Middle East Forum Podcast
The Middle East Forum Podcast is a weekly series that features discussions with experts, policymakers, staff, and writing fellows on topics related to the Middle East and countering Islamism. The podcast is produced by the Middle East Forum, a think tank focused on promoting American interests in the region.
Episodes
July 1, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the new Israel-Lebanon-U.S. trilateral framework and its implications for Hezbollah and Iranian influence.Perry explains why the agreement gives Israel control over the pace of withdrawal and could create a path toward normalization with Lebanon.The episode also covers UNRWA’s possible exclusion from Gaza and the political battles prece
"Why You should Stop Fighting Antisemitism" with Joel Finkelstein
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Michael Rubin speaks with Joel Finkelstein about how hostile foreign networks exploit antisemitism, social media, and political unrest.Finkelstein explains how funding networks, coordinated protests, and manipulated algorithms spread anti-American narratives while disguising their origins.The discussion also examines TikTok, foreign influence
June 24, 2026 | Israel Insider with Alex Selsky
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Alex Selsky examines Israel’s reaction to the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, its failure to address ballistic missiles and proxies, and whether President Trump may be pursuing a broader strategy involving China, Russia, energy routes, and the Strait of Hormuz.Selsky examines Israel’s determination to preserve its freedom of action in Lebanon, the pos
June 22, 2026 | The Limits of the Red-Green Alliance with Asra Nomani
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, Dexter Van Zile speaks with Asra Nomani about the limits of the alliance between Islamists and the political left.Nomani explains how small, organized networks create a “myth of the marching millions” through coordinated protests, media imagery, and political alliances.The discussion also covers foreign funding, Islamist institutions, political can
June 19, 2026 | The Forum Roundtable: From Revolution to Iran War—The Islamic Republic’s Regional Impact
Recorded days after Washington and Tehran announced a new agreement, host Lauri Regan joins Middle East Forum experts Gregg Roman, Michael Rubin, and Jonathan Spyer to assess whether the deal secures victory—or gives Iran time to recover.The panel examines the immediate consequences for Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Iran’s proxy network, the Kurds, Turkey, and the Abraham Accords.The discussion asks
June 17, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the newly released U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and why Israel views its sanctions relief, oil provisions, Strait of Hormuz framework, and lack of restrictions on missiles and proxies as deeply troubling.Perry examines the risks to Israel’s position in Lebanon, including possible pressure to reduce operations against Hezbollah,
June 15, 2026 | Is Middle East Peace Possible? With Aryeh Green
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Aryeh Green about his new book, Finding Peace in the Promised Land.Green outlines five principles he believes can move the Arab-Israeli conflict from hatred toward coexistence.The discussion also examines October 7, the Abraham Accords, Palestinian rejectionism, and the need to support moderate Arab and Muslim voices.
June 10, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the latest round of controlled escalation between Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and the United States, including Israel’s strike on Dahiya, Iran’s attempt to set new deterrence rules, and President Trump’s push to halt the fighting before it widened further.Perry examines how the confrontation moved from Lebanon to Iran and the Strait of Hor
June 8, 2026 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain on Lebanon’s Road to Peace with Israel
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and author of The Arab Case for Israel, about Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran, and the prospects for peace with Israel.Abdul-Hussain explains why Hezbollah remains the main obstacle to Lebanon-Israel peace, how Iran uses its proxies to pressure
June 3, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines President Trump’s reported clash with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s military options against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the pressure surrounding U.S. ceasefire diplomacy, Iran, and the Dahiya front.Perry examines Netanyahu’s political vulnerability, the Knesset vote to disperse parliament, the controversial state comptrolle
June 1, 2026 | Islamophobia and Free Speech with Steven Greer
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Steven Greer, Emeritus Professor at the University of Bristol Law School and Research Director at the Oxford Institute for British Islam, about Islamophobia, free speech, and the growing pressure to treat criticism of Islam as prejudice against Muslims.Drawing from his book Islamophobia and Free Speech, Greer argues tha
May 27, 2026 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
In this episode of Israel Insider, host Ashley Perry examines the fragile post-Iran war ceasefire, the uncertain U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, and the pressure surrounding sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz, and possible Abraham Accords diplomacy.He also analyzes Israel’s northern front with Hezbollah, Hamas’s refusal to disarm in Gaza, and the latest signs of shifting Israeli domesti
May 11, 2026 | The Big Lie: Information Warfare in the Israel–Gaza War with Joel Fishman
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Dr. Joel Fishman, historian and fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, about information warfare in the Israel-Gaza war and the campaign to delegitimize Israel.Fishman examines how anti-Israel narratives have spread through media coverage, academia, demonstrations, and international institution
May 8, 2026 | Forum Roundtable: How the Iran War Is Reshaping China’s Middle East Strategy
In this month’s Forum Roundtable, host Lauri Regan speaks with Zineb Riboua of the Hudson Institute and Brigadier General (Res.) Assaf Orion of the Washington Institute and Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies about how the Iran war has affected China’s ambitions in the Middle East and beyond.The panel examines Beijing’s relationship with Tehran, Iran’s weakened regional position, and
May 4, 2026 | Why Hezbollah Makes Israel–Lebanon Peace Impossible with Michael Rubin
In this episode of the MEF Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum, about why Hezbollah remains the central obstacle to stability between Israel and Lebanon.Rubin examines Hezbollah’s role as an Iranian proxy, its grip on Lebanese politics, and the limits of diplomacy while the group remains armed and entrenched. He also discusses t
April 27, 2026 | "Facts vs. Narratives: A Legal Lens on Israel" with Roy K. Altman
In this episode of the Middle East Forum Podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman about his new book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.Judge Altman applies courtroom standards of evidence, burden of proof, and legal reasoning to accusations leveled against Israel, including claims of genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation. The co
April 20, 2026 | Iran’s Decentralized Military Doctrine with Alexander Grinberg
Iran’s military isn’t built to win fast — it’s built to survive. Host Lauri Regan speaks with Iran analyst Alexander Grinberg of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security on Tehran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” doctrine — a system designed to function even if central command is destroyed.They examine how fragmented command, autonomous units, and proxy networks allow Iran to absorb strik
October 15, 2025 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
The return of Israeli hostages marked an emotional turning point—and the clearest sign of Donald Trump’s renewed influence in the Middle East. His intervention pushed Israel toward a fragile peace that trades withdrawal for relief, as Hamas reasserts control in Gaza and global leaders remain hesitant to condemn it. With Netanyahu absent from the talks, Israel’s strategy and Hamas’s future hang in
"How Can the Houthis Be Defeated in Yemen" with Summer Ahmed | MEF Podcast Ep. #379
The Houthis (Ansar Allah), entrenched in Yemen’s highlands and backed by Iran, have resisted years of military campaigns and efforts to dislodge them through diplomacy. Controlling key territory, including the Yemeni capital and a large part of the coastline, and exploiting the humanitarian crisis, they wield growing power and regional influence. The Houthi campaign against shipping on the Gulf of
"Documenting Dhimmitude in Dearborn" with Dexter Van Zile | MEF Podcast Ep. #378
Dearborn, Michigan, long celebrated for multicultural harmony, now faces scrutiny for suppressing dissent under claims of fighting Islamophobia. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s public attack on Christian critic Ted Barham coupled with the city council’s silence on Hamas and Hezbollah, raises alarms about radical Islamism’s influence. Dexter Van Zile, on a recent visit to Dearborn, observed further eviden
"The Druze and Their Prospects in Syria" with Ahmad Sharawi | MEF Podcast Ep. #377
The Druze of southern Syria, long known for their pragmatism, now face an uncertain future as the country’s landscape fractures. Caught between Islamist factions, Iranian-backed militias, and shifting Western interests, they are increasingly vulnerable to sectarian violence. On two occasions since the fall of the Assad regime, the community has faced attacks from forces associated with the new aut
"Turkey's Puppets in Damascus" with Efrat Aviv | MEF Podcast Ep. #376
The dramatic fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024 promised an end to decades of tyranny. The new government of the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement, however, appears to be in the process of reshaping Syria into a Turkish satellite. The new government is sidelining the U.S.-aligned Kurds and igniting sectarian strife in the south and west of the country, under Ankara's
"The Battle for the Jewish State" with Victoria Coates | MEF Podcast Ep. #375
The October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel shocked the world with its brutality. While many condemned the attack, others rapidly rushed to blame Israel, framing the Jewish state as an oppressor through the lens of Marxist ideology and critical race theory. In The Battle for the Jewish State, Victoria Coates examines how Hamas’s atrocities, Iran’s role, and America’s cultural drift have imperiled
Homeland Insecurity: How the DHS Helped Finance Islamist Terror with Benjamin Baird | MEF Podcast Ep. #374
For years, the Department of Homeland Security has funneled millions in taxpayer funds to organizations tied to foreign terrorists and extremist ideologies, undermining America’s safety from within. In "Homeland Insecurity," Benjamin Baird and Anna Stanley expose this chilling betrayal, detailing how over $25 million has flowed to groups linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brother
August 13, 2025 | Israel Insider
The Israeli government has made an official decision to conquer Gaza. Is this really the goal or is it just another negotiating tactic?Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum’s Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Ministers of Intelligence, Agriculture and Rural Develo
"Israel Strikes Iran: Operation Rising Lion" with Edwin Black | MEF Podcast Ep. #373
For two decades, Iran’s regime pursued a clandestine nuclear agenda, aiming to unleash apocalyptic devastation on Israel. Israel’s response, the daring Operation Rising Lion, sparked the intense 12-Day War, reshaping the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. How did this high-stakes clash unfold, and what does it mean for the region’s future.Edwin Black is an award-winning, New York Times bestsell
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
Buoyed by diplomatic gains, Hamas has now walked away from negotiations. What are Israel’s options in the next period?
"The Imperial Nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran" with Ahmad Hashemi | MEF Podcast Ep. #372
Iran has for centuries constituted a resilient multi-ethnic empire, dominated by Persian imperial ambitions. It survived the 20th-century collapse of similar realms like the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Today, this imperial nature persists, though it is now cloaked in Islamist garb. The Tehran regime perpetuates subjugation through ethnic apartheid, proxy militias, and the expansionist Ir
"Islamism and Antisemitism in Academia" | The Forum Roundtable Ep. #6
College campuses have become ground zero for the world’s antisemites to take advantage of democratic norms to espouse their hatred of Jews and the Jewish homeland while coupling their vitriol with physical acts of abuse and intimidation not seen in the West since the years leading up to the Shoah. After many years of both Democrat policymakers and progressive university administrations ignoring th
The Jordanian Monarchy: Past, Present, Future | MEF Podcast Ep. # 371
In Jordan, King Abdullah II has steered a delicate course through a turbulent region, balancing global alliances with domestic pressures, as vividly captured in The Most American King, the first comprehensive biography of the king. Drawing on over 100 interviews with Abdullah’s classmates, former Jordanian ministers, and CIA directors, author Aaron Magid, a former Amman-based journalist, traces Ab
"Assad after Syria: Shifting Sands" with Joel Parker | MEF Podcast Ep. #370
In southern Syria, the Druze community—split between pro- and anti-Damascus factions—has long navigated alliances amid local Sunni Arabs and shifting regime forces, all entangled in the remnants of Iran's "Axis of Resistance." Yet, Israel's evolving policies over the past few months, from its support for religious and ethnic minorities to tentative outreach toward Damascus's
Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West with Josh Hammer | MEF Podcast Ep. #369
Rising antisemitism, multiculturalism, and postmodern relativism currently threaten the well being and security of Israel and the Jewish people. Josh Hammer argues that the West’s survival hinges on Israel’s strength and the Jewish people’s right to self-determination. From the trauma of October 7, 2023, to global anti-Israel sentiment, the stakes are clear: a proud Jewish heritage is vital to the
July 16, 2025 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry
What will Happen Next in Gaza? Is the war coming to an end? Is another temporary ceasefire imminent? Might the long declared IDF military surge to conquer the Gaza Strip be about to begin?Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum’s Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Mi
"Regime Change in Iran?" with Beni Sabti | MEF Podcast Ep. #368
For decades, Iran's theocratic regime has wielded unyielding control, fueling regional instability through its nuclear ambitions, proxy militias, and ideological fervor, casting a shadow over the Middle East. Yet, amid escalating internal protests, economic collapse, and external pressures from Israel's precision strikes on key military targets in 2025, whispers of regime change are growin
“From October 7 to the 12 Day War: Two Years That Reshaped Israel and the Middle East" with Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh | MEF Podcast Ep. #367
The Middle East has been transformed by the recent Israel-Iran war, with profound strategic, diplomatic, and military consequences. The war was the culmination of the contest which commenced with the Hamas massacres of October 7, 2023. How will this conflict reshape the Middle East’s power dynamics? What are the prospects for peace or for further escalation? Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh is the director of E
Evangelicals and Islamism: Shifting Dynamics with AJ Nolte | MEF Podcast Ep. #367
For decades, evangelical Christianity championed Israel and religious freedom. As a result, it often found itself clashing with supremacist strands of Islam. Deep concern over Christian persecution—largely in Muslim-majority countries post-Soviet collapse—fueled wariness of political Islam’s aggressive forms. Recently, things have begun to shift. Some evangelical institutions in the US have begun
The Forum Roundtable: The U.S. and Israel – A Team Like No Team Before | The Forum Roundtable Ep. #005
As Israel’s battle with the Islamic Republic of Iran continues in its new phase of direct conflict after four decades of proxy wars, numerous questions remain. How is Israel defining victory and what means does it have to attain its goals? What role with the U.S. play militarily, diplomatically and politically? What does defeat look like for Iran and what does the future hold for its citizens? Wha
"After the Strike: The Future of Tehran's Proxies" with David Daoud | MEF Podcast Ep. #366
For decades, Iran’s network of proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others—formed a formidable "Axis of Resistance," projecting Tehran’s influence across the Middle East. Yet, Israel’s 2025 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and IRGC leadership, followed by devastating retaliatory campaigns, have left these groups reeling. From Hezbollah’s decimation in Lebanon to Hamas’s weakened grip in
"Dangerous Liaisons: The LGBT Movement's Dance with Jihad" with Yuval David | MEF Podcast Ep. #365
In a perplexing twist, segments of the LGBTQ+ community have aligned with Islamist terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, despite these Islamist groups’ brutal persecution of individuals from this community. From Pride parades chanting “Queers for Hamas” to slogans like “Gays for Gaza,” some activists champion pro-Palestinian causes while ignoring the impriso
"The Future of Hezbollah" with Michael Rubin | MEF Podcast Ep. #364
For many years, the Lebanese Hezbollah organization was widely seen as the most powerful non-state military force in the world. Hezbollah’s ascent from a militia to a dominant political and military force in Lebanon captivated the world. But after entering the war with Israel on October 8, 2023, the organization suffered a series of devastating blows, leaving it severely diminished. The Middle Eas
"The Dissolution of the PKK and the End of Its Armed Struggle" with Weysi Dag | MEF Podcast Ep. #363
The Turkish state is currently engaged in an initiative to address the Kurdish question. This effort, marked by symbolic gestures like the recent handshake between ultranationalist leaders and pro-Kurdish MPs, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s statements announcing the dissolution of his movement, and the PKK Congress confirming this, is unfolding amid shifting domestic and regional dynamics. This pres
Israel and the Woke Right with Karys Rhea | MEF Podcast Ep. #362
The Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza have exposed a fissure within the “America First” or MAGA movement. A new cadre of anti-Zionist voices, led by figures like Tucker Carlson and amplified on X and TikTok, has emerged, wielding leftist-style tactics—identity politics, cancel culture, conspiratorial antisemitism, and historical revisionism—under the guise of conserv
"Dhimmitude: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective" with Bat Ye’or | MEF Podcast Ep. #361
In a world facing a resurgence of jihadist ideologies, the concept of dhimmitude—rooted in Sharia law and tied to historical jihad—casts a long shadow over modern societies. From blasphemy laws stifling free speech to the erosion of Judeo-Christian cultural identities, dhimmitude’s mechanisms are increasingly visible in the West. Unexpected alliances between jihadist movements, the anti-Christian
"The Australian Elections and the Middle East" with Joel Burnie | MEF Podcast Ep. #360
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party has won a decisive victory in elections in Australia. The Middle East looks set to be an issue dividing Australia in the period ahead. Albanese’s Labor Party is vague on the Iran issue, and supports recognizing Palestinian statehood. The (Center-right), opposition Liberal-National Coalition has a firmer stance on Iran, in line with current U.S. policy.
"Mental Illness in the Islamic World" with Amir Afkhami | MEF Podcast Ep. #359
Mental illness in the Islamic world is often perceived differently than in the West. Spiritual healing, jinn possession, and communal stigma shape responses to psychological distress, sometimes sidelining medical intervention. At the same time, untreated mental illness, social isolation, and identity crises can make individuals more vulnerable to radical interpretations of Islam. Contrary to popul
"Islamism's Tightening Grip on Bangladesh" with Ahnaf Kalam | MEF Podcast Ep. #358
Bangladesh’s political landscape is unraveling after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime in August 2024, with rising Islamism threatening the nation’s secular fabric. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, once celebrated as a global icon for microfinance, has faced criticism for enabling extremist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam, whose growing influence—marked by attacks on Hindus, Ahmadi
"Islamism in Canada" with Raheel Raza | MEF Podcast Ep. #357
Islamism today casts a troubling and widening shadow over Canada, sowing division and threatening national cohesion. From university campuses to clandestine gatherings, both homegrown and global Islamist currents are gaining traction. At the University of Quebec in Montreal, a pro-Palestinian group, Solidarité Palestine à l’UQAM, recently screened Gaza Ghetto Uprising, a film glorifying the Octobe
"Islamism in Britain" with Dominic Green | MEF Podcast Ep. #356
Islamism casts a growing shadow over the UK. Both foreign and homegrown Islamist currents are fueling tension and challenging national stability. Islamist ideologies have taken deep root, disrupting communities and igniting fierce political debate. Their political influence and impact are advancing at every level of society. Bold action is urgently needed and drastic steps must be taken if disaste
Iranian Power and Influence in the Middle East | The Forum Roundtable Ep. #01
Prior to October 7, 2023, Iranian-sponsored terrorism and influence in the Middle East was pervasive and insidious, growing ever more dangerous as it inched its way to nuclear weapons and threatened Israeli and U.S. interests in the region. While Iran continues to pose an existential threat to Israel and edges closer to producing nuclear weapons, Israel’s military achievements post-10/7, along wit
Hamas Ties at Georgetown: Unmasking Extremism in Academia with Anna Stanley | MEF Podcast Ep. # 355
Two Hamas-linked academics at Georgetown University have recently come under fire following explosive revelations of their ties to the terror group. Badar Khan Suri, a fellow at the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, was arrested on March 19, 2025, and now faces deportation after a Middle East Forum report exposed his praise of Hamas and his marriage to Mapheze Ah
Red Sea Security and the Houthi Threat to the West with Eric Navarro | MEF Podcast Ep. #354
The Iran-backed Ansar Allah (Houthis) recently renewed their threat to attack any Israeli ship sailing in the vicinity of Yemen. The organization’s ongoing campaign of aggression in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden area severely disrupts supply chains and fuels regional instability. The Middle East Forum last week launched the Red Sea Security Initiative (RSSI) to advocate for and support a determined wes
"How USAID Helps Finance Islamist Terror" with Sam Westrop | MEF Podcast Ep. #353
#USAID has been engaged in recent years in financing Islamic terrorist organizations. A report by the Middle East Forum documents $122 million in taxpayer funds reaching extremist groups. This report has been reviewed and heard by the House DOGE subcommittee and is now under investigation for potential criminal referrals. The findings challenge long held assumptions about oversight and accountabil
"The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza" with Seth Frantzman | MEF Podcast Ep. #352
Seth Frantzman’s latest book, "The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza" looks into the devastating Hamas attack on Israel, the battles that followed, and the global forces at play. In preparing the book, the author had exclusive access to IDF soldiers and commanders and to military strategists. Mr. Frantzman will in this talk explore how Israel responded to the October 7 attacks, a
"The Shifting Demographics of the Middle East" with Nicholas Eberstadt | MEF Podcast Ep. #351
Demographic decline has arrived in the Middle East. This process is challenging long-held assumptions about the region’s resilience to global fertility trends. The Middle East was once thought immune or less susceptible to demographic decline due to cultural and religious norms. Now, countries like Iran and Tunisia are experiencing sub-replacement birth rates. As populations shrink and age, econom
The Shift Towards Post-Islamism with Hussein Aboubakr Mansour | MEF Podcast Ep. #350
Islamism may appear to be in decline in the Middle East but it is adapting. Movements that once sought caliphates have shifted their strategies, sometimes, shedding overt ideological commitments in favor of pragmatic governance. The recent transformation of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria offers a case study of a post-Islamist Islamism where Islamists claim to prioritize state capacity over a rigid
The Islamist Struggle for Libya with Mark Choate | MEF Podcast Ep. #349
The Islamist Struggle for Libya with Mark ChoateIslamist groups play a pivotal role in post-Qaddafi Libya and are a central factor in the country’s continued instability. The Muslim Brotherhood, Salafi factions, and jihadist groups compete for influence and power. Some Islamist organizations have integrated into political institutions, while others operate outside the system as armed militias. Wha
The Kurds' Struggle in Iran with Shukriya Bradost | MEF Podcast Ep. #348
The Kurds in Iran lag behind their co-ethnics in Iraq, Syria, and Türkiye in terms of asserting their rights. The movement for Kurdish autonomy has gained visibility but is limited by fragmentation. The Islamic Republic views Kurdish activism as a national security threat. How should the international community engage with the Kurds of Iran? Would external support bolster their cause or further es
Israel’s Urban Warfare in Gaza: A Technical Analysis | MEF Podcast Ep. #347
John Spencer, a leading expert on urban warfare, has made four trips to observe the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, during which he has studied both its efficacy and its morality. Putting the IDF’s conduct in a larger perspective, he asks fundamental questions: How has it fared compared to other Western armies? What are the special circumstances in Gaza? From an ethical point of
Shaping Iran’s Future with Ilan Berman | MEF Podcast Ep. #346
Iran’s political dynamics are shifting rapidly as a range of forces, including economic, religious, and demographic ones, drive a growing rift between the people and their 46-year-old regime. While the U.S. government has never sought the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran, this opportunity raises urgent questions. Should Washington now seek to overthrow the mullahs? How should it approach
Syria and the Captagon Trade: What Now? with Gregg Roman | MEF Podcast Ep. #345
Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine-style stimulant, has ravaged the Middle East in recent years. The fall of Bashar al-Assad revealed Syria's role as the global epicenter of Captagon production, a $10 billion-a-year drug trade that sustained the Assad regime’s grip on power and fueled its war economy. Production facilities have been uncovered even in air bases. The industrial-level productio
Islamism and the Middle East: Trump 45 vs. Biden with Kenneth Abramowitz | MEF Podcast Ep. #344
Contrasting approaches of recent U.S. administrations toward Islamism and the Middle East (think Iran and Hamas) express more than divides in policy; they reveal contrasting mentalities. These might be summarized as confrontation vs. cooption. What shapes opposing philosophical approaches? What are their practical implications? Are there differences over time?Kenneth Abramowitz is the founder and
The Insider Threat: How America's Enemies Undermine It from Within with Adam Lovinger | MEF Podcast Ep. #343
The abuse of security clearances as a political weapon within the U.S. national security bureaucracy threatens not just individual careers but the integrity of American defense and diplomacy, both in the Middle East and more broadly. What is the nature of the problem? How are security clearances used to silence dissent and eliminate adversaries? How does this affect U.S. responses to strategic cha
The Houthis’ Rise from Local Gang to Global Menace with Michael Knights | MEF Podcast Ep. #342
The Houthis of Yemen, once a minor Iran-backed militia, have emerged since Oct. 7 as a major force within Tehran’s “axis of resistance” due to their drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, their alliances with al-Shabaab and other jihadis, and their arms deals with Russia. This transformation raises urgent questions: What enabled it? How does the Houthis’ power affect regional dynamics?
Syria after the Assads: What Happened and What Follows? with Jonathan Spyer | MEF Podcast Ep. #341
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist organization, has taken Damascus, completing its stunning ten-day offensive and overthrowing the Bashar al-Assad regime. This historic moment has many and profound implications. Which key factors made possible the HTS success? What next for Syria? How will this major shift affect Turkey, Iran, Israel, Russia, and the United States?Jonathan Spyer is MEF’
Aleppo Falls: A Turning Point in Syria’s Civil War with Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi | MEF Podcast Ep. #340
The unexpected capture of Aleppo by Turkish-backed rebel forces has reignited the Syrian civil war after years of stasis. This striking event, due in large part to diminished support from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, raises many questions: How did the rebels achieve this victory? Can they hold and even expand their holdings? What can the Bashar al-Assad regime do in response? What should the U.S.
In Obscura: Adventures in the World of Intelligence with Peter Theroux | MEF Podcast Ep. #339
Peter Theroux’s memoir, "In Obscura," recalls the author’s journey from journalism and translation, to the CIA and the National Security Council, weaving through Damascus and Hollywood. Drawing parallels between the hidden lives of intelligence officers and stunt actors, he offers an eloquent nuts-and-bolts glimpse into realms where success requires invisibility. What can we learn from lives lived
Energy in the Eastern Mediterranean: The New Frontier with Thanos Davelis | MEF Podcast Ep. #338
The discovery of natural gas off the shores of Israel and Cyprus has transformed the eastern Mediterranean into a critical energy hub. It has also seen unprecedented cooperation (the 3+1 framework of Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States, and the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum in particular), which has magnified the region’s role. Great projects, including the Great Sea Interconnector, the
An Arab Woman's Journey from Antisemitism to Zionism with Rawan Osman | MEF Podcast Ep. #337
Lebanon's education system and media present Israelis and Jews as the enemy of Lebanon. The depictions, often extreme in their hostility, shape the perceptions of many Lebanese and also Syrians. Raised in this environment, Rawan Osman accepted the message. Only on moving to Europe and gaining access to new, uncensored information did she question her own biases. In the end, she embraced Israel’s c
Understanding MbS' Saudi Arabia with Jacob Goldberg | MEF Podcast Ep. #336
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has pushed a transformative agenda on Saudi Arabia since his father came to power in 2015. His Vision 2030 intends radically to reshape nearly every aspect of the kingdom’s landscape: diversify the economy’s revenue sources, redefine societal norms (notably through women’s rights and greater personal freedoms), and enhance the country’s global standing. To wh
Memorializing the Arab-Israeli Wars with Robert Rook | MEF Podcast Ep. #335
For twenty-five years, 1948-73, three Arab states dominated the Arab-Israeli conflict: Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. For over fifty years, they have ceded the fight to Palestinians. All these decades later, how do the states recall the distant wars of 1948-49, 1956, 1967, 1970, and 1973? In part, the practices of remembrance reflect the particular interests of the Ministry of Defense that typically ov
Ben-Gurion: Titan of Israel with Michael Mandelbaum | MEF Podcast Ep. #334
Sudanese Civil War: The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis with Alberto Fernandez | MEF Podcast Ep. #333
Largely ignored by the media, the civil war in Sudan is perhaps the world’s deadliest conflict, with hostilities relentlessly escalating over the past year between the Sudanese Army and the “Rapid Reaction Forces.” Eighteen million people, or over one-third of the country’s population, are estimated to experience severe levels of acute food insecurity. What are the origins of this conflict? What a
If Iran Attacks Israel with Behnam Ben Taleblu | MEF Podcast Ep. #332
France vs. The Middle East: What Next? with Michel Gurfinkiel | MEF Podcast Ep. #331
Houthi Attacks: Evolution and Implications with Noam Raydan | MEF Podcast Ep. #330
Turkey’s Occupation of Cyprus: 50 Years On with Michael Rubin, Mine Balman, and Marios Lyssiotis | Ep. #329
Israels Defense Strategy after October 7: New Thinking Needed with Eran Ortal | MEF Podcast Ep. #323
How to Defeat Irans Proxy Militias with Nicholas Krohley | MEF Podcast Ep. #322
The Middle East's Historic Moment with Zvi Hauser | MEF Podcast Ep. #321
How the Nation of Islam Joins the Mainstream and How It Is Expelled with Dexter Van Zile | MEF Podcast Ep. #320
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