Season 11, Episode 42

In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf league that’s challenging the P.G.A. Tour. Can a sporting event really repair a country’s reputation — or will it trigger the dreaded Streisand Effect?

To find out more, check out the podcast from which this hour was drawn: “What Is Sportswashing (and Does It Work)?”