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Background Briefing with Ian Masters

Ian Masters
Iran
Donald Trump
United States
Trump
Ukraine
Israel
Russia
Trump Administration
ICE
Artificial Intelligence
Strait Of Hormuz
Cuba
Oil
Middle East
Civil Rights
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Police Brutality
Democratic Party
NATO
2026 United States Midterm Elections

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

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Artwork for Background Briefing

Latest Episodes

Should the Democrats Prioritize Accountability or Affordability? | The "Deal Guys" Could Never Deliver Trump's Promised "Big, Beautiful Agreement" Between Russia and Ukraine Unless There is a Referendum on the Deal By the Ukrainian People | Anna Leah... more

Trump Doubles Down Choosing a Fire-Breathing Fanatic as His Next Chief of Staff | Can Stephen Miller Save Hegseth's Job? | Again Trump Cozies Up to Who He Calls "The Top Person in Russia" While Blaming Ukraine For the Killling

Trump Doubles Down Choosing a Fire-Breathing Fanatic as His Next Chief of Staff by Ian Masters

Trump Cozies Up to Who He Calls "The Top Person in Russia" While Blaming Ukraine For the Killling by Ian Masters

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Recent Guests

Matthew Cole
Investigative journalist and author of Code Over Country and Princes and Thieves
Episode: November 5, 2026 - Matthew Cole | Jeff Colgan
Jeff Colgan
Professor of political science and director of the Climate Solutions Lab at Brown University
Brown University
Episode: November 5, 2026 - Matthew Cole | Jeff Colgan
Moira Donegan
Writer in residence at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research and columnist at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: November 4th, 2026 - Moira Donegan | Robert Kuttner | Anthea Butler
Robert Kuttner
Co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, author and Brandeis University chair
The American Prospect
Episode: November 4th, 2026 - Moira Donegan | Robert Kuttner | Anthea Butler
Anthea Butler
Professor emerita of American Social Thought and former chair of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: November 4th, 2026 - Moira Donegan | Robert Kuttner | Anthea Butler
Thanassis Cambanis
Vice President for Research at the Center for International Policy and former Lebanon-based journalist
Center for International Policy
Episode: November 3rd, 2026 - Thanassis Cambanis | Gregory Treverton | William Hartung
Gregory Treverton
Former Chairman of the National Intelligence Council and Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: November 3rd, 2026 - Thanassis Cambanis | Gregory Treverton | William Hartung
William Hartung
Defense analyst and former Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute
Quincy Institute
Episode: November 3rd, 2026 - Thanassis Cambanis | Gregory Treverton | William Hartung
Andy Levin
Former U.S. representative, union organizer, human rights activist, attorney and politician
Episode: November 2, 2026 - Andy Levin | Jacob Heilbrunn | Dr. Michael McDonald

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 791 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 States6 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
    2 years 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.

November 5, 2026 - Matthew Cole | Jeff Colgan
Q: Why not just switch to alternatives? Why continue this dependence?
Colgan explains that global oil markets expose U.S. consumers to disruptions abroad, and that domestic producers and fossil-fuel interests benefit from continued dependence. Those competing interests make energy politics difficult.
November 5, 2026 - Matthew Cole | Jeff Colgan
Q: Would you agree with the premise that Big Oil is the only winner so far?
Colgan says oil companies have benefited, while American households have incurred more than $150 billion in additional gasoline and diesel costs. He also notes the human costs of the war.
November 1, 2026 - Bruce Schneier | Richard Parker | José Palma
Q: For the people who have held TPS, what has the last year and a half been like?
José Palma describes years of uncertainty as protections are canceled, reestablished, or left unclear, with recipients facing the possibility of detention and deportation after building lives in the United States.
November 1, 2026 - Bruce Schneier | Richard Parker | José Palma
Q: I don't understand the logic of spending real money to buy fake money.
Bruce Schneier says cryptocurrency has speculative value because buyers hope to sell it for more later, despite its lack of underlying value and practical use.
November 2, 2026 - Andy Levin | Jacob Heilbrunn | Dr. Michael McDonald
Q: And Michael, given that the numbers are pretty extraordinary in terms of people who already voted, I don't know whether it's a record so far, probably for a midterm it is. You're essentially, this is defying Donald Trump, isn't it?
McDonald says early voting is at a historic high for a midterm election and broadly supports polling that points to a favorable year for Democrats. He notes that voting patterns differ across groups and that early-vote data should be considered alongside other evidence.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. Talking Feds
3. The Hartmann Report
4. Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff
5. The Nation Podcasts

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. Matthew Cole
2. Jeff Colgan
3. Moira Donegan
4. Robert Kuttner
5. Anthea Butler
6. Thanassis Cambanis
7. Gregory Treverton
8. William Hartung

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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