The Beirut Banyan

In light of the Pope's visit and the wider message of peace and hope, these are three scenarios I see playing out in the not-too-distant future for Lebanon.

Political stability & economic prosperity on our terms

Celebrations are not enough. On the eve of independence our voice needs to be heard, in every platform, every institution that can apply pressure on Iran.

An episode discussing the Lebanese army's role and limitations, prospects of economic recovery alongside an ever-expanding cash economy, and general expectations regarding next year's parliamentary elections. With economist and Arab News columnist Nadim Shehadi. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:52 The Lebanese army 10:57 Political impasse 14:43 1980s & local militias 18:01 US pressure on government 20:15 Chances of disarmament 22:55 Iranian regime’s positioning 24:38 Beirut One conference 28:49 Timing 31:29 Description & solution 35:50 Beirut as a geography 40:40 Cash economy & Qard el Hassan 47:12 Captive wealth 49:47 Election expectation & diaspora 52:57 Seeking solutions abroad

Getting Iran out of Lebanon comes first. Not second or third.

An episode discussing a personal decision to return to government, walk out after other ministers from the same sect left during cabinet sessions on disarmament, picking up where Fouad Chehab left off and the long-term task of administrative reform, and regaining trust among citizens. With Minister of Administrative Reform Fadi Makki. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:47 A personal decision 14:58 Walk out 27:30 Administrative reform 44:35 Trust

An episode discussing sub-state disarmament, the mood for 'Change' approaching 2026 parliamentary elections, pragmatism vs purity tests on measuring government success, factors due to war vs local agency, positive trends moving forward and how to interpret the moment we're living through. With Member of Parliament Ibrahim Mneimneh. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:22 Is war on the horizon? 3:21 Delayed disarmament 6:31 Measuring govt success 15:03 Mood for ‘Change’ & 2026 elections 25:37 A victory scored & needed? 35:34 Gap resolution 37:54 Red lines on withdrawing govt support 40:30 Purity tests 45:53 Interpreting this moment

A ZDF German Television interview hosted by Golineh Atai Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:38 Why is sub-state disarmament so important? 2:36 What do you want Hezbollah not capable of anymore? 5:21 Is it an issue of domination of the country through weapons? 6:42 How can you measure Lebanese support for Hezbollah’s armed role today? 12:02 How do you reply to those who say without Hezbollah there is no challenge to Israel? 15:09 What options does Hezbollah have? 17:32 Would Iran ever let go of Hezbollah? 18:56 Are Naim Qassem’s threats just a ploy? 20:53 How feasible is it to avoid violence? 24:24 What do current Israeli attacks mean for the stability of the Lebanese government? 26:58 What does Ali Larijani’s recent visit indicate? 28:10 Does Hezbollah have to create a new identity? 30:23 How can the state fulfill social and economic roles without Hezbollah?

I answer press-related questions on the government's political decisions and security condiserations needed for sub-state disarmament. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:03 What do you make of current American engagement? 2:30 What are America's intentions towards Lebanon? 4:54 Is the lack of Israeli withdrawal playing into Hezbollah's hands? 7:09 Is there any threat of civil war? 9:13 Do sanctions against the Iranian regime impact behavior towards Lebanon? 11:47 Are there factions within Hezbollah that want to turn the group into a political party, only? 13:14 Was Hassan Nasrallah the only Hezbollah figure that could bring about the group's transition? 14:18 Does Israel want the complete disarmament of Hezbollah? 16:25 Is it possible that the current status quo remains long-term? 21:38 How linked is Hezbollah to the Palestinian cause? 24:27 Is Hezbollah's disarmament a political decision that cannot be rolled back?

An episode discussing David Schenker's latest policy analysis titled "Lebanon's Moment of Truth" and the multiple variables needed to line up for Hezbollah's disarmament to succeed and for Israel's full withdrawal to take place. With David Schenker, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The article mentioned in this piece is available here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/lebanons-moment-truth The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:49 Slip-up 3:18 Moment of truth 5:42 Variables lining up a 9:01 Under immense pressure 12:06 Israeli obstacles to US position 14:17 Pending Lebanese army proposal 18:24 Iranian leverage today 21:42 Beirut’s commitment & int’l attention 26:01 Vulnerability following war 29:53 Israel’s reaction towards progress 33:25 Five hilltops

An episode examining Hezbollah's weakened sub-state position, Iranian leveraging, separating militia disarmament from war with Israel, international pressure on the Lebanese government and potential new names for next year's parliamentary elections. With Tony Boulos - journalist at Independent Arabia. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:16 A weaker position 9:13 Hezbollah of today 15:38 Winner(s) & loser(s) 20:14 An Iranian comeback? 22:25 Last chance for Lebanon 28:58 Lebanese army & authority 32:42 Divorcing Hezbollah from Israel 37:44 2024 (again) 44:01 Regional peace vs stability 45:41 2026 parliamentary elections

An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran. With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan. Articles mentioned in this episode include "Israel can inflict even more damage if Hezbollah doesn't disarm" https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/08/13/how-much-damage-can-israel-cause-if-hezbollah-doesnt-disarm/ "Hezbollah’s Margin is Tightening - The Lebanese government’s efforts to secure a monopoly over weapons are advancing, but can it ignore Iran?" https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/08/hezbollahs-margin-is-tightening?lang=en The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:12 Diplomacy with Iran 4:56 What Iran wants 7:53 What the Iranians and Americans are discussing 8:47 The Lebanese Forces' rejection to Larijani's visit 11:57 Lebanese state as interlocutor 13:15 Deadline for disarmament 14:34 Comparisons to earlier attempts at militia disarmament 15:37 Israeli entry into the fight 17:10 Betting on time 20:48 US goals vis-a-vis dialogue with Iran 21:52 A normal relationship with Iran 25:05 Letter to Rouhani

For the victims of August 4, 2020. May justice prevail. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com

Rida Mawla returns for a special conversation on the personal, including the challenges of physical intimacy, limited sensation, the desire for companionship and elevation of emotions, and the strength through confidence that comes with acceptance. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 In the beginning 4:27 Spinal cord injury 6:40 Muscle mass 10:04 Physical intimacy & sensation 18:48 The sexual element 26:02 Relationship 28:41 Emotions 35:25 Acceptance 38:36 Positivity

With Elissa Samaha in a conversation about the benefits of physical therapy, addressing mental health through recovery and needed patience during post-injury rehabilitation. Special thanks to Centre de Réhabilitation Laetitia Hatem - Hopital Mgr Cortbawi - Réseau USJ - HDF for supporting this episode. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:04 Background 3:13 What is physiotherapy? 4:41 "Movement is key" 5:37 Why did you choose physiotherapy? 9:12 Psychological aspect 10:37 "It's a very long procedure" 11:24 Mental & physical 13:10 Necessity 14:59 Consequences of not doing physiotherapy 17:24 "It's a recovery session" 18:41 How do you see my progress? 22:11 Your hair

With Monika Borgmann in a conversation about dramatic changes impacting Lebanese politics & judicial process, victims' coalition related to political assassinations, a recent Lokman Slim Foundation event held at the Beirut Bar Association and reopening cases otherwise shelved for years on end. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:09 Lokman Slim event 5:34 Expectation 8:36 Manara for Justice 10:30 Backwards vs Forwards 12:06 Ministry of Justice 14:51 Beirut Bar Association 16:33 Hezbollah in 2025 21:20 Victims coalition 22:05 Reopening cases 25:56 Hassan Nasrallah’s death 28:06 Peace through details

With Giulia Cingolani in a conversation about dependence and immobility, trying to remain positive through post-surgery difficulty, navigating Beirut and an acceptance of life-changing circumstance. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:01 Post-surgery 3:10 Staying positive 6:19 Recovery 7:33 Beirut 10:03 Blame 12:53 Scooters 15:08 Rehabilitation vs Hospital 19:27 Interruption dance 19:53 Acceptance

With Najat Aoun Saliba in a conversation about friendship, loss, resolve & recovery. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:45 Reflection & friendship 8:24 Commuting & risk 9:38 Lawlessness 10:43 Losing a loved one 13:08 Determining your future 14:40 Raison d’etre in life 16:59 Minister vs MP 19:44 Competency 22:17 New voices

With Nadim Shehadi in a conversation about his recent Arab News piece: "Reviving May 17 Agreement could be a solution for Lebanon" https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607526 The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:37 Lokman Slim event 5:21 1983 7:20 May 17 Agreement in retrospect 16:46 No push for internal disarmament 21:50 Tom Barrack's speech

With Rida Mawla in a conversation about looking at life differently and ongoing recovery. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:59 What happened 14:28 A journey 16:36 Looking at life differently 23:17 Mental stability 28:10 Physical pain 32:09 Immobility 35:15 Help 40:09 From bed to chair