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Beyond the Headlines

The National News
Gaza
Israel
Hamas
Iran
Syria
United States
Hezbollah
Lebanon
Palestinian Authority
Donald Trump
Middle East
Civil War
West Bank
Yemen
Palestine
Humanitarian Crisis
International Court Of Justice
United Nations
Iraq
Saudi Arabia

Dive deeper into the week’s biggest stories from the Middle East and around the world with The National’s multi-award-winning podcast, Beyond the Headlines — winner of two Signal Awards and the New York Festivals Radio and TV Awards. Nuances are often missed in day-to-day headlines. We go Beyond the Headlines by bringing together the voices of experts and those living the news to provide a clearer... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes514Founded9 years ago
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PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

The UK’s decision to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements, and impose sanctions on entities that are used to build them, has put new pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as the occupied West Bank faces unprecedented land grabs.

It has... more

YouTube

When the US announced it was imposing new sanctions on Iran late last month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim was to sever every economic lifeline “until Tehran stands alone”.

The burden will also fall on Iran-backed groups across the r... more

YouTube

Israel has been attacking parts of Syria since the fall of the Assad regime and carrying out incursions into the country’s south under the pretext of targeting weapons of the former government.

But its attack last week on the Abu Al Duhur military a... more

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada McKenna joins host Nada AlTaher in conversation about the challenges facing humanitarian assistance across the Middle East and beyond.

The impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade has tri... more

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Recent Guests

Thomas Harding
Security and Policy Editor at The National
The National
Episode: How cheap weapons are changing the balance of military power
Nadwa Al-Dawsari
associate fellow at the Middle East Institute and fellow at the Centre on Armed Groups
Middle East Institute; Centre on Armed Groups
Episode: What do the Houthis stand to gain by escalating now?
Kamal Mukarker
Palestinian tour guide from Beit Jala
Beit Jala community / tourism sector
Episode: The cost of occupation: How Palestine's economy has been pushed to the brink
Raja Khalidi
Palestinian development economist
Economist
Episode: The cost of occupation: How Palestine's economy has been pushed to the brink
Jalal Abukhater
Policy Manager at Hamleh (digital rights group)
Hamleh
Episode: The cost of occupation: How Palestine's economy has been pushed to the brink
Douglas Silliman
Former US Ambassador to Iraq and Kuwait; President of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
Episode: What the US-Saudi strikes on Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq reveal about the wider war
Hasan Alhasan
Senior Fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
Episode: What the US-Saudi strikes on Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq reveal about the wider war
Elizabeth Dent
Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Episode: What the US-Saudi strikes on Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq reveal about the wider war
Paul Salem
Beirut-based analyst, senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Episode: Can Lebanon find a winning formula in peace talks with Israel?

Host

Nada AlTaher
Host of Beyond the Headlines

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Would give zero stars if I could

    The bias is breathtaking.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nancy Pol
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Mideast news podcast

    An informative and well produced podcast that explores the most important stories in the Middle East.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sophietremblay
    Canada7 years ago
  • Podcast lover

    Astounding

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jazz114
    United States8 years ago
  • Lover of Podcasts

    Astounding

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lover of podcasts 239328913459
    United Arab Emirates8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth and nuance provided by guests and hosts.
Informative and well produced; covers important Middle East stories.
The bias is breathtaking.
Audience finds it authoritative and insightful.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#33
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#119
Israel/News
Apple Podcasts
#181
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How cheap weapons are changing the balance of military power
Q: How might smaller firms influence the global arms race going forward?
Smaller firms bring rapid innovation, cost efficiencies, and agility, enabling new defense capabilities and niche products that can be scaled or adapted quickly for different theatres of operation.
How cheap weapons are changing the balance of military power
Q: Why are drones changing the economic calculations of warfare compared with high-cost interceptors?
Drones enable mass, flexible, and low-cost operations that can achieve strategic effects at a fraction of traditional weapon costs, pressuring stockpiles and redefining deterrence and damage control.
How cheap weapons are changing the balance of military power
Q: What does the emergence of task forces like Falcon Strike imply about the US response to Iran's drone strategy?
It signals an organizational and strategic shift toward a drone-centric battlefield, leveraging rapid development, wider regional cooperation, and scalable drone capabilities to counter inexpensive, mass-produced drones.
What do the Houthis stand to gain by escalating now?
Q: Is there any indication the Houthis may be coordinating with Iran, or are they acting independently?
There is a nuanced relationship; the Houthis are not simply Iran's puppets, but their actions are increasingly interdependent, with Iran providing capabilities while the Houthis maintain a degree of autonomy in making strategic moves.
What do the Houthis stand to gain by escalating now?
Q: What do the Houthis stand to gain from directly targeting Saudi interests after years of a ceasefire?
They aim to extract political concessions, reassert leadership in Yemen, and push for a broader regional settlement that aligns with their strategic interests, especially as Iran's influence and regional alignments shift.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Headlines

What is Beyond the Headlines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently covers geopolitics, security, and economic issues in the Middle East, often layering on-the-ground reporting with expert analysis from policy think tanks, universities, and government circles. Episodes skew toward international relations, regional conflicts, sanctions, and governance, with frequent guests who offer legal, strategic, and economic context. A notable strength is translating dense policy topics into accessible narratives by combining eyewitness reporting, data-driven analysis, and nuanced commentary, making it valuable for listeners who want deeper context beyond headlines. The show tends to feature senior analysts, former officials, and academics, and it occasionally weighs in on global power dynamics... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond the Headlines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Headlines:

1. The Take
2. Al Jazeera News Updates
3. Foreign Policy Live
4. Fareed Zakaria GPS
5. Open to Debate

How many episodes of Beyond the Headlines are there?

Beyond the Headlines launched 9 years ago and published 514 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 Beyond the Headlines?

Recent guests on Beyond the Headlines include:

1. Thomas Harding
2. Nadwa Al-Dawsari
3. Kamal Mukarker
4. Raja Khalidi
5. Jalal Abukhater
6. Douglas Silliman
7. Hasan Alhasan
8. Elizabeth Dent

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