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FDD Morning Brief

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes396Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Headlines:

• Syria reportedly agreed to decrease its Russian oil imports. 

• The International Monetary Fund, or “IMF,” announced a new technical assistance program for the country after wrapping up a visit there late last month. 

• A seventh round... more

Headlines:

• Two more Iranian nationals have been executed by the regime for allegedly spying on behalf of Israel.

• Reports are swirling in the region that the Saudis may need to go back to military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. 

• If th... more

Headlines:

• Last night President Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to give up its weapons and hand over power in Gaza to the newly established National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (or NCAG).

• U.S. officials say multiple U.N. relie... more

Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with CMPP Chairman LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster.

Learn more... more

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Recent Guests

Norman Roule
Former US National Intelligence Manager for Iran; consultant on Gulf security and energy issues
Former CIA and Office of the DNI
Episode: Iran's conflict calculus | feat. Norman Roule
Richard Goldberg
Senior advisor at FDD; former government official and policy expert on Iran, energy, and security
FDD
Episode: Defusing Iran's nuclear ambitions | feat. Richard Goldberg
Ilan Berman
Senior Vice President focusing on the Middle East, Russia, US foreign policy
American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC)
Episode: Digging into Pickaxe Mountain | feat. Ilan Berman
Alexandria Paolozzi Moore
Staff at FDD Action with a front-row seat on Capitol Hill
FDD Action
Episode: The MidEast view from Capitol Hill | feat. Alexandria Paolozzi Moore
Robin Simcox
Counterterrorism expert; UK King's College London fellow; former UK counter-extremism commissioner
King's College London; former UK Home Office counter-extremism commissioner
Episode: Britain's belated reckoning with the IRGC | feat. Robin Simcox
Hagar Chemali
Lebanon expert and satirist
Columbia University; Atlantic Council (non-resident senior fellow)
Episode: Lebanon's Sisyphean struggle with Hezbollah | feat. Hagar Chemali
Hannah Puder
Filmmaker and director of Operation Arnon documentary
Episode: Inside Israel's Operation Arnon | feat. Hannah Puder
Cameron McMillan
Senior Research Analyst at FDD in the Center on Military and Political Power
FDD
Episode: Axis of Aggressors and NATO's path forward | feat. Cam McMillan
Celeste Wallander
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; former NSC Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia
Penn Washington (Executive Director), West Executive Advisors (Senior Advisor), Center for a New American Security (Adjunct Senior Fellow)
Episode: What to watch at the NATO summit | feat. Celeste Wallander

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 168 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 States9 months ago
  • Audio

    Audio is terrible!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Not Murphy!
    United States9 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 States9 months ago
  • May

    Love Cliff May and thank him for creating the FDD.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gnome chopper
    United States10 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.

Testing the waters of Hormuz | feat. Behnam Ben Taleblu
Q: How sustainable is Iran's financial position under sanctions and blockades?
Iran is described as running on fumes with a temporary $6 billion gain that may not be sustainable, as sanctions and the blockade continue to constrict oil sales and revenue, pressuring the regime to seek new sources of leverage or accept concessions.
Testing the waters of Hormuz | feat. Behnam Ben Taleblu
Q: What is the regime's current strategic posture in the region, and is it collapsing or recalibrating?
The regime appears to be escalating incrementally—punching at American bases, targeting Arab infrastructure, and leveraging economic pressure—while maintaining a belief that they can endure; the analysis suggests a risky but calculable strategy that could yield regional disruption even without total collapse.
What to watch at the NATO summit | feat. Celeste Wallander
Q: And so I'll start probably with kind of where Trump could revel in something. What do you think of Europe's defense spending? Has the tide turned or is there still some doubt about European commitment to security?
Europe's defense spending has turned a corner; many allies are at or aiming for 2 percent with serious plans toward higher targets, driven by U.S. focus and a shared understanding of a dangerous neighborhood, though procurement and political timelines remain challenges.
The jet engine deal fueling Turkey's NATO moment | feat. Steven A. Cook
Q: What say you about the state of Turkey at this moment?
Steven Cook explains that Turkey has grown more aggressive in its rhetoric and actions toward Israel and its neighbors, complicating regional stability and NATO discussions, while also pursuing leverage in the F-35 program and broader security arrangements.
The fire that barely ceased | feat. Miad Maleki
Q: What about leveraging oil infrastructure like Clark Island for leverage—should the U.S. consider aggressive actions there?
They discuss keeping Clark Island as a leverage point rather than destroying it, arguing that control over oil revenues could be used as a bargaining tool to pressure the regime while avoiding unintended global economic shock.

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?

These podcasts share a similar audience with FDD Morning Brief:

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

How many episodes of FDD Morning Brief are there?

FDD Morning Brief launched 3 years ago and published 396 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. Norman Roule
2. Richard Goldberg
3. Ilan Berman
4. Alexandria Paolozzi Moore
5. Robin Simcox
6. Hagar Chemali
7. Hannah Puder
8. Cameron McMillan

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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