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The Bottom Line

Al Jazeera
Gaza
Israel
Donald Trump
United States
Iran
Middle East
Hamas
China
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Two-State Solution
Palestine
Democratic Party
Palestinian Statehood
Ukraine
NATO
Trump Administration
Palestinians
US Policy
Israel-Palestine Negotiations

A weekly take on US politics and policies and how they affect the world.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The Bottom Line

Latest Episodes

Israel is in a race against time to “lock in its domination” across the Middle East, argues former Israeli negotiator Daniel Levy. Levy, president of the US/Middle East Project, tells host Steve Clemons that Israel’s strategy of “permanent war” allow... more

Despite on-again, off-again negotiations, the United States has no other option but to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran, argues Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University. Nasr tells host S... more

Iran will not be left alone to live in peace and prosperity “unless and until it normalises its relationship with the US and accepts Israel as a legitimate player in the Middle East”, argues University of South Florida political scientist Mohsen Mila... more

In this episode, experts with divergent world views agreed on one thing: it’s unlikely that the United States will resume the war on Iran. Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton tells host Steve Clemons that he still hopes for “regime collap... more

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Recent Guests

Elisa Ewers
Former director for the Middle East and North Africa on the White House National Security Council; senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: What would it take for the Iran-US talks to succeed? | The Bottom Line
Mohsen Milani
Executive director of the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of South Florida; author on Iran's Rise and Rivalry with the US in the Middle East
Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies, University of South Florida
Episode: What would it take for the Iran-US talks to succeed? | The Bottom Line
John Bolton
Former US National Security Advisor; author of The Room Where It Happened
Former US government roles
Episode: How shaky is the Iran-US ceasefire? | The Bottom Line
Nader Hashemi
Director of the Al Waleed Center for Muslim Christian Understanding, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: How shaky is the Iran-US ceasefire? | The Bottom Line
James Carafano
Senior fellow and senior counselor to the president of the Heritage Foundation and US Army veteran (Lieutenant Colonel)
Heritage Foundation
Episode: Why does Trump say the US ‘already won’ the Iran war? | The Bottom Line
Gerard Araud
Former French ambassador to the United States, the United Nations and Israel
France (former ambassador)
Episode: Why is Trump asking for Europe’s help in war on Iran? | The Bottom Line
Brian Tyler Cohen
YouTuber and host of No Lie with BTC
No Lie with BTC
Episode: Do Americans agree that Trump has made the US ‘better, richer’? | The Bottom Line
Jim O'Neill
Economist and member of the UK House of Lords, former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Goldman Sachs
Episode: Has BRICS given up on challenging Western economic dominance? | The Bottom Line
Amy Dacey
Executive Director of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics at American University and former CEO of the Democratic National Committee
American University
Episode: Is Trumpism losing steam?

Host

Steve Clemons
Host of The Bottom Line; frequent moderator of high-stakes foreign policy discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 83 ratings
  • Toothless

    That Carafano interview was a joke. I didn’t know Bottom Line was in the business of being a mouth piece for this nonsense. Has the interview ever heard of pushing back on a question? I expected more from an Al Jazeera outlet. Booo.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Isaac.mann
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great show on high level foreign policy

    Love the questions Steven asks, always seem to be the right questions that nobody else is bothering to ask

    Question for the show: Why weren’t new episodes uploaded here for most of last year? Did the show get temporarily blocked?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slythfox
    United Statesa year ago
  • Axel K Strom

    I have really missed this podcast since it was discontinued in April last year. Thank you for posting it again! đŸ€“

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Axel KS
    Norwaya year ago
  • Unbiased

    I'm an American, and I'm very tired of hearing the American power elite's propoganda. This podcast (usually) offers sane, reasoned perspectives. And its coverage of the Israel-Palestine colonial conflict is very good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SimbaWilliam
    United States2 years ago
  • Stop saying Umm

    I could barely get through the most recent episode about about Tech’s role in the Israel/ Palestine conflict. The female guest said “Umm” every other word. I wish hosts would ask guests to consider this. It’s very distracting and does not make for intelligent sounding commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jln7
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows strong policy analysis and thoughtful questioning.
Mixed feedback on interview pacing and guest dynamics.
Some listeners feel the discussions could push back more on certain viewpoints.
Positive notes about depth and breadth of topics, with praise for the host's questioning.
Guests often provide deep expertise; discussions can be very wonky but informative.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#193
Finland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Has Iran exposed the limits of what US can achieve by force? | The Bottom Line
Q: Do you expect the hangover of this economic impact to last longer than publicly acknowledged?
The economic spillover from the Iran conflict and related supply disruptions is persistent and will take a long time to normalize; the real consequences will unfold gradually rather than immediately, affecting global inflation and energy markets for years.
Mearsheimer: No signs of quick end to US-Israel war on Iran | The Bottom Line
Q: Why might the global order shift as a result of this conflict?
He contends that the conflict exposes the fragility of US-led institutions and the limits of unilateral action, suggesting that major powers like China and Russia may seize the opportunity to redefine the balance of power as Washington's position weakens.
Mearsheimer: No signs of quick end to US-Israel war on Iran | The Bottom Line
Q: What does finishing the job in Iran look like, and why might it be problematic?
Mearsheimer argues that the United States lacks the decisive leverage needed for a clean, conclusive victory and that pursuit of a quick win could inflict long-term damage on international institutions, alliances, and the global economy, while not substantially altering the balance of power.
How shaky is the Iran-US ceasefire? | The Bottom Line
Q: Let me ask you about the orchestration around peace talks or whatever, your equilibrium talks or ceasefire talks. First time, we were in the middle of talks with Iran about its nuclear aspirations.
Hashemi explains that there is deep skepticism from Iran about negotiating in good faith after prior U.S. military actions, and he suggests the likelihood of renewed conflict during talks remains a real risk but is probably lower than some expect.
How shaky is the Iran-US ceasefire? | The Bottom Line
Q: Ambassador Bolton, thank you for joining us. Look, you've been a long-term advocate of regime change in Iran. How do you see things going now?
Bolton argues for regime change in Tehran, viewing military action as a plausible, though still contested, path and insisting that preparations and allied coordination are essential for such a strategy.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bottom Line

What is The Bottom Line about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program offers high-level discussion on US foreign and domestic policy, often featuring prominent politicians, policymakers, and geopolitical analysts. Episodes frequently examine cross-border implications of American actions, with deep dives into topics like U.S.-Iran relations, Middle East strategy, energy security, and global economic dynamics. The host conducts sharp, policy-focused interviews that surface realignments, strategic choices, and accountability considerations, often challenging official narratives while weaving in expert geopolitical context. Noteworthy traits include a blend of seasoned policymakers and respected analysts, a steady emphasis on international law, markets, and power dynamics, and a willingness to critiq... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bottom Line?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bottom Line:

1. The Inside Story Podcast
2. The Take
3. Al Jazeera News Updates
4. Al Jazeera
5. Mehdi Unfiltered

How many episodes of The Bottom Line are there?

The Bottom Line launched 6 years ago and published 100 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 The Bottom Line?

Recent guests on The Bottom Line include:

1. Elisa Ewers
2. Mohsen Milani
3. John Bolton
4. Nader Hashemi
5. James Carafano
6. Gerard Araud
7. Brian Tyler Cohen
8. Jim O'Neill

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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