Rephonic
Artwork for Background Briefing

Background Briefing with Ian Masters

Ian Masters
Donald Trump
CPAC
Russia
Gaza
Ukraine
Christian Nationalism
Supreme Court
Democracy
Fascism
Christian Theocracy
Israel
Alexei Navalny
U.S. Politics
Putin
Russian Intelligence
Gaza War
Joe Biden
Government Shutdown
Ukraine Aid
Vladimir Putin

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
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Background Briefing

Latest Episodes

Republicans Try to Discredit Jack Smith's Testimony While Trump Calls Him "A Deranged Animal" But Smith Made Clear He Will Not Be Intimidated | The Same Conditions That Dragged Down Biden To Defeat Are Now Weighing On Trump | House and Senate Democra... more

After Piling on About Biden's Mental Acuity, the Press is Mostly Silent on Trump's Obvious Madness | The Country's Closest Friend and Neighbor is Making Precautionary Military Plans Against a U.S. Invasion Ordered by Trump | Will the Counterculture L... more

YouTube

On the One Year Anniversary of the Return of Trump On How He Has Weaponized Immigration | Trump's Billion Dollar a Head Board of Peace and the Reality on the Ground in Gaza | The Latest Sellout of the Kurds With Trump Backing the New Syrian Governmen... more

YouTube

The Caligula Moment of the Madman in the Oval Office Waging War Against Half of Our Country and Our Allies Abroad | The Latest Report From Oxfam "Resisting the Rule of The Rich: Defending Freedom Against Billionaire Power" | Corruption Inside DHS and... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Justin Elliott
Reporter with ProPublica covering business, economics, and politics
ProPublica
Episode: January 19, 2026 - Sasha Abramsky | Rebecca Riddell | Justin Elliott
Dr. Louisse Shelley
Founder of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University.
George Mason University
Episode: January 15, 2026 - Aaron Regunberg | Dr. Louisse Shelley | Andrew Miller
Aaron Regunberg
Contributing editor at The New Republic, climate lawyer, and progressive organizer.
Public Citizen
Episode: January 15, 2026 - Aaron Regunberg | Dr. Louisse Shelley | Andrew Miller
Jacob SilvermN
A contributing writer for The New Republic and editor at The Baffler, covering tech and national security.
The New Republic and The Baffler
Episode: January 14, 2026 - Mikkel Runge Olesen | Dr. Nancy Okail | Jacob SilvermN
Emmanuel Mauleón
Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Episode: January 13, 2026 - Emmanuel Mauleón | Ray Takeyh | Mark Fitzpatrick
Ray Takeyh
Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: January 13, 2026 - Emmanuel Mauleón | Ray Takeyh | Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick
Associate Fellow for Strategy, Technology and Arms Control, former Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
Episode: January 13, 2026 - Emmanuel Mauleón | Ray Takeyh | Mark Fitzpatrick
Ana Pottratz Acosta
A professor of law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and clinical professor of law at the University of Minnesota, focusing on immigration law and human rights law.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law, University of Minnesota
Episode: January 7, 2026 - Ana Pottratz Acosta | Dr. Allen Frances | Oona Hathaway
Miguel Tinker Salas
Professor and Chair of Latin American History and Chicano Latina Studies at Pomona College
Pomona College
Episode: January 6, 2026 - Spencer Sunshine | Miguel Tinker Salas | Stephen Wertheim

Host

Ian Masters
Host with a focus on critical analysis and in-depth discussions of current events, often featuring expert guests across various fields.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 764 ratings
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Appreciate you and your guests

    Please can you speak to the US accepting Afrikaners

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Melissa J83
    United States8 months 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 States8 months 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
    9 months ago
  • Good guests, I wish Ian did more interviewing and less pushing his own thesis.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    curmudgeon
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive feedback emphasizes critical analysis that goes beyond surface-level news coverage;
Listeners appreciate the in-depth discussions and expert guests that illuminate complex issues;
Many describe the show as an essential resource for understanding contemporary political and social dynamics;
Some reviewers express concerns over perceived biases in the host's questioning.

Top News Podcasts

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaCrooked Media
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Ben Shapiro ShowThe Daily Wire
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Tucker Carlson ShowTucker Carlson Network
Candace
CandaceCandace Owens

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

January 13, 2026 - Emmanuel Mauleón | Ray Takeyh | Mark Fitzpatrick
Q: What can the United States do to support the Iranian people amidst their protests?
The United States can support the Iranian people by coordinating efforts with allies and increasing communication pressure, rather than kinetic options.
January 12, 2026 - Robert Hockett | Annelle Sheline | David Daley
Q: What are Trump's actions regarding election systems?
He is pushing for states to hand over sensitive voter data, which raises serious concerns about voter suppression and fraud.
January 12, 2026 - Robert Hockett | Annelle Sheline | David Daley
Q: How are the Saudi-UAE tensions impacting the situation in Yemen?
The UAE is supporting factions in Yemen for territorial control, while Saudi Arabia is trying to maintain influence, leading to increased conflict.
January 12, 2026 - Robert Hockett | Annelle Sheline | David Daley
Q: What can you tell us about Trump's interference with the Federal Reserve?
Trump is attempting to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve by launching unwarranted investigations into Jerome Powell.
January 8, 2026 - David Schultz | Alejandro Velasco | Ryan Cooper
Q: Ryan, what insights do you have on Trump's foreign policy towards Greenland?
Trump's approach displays a misunderstanding of geopolitics and a distraction from domestic issues, treating Greenland with a colonial mindset.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Background Briefing

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

Focused on exploring underreported issues and providing in-depth analysis, the content is primarily centered around international and national news. It features discussions with expert guests—including scholars, journalists, and policymakers—who offer insights on a range of topics from national security to social and political issues. The unique approach of elevating lesser-known conversations is complemented by a critical examination of U.S. foreign and domestic policies, particularly regarding the actions and implications of the Trump administration. The podcast stands out for its commitment to presenting diverse perspectives and expert commentary on contemporary challenges facing society.

Where can I find podcast stats for Background Briefing?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Background Briefing. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Background Briefing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Background Briefing get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Background Briefing, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Background Briefing?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Background Briefing, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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 DSR Network
3. The Hartmann Report
4. The Nation Podcasts
5. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Background Briefing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Background Briefing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Background Briefing?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Background Briefing. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Background Briefing?

Recent guests on Background Briefing include:

1. Justin Elliott
2. Dr. Louisse Shelley
3. Aaron Regunberg
4. Jacob SilvermN
5. Emmanuel Mauleón
6. Ray Takeyh
7. Mark Fitzpatrick
8. Ana Pottratz Acosta

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days