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FDD Morning Brief

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

The Middle East never stops moving. Neither does the FDD Morning Brief.

Three mornings a week, FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer cuts through the noise with the experts who have spent their careers studying, shaping, and living the region’s most consequential moments. All before your morning coffee gets cold.

PublishesDailyEpisodes424Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Headlines:

• Yesterday, the Saudi-led coalition struck a Yemeni oil facility in Sanaa.

• The Iranian regime is using the pause in fighting to get ready for the next round. 

• Well, we covered it last week. Iran allegedly sending $200 million to Hezb... more

Headlines:

• Yemen’s armed forces, the ones loyal to the internationally recognized government in Southern Yemen, said they carried out 1,732 strikes against positions held by the Houthis on Sunday.

• The documentary film called Naza, which alleges ... more

Headlines:

• Israel decided to downgrade the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem, but stopped short of fully closing the diplomatic post. 

• Taiwan has its sights on $130 billion worth of domestic infrastructure projects and the government in Taipei wants S... more

Headlines:

• The Houthis aren’t slowing down their offensive and continue to do damage in Saudi Arabia. 

• Representatives from the Mecca pact — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan — met in Riyadh.

• The Norwegian Parliament is considering a proposa... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Karni Guez
Commander of the IDF's first all-female tank unit on the Egyptian border
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
Episode: This all-female IDF tank unit battled Hamas on October 7 | feat. Karni Guez
Brad Sherman
Congressman representing California's 32nd district; member of House Foreign Affairs and House Financial Services Committees
U.S. House of Representatives / California's 32nd district
Episode: 47 years of war with Iran | feat. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Ronnie Chatah
Host of The Beirut Banyan; founder of Walk Beirut
Beirut Banyan, Walk Beirut
Episode: Beirut battles for its future | feat. Ronnie Chatah
Bilal Saab
Non-resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council; Associate Fellow at Chatham House; former Georgetown instructor; Senior Managing Director at Trends Us (UAE)
Atlantic Council; Chatham House; Trends Us
Episode: Lebanon's sovereignty paradox | feat. Bilal Saab
Ben Cohen
Research fellow and senior editor with FDD focusing on international organizations
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Episode: The Divided Nations | feat. Ben Cohen
Leah Siskind
AI research fellow at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, FDD
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Episode: China steals America's AI edge | feat. Leah Siskind
Mark Cancian
Senior Advisor, Defense and Security at Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: The truth about America's munitions crisis | feat. Mark Cancian
Swell Ariel Or
Actress known for The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem
Actor/Performer
Episode: The beauty queen of wartime Jerusalem | feat. Swell Ariel Or
Lara Burns
Retired FBI special agent who led major terrorism investigations
George Washington University's Program on Extremism (current)
Episode: The FBI's war on terror financing | feat. Lara Burns

Host

Jonathan Schanzer
Host of FDD Morning Brief; policy analyst and commentator on Middle East affairs

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 175 ratings
  • Airline?

    Would love to know why you think El Al is so bad. Safety couldn’t be the issue, could it?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hope 4 Future
    United States15 days ago
  • Endless wars

    How many goys have to die ?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tomcruise675
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year ago
  • Audio

    Audio is terrible!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Not Murphy!
    United Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently credible experts bringing topical policy insights.
Critiques mention inconsistent sound quality but high-quality content and guests.
Listeners praise the host's clarity and depth on complex security 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.

Beirut battles for its future | feat. Ronnie Chatah
Q: Tell us about your father and what his work represented for Lebanon.
Ronnie describes his father as a diplomat who worked to present Lebanon's cause to the world, advocate for Lebanon's potential, and push back against Hezbollah's influence, while emphasizing peaceful, diplomatic means over violence.
Is the UN rotten beyond reform? | feat. Ambassador Jeff Bartos
Q: What's your sense of the race to become the next Secretary General, and is there a front-runner the US has identified?
The process is complex, with veto power among five permanent Security Council members; the aim is to pick a reform-focused leader who can navigate vetoes and align with US goals, not someone easily vetoed.
47 years of war with Iran | feat. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Q: How do domestic political dynamics, like the DSA in the Democratic Party, affect U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and the Middle East?
Sherman argued that foreign policy has historically benefited from bipartisan unity and warned that internal divisions could undermine consistent support for Israel, urging a stable, bipartisanship approach to policy decisions.
47 years of war with Iran | feat. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Q: What is the role of the U.S.-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act of 2026 in counter-drone defense, and how serious is the goal of expanding cooperation and funding?
Sherman described the bill as incremental, noting it would advance some counter-drone capabilities but depend on presidential priority and broader administrative support to be effective.
47 years of war with Iran | feat. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
Q: Is there a realistic path to disarming Hamas permanently, and how feasible is a diplomatic solution without on-the-ground boots?
Sherman suggested that a complete, permanent disarmament would likely require significant military action and civilian costs, and that any durable regime change would need to involve substantial, sustained efforts possibly including military pressure alongside diplomatic channels.

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?

The program centers on Middle East policy analysis and global security, regularly pairing a seasoned U.S. policy host with top think-tank and policy experts. Episodes routinely dissect Iran, Israel, Gaza, Syria, and regional alignments, often linking on-the-ground developments to broader strategic dynamics such as deterrence, sanctions, and diplomacy. A standout trait is the guest roster: high-caliber researchers, former policymakers, and regionally focused scholars who offer actionable insights for decision-makers, sponsors, and PR teams targeting a policy-forward audience. The show frequently surfaces timely debates—from disarming militant groups to realignment among Gulf and regional powers—making it valuable for listeners seeking rigoro... more

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Which podcasts are similar to FDD Morning Brief?

These podcasts share a similar audience with FDD Morning Brief:

1. Ark News Daily
2. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz
5. Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

How many episodes of FDD Morning Brief are there?

FDD Morning Brief launched 3 years ago and published 424 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. Karni Guez
2. Brad Sherman
3. Ronnie Chatah
4. Bilal Saab
5. Ben Cohen
6. Leah Siskind
7. Mark Cancian
8. Swell Ariel Or

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