What do you get when you gather tech billionaires, political insiders and some of the world's most powerful people behind closed doors?

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The answer is Dialog, an invitation-only network so secretive that, if you've never heard of it, that's probably by design. Co-founded by billionaire investor Peter Thiel, the man behind PayPal and the controversial data company Palantir, Dialog is bringing its annual gathering to a plush Wicklow resort in August. The agenda includes preparing for World War III, building a cult, and a session simply titled, "How's Your Sex Life?" So what exactly is Dialog, who is Peter Thiel, and why has this event caused so much controversy?

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Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests: Darragh Nolan and Kim Bielenberg

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Jeffrey Donaldson has begun his new life in Maghaberry Prison. Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, are set to be stripped of their honours. The former MP and DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sex offences on Monday - including one count of rape. The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty, but the jury of seven men and five considered its verdicts for ten hours over three days, believing his victims. His wife Eleanor Donaldson was found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts. This episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel, as Allison Morris joined Ciarán Dunbar to talk about what she couldn’t report while the trial was ongoing.

This podcast was originally published on Tuesday July 23rd 2026.

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In episode 3 of Veronica, we follow the journalists' final moments, as John Gilligans plan to murder her, swings into action on Dublin’s Naas road. Her murder, 30 years ago today, left a nation shocked, and in no doubts just how dangerous Ireland’s gangland had now become. Kevin Doyle speaks to Jimmy Guerin, Paul Williams and Mary Wilson, about the trials that took place, and Veronica’s lasting legacy.

We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

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