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Background Briefing with Ian Masters

Ian Masters
Donald Trump
Iran
Trump Administration
Venezuela
Ukraine
United States
Trump
Russia
Israel
ICE
American Democracy
Democratic Party
Supreme Court
Government Shutdown
Jeffrey Epstein
Gaza
Republican Party
Stephen Miller
Oil
Voting Rights Act

Background Briefing goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard elsewhere in American media. Background Briefing features international and national news, expert guests, policymakers, and critics offering analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural, and social issues. backgroundbriefing.org/donate twitter.co... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes606Founded12 years ago
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Latest Episodes

An Unstable Stalemate in the Persian Gulf is the Likely Outcome of Trump's Disastrous War | With the World's Richest Oligarchs Pushing AI, Will the People Demand Some Agency Over the Future of Their Communities and Livelihoods? | A View From Canada o... more

Will the War of Words Between Trump and the Iranians Lead to a Real War? | The Scramble to Replace Platner Who Appears Reluctant to Step Down | The Lack of Vetting and Opposition Research in Choosing Candidates to Run in Democratic Primaries backgrou... more

YouTube

The Latest Platner Scandal Has Bernie and Mamdani Urging Him to Step Aside | What it is Like to Have Russian Missiles and Drones Heading For Your Apartment Building | The NATO Summit Underway and What Does Putin Want From Trump backgroundbriefing.org... more

YouTube

Crypto Don Makes a Deal With the Head of the Notoriously Corrupt FIFA Which Will Stain a U.S. Victory If There Is To Be One This Evening | Will Trump's Revival of His Mentor Roy Cohn's Red Scare Work? | The Religious Underpinning of the Iranian Theoc... more

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Recent Guests

Christy McGillivray
Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians
Voters Not Politicians
Episode: June 29, 2026 - Aziz Huq | Nader Hashemi | Christy McGillivray
Matt Sledge
Political reporter for The Intercept; covered Prairie Land sentences and related legal developments
The Intercept
Episode: June 25, 2026 - Matt Sledge | Josh Fox | Judith Levine
Josh Fox
Independent filmmaker; founder and artistic director of the International WOW Company; Oscar-nominated/winning filmmaker known for Gaslands and The Welcome Table
International WOW Company; HBO/Welcome Table project
Episode: June 25, 2026 - Matt Sledge | Josh Fox | Judith Levine
Judith Levine
Brooklyn-based journalist, essayist, and author; contributor on Today in Fascism
The Guardian; Today in Fascism
Episode: June 25, 2026 - Matt Sledge | Josh Fox | Judith Levine
Steven Levitsky
Professor of Latin American Studies, Government, and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard
Harvard University
Episode: June 23, 2026 - Dean Baker | Sidney Blumenthal | Steven Levistsky
Polly Toynbee
Columnist for The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: June 22, 2026 - Polly Toynbee | Karen Greenberg | Timi Iwayemi
Timi Iwayemi
Assistant Director at the Revolving Door Project
Revolving Door Project
Episode: June 22, 2026 - Polly Toynbee | Karen Greenberg | Timi Iwayemi
Andrei Markovits
Professor Emeritus of Comparative Politics, German Studies and Sociology
University of Michigan
Episode: June 21, 2026 - Sina Toossi | Andrei Markovits | Alexander Motyl
Joshua Landis
Sandra Mackey Chair and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
Episode: June 18, 2026 - Joshua Landis | R. Daniel Kelemen | Shawna Kidman

Host

Ian Masters
Host focused on international news, national security, and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 784 ratings
  • Appreciation

    Brother Ian, I have been a faithful follower of your podcast since its inception. Thank you for being such a steadfast bulwark against this miasmic regime. I marvel at your deep, abiding courage in speaking out and standing against these pervasive forces of darkness, which, nonetheless, have been with us since the dawn of humankind and will be with us until the Eschaton. They are here to stay and can only be contained, restrained, and managed since they are of the wrong spirit.

    You, Simon Rosenb... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pastor Roberts
    United States2 months ago
  • The only podcast I seek out consistently

    The discussion with Prof. Sean Wilentz on 10/26/25 distills perfectly the monstrosity we are dealing with in very clear terms and the more people who understand it, the better we will be able to overcome this moment in history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mettaminx
    United States8 months ago
  • Appreciate you and your guests

    Please can you speak to the US accepting Afrikaners

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Melissa J83
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ian Masters's Background Briefing: A show that stands apart from any other.

    As essential as any other number one news and analysis resource, this program remains at the very top of my list. A part of my daily routine, I credit Mr Masters with providing us with a detailed picture of our current affairs through a, almost daily, series of wildly diverse and highly credentialed guest interviews. I could never thank the staff of Background Briefing enough for taking me through this very difficult decade. If I ever hit the jackpot, you will know it. thank you for all of your ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Railer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Often the guests have very on point analysis and commentary. This can't be said of all guests. Some seem as clueless as the relatively uninformed may be. Many are also cagey, unwilling to state ugly realities, unlike Ian.

    This is definitely a podcast for the left leaning given Ian's tendency to insert his own left leaning opinions into discussion. So some right wingers and "centrists" may not like it. However, Ian still has excellent editorial standards (like keeping to the facts) nonetheless.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mindful86
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many praise the host for bringing highly credentialed experts and challenging perspectives.
Some critics feel occasional guests are overly academic or polarized; overall sentiment is highly positive.
Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of guests, noting rigorous, policy-forward discussions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

June 29, 2026 - Aziz Huq | Nader Hashemi | Christy McGillivray
Q: What is the significance of Humphrey Executor in the current Supreme Court decision, and how does it affect the balance of power between Congress and the Presidency?
Humphrey's Executor established limits on presidential removal power; overruling it shifts power toward the president, making regulatory and enforcement actions easier to insulate from congressional checks, thereby weakening legislative oversight.
June 21, 2026 - Sina Toossi | Andrei Markovits | Alexander Motyl
Q: How do sanctions affect domestic politics in Iran and shape potential outcomes of negotiations?
Sanctions tend to consolidate hardline power and harm ordinary Iranians, making a negotiated settlement more challenging as leaders fear domestic backlash, while relief measures could offer a space for compromise if paired with credible enforcement and economic access.
June 21, 2026 - Sina Toossi | Andrei Markovits | Alexander Motyl
Q: What do you think about the prospect of a longer-term rapprochement with Iran given the current ceasefire terms?
The guest argues that while the MOU may provide a temporary pause and satisfy baseline interests, the lack of trust and the need for broader negotiations make a durable deal unlikely unless major concessions and verifiable safeguards are implemented.
June 23, 2026 - Dean Baker | Sidney Blumenthal | Steven Levistsky
Q: How does the defense budget relate to the Social Security shortfall in your view?
The defense budget represents a much larger spending trajectory; if we redirected or reprioritized that spending, it would alleviate pressure on Social Security, suggesting the two issues are deeply interconnected through fiscal policy choices.
June 14, 2026 - Harrison Mann | Aslı Bâli | Aaron Regunberg
Q: What role does fossil fuel industry play in shaping policy and public perception regarding the Gulf crisis?
The oil industry shaped public perception and policy through long-standing lobbying, misinformation, and subsidies that hinder the transition to cleaner energy, while profits continue to rise as geopolitical events influence oil prices and energy security debates.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Background Briefing

What is Background Briefing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive current events program that blends geopolitical analysis with domestic policy and political ethics. Episodes regularly feature a rotating panel of scholars, former policymakers, journalists, and policy critics who dissect energy security, U.S. foreign policy, elections, and governance. Noteworthy is the willingness to tackle controversial topics with sharp critique and historical context, often tying global events to domestic consequences. Potential listeners will find rigorous, evidence-grounded discussion, provocative takes, and a broad array of perspectives from academia, think tanks, media, and policy circles.

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How many listeners does Background Briefing get?

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What are the audience demographics for Background Briefing?

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How many subscribers and views does Background Briefing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Background Briefing has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Background Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Background Briefing:

1. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
2. The Hartmann Report
3. The Nation Podcasts
4. The Chris Hedges Report
5. Democracy Now! Audio

How many episodes of Background Briefing are there?

Background Briefing launched 12 years ago and published 606 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Background Briefing?

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What guests have appeared on Background Briefing?

Recent guests on Background Briefing include:

1. Christy McGillivray
2. Matt Sledge
3. Josh Fox
4. Judith Levine
5. Steven Levitsky
6. Polly Toynbee
7. Timi Iwayemi
8. Andrei Markovits

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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