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Beyond the Headlines

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes494Founded9 years ago
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NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for Beyond the Headlines

Latest Episodes

Palestinians in Gaza have voted in an election for the first time in 20 years, some for the first time in their lives.

Municipal elections took place last week across the West Bank but in only a single neighbourhood in the strip that had been less i... more

YouTube

Iraq is in a race against time to choose a prime minister but, even after weeks of deadlock, the Co-ordination Framework – a coalition of major Iraqi Shiite parties – is still deliberating.

The country is stuck in a tug-of-war of foreign influence b... more

YouTube

Hussein Al Zweidi’s two-year detention in Israeli prisons were some of the hardest days of his life. He described a practice of physical and sexual abuse against prisoners, as well as poor conditions and ill-treatment.

Even after his release, he suf... more

YouTube

US-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel began this week in Washington. This comes after at least 1,500 Lebanese have been killed in Israeli strikes since March and more than one million remain displaced.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continue... more

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Recent Guests

Abdaljawad Omar
Writer and assistant professor at Birzeit University near Ramallah
Birzeit University
Episode: Making sense of Palestine’s local elections
Haydar Al Shakeri
research fellow with the MENA program at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?
Miriam Azem
International Advocacy Coordinator at Adalah
Adalah, Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights
Episode: Death penalty: The new threat to Palestinian detainees
Ofer Cassif
Israeli politician and member of Knesset
Israeli Knesset
Episode: Death penalty: The new threat to Palestinian detainees
Henry Jirou
Professor at McMaster University, cultural critic
McMaster University
Episode: Theatre of war: How AI videos and propaganda clips manipulated US-Iran conflict
Darren Linville
Professor at Clemson University, co-director of the Clemson University Media Forensics Hub
Clemson University
Episode: Theatre of war: How AI videos and propaganda clips manipulated US-Iran conflict
Kaja Kallas
EU foreign policy chief
European Union
Episode: EU's Kallas warns of 'slippery slope' if Iran controls Strait of Hormuz
James Jeffrey
Distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute and former US deputy national security adviser
Washington Institute
Episode: Escalation or diplomacy: Where does the war go from here?
Dahlia Scheindlin
Political analyst based in Tel Aviv
Private analyst / Tel Aviv
Episode: How much longer can Israel sustain the war it started?

Host

Nada AlTaher
Host of the podcast, focusing on in-depth analysis of key political and social events in the Middle East.

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 States7 months 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
    Canada6 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.

Some listeners express frustration over perceived bias in the presentation of certain topics.
The podcast provides thoughtful insights into Mideast news, making it a valuable resource for understanding complex geopolitical issues.
Listeners appreciate the expert analysis and in-depth discussions that provide context often missing from mainstream coverage.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?
Q: How are the US and Iran leveraging veteran Iraqi politicians like al-Maliki and al-Sudani to influence outcomes?
Al-Maliki is seen as closer to Iran while al-Sudani has developed closer ties with the US; both are used as leverage by their respective backers to push agenda and secure favorable access to power.
Can Iraq shake off the grip of foreign influence?
Q: So why is it taking so long to choose a prime minister, and who are the main candidates?
The process operates as a consociational power-sharing system where many actors must approve decisions, leading to paralysis and a preference for a consensus candidate who can balance external and internal interests.
Making sense of Palestine’s local elections
Q: What did these candidates campaign on in Deir el-Balah, and what can they actually deliver under current conditions?
Campaigns focused on practical municipal improvements like rehabilitation of services and roads, but the reality of blockade and limited municipal capacity means promises are unlikely to be fully deliverable, and loyalties often hinge on reputational capital and local ties rather than broad ideological platforms.
Making sense of Palestine’s local elections
Q: What is the long-term impact of holding local elections, beyond the specific Gaza poll?
Local elections may provide a way to demonstrate governance competence and manage essential services, but they do not automatically translate into national-level legitimacy or democratic reform; the system remains tightly tied to the PA and security arrangements, limiting broader political change.
Making sense of Palestine’s local elections
Q: Do you think that European and American pressure on reform played a role in having these elections now?
The guest suggests that reform rhetoric serves as a legitimating mechanism for the PA to present itself as representative, while not guaranteeing a truly democratic process or broad participation; the elections are used to signal legitimacy rather than to enact meaningful change.

Audience Metrics

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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?

A comprehensive examination of major global and Middle Eastern stories offers listeners a detailed understanding of the complex socio-political landscape. Episodes frequently feature insights from experts and firsthand accounts from those impacted by the events, ensuring a multifaceted perspective on pressing issues. Topics often include geopolitical tensions, humanitarian crises, and the implications of international policies, with discussions aiming to cut through polarizing narratives and highlight the nuances lost in typical news coverage.

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How many listeners does Beyond the Headlines get?

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What are the audience demographics for Beyond the Headlines?

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How many subscribers and views does Beyond the Headlines have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Beyond the Headlines 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 Beyond the Headlines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Headlines:

1. The Inside Story Podcast
2. Makdisi Street
3. The Global Story
4. Hold Your Fire!
5. Amanpour

How many episodes of Beyond the Headlines are there?

Beyond the Headlines launched 9 years ago and published 494 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 Beyond the Headlines?

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 Beyond the Headlines?

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Headlines?

Recent guests on Beyond the Headlines include:

1. Abdaljawad Omar
2. Haydar Al Shakeri
3. Miriam Azem
4. Ofer Cassif
5. Henry Jirou
6. Darren Linville
7. Kaja Kallas
8. James Jeffrey

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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