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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
International Court Of Justice
Humanitarian Crisis
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes497Founded9 years ago
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Latest Episodes

It took the Houthis at least a month to enter the Iran conflict in late March and early April and the Yemeni rebels have been largely restrained since a Pakistan-brokered truce began last month.

But they haven’t exactly been idle either. A new repor... more

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Trade ties and tariff relief were supposed to be the key issues on the agenda during US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week. But with the Iran war unresolved and the Strait of Hormuz still blocked, the conflict is to take precedence.

C... more

YouTube

US President Donald Trump has said a deal with Iran could be possible as negotiations to end the war gain momentum, again.

Iran is reviewing a US proposal, which reportedly sets out limits for Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions re... more

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

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Recent Guests

Steven Wills
Navalist for the Centre for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League of the United States
Navy League of the United States, Centre for Maritime Strategy
Episode: Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz?
Hisham A. Hellyer
Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI for Defence and Security Studies
RUSI
Episode: Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz?
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
Paul Salem
Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute
Middle East Institute
Episode: What will come of the talks between Lebanon and Israel?
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

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 States8 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.

Apple Podcasts
#36
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#83
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#85
Sweden/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#157
United Arab Emirates/News
Apple Podcasts
#220
Sweden/News
Apple Podcasts
#247
India/News/Politics

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

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

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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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Beyond the Headlines?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Beyond the Headlines. 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 Beyond the Headlines and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Beyond the Headlines get?

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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. Al Jazeera News Updates
2. Hold Your Fire!
3. Middle East Focus
4. The Take
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Beyond the Headlines are there?

Beyond the Headlines launched 9 years ago and published 497 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Beyond the Headlines from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Headlines?

Recent guests on Beyond the Headlines include:

1. Steven Wills
2. Hisham A. Hellyer
3. Abdaljawad Omar
4. Haydar Al Shakeri
5. Miriam Azem
6. Ofer Cassif
7. Paul Salem
8. Henry Jirou

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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