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Middle East Focus

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

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

The November 3 US midterms handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, a result many abroad read as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's policies. How does the "blue wave" resonate among electorates and governments in Turkey and Lebanon, t... more

Israelis turned out in their highest numbers in decades on October 27 for the country's first election since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc lost 15 seats and its Knesset majority, but Gadi Eisenkot's op... more

YouTube

In recent weeks, the Iran-backed Houthis have fired missiles and drones deep into Saudi Arabia, striking high-profile targets, including Riyadh's airport and Aramco's headquarters. The attacks follow a rapid Houthi offensive in September to seize key... more

YouTube

Israel is preparing to hold what may be its most consequential election in decades. On October 27, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face his first electoral test since October 7, 2023. In this bonus episode of Middle East Focus, we present the ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Natan Sachs
Senior fellow focused on US and Israeli foreign policy, Israeli domestic politics, and Middle East affairs
Middle East Institute
Episode: Is This the End of the Netanyahu Era?
Fatima Abo Alasrar
Affiliated scholar at MEI, non-resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, and author of The Ideology Machine.
Arab Gulf States Institute
Episode: Inside the Houthi Campaign Against Saudi Arabia
Shira Efron
Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy and senior fellow at the RAND Corporation
RAND Corporation
Episode: Bonus Episode: Previewing Israel's First Post-October 7 Election
Neri Zilber
Financial Times correspondent, journalist, and Israel Policy Forum advisor
Financial Times
Episode: Bonus Episode: Previewing Israel's First Post-October 7 Election
Alex Vatanka
Middle East Institute senior fellow specializing in regional security affairs, particularly Iran
Middle East Institute
Episode: Who's Calling the Shots in Tehran?
Tahani Mustafa
Associate fellow at MEI, visiting fellow at ECFR, and lecturer in international relations at King's College London.
Middle East Institute
Episode: Deadlock in Gaza and the West Bank at a Breaking Point
Robert S. Ford
MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow, former US Ambassador
Middle East Institute
Episode: The Americans Are Gone. Will Iraq's Militias Disarm?
Colby Connelly
MEI Senior Fellow; Head of Middle East Content and Senior Analyst at Energy Intelligence
Middle East Institute; Energy Intelligence
Episode: Special Episode: Saudi Oil After the East-West Pipeline Attack
Yesar Al-Maleki
MEI affiliate and Gulf Analyst at MEIS; non-resident Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council
Middle East Institute; Middle East Economic Survey; Atlantic Council
Episode: Special Episode: Saudi Oil After the East-West Pipeline Attack

Hosts

Alistair Taylor
Editor-in-chief at the Middle East Institute.
Matthew Czekaj
Managing editor at the Middle East Institute.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 163 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.

Some listeners say coverage overlooks important regional developments, including Israel's normalization agreements with the UAE and Bahrain.
Some find the analysis insightful and balanced, while others see particular discussions as one-sided or insufficiently challenged.
Listeners praise the expert guests, informative interviews, and strong coverage of current MENA conflicts.
Several reviewers want more regional voices and broader representation of perspectives from Middle East countries.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#80
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#161
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#170
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#172
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#183
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#203
Saudi Arabia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is This the End of the Netanyahu Era?
Q: What are the tangible policy differences between a Netanyahu government and an Eisenkot government on Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank?
Sachs expects broad agreement on Iran as a threat but differences in the use of force. He anticipates the greatest contrast in the West Bank, including efforts to address violence and improve Palestinian Authority relations, and says an Eisenkot government could put more effort into Gaza and Lebanon initiatives. He also expects substantial domestic differences, including reversal of judicial overhaul laws.
Is This the End of the Netanyahu Era?
Q: What are your key takeaways from the election results? Who were the biggest winners and losers, and what surprised you the most?
Sachs describes Netanyahu's result as a clear defeat, but says the opposition did not win a larger victory. Record turnout among Arab citizens and fewer wasted votes helped shape the outcome, while relatively little voting shifted between political camps.
Inside the Houthi Campaign Against Saudi Arabia
Q: How closely is this campaign tied to Iran's confrontation with the US?
She describes the Houthi campaign as aligned with Iran's strategy to impose costs on the United States and its partners, including by threatening trade through Bab al-Mandab. She says the groups' aims reinforce one another.
Inside the Houthi Campaign Against Saudi Arabia
Q: Why are the Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia directly? Do they intend to push their ground offensive onto Saudi soil?
Abo Alasrar says the Houthis seek resources and aim to pressure Saudi Arabia into ending its support for Yemen's government. Their attacks also impose economic costs and support Iran's broader regional strategy.
Bonus Episode: Previewing Israel's First Post-October 7 Election
Q: What are these elections about? What are Israelis actually voting about?
Efron identifies the election as a referendum on Netanyahu and his legacy, national security after October 7, Israel's future as a liberal democracy, and the unequal sharing of military and economic responsibilities.

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?

Weekly conversations examine Middle East policy, security, diplomacy, energy, and social and environmental challenges. The format centers on interviews with regional specialists and policy practitioners, with occasional panels on elections, conflicts, and shifting alliances. Regular hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj guide discussions with scholars, former diplomats, journalists, and analysts, including experts focused on Iran, Israel and Palestine, the Gulf, North Africa, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. Episodes connect current developments to the political calculations and institutions shaping them, while also addressing subjects such as water scarcity, food security, and energy infrastructure. The emphasis is on informed, policy-oriented a... more

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1. The Foreign Affairs Interview
2. Foreign Policy Live
3. Hold Your Fire!
4. The President’s Inbox
5. Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

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. Natan Sachs
2. Fatima Abo Alasrar
3. Shira Efron
4. Neri Zilber
5. Alex Vatanka
6. Tahani Mustafa
7. Robert S. Ford
8. Colby Connelly

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