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FDD Morning Brief

FDD
Iran
Israel
Hamas
Gaza
United States
Hezbollah
Middle East
Turkey
Qatar
Syria
Saudi Arabia
China
Middle East Conflict
Donald Trump
Lebanon
United Nations
Trump Administration
Muslim Brotherhood
Abraham Accords
Russia

The FDD Morning Brief provides timely situational updates on contemporary events. Start your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 8:30am (ET) with digestible analysis and the headlines our experts are watching. The FDD Morning Brief can be streamed on YouTube, X, and is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

PublishesDailyEpisodes380Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Headlines:

• Remember the Gaza Board of Peace? Yeah. It’s been pretty quiet lately. Well, presentatives from the Board are planning to meet in Cyprus next week.

• OPEC, the oil cartel for oil-producing nations, is in danger of losing another member.... more

Headlines:

• Saudi media reported that Hamas leaders recently met with French officials on an undisclosed date in an unspecified location in the Middle East. Really informative, right? So now, for something more specific. This is the first reported ... more

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP featuring the Free Press columnist Eli Lake and FDD expert Janatan Sayeh.

Learn more at: www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Does the MOU play Strait into Tehran's hands? | feat. Bernard Haykel and Jonathan HessenFDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP featuring FDD experts Bernard Haykel and Jonathan Hessen.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

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Recent Guests

Natalie Ecanow
FDD Senior Research Analyst and guest on the episode
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: Qatar's $400 billion grip on America | feat. Natalie Ecanow
Simone Rodan-Benzaquen
Senior envoy for Europe at FDD; former managing director of the American Jewish Committee in Europe
FDD
Episode: Where does Europe stand on Iran? | feat. Simone Rodan-Benzaquen
Moj Mahdara
Iranian-American activist based in LA; Kinship Partners founder
Kinship Partners
Episode: The deal that dooms the Iranian people | feat. Moj Mahdara
Joseph Zacks
Former CIA counter-terrorism leader; CEO of Aardwolf Global Solutions; CBS contributor; adjunct fellow at FDD
Aardwolf Global Solutions; CBS; FDD
Episode: The unfinished war on terror | feat. Joseph Zacks
Behnam Ben Taleblu
Senior director at FDD's Iran program; fluent in Farsi; Iran expert
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Episode: What's the deal with the Iran deal? | feat. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus & Behnam Ben Taleblu
Jacki Alexander
CEO of HonestReporting, US and Israel-based nonprofit
HonestReporting
Episode: The anti-Israel propaganda pipeline feeding mainstream media | feat. Jacki Alexander
Dan Swift
Senior Research Analyst at the Center on Economic and Financial Power, FDD
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: Hezbollah's West Africa money trail | feat. Daniel Swift
Craig Singleton
Former US diplomat who spent years working the China portfolio
Former US diplomat, China portfolio
Episode: Washington's week with Beirut and Beijing | feat. David Daoud and Craig Singleton
Norman Roule
Former CIA official; senior Iran analyst, Office of Director of National Intelligence; consultant on Gulf security and energy
Former CIA; ODNI; consultant; associated with FDD
Episode: A broke and belligerent Iran | feat. Norman Roule

Hosts

Jonathan Schanzer
Host of the show; senior analyst with a focus on Middle East geopolitics and U.S. policy.
Natalie Ecanow
Co-host/segment host with episode-by-episode guest coordination and segment hosting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 163 ratings
  • Clarity

    FDD is by far the most important foreign policy think tank in DC. They are unapologetically honest and fair. Listening to one of their podcasts is like taking an hour long master class on the issues. None of the dog whistle antisemitism at the Heritage Foundation. None of the whitewashing of Qatari and Turkish meddling in American politics. Love this group.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr, L
    United States7 months ago
  • Audio

    Audio is terrible!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Not Murphy!
    United States8 months ago
  • Great content, but…

    You’ve gotta work on the sound quality. It sounds like you’re and your mother‘s basement. Sorry, but it’s really hard to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    tipzipzee
    United States8 months ago
  • May

    Love Cliff May and thank him for creating the FDD.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gnome chopper
    United States9 months ago
  • Awesome interview

    Great insight into UN disfunction across the world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wellgaveitatry
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Sound quality has been a common complaint, with calls for improved production quality.
The show's depth on Middle East geopolitics and sanctions is frequently highlighted as a differentiator.
Listeners praise crisp, well-reasoned policy analysis and expert guests.
Guests and host deliver strong, evidence-based discussions, with occasional passionate takes on geopolitical issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The deal that dooms the Iranian people | feat. Moj Mahdara
Q: There could be a deal that effectively recognizes the Islamic Republic and lets the regime stay in place—how do you respond to that policy?
It would be disingenuous and betraying to even contemplate legitimizing the regime; such a move would abdicate support for human rights and democracy, and would empower a government that has massacred its own people and destabilized the region.
Law and order in the Iran war | feat. Natasha Hausdorff
Q: What about the genocide allegations and their impact on international discourse?
She contends the genocide label is a propagandistic inversion used to delegitimize Israel, arguing the evidence shows Israel exercises restraint and military necessity, and that the term has been weaponized in public discourse.
Law and order in the Iran war | feat. Natasha Hausdorff
Q: Is the US and Israeli war against Iran a legal war under international law?
She asserts that the war is lawful, arguing it follows a long-standing conflict pattern with Iranian proxies and applies existing war-law frameworks, while distinguishing preemptive aspects as a separate justification rather than a prerequisite for legality.
Law and order in the Iran war | feat. Natasha Hausdorff
Q: Tell us about the Center on International Rule of Law.
Hausdorff explains the NGO's mission to counter what she views as the weaponization and misrepresentation of international law, aiming to defend what she considers established legal norms and to hold NGOs accountable when they push a politicized agenda.
The unfinished war on terror | feat. Joseph Zacks
Q: Is there a real risk that the Taliban, despite cooperation against ISIS-K, remains a lasting threat?
The guest notes that while the Taliban and ISIS-K are interconnected threats, counterterrorism conversations and cooperation exist in practice, with ongoing efforts to deter Al-Qaeda affiliates and monitor the broader security implications.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About FDD Morning Brief

What is FDD Morning Brief about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers timely, data-driven analysis of geopolitical flashpoints, with a strong focus on Middle East dynamics, U.S. policy, and energy security. Episodes commonly dissect how Iran, Israel, Hezbollah, and other regional actors interact with global powers, often pairing policy analysis with practical takeaways on diplomacy, sanctions, and military considerations. A distinctive thread is rigorous, often hawkish-leaning commentary from seasoned think-tank guests and policy experts, alongside in-depth conversations that translate complex international developments into actionable insights for decision-makers, sponsors, and media professionals. The format frequently combines host-led briefings with expert interviews, highlighting real-... more

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Which podcasts are similar to FDD Morning Brief?

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How many episodes of FDD Morning Brief are there?

FDD Morning Brief launched 3 years ago and published 380 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 FDD Morning Brief?

Recent guests on FDD Morning Brief include:

1. Natalie Ecanow
2. Simone Rodan-Benzaquen
3. Moj Mahdara
4. Joseph Zacks
5. Behnam Ben Taleblu
6. Jacki Alexander
7. Dan Swift
8. Craig Singleton

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