Kalam

In Syria localised clashes around Aleppo have deteriorated into all out war between Kurdish and government forces, as Perfidious Columbia declared that it's alliance with the former has "largely expired". So far the initiative seems to be squarely with the government, but will it be possible to reach an agreement which can stabilise Syria for the long term, or will disintegration and ethnic strife become permanent?Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is in Swedish, featuring politician and analyst Ali Esbati.I det här särskilda crossoveravsnittet av Kalam Podcast och Viljans optimism pratar Ali Esbati om vad som pågår i Iran, varför militär intervention vore dödsstöten för de folkliga viljornas möjlighet att faktiskt få genomslag, och vad omvärlden och vänster däremot faktiskt kan bidra med. Dessutom: vad är Iran International egentligen för något och varför är Reza (III) Pahlavi en reaktionär pajas? Om du inte redan följer Viljans optimism, gör det här: shows.acast.com/viljans-optimism.För att stötta oss, bli gärna medlem på patreon.com/kalampodcast.För mer nyheter och avsnitt, följ oss på Instagram på @kalampodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is in Swedish, featuring the journalist and writer Shora Esmailian.Att stora demonstrationer skakat Iran de senaste veckorna och att regimens repression har varit fruktansvärt brutal står klart. Men vad är egentligen bakgrunden till den här omgången av protester? Vilka olika aktörer finns inne i Iran, och kommer att avgöra utfallet? Och hur ska vänstern förhålla sig till utländska krafters försök att styra utvecklingen?För att stötta oss, bli gärna medlem på patreon.com/kalampodcast. För mer nyheter och avsnitt, följ oss på Instagram på @kalampodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the armed forces of the Syrian government clashed with and largely defeated the Kurdish-led SDF in the city of Aleppo. This comes as negotiations have broken down between the Kurdish governing body in the Northeast of the country and the central government in Damascus. Edgar and Sam discuss what this means for the future of the country and the civilians caught in the middle. Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands have reportedly been killed and tens of thousands arrested in a protest movement shaking Iran. The Islamic Republic faces its biggest challenge in years, as extreme inflation sparked economic protests that rapidly evolved into calling for political freedoms and an end to the regime. Edgar and Sam take you through all aspects of this revolt, including what it means for the US and Israel to actively back the protesters. Does the movement lose legitimacy if Mossad agents are on the ground in Tehran?Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A trial is underway to establish justice for the victims of the deadly pogroms agains Syrian minorities earlier this year; the genocide in Gaza is ongoing while Israel and the US draw up plans for Gaza's future without the input of a single Palestinian; the Pope visits Lebanon in a significant symbolic gesture. Kalam Digest brings you the latest news from the Middle East. To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part three of this special series on Anwar Sadat we cover his: •⁠ Failed attempts to «liberalise» the Egyptian economy. •⁠ Suprise success in the October 1973 war. •⁠ Decision to follow this up by making peace with Israel. •⁠ His sudden end at the hands of forces he himself had helped create.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 2 of this Patreon-exclusive series we track Sadat’s coming of age:•⁠ ⁠Sadat as a Gamal Abdel Nasser loyalist and chief communicator of his regime.•⁠ ⁠⁠Sadat as the quiet observer of Nasser’s failures, shaping his later thinking.•⁠ ⁠⁠Sadat being groomed for the presidency, those around him thinking they could control him. They were wrong.To listen to the full episode subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/kalampodcast Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kalampodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 1990's, the Palestinian rap group DAM released their breakout single Meen Erhabi? (Who is the terrorist?) interrogating Israel and the Western World's accusations of terrorism against the Palestinian people, "While we are living in our own country". All members of the group are Palestinian citizens of Israel and hold Israeli passports, giving them a unique insight into Israeli society. Today, 26 years later, the issues are the same but the members of the rap group are older. Tamer al Nafar, Mahmood Jrere and Maysa Daw sit down with Edgar of Kalam Podcast ahead of their gig at the Maxim Theatre in Stockholm. They speak about the differences between Palestinian and Egyptian rap, what having an Israeli passports means in the Arab world and if they are sick of rapping Meen Erhabi. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anwar Sadat was born in the Egyptian Sultanate, came of age during the Egyptian Monarchy, and became president of the Egyptian Republic. He was killed by Egyptian islamists. But who was he? In this Kalam Shorts series, exclusively available for our Patreon subscribers, we delve deep into the man who is known as the last Pharoah of Egypt, and the circumstances that created him. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edgar and Sam are in Egypt! Join us for a podcast session at a bar in downtown Cairo, serenaded by the sweet sounds of Umm Kulthum in the background. Subscribe to the Kalam Podcast patreon page to listen to the full episode. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Almost 10 months have passed since the unexpected collapse of the Assad regime last December. Since then Syria has passed through several sectarian flareups, relentless terrorising from Israel, as well as attempted to take its place in a “New Middle East”, under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa. A couple of months ago, Edgar spoke to Leila al-Shami, activist and author of “Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War”, on these topics and more. Despite the time that has passed since the recording, we still find al-Shami’s comments and analyses highly relevant, and hope that you will too. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump calls it a peace plan. For Palestinians in Gaza, it's a fatal farce. More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the last two days as Israel conducted air strikes, ostensibly as a retaliation against Hamas' alleged violations of the ceasefire. But the reality is different. Muhammad Shehada is a Palestinian analyst, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and a dear friend of the pod. We speak about Netanyahu's long leash and the complex nature of reality in Gaza. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is an alleged ceasefire in Gaza, despite the fact that Israel has continued to bomb the strip. Sam and Edgar analyse the Israeli, US and Palestinian positions in this situation.Image: Palestinians using bulldozers to dig out the bodies of Israeli captives presumed killed in air strikes.To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is in Swedish, featuring the journalist and writer Göran Rosenberg. I dagens avsnitt, som spelades in den 25 september 2025 inför en publik på Bokmässan, berättar författaren och journalisten Göran Rosenberg om sin syn på dagens utvecklingen i Israel och Palestina. Hans bok Det förlorade landet utkommer på engelska – "Israel, a Personal History" den 7 oktober 2025. Rosenberg är inte optimistisk inför framtiden och hävdar att det inte finns något alternativ till att israeler och palestinier arbetar tillsammans för en gemensam framtid. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has taken effect. Israeli forces have withdrawn to an agreed upon borderline and a hostage/prisoner exchange will commence within 72 hours. While we are overjoyed at the prospect of some respite for the suffering population of Gaza, we dedicate this episode to answering the prescient question of, What now? Sam and Edgar analyse the ceasefire agreement and the day after. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Nepal to Peru to Morocco, Gen Z'ers are rising up – and yes, they are connected. In September 2025, 8 women died in childbirth in an badly funded hospital in the southern coastal city of Agadir. This sparked outrage, especially since Morocco is currently investing millions if not billions in building stadiums and arenas for the upcoming football World Cup. The climate crisis and the genocide in Gaza also play into this popular eruption. Tahani Brahma is a Moroccan human rights activist and was kind enough to speak to us to explain what is going on.Cover photo: Christine Leuhusen. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leaders of Israel and the US have concocted a 20 point peace deal for Gaza. The US president Donald Trump has said that Hamas has 72 hours to accept the proposal or he will let his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, do whatever he wants – a terrifying prospect. In today's episode, Sam and Edgar examine the deal and analyse its impact.*We are aware of the fact that “Bibi Vader” makes no sense but it simply sounds much funnier than “Darth BibiTo support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several European countries have threatened to boycott Eurovision if Israel is permitted to participate, the Israeli economy is suffering from the genocidal war, Israeli military personnel estimates that 10% of Gaza's population are casualties of the war and the ground invasion of Gaza has officially begun. Sam and Edgar discuss these developments and their political implications. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcastFollow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel targeted the Hamas leadership residing in US ally of Qatar in an airstrike which killed several low level members of Hamas but largely failed in its mission. What does this mean for the larger regional conflict and how will the US react? Sam and Edgar discuss these issues, as well as a piece of very funny Swedish news. To support us, go to patreon.com/kalampodcast Follow us on Instagram @kalampodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.