Middle East Focus
Middle East InstituteWeekly discussion of Middle East policy, arts, and culture, featuring experts from the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 300 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsPoliticsNews Commentary | |||
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Latest Episodes
After nearly four months of war, the US and Iran have signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding declaring the conflict over, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and beginning talks toward a final deal. Alan Eyre, MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow a... more
When the Strait of Hormuz closed in March, fertilizer prices spiked within weeks, triggering a food security crisis across North Africa and the Sahel. Host Alistair Taylor is joined by MEI Senior Fellow Intissar Fakir to explore what it means for the... more
After months of deadlock following the November 2025 elections, Iraq's parliament approved a new government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on May 14, 2026 — just as the country has become a battleground in the US-Israel-Iran war. Zaidi inherits a ... more
After over a decade of division between rival factions in eastern and western Libya, the Trump administration has put forward a plan to unite the two sides through a power-sharing agreement. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by MEI ... more
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Reviews
- 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 Podcasts1Ginsburl
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 Podcasts3{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 Addict42 years agomoquetUSAPerfect
Podcast Addict54 years agoDaniDaniPerfect
Podcast Addict54 years agoDani
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #227 |  Germany/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #239 |  Australia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #65 |  Saudi Arabia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #135 |  South Africa/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #136 |  Indonesia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #148 |  South Korea/News/Politics |
Talking Points
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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?
A weekly brief on Middle East policy, security, and regional dynamics grounded in expert analysis from researchers and fellows at a Washington, D.C.–based think tank. Episodes typically feature scholars and policy professionals discussing current crises, strategic rivalries, diplomacy, and regional trends, with special episodes that map out U.S. policy approaches, sanctions, and peace prospects. Notable is a consistent emphasis on how external powers (the U.S., regional actors, and European partners) shape events in the Levant, Gulf, and Horn of Africa, along with data-informed takes on conflict dynamics, governance, and diplomacy. The show often pairs deep-dive regional context with practical policy levers, making it useful for listeners w... more
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Which podcasts are similar to Middle East Focus?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Middle East Focus:
1. Foreign Policy Live
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The President’s Inbox
4. Hold Your Fire!
5. Global Security Briefing
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. Renad Mansour
2. Jonathan M. Winer
3. Fouad Makhzoumi
4. Fadi Nicholas Nassar
5. Alan Eyre
6. Dan Benaim
7. Arash Azizi
8. Robert S. Ford
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