Middle East Focus

Apr 10 2025 100 ep. 38 mins 1.9k

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

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Netanyahu and Israel at War

Apr 10 2025 45 mins

(This episode was recorded on Monday, April 7). In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj are joined by Eran Etzion, former deputy head of the Israeli National Security Council, for a revealing look inside Israel's most pressing challenges. Etzion unpacks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tightening grip on power amid legal battles and democra

Frank Lowenstein | Ep. 10

Apr 08 2025 51 mins

In this episode of 'Taking the Edge off the Middle East,' Brian Katulis sits down with Frank Lowenstein, a key advisor to Secretary John Kerry during the Obama administration. Lowenstein takes us behind the curtain of the Obama administration's intense peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, from narrowly escaping a snowstorm in Ramallah to advising Secretary Kerry du

Diplomacy, Technology, and Innovation: Amb. Stuart Jones on the Evolution of US-Middle East Relations

Apr 03 2025 32 mins

We're excited to relaunch Middle East Focus with an insightful conversation featuring MEI's new CEO, Amb. Stuart Jones. In this episode, hosted by MEI's Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj, Ambassador Jones shares his perspectives on the second Trump administration's foreign policy approach, the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape in the region, and Iraq's place in the developin

Rethinking Democracy Ep. 7: The Protests and Political Crisis Shaping Turkey's Democratic Future

Apr 01 2025 56 mins

Turkey has plunged into turmoil after authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Erdoğan's strongest opponent, on charges of corruption. Mass protests, the largest in over a decade, have erupted nationwide after İmamoğlu was removed from office and jailed just hours before the opposition was set to declare him its presidential candidate. Political scientists

Dan Shapiro | ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ ep. 9

Mar 24 2025 73 mins

Note: We're excited to announce that 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' is moving to its own channel! Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts to continue following the show. --- Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most im

Ibrahim Dalalsha and Shira Efron| 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 8

Mar 04 2025 75 mins

Middle East Focus Presents: ’Taking the Edge Off the Middle East,' a series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI’s Senior Fellow Brian Katulis. Ibrahim Dalalsha, founder and director of Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach, and Shira Efron, research director at the

NYT bestselling author Kwame Alexander on the intersection of art and social change

Feb 13 2025 20 mins

Renowned poet, producer, and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander joins guest host Lyne Sneige to discuss the power of storytelling and the intersection of art and social change. Looking back on his recent experience speaking at the 2024 Riyadh International Book Fair in Saudi Arabia, Alexander shares his reflections on the Kingdom's literary scene, the growing appetit

Barbara A. Leaf | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 7

Feb 06 2025 43 mins

Middle East Focus Presents: ’Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis. A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI’s Senior Fellow Brian Katulis. Barbara A. Leaf is a seasoned diplomat and expert on the Middle East, having served as the US Assistant Secretary of

Rethinking Democracy Ep. 6: Shariah, Democracy, and the Future of Governance in Syria

Jan 29 2025 55 mins

For the first time in decades, the question of how Syria will be governed is wide open. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime at the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed Islamist group with former ties to al-Qaeda, has left Syria in uncharted territory. Its de facto leader, Ahmed Al Shaara, has pledged a vision of a pluralistic Syria governed by civil institutions rather than d

Norman T. Roule | 'Taking the Edge Off the Middle East' Ep. 6

Dec 20 2024 46 mins

Middle East Focus Presents: ‘Taking the Edge Off the Middle East’ with Brian Katulis. A series of casual conversations with leading policy professionals on the most important happenings in the Middle East today - hosted by MEI’s Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy, Brian Katulis. Norman T. Roule is a member of MEI's Iran Program Advisory Council. Roule served for 34-years i