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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
Islamophobia
Antisemitism
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
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Middle East Focus

Latest Episodes

MEI Senior Fellow Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to discuss the latest developments in Gaza. Nearly four months after the Israeli government and Hamas agreed to President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, Washingto... more

YouTube

This bonus episode of Middle East Focus features an excerpt from a recent MEI Virtual Briefing recorded on January 20. Director of Communications Zeina Al-Shaib is joined by MEI Affiliate Fatima Abo Alasrar and Associate Fellow F. Gregory Gause III t... more

YouTube

MEI Senior Fellow Charles Lister joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the latest developments in Syria, as a tenuous cease-fire takes hold after several days of intense fighting between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian D... more

YouTube

MEI Vice President for Policy Ken Pollack joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to explore what the precedent set by the Trump administration's military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could mean for US policy in the Middle Ea... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
Intissar Fakir
Senior Fellow at MEI focusing on political, social, and economic trends in North Africa and the Sahel
Middle East Institute
Episode: Can Morocco Placate Its Frustrated Youth?
Brian Katulis
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute
Middle East Institute
Episode: Trump 2.0 and the Middle East: Taking Stock of the First Nine Months
Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen
Senior fellow with the Middle East Institute, expert in Middle East policy
Middle East Institute
Episode: After Two Years of War in Gaza, Can Trump's Plan Deliver Peace?
Jason Campbell
MEI Senior Fellow focusing on international security, geopolitics and regional foreign policy.
Middle East Institute
Episode: A Middle East NATO? Regional Security Options After Doha

Hosts

Matthew Czekaj
Managing editor at the Middle East Institute, overseeing content focused on political and humanitarian topics concerning the region.
Alistair Taylor
Editor-in-chief at the Middle East Institute, focusing on analysis and commentary regarding Middle Eastern affairs.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 158 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 States6 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.

High quality discussions featuring knowledgeable guests, contributing to a well-rounded view of complex issues.
There's a desire for increased representation of voices from within the Middle East, suggesting room for improvement in guest diversity.
Insighful content that provides a critical understanding of Middle Eastern politics and current events.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#48
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#63
Chile/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#80
Austria/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#145
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#172
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#174
Austria/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Emergency Podcast: Damascus and the Syrian Kurds Come to Blows
Q: In what ways is it different from the previous ones that we've seen in the past few days, which were agreed to and immediately were thrown out?
This deal is less advantageous for the SDF compared to previous agreements, lacking dedicated divisions and roles within the government, with integration expected on an individual basis and without prior guarantees.
Emergency Podcast: Damascus and the Syrian Kurds Come to Blows
Q: How did we get here? What are the kind of underlying issues or points of contention between the two sides?
The forces that now make up Syria's Ministry of Defense and the SDF have a nearly decade-long history of hostilities, with the SDF consistently labeling the Syrian government as ISIS-like and harboring deep distrust towards it.
Venezuela's Shadow Over MENA: Perceptions and Precedents
Q: Can you break down the significance of the Trump administration's possible economic sanctions against countries engaging with Iran?
These tariffs may inadvertently provoke trade wars with major allies like China rather than significantly harming Iran's economy.
Venezuela's Shadow Over MENA: Perceptions and Precedents
Q: What are the US actual military or non-military options when it comes to Iran in this particular situation?
There is a wide range of options available, both military and non-military, for the US regarding Iran, but it's unclear how effective they would be.
Bonus Episode: Can Yemen Hold Together?
Q: Greg, how likely in your opinion is Yemen to break along the 1990s borders today?
There is a fair amount of support for southern autonomy, but the main force pushing for southern secession has faced setbacks and there's currently no regional support for secession.

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 engaging series provides insightful discussions centered on Middle East policy, culture, and current events, featuring expert voices from a renowned think tank in Washington, D.C. The episodes typically cover timely topics such as ongoing geopolitical tensions, humanitarian issues, and the intersection of arts and politics in the region, aiming to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the complexities inherent in Middle Eastern affairs. In addition to political analyses, the show often highlights cultural narratives and artistic expressions that shape the region's identity, making it a well-rounded resource for those interested in both the scholarly and cultural perspectives of the Middle East.

Notably, discussions frequently cente... more

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1. Hold Your Fire!
2. Foreign Policy Live
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Global Security Briefing
5. The President’s Inbox

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. Fatima Abo Alasrar
2. Dr. Kenneth Pollack
3. David Hale
4. Dr. Fadi Nicholas Nassar
5. Gregory Gause
6. Intissar Fakir
7. Brian Katulis
8. Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen

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