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Background Briefing with Ian Masters

Ian Masters
Iran
Donald Trump
United States
Trump
Trump Administration
Russia
Israel
Ukraine
ICE
Venezuela
Artificial Intelligence
Oil
Middle East
Cuba
Supreme Court
Democratic Party
Strait Of Hormuz
Minneapolis
NATO
Republican Party

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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Artwork for Background Briefing

Latest Episodes

An Expert on Psychopathic Personality Disorder Ties Trump's Deteriorating Condition to the Crises We Face |Background Briefing's Anna Leah With the Authors of Against Tech Oligarchy: Worker Resistance in the World's Most Powerful Industry backgroundb... more

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The Third Anniversary of the Hamas Attack on Israel and How Netanyahu's Ignoring of Warnings is Impacting the October 27 Election | How France's Record Debt Underpins the Lack of Investment in Education as Students Protest Nationwide | How we Can Liv... more

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Trump Invites Iran to Nuke the Democratic Cities of Los Angeles and San Diego | Putin Offers the Mother of All Corrupt Deals to the Trump/Witkoff Families For Selling Out Ukraine | Russia Covers Up a Researcher's Death by Pneumonic Plague in Siberia ... more

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Will Brazil Join the Rightward Shift in Latin America Following Chile, Honduras and Colombia? | Sam Altman Says We Should Accept "Bad Things" With AI. What Could Go Wrong? | What Is in The Epstein Files That Trump is So Afraid Of and Will Todd Blanch... more

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Recent Guests

Vincent Greenwood
Licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the Washington Center for Cognitive Therapy
Washington Center for Cognitive Therapy
Episode: October 8, 2026 - Dr. Vincent Greenwood | JS Tan & Clarissa Redwine
JS Tan
Tech worker activist and author
MIT (academic work); co-author of Against Tech Oligarchy
Episode: October 8, 2026 - Dr. Vincent Greenwood | JS Tan & Clarissa Redwine
Clarissa Redwine
Tech worker activist and author
Kickstarter (past); author of Against Tech Oligarchy
Episode: October 8, 2026 - Dr. Vincent Greenwood | JS Tan & Clarissa Redwine
Nicolas Jabko
Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: October 7, 2026 - Asher Kaufman | Nicolas Jabko | Eric Liu
Eric Liu
Co-founder and CEO of Citizen University, author on democracy and American identity
Citizen University
Episode: October 7, 2026 - Asher Kaufman | Nicolas Jabko | Eric Liu
Henry Abraham
Psychiatric researcher and clinician, commentator on national security and nuclear issues
St. Elizabeth's Hospital; Physicians for Social Responsibility; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
Episode: October 6, 2026 - Dr. Henry Abraham | Anders Aslund | Gregory Koblentz
Gregory Koblentz
Associate Professor and Director of the Biodefense Graduate Program
George Mason University; Global Biolabs Initiative
Episode: October 6, 2026 - Dr. Henry Abraham | Anders Aslund | Gregory Koblentz
Stacey Rector
Executive Director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Episode: October, 4 2026 - Reverend Stacy Rector | Hamidreza Azizi | Susan Smith-Peter
Hamidreza Azizi
Senior Iran Analyst at the International Crisis Group
International Crisis Group
Episode: October, 4 2026 - Reverend Stacy Rector | Hamidreza Azizi | Susan Smith-Peter

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 788 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 States5 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 Statesa year 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.

Positive feedback highlights educational, up-to-date geopolitical insights.
Listeners praise in-depth, thoughtful guests and challenging questions that encourage detailed discussion.
Audience notes balanced, well-sourced analysis with strong guest lineups.
Many listeners value the long-form format over quick takes and headlines.
Some critics call out perceived bias while appreciating rigorous debate and transparency.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

October 1, 2026 - Michael Weinstein | Emma Ashford | Sonali Kolhatkar
Q: What is the core concern about Pete Hegseth's influence on the Pentagon?
The guest argues that Hegseth's emphasis on masculinity, culture-war messaging, and religious framing detracts from practical military readiness and risks entrenching a theocratic influence within defense institutions.
October 5, 2026 - James Green | Sasha Abramsky | David Cay Johnston
Q: What could go wrong with AI self-policing and rapid advancement?
There are warnings from within AI labs about rogue behavior and misaligned incentives in powerful systems, and without meaningful regulation and safeguards we risk existential threats and widespread job disruption.
September 30, 2026
Q: What did you make of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing?
Described as a disgraceful day, with Republicans misrepresenting the case against Trump and attacking the messenger rather than discussing the charges.
September 27, 2026 - Dr. Allen Frances | James Risen | Michael McDonald
Q: How did the CNN/MSNBC/Politico access ban affect media dynamics and perceptions of press freedom?
They described it as a politically driven move that backfired by drawing attention to press independence and prompting solidarity among media outlets, while also noting the strategic value Trump sought in controlling camera access during key moments.
September 27, 2026 - Dr. Allen Frances | James Risen | Michael McDonald
Q: What is the panel's view on invoking the 25th Amendment as a remedy for presidential incapacity?
The panelists view it as a limited and not reliably effective tool in this highly partisan context, noting that it would require independent cabinet action and is unlikely to gain broad support.

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?

This show offers in-depth, analytical conversations on national and international politics, security, economics, and policy. Episodes frequently feature panels of subject-matter experts—scholars, journalists, and policymakers—discussing topics like U.S. foreign policy, Middle East dynamics, domestic political strategy, and the economics shaping voter sentiment. The host tends to challenge guests with rigorous questions, producing thoughtful debates and long-form analysis that aims to illuminate complex issues beyond surface-level headlines. Noteworthy aspects include a steady roster of high-profile geopolitical commentators, a willingness to connect global events to domestic policy, and a clear emphasis on evidence-based perspectives that m... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Background Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Background Briefing:

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

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.

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What guests have appeared on Background Briefing?

Recent guests on Background Briefing include:

1. Vincent Greenwood
2. JS Tan
3. Clarissa Redwine
4. Nicolas Jabko
5. Eric Liu
6. Henry Abraham
7. Gregory Koblentz
8. Stacey Rector

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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