The MPAC® Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
Muslim Public Affairs Council 12 episodes Oct 23, 2026
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati explores the political, social, and cultural issues shaping American Muslim life. Hosted by MPAC's president, it offers analysis grounded in decades of civil rights and government relations experience. Episodes feature candid conversations with policymakers and thought leaders on institutional reform, policy advocacy, and authentic representation. The show aims to cut through the daily news cycle with weekly briefings and deeper context.
Episodes
Karen Attiah on Media Censorship, Jamal Khashoggi & Defending Free Speech
What happens to democracy when institutional newsrooms dismantle platforms for global dissidents and subordinate free expression to political and corporate pressure?In Episode 12 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati is joined by award-winning journalist Karen Attiah, former founding editor of The Washington Post’s Global Opinions section. Eight years after the murder of her colleague Jamal
Cenk Uygur on Breaking Media Guardrails, Foreign Wars & Real Political Power
Why does American foreign policy remain resistant to change even when public opinion overwhelmingly opposes foreign conflict?In Episode 11 of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati is joined by Cenk Uygur, founder and CEO of The Young Turks. Together, they explore the evolution of independent news, the limits of legacy cable broadcasting, and why converting grassroots consensus into federal poli
Salam Al-Marayati Calls Out Trump's Dallas Midterm Speech
How should civic leaders respond when campaign rallies weaponize religious identity and treat foreign military strikes as punchlines?In this reaction episode of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati analyzes Donald Trump’s address at a midterm political event in Dallas. Salam addresses:The Double Standard of Overseas Deals vs. Domestic Rhetoric: How political figures profit from extensive finan
Amy Spitalnick: Why Jewish & Muslim Safety Are Inextricably Linked
Extremists rely on divide-and-conquer tactics to pit targeted communities against each other. But as civil rights history proves, our safety and democratic freedoms are inextricably linked.In this episode, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with longtime colleague and friend Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Amy previously led the civil litigation effort on behalf
Mike Downing on 35 Years in LAPD, Smart Policing & The Real Flaws of ICE
Can law enforcement truly protect communities without becoming an occupying army?In this episode, MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati is joined by former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing for an unvarnished look inside American policing, counterterrorism, and community oversight.Key Discussion Points:Community vs. Militarization: Why smart policing is built on prevention, trust, and Peel’s principle - n
Reaction to Trump's "Jihadist" Smears & Constitutional Separation of Powers
Why do political leaders rely on religious smears when challenged on substantive policy?On this episode of The MPAC Podcast, Salam Al-Marayati reacts to Donald Trump using the label "jihadist" against progressive challengers. Salam breaks down how rhetoric is used to distract working Americans from critical issues like healthcare access and foreign conflicts, while re-asserting the foundational co
Connie Rice on Civil Rights, Police Reform & Building Real Power
What happens when winning historic legal battles still leaves communities in war zones?In this episode, MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati speaks with legendary lawyer and "Conscience of Los Angeles" Connie Rice. Known for securing over $10 billion in civil rights damages and advising President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, Connie offers an unvarnished masterclass on strategy, power,
Leaked Lindsey Graham Video, Elon Musk’s Bias & U.S. War Powers
Host Salam Al-Marayati returns to analyze two viral videos exposing deep flaws in U.S. politics, media, and foreign policy.In this episode:Lindsey Graham & Iran: A look at leaked Wall Street Journal footage showing Senator Lindsey Graham celebrating military escalation. Salam discusses why Congress must reclaim its sole constitutional responsibility to declare war.Elon Musk & Media Bias: A
Is a two-state solution dead and has U.S. foreign policy failed?
"We are changing chairs on the Titanic if we keep repeating the same foreign policy failures."In this episode of The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with longtime friend, scholar, and Middle East policy expert Dr. Jerrold "Jerry" Green. With extensive experience living in Egypt, Iran, and Israel, Dr. Green brings an untapped depth of knowledge to dissecting wh
Rebutting Rahm Emanuel: US-Israel Blunders Exposed
In Episode 3 of The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati, host Salam Al-Marayati delivers a direct, line-by-line rebuttal to a recent speech given by former Obama Chief of Staff and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at Tel Aviv University regarding US-Israel relations. Salam breaks down the critical flaws in Emanuel's policy approach, calling out the dangerous tendency of establishment American pol
Naz Shah MP (Part 2 of 2): Forced Marriage, Survival, and Reclaiming My Path to Politics
In part two of this extraordinary two-part series on The MPAC® Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati, we present a special edition of the show as regular host Salam Al-Marayati steps aside to hand the hosting mic over to Los Angeles Times News and Culture Critic Lorraine Ali. Lorraine sits down with UK Member of Parliament Naz Shah following the launch of her incredible memoir Honored: Survival, Strength
Naz Shah MP: Separating Culture From Faith, Exposing Patriarchy, and Defeating Intimidation
In part one of this powerful two-part series on The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati sits down with UK Member of Parliament Naz Shah to tackle some of the most critical cultural and political tensions facing modern faith communities.Drawing directly from her personal and political journeys, Naz Shah shares raw insights on how communities frequently mistake rigid cultural traditions for true rel
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