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Middle East Focus

Middle East Institute
Iran
United States
Israel
Middle East
Middle East Institute
Hamas
Syria
Turkey
Gaza
Saudi Arabia
Lebanon
Iraq
Egypt
Trump Administration
ISIS
Hezbollah
Democracy
Donald Trump
Gaza War
Qatar

Weekly discussion of Middle East policy, arts, and culture, featuring experts from the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Middle East Focus

Latest Episodes

Algeria and Morocco have long been at odds, but recent diplomatic moves may signal a widening geopolitical split in North Africa. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Intissar Fakir to unpack Algeria's decision to ... more

YouTube

Over the past several weeks, the Houthis have seized the port city of Mokha, Yemen's western coastline, and several islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and they are now massing around Marib and Taiz in the first major frontline shift since 2022. MEI... more

YouTube

Though it has fallen out of the headlines because of the Iran war, Syria has had a dramatically consequential summer. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Charles Lister to take stock of recent developments: the di... more

As the US-Israel-Iran war enters its sixth month, the conflict has taken a sharp turn. After a brief lull in the fighting, Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack on US forces on July 28, and the US and Saudi Arabia struck back at Iran-back... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Nadwa Al-Dawsari
MEI associate fellow on Yemen and the region
Middle East Institute
Episode: How Far Can the Houthis Go?
Charles Lister
Senior fellow, MEI Syria Initiative; expert on Syria, terrorism, and insurgency
Middle East Institute
Episode: Syria: What You Missed
Mohammed Mahmoud
CEO and founder of the Climate and Water Initiative; lead for MEI climate and water policy at UNU-INWEH
Climate and Water Initiative; United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health
Episode: Food Security in a Hotter, Drier North Africa
Alan Eyre
MEI distinguished diplomatic fellow and former senior US diplomat
Middle East Institute
Episode: The US and Iran Signed a Deal — Now What?
Renad Mansour
Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Programme, and the Director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: Attacked by All Sides: Iraq's New Government Faces Old Problems
Jonathan M. Winer
MEI distinguished diplomatic fellow; former US Special Envoy for Libya
Middle East Institute, former US State Department
Episode: Can the Latest US Plan Bridge Libya's Divide?
Fouad Makhzoumi
Lebanese member of parliament, businessman, founder of the Makhzoumi Foundation
Lebanese Parliament; Makhzoumi Foundation
Episode: MP Fouad Makhzoumi on Lebanon's Future
Colby Connelly
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute; head of Middle East Content and Senior Analyst Energy Intelligence
Middle East Institute; Energy Intelligence
Episode: When Will Energy Markets Recover From the Iran War?
Dan Benaim
Distinguished diplomatic fellow at MEI; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs
Middle East Institute
Episode: Bonus Episode: Stalled Talks and Next Steps for the US and Iran

Hosts

Alistair Taylor
Host of Middle East Focus; Editor-in-chief of MEI's publication
Matthew Czekaj
Co-host on Middle East Focus; Managing Editor

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 162 ratings
  • Biased, even to listener critical of Israel

    I’m very critical of Israeli actions in Gaza. Unfortunately, Ms Mabrouk doesn’t contribute to our understanding or help us identify how we get to a Palestinian state. She was extremely biased, and MEI would better contribute to dialog by using a speaker who is able to describe a horrible situation but also suggest, in an unbiased way, pathways to stop Israeli bombing and achieve a Palestinian state. She lost a grand opportunity.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ginsburl
    United Statesa year ago
  • Some excellent, some disappointing...

    This podcast has some very insightful and informative episodes. However, there are way too many episodes that have nothing to do with the Middle East. A recent episode on Democracy and the US elections was highly unbalanced. While I didn't disagree with some of the dangers highlighted by the interviewees, there was no alternative view. Guests' assertions were treated as facts.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    {amir59}
    United States2 years ago
  • Great pod with some great content but sadly not getting anything more than a 4 because of its tendency to be cluttered with handwringing Lefty idiocy.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    moquetUSA
    2 years ago
  • Perfect

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DaniDani
    4 years ago
  • Perfect

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dani
    4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Balanced, informative deep dives with strong expert guests.
Audience encourages diverse voices but asks for broader regional representation.
Consistently high-quality sourcing and thoughtful analysis.
Perceived bias in some episodes around contentious policy issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#93
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#80
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#92
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#102
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#113
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#123
Switzerland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Far Can the Houthis Go?
Q: What should the international response be to dislodge the Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb and contain the threat?
A coordinated approach that strengthens Yemeni government forces, avoids over-reliance on airstrikes, and recognizes that the Houthis are a broader regional and global concern, requiring sustained, strategic engagement rather than stopgap measures.
How Far Can the Houthis Go?
Q: How autonomous are the Houthis and what is their relationship with Iran on the battlefield?
Iran has empowered the Houthis over years, with a shift from heavy reliance to a more autonomous capacity, though Iranian support remains a factor; the Houthis are not simply Iran's puppet but a capable, hybrid actor with its own strategic aims.
How Far Can the Houthis Go?
Q: What have the Houthis accomplished in recent weeks and how are they able to do it?
They seized Moqa and now control the Red Sea coast, took several strategic islands, and used a combination of ballistic missiles, drones, and organized military campaigns, aided by perceived weaknesses on the governmental side and Iranian support.
Syria: What You Missed
Q: What role should the US play going forward to support a stable outcome?
A permanent diplomatic presence on the ground is essential, along with robust support to domestic security institutions and a more workable policy framework in Congress that allows strategic security assistance to Syria without excessive restrictions.
Syria: What You Missed
Q: How likely are Assad's governance reforms and Kurdish integration affecting stability long-term?
The integration process has been mixed but generally moving forward, with formal dissolution of the SDF and gradual incorporation into state structures, though tensions with Kurdish authorities, border-region security, and minority community governance remain, requiring continued diplomatic engagement and security support.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Middle East Focus

What is Middle East Focus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently centers policy analysis and regional dynamics in the Middle East, drawing on scholars and practitioners from a leading DC-based think tank. Episodes frequently dissect security dilemmas, diplomacy, energy markets, governance, and the geopolitics of key flashpoints—from Iran and Lebanon to Iraq, the Gulf, and North Africa—often through a policy lens that emphasizes US–regional relations, alliance management, and practical pathways toward stability. A standout feature is the reliance on high-caliber experts to unpack complex trade-offs, sanctions, and diplomatic sequencing, making the show a go-to for listeners who want thorough, data-informed context on contemporary Middle East affairs. The format typically blends r... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Middle East Focus:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. Global Security Briefing
3. Pekingology
4. Hold Your Fire!
5. The Asia Chessboard

How many episodes of Middle East Focus are there?

Middle East Focus launched 9 years ago and published 300 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 Middle East Focus?

Recent guests on Middle East Focus include:

1. Nadwa Al-Dawsari
2. Charles Lister
3. Mohammed Mahmoud
4. Alan Eyre
5. Renad Mansour
6. Jonathan M. Winer
7. Fouad Makhzoumi
8. Colby Connelly

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