Jul 31

Omission accomplished: why the Iran-war cycle spins on

From impasse in Iran to still-unresolved conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, a trend is clear: President Donald Trump’s scant, early plans for peace do not actually forge a path to it. Our correspondent says that in the driverless-car future, it will often be Chinese AI behind the whe ... Show More

25m 39s

Jul 30

Working memory: the surprising decline of dementia

A dive into the data reveals that, despite dire past predictions, the prevalence of dementia is actually waning. We take a look at Pix, a beloved Brazilian digital-payments system, and why it so bothers President Donald Trump. And we attend one of the concerts that reveals how th ... Show More

25m 8s

Jul 29

Brave New whirl: Turkey’s opposition overhaul

An ousted former opposition leader started a new party—called the New Party. We assess its chances at the ballot box, and under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s thumb. A surrogacy scandal in Germany has prompted a government reshuffle, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz left holding ... Show More

20m 27s

Jun 2025

Confused unity: the mood in Iran

A sudden war made Iran’s leaders look unprepared. And many Iranians loathe the regime. But there are no signs yet that internal dissent will shape the conflict. Shortly after Nayib Bukele became El Salvador’s president, he was labelled as the world’s first millennial dictator; no ... Show More

23m 28s

Oct 2025

Iran is Down, Not Out

In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme in Chatham House, about the Twelve Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program. Vakil discusses the implications of these attacks on ... Show More

33m 52s

Jun 2025

In Iran before the war

Just weeks before war erupted between Israel and Iran, journalist Max Blumenthal and Ahmad Hussam traveled to Tehran. In this exclusive podcast episode, they reflect on what they witnessed, how the political atmosphere felt on the ground, and what the West gets wrong about Iran.T ... Show More

1h 47m

Feb 2025

With ‘maximum pressure’ back on the table, what will Iran do next?

Iran is facing a changed Middle East as it marks the anniversary of the Islamic revolution. With weakened allies and growing tensions with Israel and the United States, how will Iran’s leadership approach the year ahead? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera ... Show More

20m 23s

May 2024

Could the Butcher of Tehran's death signal danger for the Iranian regime?

President Raisi’s death has been met with celebrations by those who hate the regime and mourning by those who love it. But could the vacuum left by his passing create a moment of danger for the regime’s hardline clerics and open up an opportunity for Iran’s reformers? This podcas ... Show More

31m 12s

Jan 2020

Soleimani Death, Iran Protests, Embassy Chaos

Reports: New Airstrike Targets Iran-Backed Militia Near Baghdad; Pres. Trump: Iranian Commander Killed By U.S. Was Plotting "Imminent And Sinister" Attacks Against Americans; New Troops Heading To Region; Wash. Post: Dems To Submit Impeachment Articles in Coming Days; U.S. Deploy ... Show More

42m 3s

Jan 2020

Iran conflict shakes Washington

This week, Scott talks to foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi and deputy defense editor Dave Brown about the last week's worth of news of the Iran conflict, where things stand now and the Pentagon's inconsistent response. Plus, political reporters Zach Montellaro and Holly ... Show More

34m 42s

Jun 2025

An Insider's View of the Mideast Conflict

Israel's attacks on Iran and Iran's retaliation have brought the United States to the edge of entering another war in the Middle East. It is exposing divisions within President Trump's cabinet and the MAGA movement over American involvement abroad. As former Chair of the Joint Ch ... Show More

54m 20s

Jul 2024

Fears of a Broader War

First: The Middle East is at another flashpoint as the world waits for Iran to retaliate against Israel, who it blames for killing a top Hamas leader on Iranian soil. Plus: Rapper Megan Thee Stallion helps Kamala Harris rally a boisterous crowd of nearly 10,000 people in Atlant ... Show More

40m 46s