The AL-Monitor Brief
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AL-Monitor’s twice-weekly podcast on the top stories from the Middle East, featuring our expert correspondents and editors around the region.
175 Episodes
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Al-Monitor host Adam Lucente interviews a number of Al-Monitor journalists on US President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the Muslim Brotherhood, covering how affiliates in Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Egypt will be affected; how divisions within the Trump administration influenced the decision; and how regional states view the move.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s senior news editor, Joyce Karam, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Israel’s killing of Hezbollah military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai, including the changing nature of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the limits of diplomatic efforts to solve the crisis, and why a new war is not a given. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent, Amberin Zaman, joins host Adam Lucente for a dispatch from the Middle East Peace & Security Forum in the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Dahuk. Listen as they discuss what Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazlum Kobane’s participation at the forum means for Kurdish unity amid negotiations with the new government in Syria, Turkey’s view towards its dialogue with Kurdish groups, and how Iraqi Kurdish parties may choose to exercise their leverage in deliberations over a new prime minister.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Pentagon correspondent, Jared Szuba, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss US President Donald Trump’s pledge to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including what such a deal would mean for the balance of power in the Middle East, why the kingdom wants the jets now, potential challenges in getting the sale to materialize, and how regional states might respond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s senior market research analyst, Samuel Wendel, joins host Adam Lucente to preview Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s trip to the White House. Listen as they delve into the reasons past deals on AI and chips have yet to materialize, whether President Donald Trump will be able to convince the royal to inject more investment into the US, and how low oil prices are affecting relations between the two men. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s State Department correspondent, Elizabeth Hagedorn, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, including the progress made towards a full repeal of the Caesar Act sanctions, the potential for an Israel-Syria security deal, and why Trump is so keen on welcoming the Syrian leader into the fold. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s correspondent in Beirut, Beatrice Farhat, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Hezbollah’s letter declaring their rejection of negotiations with Israel, including the mounting pressure the Iran-backed group is under, why Lebanon’s government is likely to push on with the disarmament plan, the recent flurry of diplomatic activity in Beirut, and the reasons a new conflict with Israel is growing more likely. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor Brief host Adam Lucente previews the Nov. 11 Iraqi parliamentary elections, including growing divisions among Shiite parties, the issues voters are most concerned about, and how the result might affect Iraq’s relations with Iran, the US and the region. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor news reporter Rosaleen Carroll joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Chinese Vice President Han Zheng’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait this week, plus his upcoming trip to Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development. Listen as they delve into China’s focus on Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy and AI sectors, why Riyadh is reluctant to pursue a free trade deal with Beijing and what to expect from Han’s trip to Doha.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s chief business correspondent, Jack Dutton, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s trip to Saudi Arabia for the FII Conference, including Syria’s progress in modernizing its economy, whether Western firms will back up their interest with actual investment, and why the kingdom is keen on taking the lead on the country’s development. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Elizabeth Hagedorn, Rina Bassist and Daoud Kuttab join host Adam Lucente to discuss the state of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, including the latest on post-war governance plans for the Palestinian enclave, the alleged violations of the truce, and potential repercussions from the Trump administration on both parties. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s chief correspondent, Amberin Zaman, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss her recent trip to Syria, including observations on the state of the Syrian economy amid continued sanctions, the rate of progress towards integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into the new army following recent clashes in Aleppo, and the government’s crackdown on French and other foreign jihadists. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor contributor Barin Kayaoglu joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the recent water agreement between Turkey and Iraq, including the national security reasons Ankara wants to help the Iraqi government with its water shortages, whether Baghdad is satisfied with the flows from its northern neighbor and the possibility of bringing Syria’s transitional government into the negotiations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Al-Monitor Brief host Adam Lucente provides an overview of Hamas’ crackdown in Gaza, including the local rivals the group is targeting, responses from the Palestinian Authority and the Trump administration, and what it means for the future of the peace deal and the enclave. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s correspondent in Ankara, Ezgi Akin, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss Turkey’s role in the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal, including what it means for the future of relations with Israel and the Trump administration, the role Ankara is eyeing in the Palestinian enclave, and potential risks related to Turkish ties with Hamas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse chief, Rina Bassist, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the latest in the Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks, including points of contention over an Israeli withdrawal and Hamas’ demands for prisoners to be released, as well as the effects of pressure from the Trump administration. Editor’s note: This episode was updated on Oct. 8, 2025 to include US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed on phase one of his Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release plan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Pentagon correspondent, Jared Szuba, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the pause in the US troop drawdown in Syria, including concerns about spiraling sectarian violence in the country, the negotiations between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, and the central government, and the safety of US troops in both Syria and Iraq due to the conflict with Iran. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Daoud Kuttab and Elizabeth Hagedorn join host Adam Lucente to discuss the new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan presented by US President Donald Trump, including whether Hamas would agree to a deal that would remove them from power in the Palestinian enclave, how pressure from Arab and Muslim states could influence the group, and the obstacles in implementing an end to the war. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s senior international correspondent, Amberin Zaman, joins host Adam Lucente to discuss the White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and what it means for tensions over Syria, Turkey’s quest to be readmitted to the F-35 fighter jet program and US pressure on Ankara regarding its energy dependence on Russia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al-Monitor’s Elizabeth Hagedorn joins host Adam Lucente from New York to preview the top Middle East-related stories from the United Nations General Assembly, including growing recognition of a Palestinian state, the historic participation of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and deliberations over Iran’s nuclear program. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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