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Artwork for Makdisi Street

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
Biden Administration
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Donald Trump

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes120Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Makdisi Street

Latest Episodes

The brothers welcome back political analyst and negotiation expert Daniel Levy to discuss the results and implications of Israeli elections, Netanyahu's desperation to cling on by ramping up Iran war, Eisenkot and his Dahiye Doctrine, Zionist parties... more

The brothers welcome the journalist and Green Party congressional candidate Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) to the show to discuss his electoral run in Maryland's 4th congressional district, changing attitudes on Palestine in the US, the stubborn gap bet... more

The brothers host author Assal Rad (@AssalRad) to discuss her new book, Don't Say Palestine: How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide (2026).

Watch the video edition on our YouTube channel youtu.be/WThjVoeoJRw

Date of recording: O... more

The brothers gather to discuss the third anniversary of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the dissonance arising from witnessing genocide on the one hand and seeing stubborn denial by committed Zionists on the other hand, as well as the internal contradi... more

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Recent Guests

Daniel Levy
Political analyst, negotiation expert and president of the New America Foundation's US Middle East Project
New America Foundation's US Middle East Project
Episode: "Genocide in 1st gear or genocide in 4th gear" w/ Daniel Levy
Sam Husseini
Independent journalist, senior analyst at the Institute for Public Accuracy, and Green Party congressional candidate
Institute for Public Accuracy
Episode: "The Uniparty is a scam" / Sam Husseini
Assal Rad
Author and fellow at the Arab Center in Washington, DC, with a PhD in history from the University of California, Irvine
Arab Center Washington DC
Episode: Makdisi Street Reviews w/ Assal Rad
Akbar Shahid Ahmed
Diplomatic correspondent at the Washington Sun and author of Crossing the Red Line
Washington Sun
Episode: Makdisi Street Reviews w/ Akbar Shahid Ahmed
Ryan Grim
American journalist and author; co-founder of Drop Site News; former HuffPost/DC Bureau Chief; co-host of Breaking Points
Drop Site News; Breaking Points
Episode: "The bottom is falling out in the US" w/ Ryan Grim
Fady Joudah
Palestinian-American poet, translator of Mahmoud Darwish's poetry, author of Exhibit G
Poet/Translator
Episode: Makdisi Street Reviews w/ Fady Joudah
Chris Doyle
Director of Caabu (Center for Arab-British Understanding)
Caabu
Episode: "The UK government was definitely complicit" w/ Chris Doyle
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

Hosts

Saree Makdisi
English professor and author
Ussama Makdisi
Academic and writer
Karim Makdisi
Academic

Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars from 2.7k ratings
  • Outstanding

    This is true public intellectual work. An outstanding and thoughtful podcast for all who want to stay informed in an intelligent manner

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wallflower5682
    Canada20 days ago
  • Informative, knowledgeable, interesting & revealing focus on Middle East, Lebanon, Palestine & the broader world. The three brothers offer different perspectives & interrogate a broad range of interviewees from Arabic & Western perspectives.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dr Dave
    2 months ago
  • 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 States2 months 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
    France5 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
    Sweden5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are praised for bringing specialist knowledge and perspectives that challenge familiar Western media narratives.
The brothers' distinct expertise and lively disagreements make discussions engaging, while keeping the analysis nuanced and accessible.
Listeners appreciate the depth and humanity of the conversations, though one review notes that the audio volume can be low.
Listeners value the hosts' sharp, historically grounded analysis of Palestine, Lebanon, and Middle Eastern politics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#167
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#248
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#232
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#41
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#137
Chile/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#153
Saudi Arabia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Genocide in 1st gear or genocide in 4th gear" w/ Daniel Levy
Q: Can you explain, firstly, why that's the case? What happened?
Levy says Netanyahu can remain caretaker prime minister if his opponents fail to form a government; after the formation period ends, another election would be called. He outlines potential coalition arrangements and says escalation with Iran could affect the political process.
"Genocide in 1st gear or genocide in 4th gear" w/ Daniel Levy
Q: Where are we with Israeli society and how has this evolved? Is this very new or has it always been like that?
Levy says broad consent for violence against Palestinians has grown from long-standing structures and narratives, including dehumanization, segregation, education and persistent fear, while the recent years represent an acceleration.
"The Uniparty is a scam" / Sam Husseini
Q: Have you seen the shift in polling about Palestine translate into real life in your day-to-day encounters?
Husseini described mixed responses. Some residents looked up his platform and thanked him for running, while others wanted him to focus on local needs before discussing the genocide. He said the “more peace, cheaper gas” slogan helped communicate the connection between foreign policy and everyday costs.
"The Uniparty is a scam" / Sam Husseini
Q: What motivated you to decide to run for Congress despite your principled objections to the American political system?
Husseini said the Green Party gave him an opportunity to use public discontent over the Gaza genocide and dissatisfaction with the major parties to challenge the political system from outside it. He was also influenced by seeing multiparty politics in South Africa and wanted to test whether the US system's barriers could be challenged.
Makdisi Street Reviews w/ Assal Rad
Q: How do we get public opinion to affect policy, and is that something you've looked at?
Rad says there is no formula for when public opinion becomes policy. She points to organizing, viable alternatives, and sustained pressure on institutions, and argues that the book can prompt people to question how media and international systems function.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Makdisi Street

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

Three brothers, Saree, Ussama, and Karim Makdisi, bring academic and historical perspectives to conversations about Palestine, Lebanon, and wider Middle Eastern politics. Episodes alternate between discussions among the hosts and interviews with journalists, scholars, writers, campaigners, and policy specialists. The conversations connect current events to colonial history, international law, media framing, U.S. and European policy, and regional power dynamics, often through the guest's research or recent book. The hosts also take questions from Patreon supporters and discuss developments directly with one another.

The approach is analytical and openly critical, with attention to Palestinian and Lebanese perspectives often missing from mai... 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. The Chris Hedges Report
5. Turbulence

How many episodes of Makdisi Street are there?

Makdisi Street launched 3 years ago and published 120 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. Daniel Levy
2. Sam Husseini
3. Assal Rad
4. Akbar Shahid Ahmed
5. Ryan Grim
6. Fady Joudah
7. Chris Doyle
8. Ta-Nehisi Coates

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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