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Makdisi Street

Makdisi Bros.
Gaza
Israel
Palestine
Zionism
United States
Iran
Lebanon
Hezbollah
Hamas
U.S. Foreign Policy
International Law
Human Rights
Trump Administration
Middle East
Palestinian Rights
Nakba
Genocide
West Bank
Biden Administration
Palestinian Authority

A podcast co-hosted by Saree Makdisi, Ussama Makdisi, and Karim Makdisi. Follow us on X: @MakdisiStreet Follow us on YouTube: @MakdisiStreet

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes111Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Makdisi Street

Latest Episodes

Two of the three brothers reflect on summer travels and discuss Ussama's recent visit to Australia, the extraordinary repression across the Western world intended to shield Israel from criticism or even analysis, the provenance of the so-called IHRA ... more

The brothers reunite in a special, in-person episode at their parents' mountain house in Dhour Choueir, Lebanon, to discuss their recent trip to southern Lebanon, what they saw on the ground, the wider regional implications, and where U.S. politics s... more

The brothers welcome journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates back to the show to discuss Kamala Harris's ill-fated 2024 presidential campaign and the debacle of the Democratic Convention's exclusion of Palestinian-American voices (about which he's wri... more

**Please join our Patreon for access to our next livestream and to submit your questions/comments** Come and join the brothers for another patron-only livestream discussion of the situation in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. We look forward to your question... more

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Recent Guests

Ta-Nehisi Coates
Author and commentator
Contributor to Vanity Fair; author of Between the World and Me and The Case for Reparations
Episode: "Palestinians are wholly excluded from the room" w/ Ta-Nehisi Coates
Aslı Ü. Bâli
Howard Holtzman Professor of Law, Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Episode: "Their appetite grows with every war" w/ Aslı Ü. Bâli
Abdullah Al-Arian
Associate professor of history and chair of International History at Georgetown University in Qatar
Georgetown University in Qatar
Episode: "FIFA is a racket" w/ Abdullah Al-Arian
Eyal Weizman
Founder and director of Forensic Architecture; professor
Forensic Architecture / Goldsmiths, University of London
Episode: Makdisi Street Reviews w/ Eyal Weizman
As`ad AbuKhalil
Professor of political science at Cal State University in Stanislaus, California
Cal State Stanislaus
Episode: "No peace and prosperity with apartheid" w/ As`ad Abukhalil
Jehad Abusalim
Executive Director of the Gaza Genocide Project
Institute for Palestine Studies; Gaza Genocide Project
Episode: "The Zionist project is what it has always been" w/ Jehad Abusalim
Michael Young
Senior editor, Carnegie Middle East Center; editor of Diwan
Carnegie Middle East Center
Episode: "We cannot negotiate without national consensus" w/ Michael Young
Karim Makdisi
Makdisi Street co-host, discussing Lebanon and regional politics
Makdisi Street
Episode: "It hasn't worked": Lebanese defiance of Zionist oppression w/ Karim, Ussama and Saree Makdisi
Ussama Makdisi
Makdisi Street co-host, discussing Lebanon and regional politics
Makdisi Street
Episode: "It hasn't worked": Lebanese defiance of Zionist oppression w/ Karim, Ussama and Saree Makdisi

Hosts

Saree Makdisi
Host of Makdisi Street; academic and commentator on Middle East politics.
Ussama Makdisi
Co-host of Makdisi Street; discusses Lebanon and regional politics.
Karim Makdisi
Co-host of Makdisi Street; regional politics with emphasis on Lebanon and Levant dynamics.

Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars from 2.7k ratings
  • Insightful

    I will be honest and say I listen to pods while doing chores around the house, so, I go in and out of full attention, but I am so thankful for a podcast with diverse perspectives that need to be heard. The only criticism I have is that the volume on this podcast is very low compared to most pods I listen to, which makes it even harder to pay attention. Friends, please turn yourselves up, we need to hear your voices!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StardustBabe
    United States13 days ago
  • Thoughtful and intelligent analysis

    Insightful and knowledgeable guests giving perspectives and expertise helping to combat the imperial talking points of the ubiquitous euro / western media. Always with excellent questions and analysis by the three Makdisi brothers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EsirecTree
    France3 months ago
  • Indispensable podcast

    The brothers are incredibly precise, pedagogical & serves sharp analysis of all things politics in the Middle East/Levant area. A truly powerful voice and critique that offers context, clarity and radical thought in an ever increasingly dire moment. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Johanna Malm
    Sweden3 months ago
  • A great podcast

    Consistently thoughtful, covers complex issues with depth and insight. Great guests but the brothers alone in conversation is worthwhile too. A must listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raccoon unicorn clownfish
    Australia3 months ago
  • Essential insights

    There’s nothing like this absolutely essential podcast. Endless and timely insights from some of the sharpest scholars on the Middle East today!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    definitely not your brother
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-caliber guests and rigorous, nuanced political analysis.
Conversations are deeply informed with top guests and strong host dynamics.
Essential, thoughtful analysis of Middle East politics with accessible dialogue.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Patron-only livestream: Latest on Iran, Lebanon and US policy
Q: Why has the US treated Iran as the permanent enemy, and is it really about Iran challenging Israel or about US hegemony?
The hosts suggest the enmity is rooted in the US viewing Iran as a challenger to its unipolar influence in the Gulf and globally, with Israel's role and the broader dynamics of regional power competing within that framework. They also consider the influence of domestic politics and lobby dynamics in shaping the perceived threat, rather than a simple bilateral issue.
"The Zionist project is what it has always been" w/ Jehad Abusalim
Q: What was everyday life like under Hamas governance and the PA bureaucracy in Gaza?
Abusalim explains there was a functioning but dual bureaucratic system: Hamas ran the Gaza Strip with its own ministries, while the PA had previously controlled civil service salaries; after 2007, PA employees stayed home, Hamas filled the gap, creating two staff per role and ongoing governance challenges.
"Palestine does matter" w/ Yousef Munayyer
Q: What does the shift in the Republican and Democratic coalitions signal for the next presidential cycle?
The guests explain that Trump reshaped coalitions, enabling new alignments across traditional divides, while a broader, persistent realignment is likely to define the 2028 landscape, with ongoing debates over which leaders best represent a post-Trump political order.
"Locking in the ethnic cleansing of 1948" w/ Omar Shakir
Q: How did HRW differentiate between legal findings and advocacy goals, and why did that distinction become a barrier to publishing the report?
HRW distinguishes between proving legal conclusions and pursuing an advocacy strategy to influence policy. In this case, internal leaders worried that a broad, holistic report on 1948 refugees would undermine advocacy objectives and potentially threaten the institution, leading to tensions between the legal analysis and political strategy.
"Locking in the ethnic cleansing of 1948" w/ Omar Shakir
Q: Omar, can you explain what the denial of the right of return amounts to legally and why it's considered a crime against humanity?
The denial of the right of return is analyzed through established international law and precedents; when done with discriminatory intent and as part of a broader policy to displace or deny return, it can qualify under the ICC's crimes against humanity framework, including persecution and forced displacement, depending on the context and evidence of policy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Makdisi Street

What is Makdisi Street about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on deep-dive analysis of Middle East politics, regional power dynamics, and international policy, often through scholarly, historical, and legal lenses. It features candid discussions with academics, policymakers, and rights advocates, exploring how domestic politics interplays with U.S. and regional actions around Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and broader geopolitics. Episodes frequently scrutinize imperial narratives, energy strategy, and governance, with a focus on nuance, context, and regional voices often underrepresented in mainstream discourse. A notable strength is the trio of hosts who bring multidisciplinary perspectives, balanced by thought-provoking guests who challenge conventional wisdom. This mix makes it valua... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Makdisi Street?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Makdisi Street:

1. On the Nose
2. Drop Site Livestream
3. The Dig
4. Turbulence
5. The Chris Hedges Report

How many episodes of Makdisi Street are there?

Makdisi Street launched 3 years ago and published 111 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 Makdisi Street?

Recent guests on Makdisi Street include:

1. Ta-Nehisi Coates
2. Aslı Ü. Bâli
3. Abdullah Al-Arian
4. Eyal Weizman
5. As`ad AbuKhalil
6. Jehad Abusalim
7. Michael Young
8. Karim Makdisi

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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