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Middle East Focus

Middle East Institute
Iran
United States
Israel
Turkey
Middle East
Iranian Revolution
Hezbollah
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Egypt
Democracy
Gaza
Syria
Ayatollah Khomeini
Pakistan
Lebanon
Sudan Civil War
Hamas
Antisemitism
Islamophobia
Israel-Hamas War

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Middle East Focus

Latest Episodes

Despite claiming they are poised to attack, the Yemeni Houthis have yet to join Iran and its other proxies in their fight against the United States and Israel. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj speak to MEI Associate Fellow Nadwa Al-Dawsari to... more

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Nearly two weeks into the US and Israel's war with Iran, MEI Senior Fellow Gönül Tol joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to explore the impact of the widening regional conflict on Turkey. On March 9, Ankara announced that NATO air defenses... more

YouTube

Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI Senior Fellow Fadi Nicholas Nassar to discuss Hizballah's role in the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the implications for Lebanon. A day after the United States and Israel launche... more

YouTube

Against the backdrop of one of the largest US military deployments to the Middle East since 2003, MEI Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to assess the situation inside Iran on the eve of potential war. Weeks aft... more

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Recent Guests

Fadi Nicholas Nassar
Senior fellow at MEI focusing on international humanitarian and relief interventions in fragile and conflict sittings, democratization, US foreign policy, and Middle Eastern politics
Middle East Institute
Episode: Lebanon on the Brink: Hizballah, Iran, and the War's Spillover
Natan Sachs
Senior fellow at the Middle East Institute focusing on Israeli foreign policy and domestic politics, US foreign policy and Middle East affairs.
Middle East Institute
Episode: Bibi's Hail Mary on Iran
Mohammed Soliman
A senior fellow with the Middle East Institute, focusing on technology, geopolitics, and business.
Middle East Institute
Episode: From the Middle East to West Asia: Redefining America's Global Strategy
Mick Mulroy
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and retired CIA paramilitary operations officer
Lobo Institute
Episode: America's New Defense Strategy — and What It Means for Iran
Fatima Abo Alasrar
Middle East Institute affiliate and Director of Policy and Research at the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies
Washington Center for Yemeni Studies
Episode: Bonus Episode: Can Yemen Hold Together?
Dr. Kenneth Pollack
Vice president for policy at MEI and former CIA analyst
Middle East Institute
Episode: Venezuela's Shadow Over MENA: Perceptions and Precedents
David Hale
Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow at the Middle East Institute and former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs
Middle East Institute
Episode: What does Trump's new National Security Strategy mean for the Middle East?
Dr. Fadi Nicholas Nassar
Lebanon expert based in Beirut, Senior Fellow at MEI, author of 'UN Mediators in Syria'
Middle East Institute
Episode: Soft Power in Hard Times: Pope Leo XIV's Visit to Lebanon
Gregory Gause
A long-time watcher of Saudi Arabia and Professor Emeritus of International Affairs at Texas A&M University
Middle East Institute
Episode: MBS's Visit and the Future of US-Saudi Relations

Hosts

Alistair Taylor
Editor-in-chief at Middle East Institute, providing insights on regional political dynamics.
Matthew Czekaj
Managing Editor at Middle East Institute, focusing on political analysis and U.S. foreign policy discussions.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 161 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 States8 months 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 Statesa year 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
    a year ago
  • Perfect

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DaniDani
    3 years ago
  • Perfect

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dani
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the informative and high-quality analysis of Middle Eastern affairs, often highlighting the expert insights shared by scholars from the region.
Many note the importance of featuring diverse voices and encourage broader representation in discussions to enhance understanding.
Some critiques point towards perceived biases in certain episodes, indicating a desire for more balanced dialogues.
Overall, the podcast is praised for its contribution to informed discussions on pressing geopolitical issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#210
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#115
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#229
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#34
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lebanon on the Brink: Hizballah, Iran, and the War's Spillover
Q: Nick, what does the Lebanese government's ban on Hizballah's military and security activities mean in practice, and how is this different from prior approaches?
It criminalizes Hizballah's military and security activities while leaving its economic and political activities intact; enforcement remains challenging, and the government must demonstrate the monopoly on force and effective implementation, backed by credible support from allies to empower the LAF.
Bibi's Hail Mary on Iran
Q: How does the Israeli government view the talks with Iran, and how is it responding so far?
The Israeli government views the U.S.-Iran negotiations with concern, believing they could lead to a bad deal, especially since past agreements primarily focused only on the nuclear aspect.
Bibi's Hail Mary on Iran
Q: What did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hope to achieve in his latest trip to Washington?
Netanyahu's trip primarily focused on Iran, aiming to dissuade Trump from agreeing to a potentially unfavorable deal while seeking input on nuclear issues and regional threats.
Is the Regime Doomed? Iran on the Eve of War
Q: Will an outside attack catalyze opposition groups to unite against the regime?
It's unclear, but opinions indicate that instead of rallying around the regime, people may seek help from outside forces to oppose it.
Is the Regime Doomed? Iran on the Eve of War
Q: Are we seeing any movement on the front of dissent within the regime?
There are anecdotal reports of doubts within security forces about their role in repressing protests, indicating potential for defections.

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?

Regular discussions provide a nuanced perspective on contemporary Middle Eastern issues encompassing political, cultural, and social dimensions. The conversation frequently highlights U.S. foreign policy decisions and their repercussions in the region, as well as intricate geopolitical relationships involving key players like Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Notable for its expert insights, the content often features seasoned analysts and scholars, making it a go-to resource for understanding evolving dynamics in the Middle East.

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Which podcasts are similar to Middle East Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Middle East Focus:

1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. CONFLICTED
3. The Intelligence from The Economist
4. Ones and Tooze
5. Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis

How many episodes of Middle East Focus are there?

Middle East Focus launched 8 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. Fadi Nicholas Nassar
2. Natan Sachs
3. Mohammed Soliman
4. Mick Mulroy
5. Fatima Abo Alasrar
6. Dr. Kenneth Pollack
7. David Hale
8. Dr. Fadi Nicholas Nassar

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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