our media outlet as an “undesirable organization.” In other words, our newsroom’s work is now completely banned in the country our founders call home. And Russian nationals who support Meduza can face criminal prosecution. Today, Meduza’s need for support from people across the globe — from readers like you — has never been more important. Please support our work.

Another independent Russian news outlet, Holod Media, was also reported by RKN to Apple for alleged “violations.” Holod’s show is also currently unavailable from Apple Podcasts.

All the episodes of “What Happened” are available on our Russian-language Telegram channel Meduza — LIVE, as well as audio platforms like Castbox, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. You can also listen to it on YouTube, on our website, or in Meduza’s app.