Podcasts about Lebanese

This is just a teaser for today's episode, which is available for Patreon subscribers only!   We can't do the show without your support, so help us keep the lights on over here and access tons of bonus content, including Roqayah's new weekly column “Last Week in Lebanon,” by subscribing on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. While you're at it, we also love it when you subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts.  This week, Roqayah is joined in Beirut by writer and video journalist Hadi Hoteit, war correspondent for Press TV and producer of Wartime Cafe with Laith Marouf along with other programming at Free Palestine TV.  Hadi has been reporting from the frontlines of Israel's ongoing assault on Lebanon where he covers the aftermath of Israeli strikes and their devastating impact on infrastructure and civilian life. They discuss the politics of so-called media “neutrality,” the dehumanization of communities in the South, the erasure of Lebanese suffering, and the emotional toll of documenting war. Hadi also reflects on the complicity of mainstream media in Israeli impunity and the silence of the Lebanese state in the face of relentless bombardment. You can watch Free Palestine TV on YouTube and follow Hadi Hoteit on Twitter.

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

France is threatening Iran with UN sanctions if a deal is not reached on its nuclear program. Lebanese officials have received a response to their proposal to US special envoy Thomas Barrack over the disarmament of Hezbollah. An Ultra-Orthodox political party quit the Israeli government. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: France threatens Iran with UN sanctions by end of August Lebanon receives US response over Hezbollah disarmament as 12 killed by Israeli attacks on Bekaa Valley Blow for Benjamin Netanyahu as ultra-Orthodox party quits coalition This episode features Sunniva Rose, Europe Correspondent; Jamie Prentis, Beirut Correspondent; and Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent.

Your two alien-slaying trivia nerds are back, and this time they’re firing up the VHS and saluting Independence Day — the film that blew up the White House, made Will Smith the King of July 4th, and gave us the only speech that rivals St. Crispin’s and “Four score.” The TMI guys explain how the movie was born at a press conference, written in a hotel room, and sold in 48 hours — all with the intent of crushing Tim Burton. You’ll learn why the Pentagon pulled support (spoiler: Area 51 drama), how Goldblum improvised his way through the movie and the cigar smoke, and why Randy Quaid nearly saved the world in a crop duster. Also covered: mass UFO panic in Orange County, Lebanese censorship courtesy of Hezbollah, and the moment Bill Clinton watched the White House explode from inside the White House. It’s a tale of German visionaries, binary code, K-Y jelly, patriotic pee scenes, and a sci-fi B-movie that accidentally rewrote the playbook for modern blockbusters. Today, we celebrate… Too Much Information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghinwa Mahmoud is a Lebanese actress and content creator who began her career after studying public relations. She made her acting debut in the 2010 Lebanese series Maitre Nada and has since appeared in a variety of Arabic television shows and films. Some of her notable works include If It Wasn't for Love (2012), Private Relationships (2015), Kalabsh 3 (2019), and Wa Akheeran (2023). Her growing filmography reflects her versatility, and she continues to take on diverse roles in both drama and entertainment projects across the region.#hikmatwehbipodcast #podcast#arabicpodcast #ghinwamahmoud#wstudiodxbحكمت_وهبي#حكمت_وهبي_بودكاست##

What does it take to design for billionaire homeowners, celebrities like David Goggins, and NFL owners—while staying grounded in soul and intention? For interior designer Nour El Nasrani, it's about more than pretty spaces. It's about feeling. The Lebanese-born, Vegas-based founder of By Nour Design joins Danielle to share how she built a luxury design business from scratch, the spiritual side of design, and what our homes secretly say about us.  Nour shares: How she landed her first client. The unlikely moment that changed her career—and made her fire her own boss What it was really like designing for Navy SEAL David Goggins The unexpected trait she uses to win over high-powered clients (hint: it's not her design degree) Why she never starts with a Pinterest or style board—and the questions she asks instead He 5 rules for making any room look expensive (without spending a fortune) The #1 mistake people make when designing a room (you're probably doing it) How to create a home that actually helps you de-stress Why mood matters more than trend Thee rule she breaks in every room she designs How she transformed Danielle's apartment + what the inspiration was behind it! Plus, a hilarious round of “Smash or Pass: Beige Edition,” and the quote that guides her work: “If a place has a soul, it remains alive forever.” If you've ever wanted a home that feels more like you, this episode is your blueprint. Follow Nour on Instagram here. Book rec: Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone

For review:1. Israeli PM on Hostage & Ceasefire Deal: "Not at any price." Israeli PM Netanyahu: “President Trump and I have a common goal. I want to achieve the release of our hostages. We want to end Hamas rule in Gaza. We want to make sure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel anymore.” 2. Israeli ground troops raided several sites inside Lebanon in recent days, destroying Hezbollah weapon depots and other infrastructure, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday.3. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem admitted that the Lebanese terror group drastically underestimated the extent of Israel's surveillance capabilities in the run-up to the pager operation last September.4. Pope Leo told visiting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on Wednesday that the Vatican was willing to host Russia - Ukraine peace talks.5. US Lifts Pause on Munition Shipments to Ukraine. Munitions heading into Ukraine include 155mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS. It was not clear if Patriot missiles would be added.6. Denmark considering the purchase of more F-35 Fighters.7. Army - Navy - USAF Unfunded Priority List (Budget).

With the appointment of a new president and the arrival of a new prime minister in early 2025 optimism among the Lebanese has grown despite a shaky ceasefire and the ever present threat of Israel Sign up NOW at ArabDigest.org for free to join the club and start receiving our daily newsletter & weekly podcasts.

US special envoy Thomas Barrack said he was satisfied with Lebanon's response to a US call for Hezbollah to disarm. Yemen's Houthi rebels said they retaliated after an Israeli strike. Brics leaders condemned US and Israeli attacks on Iran. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: US envoy 'unbelievably satisfied' with Lebanese response to proposal on Hezbollah disarmament Israel strikes Yemen ports after ship attack by Houthis in Red Sea Brics leaders condemn attacks on Iran and tell Israel to leave Gaza This episode features Nada Homsi, Lebanon Correspondent; and Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent. Editor's note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our 2-minute listener survey. Click here.  

When the Vice-President of Iran invited Nizar Zakka to speak at a September 2015 conference – as CEO of a global tech NGO working closely with the U.S. government – he never  hesitated, and promptly booked a flight from D.C. to Tehran. He never dreamed he'd end up in Iran's notorious Evin Prison as a political prisoner, experiencing solitary confinement and repeated torture. Following his speech  at the conference, Nizar entered a taxi to take him to Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport. En route his vehicle was pulled over by the infamous Iranian Revolutionary National Guard, and he was promptly seized and imprisoned.Initially expecting the matter to be resolved in a matter of days, Nizar, a Lebanese citizen and legal U.S. resident, spent four years in prison. The U.S., led by the Obama administration, was wooing Iran at that time, and so didn't go to bat for the release of a non-citizen resident of the U.S.-- even one that worked closely with government agencies focused on the Middle East. There was little progress or hope until Nizar began organizing his campaign for release from behind bars. With a big assist from his sister and the first Trump administration, he finally won his release. Nizar now runs an organization called Hostage Aid Worldwide, dedicated to the release and support afterward for victims of unfair political imprisonment around the world.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

As the world watches Gaza burn, Iran tremble, and diplomacy stall, what if the real war isn't between nations—but within them? In this powerful episode, Maz is joined once again by Lebanese economist and seasoned political analyst Nadim Shehadi to explore the often-overlooked internal fractures driving conflict in the Middle East.

HEADLINES:• Arab Countries Call To Halt Israeli Hostilities Against Iran• Airlines Are Facing Delays Due To Regional Tensions• A UAE Entrepreneur Is Donating AED 2 Million To Help 4 Students Who Passed In The Air India Crash• Lebanese singer Elissa Wins Big in Dubai Court

For review:1.  Syrian state media reported Wednesday that statements on signing a peace deal with Israel were “premature.”2.   The IDF carried out an airstrike Thursday in the Lebanese village of Sil, near Beirut, targeting an operative for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the IDF, the target was involved in smuggling weapons and advancing terror plots, acting on behalf of the Quds Force, the IRGC's foreign arm.3.  Iran on Wednesday formally suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog- the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Following a parliament vote on the matter last week, the bill was approved by the Guardian Council, a body tasked with vetting legislation, before it received a final ratification from the presidency. 4. Axios Report: US & Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks in Oslo. There is not yet a final date for the talks in the Norwegian capital. Neither Washington nor Tehran has publicly confirmed the meeting.5. Hostage & Ceasefire Efforts Between Israel and Hamas Advancing.6.  US President Trump said on Thursday that a phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Putin resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. 7. Pentagon Reviews US Military Support to Foreign Countries.  The Trump administration is pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense missiles, following a review of military spending and American support to foreign countries, a senior White House official told CNN. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed off on the review, which the official noted had been underway for months. 8.  The House has passed President Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill,” sending the bill with $150 billion for defense to the President's desk ahead of his 04 July deadline. 

How has the media distorted Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attacks? In this powerful conversation from AJC Global Forum 2025, award-winning journalist and former AP correspondent Matti Friedman breaks down the media bias, misinformation, and double standards shaping global coverage of Israel. Moderated by AJC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Belle Etra Yoeli, this episode explores how skewed narratives have taken hold in the media, in a climate of activist journalism. A must-listen for anyone concerned with truth in journalism, Israel advocacy, and combating disinformation in today's media landscape. Take Action: Take 15 seconds and urge your elected leaders to send a clear, united message: We stand with Israel. Take action now. Resources: Global Forum 2025 session with Matti Friedman:: Watch the full video. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  John Spencer's Key Takeaways After the 12-Day War: Air Supremacy, Intelligence, and Deterrence Iran's Secret Nuclear Program and What Comes Next in the Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman: I've had the privilege of interviewing journalism colleague Matti Friedman: twice on this podcast. In 2022, Matti took listeners behind the scenes of Jerusalem's AP bureau where he had worked between 2006 and 2011 and shared some insight on what happens when news outlets try to oversimplify the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then in 2023, I got to sit down with Matti in Jerusalem to talk about his latest book on Leonard Cohen and how the 1973 Yom Kippur War was a turning point both for the singer and for Israel.  Earlier this year, Matti came to New York for AJC Global Forum 2025, and sat down with Belle Yoeli, AJC Chief Strategy and Communications Officer. They rehashed some of what we discussed before, but against an entirely different backdrop: post-October 7. For this week's episode, we bring you a portion of that conversation.  Belle Yoeli:   Hi, everyone. Great to see all of you. Thank you so much for being here. Matti, thank you for being here.  Matti Friedman:   Thanks for having me.  Belle Yoeli:   As you can tell by zero empty seats in this room, you have a lot of fans, and unless you want to open with anything, I'm going to jump right in. Okay, great.  So for those of you who don't know, in September 2024 Matti wrote a piece in The Free Press that is a really great foundation for today's discussion. In When We Started to Lie, Matti, you reflect on two pieces that you had written in 2015 about issues of media coverage of Israel during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. And this piece basically talked about the conclusions you drew and how they've evolved since October 7. We're gonna get to those conclusions, but first, I'm hoping you can describe for everyone what were the issues of media coverage of Israel that you first identified based on the experience in 2014? Matti Friedman:   First of all, thanks so much for having me here, and thanks for all of the amazing work that you guys are doing. So it's a real honor for me. I was a reporter for the AP, between 2006 and the very end of 2011, in Jerusalem. I was a reporter and editor. The AP, of course, as you know, is the American news agency. It's the world's largest news organization, according to the AP, according to Reuters, it's Reuters. One of them is probably right, but it's a big deal in the news world.  And I had an inside view inside one of the biggest AP bureaus. In fact, the AP's biggest International Bureau, which was in Jerusalem. So I can try to sketch the problems that I saw as a reporter there. It would take me seven or eight hours, and apparently we only have four or five hours for this lunch, so I have to keep it short. But I would say there are two main problems. We often get very involved. When we talk about problems with coverage of Israel. We get involved with very micro issues like, you call it a settlement. I call it a neighborhood. Rockets, you know, the Nakba, issues of terminology. But in fact, there are two major problems that are much bigger, and because they're bigger, they're often harder to see. One of the things that I noticed at the Bureau was the scale of coverage of Israel. So at the time that I was at the AP, again, between 2006 and the very end of 2011 we had about 40 full time staffers covering Israel. That's print reporters like me, stills photographers, TV crews. Israel, as most of you probably know, is a very small country. As a percentage of the world's surface, Israel is 1/100 of 1% of the surface of the world, and as a percentage of the land mass of the Arab world, Israel is 1/5 of 1%. 0.2%.  And we had 40 people covering it.  And just as a point of comparison, that was dramatically more people than we had at the time covering China. There are about 10 million people today in Israel proper, in China, there are 1.3 billion. We had more people in Israel than we had in China. We had more people in Israel than we had in India, which is another country of about 1.3 billion people. We had more people in Israel than we had in all of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. That's 50 something countries. So we had more people in Israel than we had in all of those countries combined. And sometimes I say that to Jews, I say we covered Israel more than we covered China, and people just stare at me blankly, because it's Israel. So of course, that makes perfect sense.  I happen to think Israel is the most important country in the world because I live there. But if the news is meant to be a rational analysis of events on planet Earth, you cannot cover Israel more than you cover the continent of Africa. It just doesn't make any sense. So one of the things that first jumped out at me– actually, that's making me sound smarter than I am. It didn't jump out at me at first. It took a couple of years. And I just started realizing that it was very strange that the world's largest organization had its largest international bureau in the State of Israel, which is a very small country, very small conflict in numeric terms. And yet there was this intense global focus on it that made people think that it was the most important story in the world. And it definitely occupies a place in the American political imagination that is not comparable to any other international conflict.  So that's one part of the problem. That was the scope, the other part was the context. And it took me a while to figure this out, but the coverage of Israel is framed as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is defined in those terms, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and everyone in this room has heard it discussed in those terms. Sometimes we discuss it in those terms, and that is because the news folks have framed the conflict in those terms. So at the AP bureau in Jerusalem, every single day, we had to write a story that was called, in the jargon of the Bureau, Is-Pals, Israelis, Palestinians. And it was the daily wrap of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. So what Netanyahu said, what Abbas said, rockets, settlers, Hamas, you know, whatever, the problem is that there isn't an Israeli=Palestinian conflict. And I know that sounds crazy, because everyone thinks there is.  And of course, we're seeing conflicts play out in the most tragic way right now in Gaza. But most of Israel's wars have not been fought against Palestinians. Israel has unfortunately fought wars against Egyptians and Jordanians and Lebanese and Iraqis. And Israel's most important enemy at the moment, is Iran, right? The Iranians are not Palestinian. The Iranians are not Arab. They're Muslim, but they're not Arab. So clearly, there is a broader regional conflict that's going on that is not an Israeli Palestinian conflict, and we've seen it in the past year. If we had a satellite in space looking down and just following the paths of ballistic missiles and rockets fired at Israel. Like a photograph of these red trails of rockets fired at Israel. You'd see rockets being fired from Iraq and from Yemen and from Lebanon and from Gaza and from Iran. You'd see the contours of a regional conflict.  And if you understand it's a regional conflict, then you understand the way Israelis see it. There are in the Arab world, 300 million people, almost all of them Muslim. And in one corner of that world, there are 7 million Jews, who are Israelis. And if we zoom out even farther to the level of the Islamic world, we'll see that there are 2 billion people in the Islamic world. There's some argument about the numbers, but it's roughly a quarter of the world's population. And in one corner of that world there, there are 7 million Israeli Jews. The entire Jewish population on planet Earth is a lot smaller than the population of Cairo.  So the idea that this is an Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Israelis are the stronger side, where Israelis are the dominant actor, and where Israelis are, let's face it, the bad guy in the story, that's a fictional presentation of a story that actually works in a completely different way. So if you take a small story and make it seem big. If you take a complicated regional story and you make it seem like a very small local story involving only Israelis and Palestinians, then you get the highly simplified but very emotive narrative that everyone is being subjected to now. And you get this portrayal of a villainous country called Israel that really looms in the liberal imagination of the West as an embodiment of the worst possible qualities of the age. Belle Yoeli:   Wow. So already you were seeing these issues when you were reporter, earlier on. But like this, some of this was before and since, since productive edge. This is over 10 years ago, and here we are. So October 7 happens. You already know these issues exist. You've identified them. How would you describe because obviously we have a lot of feelings about this, but like, strictly as a journalist, how would you describe the coverage that you've seen since during October 7, in its aftermath? Is it just these issues? Have they? Have they expanded? Are there new issues in play? What's your analysis? Matti Friedman:   The coverage has been great. I really have very I have no criticism of it. I think it's very accurate. I think that I, in a way, I was lucky to have been through what I went through 10 or 15 years ago, and I wasn't blindsided on October 7, as many people were, many people, quite naturally, don't pay close attention to this. And even people who are sympathetic to Israel, I think, were not necessarily convinced that my argument about the press was right. And I think many people thought it was overstated.  And you can read those articles from 2014 one was in tablet and one was in the Atlantic, but it's basically the two chapters of the same argument. And unfortunately, I think that those the essays, they stand up. In fact, if you don't really look at the date of the essays, they kind of seem that they could have been written in the past year and a half. And I'm not happy about that. I think that's and I certainly wrote them in hopes that they would somehow make things better. But the issues that I saw in the press 15 years ago have only been exacerbated since then. And October seven didn't invent the wheel. The issues were pre existing, but it took everything that I saw and kind of supercharged it.  So if I talked about ideological conformity in the bureaus that has been that has become much more extreme. A guy like me, I was hired in 2006 at the AP. I'm an Israeli of center left political leanings. Hiring me was not a problem in 22,006 by the time I left the AP, at the end of 2011 I'm pretty sure someone like me would not have been hired because my views, which are again, very centrist Israeli views, were really beyond the pale by the time that I left the AP, and certainly, and certainly today, the thing has really moved what I saw happening at the AP. And I hate picking on the AP because they were just unfortunate enough to hire me. That was their only error, but what I'm saying about them is true of a whole new. Was heard. It's true of the Times and CNN and the BBC, the news industry really works kind of as a it has a herd mentality. What happened was that news decisions were increasingly being made by people who are not interested in explanatory journalism. They were activists. Activists had moved into the key positions in the Bureau, and they had a very different idea of what press coverage was supposed to do. I would say, and I tried to explain it in that article for the free press, when I approach a news story, when I approach the profession of journalism, the question that I'm asking is, what's going on? That's the question I think you're supposed to ask, what's going on? How can I explain it in a way that's as accurate as as possible? The question that was increasingly being asked was not what's going on. The question was, who does this serve? That's an activist question. So when you look at a story, you don't ask, is it true, or is it not true? You ask, who's it going to help? Is it going to help the good guys, or is it going to help the bad guys?  So if Israel in the story is the villain, then a story that makes Israel seem reasonable, reasonable or rational or sympathetic needs to be played down to the extent possible or made to disappear. And I can give you an example from my own experience.  At the very end of 2008 two reporters in my bureau, people who I know, learned of a very dramatic peace offer that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had made to the Palestinians. So Olmert, who was the prime minister at the time, had made a very far reaching offer that was supposed to see a Palestinian state in all of Gaza, most of the West Bank, with land swaps for territory that Israel was going to retain, and a very far reaching international consortium agreement to run the Old City of Jerusalem. Was a very dramatic. It was so far reaching, I think that Israelis probably wouldn't have supported it. But it was offered to the Palestinian side, and the Palestinians rejected it as insufficient. And two of our reporters knew about this, and they'd seen a map of the offer. And this was obviously a pretty big story for a bureau that had as the thrust of its coverage the peace process.  The two reporters who had the story were ordered to drop it, they were not allowed to cover the story. And there were different explanations. And they didn't, by the way, AP did not publish the story at the time, even though we were the first to have it. Eventually, it kind of came out and in other ways, through other news organizations. But we knew at first. Why were we not allowed to cover it? Because it would have made the Israelis who we were trying to villainize and demonize, it would have made Israel seem like it was trying to solve the conflict on kind of reasonable lines, which, of course, was true at that time. So that story would have upended the thrust of our news coverage. So it had to be made to go away, even though it was true, it would have helped the wrong people. And that question of who does this serve has destroyed, I want to say all, but much, of what used to be mainstream news coverage, and it's not just where Israel is concerned.  You can look at a story like the mental health of President Biden, right. Something's going on with Biden at the end of his term. It's a huge global news story, and the press, by and large, won't touch it, because why? I mean, it's true, right? We're all seeing that it's true, but why can't you touch it? Because it would help the wrong people. It would help the Republicans who in the press are the people who you are not supposed to help.  The origins of COVID, right? We heard one story about that. The true story seems to be a different story. And there are many other examples of stories that are reported because they help the right people, or not reported because they would help the wrong people. And I saw this thinking really come into action in Israel 10 or 15 years ago, and unfortunately, it's really spread to include the whole mainstream press scene and really kill it.  I mean, essentially, anyone interested in trying to get a solid sense of what's going on, we have very few options. There's not a lot, there's not a lot out there. So that's the broader conclusion that I drew from what I thought at the time was just a very small malfunction involving Israel coverage. But Israel coverage ends up being a symptom of something much bigger, as Jews often are the symptom of something much bigger that's going on.  So my problems in the AP bureau 15 years ago were really a kind of maybe a canary in the coal mine, or a whiff of something much bigger that we were all going to see happen, which is the transformation of the important liberal institutions of the west into kind of activist arms of a very radical ideology that has as its goal the transformation of the west into something else. And that's true of the press, and it's true of NGO world, places like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which were one thing 30 years ago and are something very different today. And it's also true of big parts of the academy. It's true of places like Columbia and places like Harvard, they still have the logo, they still have the name, but they serve a different purpose, and I just happen to be on the ground floor of it as a reporter. Belle Yoeli:   So obviously, this concept of who does this serve, and this activist journalism is deeply concerning, and you actually mentioned a couple other areas, academia, obviously we're in that a lot right now in terms of what's going on campus. So I guess a couple of questions on that. First of all, think about this very practically, tachlis, in the day to day.  I'm a journalist, and I go to write about what's happening in Gaza. What would you say is, if you had to throw out a percentage, are all of them aware of this activist journalist tendency? Or you think it's like, like intentional for many of them, or it's sort of they've been educated that way, and it's their worldview in such a way that they don't even know that they're not reporting the news in a very biased way. Does that make sense? Matti Friedman:   Totally. I think that many people in the journalism world today view their job as not as explaining a complicated situation, but as swaying people toward the correct political conclusion. Journalism is power, and the power has to be wielded in support of justice. Now, justice is very slippery, and, you know, choosing who's in the right is very, very slippery, and that's how journalism gets into a lot of trouble. Instead of just trying to explain what's going on and then leave, you're supposed to leave the politics and the activism to other people. Politics and activism are very important.  But unless everyone can agree on what is going on, it's impossible to choose the kind of act, the kind of activism that would be useful. So when the journalists become activists, then no one can understand what's what's going on, because the story itself is fake, and there are many, many examples of it. But you know, returning to what you asked about, about October 7, and reporting post October 7, you can really see it happen. The massacres of October 7 were very problematic for the ideological strain that now controls a lot of the press, because it's counterintuitive. You're not supposed to sympathize with Israelis.  And yet, there were a few weeks after October 7 when they were forced to because the nature of the atrocities were so heinous that they could not be ignored. So you had the press covering what happened on October 7, but you could feel it. As someone who knows that scene, you could feel there was a lot of discomfort. There was a lot of discomfort. It wasn't their comfort zone, and you knew that within a few weeks, maybe a month, it was gonna snap back at the first opportunity.  When did it snap back? In the story of the Al Ahli hospital strike. If you remember that a few weeks in, there's a massive global story that Israel has rocketed Hospital in Gaza and killed about 500 people and and then you can see the kind of the comfort the comfort zone return, because the story that the press is primed to cover is a story about villainous Israelis victimizing innocent Palestinians, and now, now we're back. Okay. Now Israel's rocketing hospital. The problem was that it hadn't happened, and it was that a lot of stories don't happen, and they're allowed to stand.  But this story was so far from the truth that even the people involved couldn't make it work, and it had to be retracted, but it was basically too late. And then as soon as the Israeli ground offensive got into swing in Gaza, then the story really becomes the same old story, which is a story of Israel victimizing Palestinians for no reason. And you'll never see Hamas militants in uniform in Gaza. You just see dead civilians, and you'll see the aftermath of a rocket strike when the, you know, when an Israeli F16 takes out the launcher, but you will never see the strike. Which is the way it's worked in Gaza since the very end of 2008 which is when the first really bad round of violence in Gaza happens, which is when I'm at the AP.  As far as I know, I was the first staffer to erase information from the story, because we were threatened by Hamas, which happened at the very end of 2008. We had a great reporter in Gaza, a Palestinian who had always been really an excellent reporter. We had a detail in a story. The detail was a crucial one. It was that Hamas fighters were dressed as civilians and were being counted as civilians in the death toll, an important thing to know, that went out in an AP story. The reporter called me a few hours later. It was clear that someone had spoken to him, and he told me, I was on the desk in Jerusalem, so I was kind of writing the story from the main bureau in Jerusalem. And he said, Matti, you have to take that detail out of the story. And it was clear that someone had threatened him. I took the detail out of the story. I suggested to our editors that we note in an Editor's Note that we were now complying with Hamas censorship. I was overruled, and from that point in time, the AP, like all of its sister organizations, collaborates with Hamas censorship in Gaza.  What does that mean? You'll see a lot of dead civilians, and you won't see dead militants. You won't have a clear idea of what the Hamas military strategy is. And this is the kicker, the center of the coverage will be a number, a casualty number, that is provided to the press by something called the Gaza health ministry, which is Hamas. And we've been doing that since 2008, and it's a way of basically settling the story before you get into any other information. Because when you put, you know, when you say 50 Palestinians were killed, and one Israeli on a given day, it doesn't matter what else you say. The numbers kind of tell their own story, and it's a way of settling the story with something that sounds like a concrete statistic. And the statistic is being, you know, given to us by one of the combatant sides. But because the reporters sympathize with that side, they're happy to play along. So since 2008, certainly since 2014 when we had another serious war in Gaza, the press has not been covering Gaza, the press has been essentially an amplifier for one of the most poisonous ideologies on Earth. Hamas has figured out how to make the press amplify its messaging rather than covering Hamas. There are no Western reporters in Gaza. All of the reporters in Gaza are Palestinians, and those people fall into three categories. Some of them identify with Hamas. Some of them are intimidated by Hamas and won't cross Hamas, which makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't want to cross Hamas either. So either. And the third category is people who actually belong to Hamas. That's where the information from Gaza is coming from. And if you're credulous, then of course, you're going to get a story that makes Israel look pretty bad. Belle Yoeli:   So this is very depressing. That's okay. It's very helpful, very depressing. But on that note, I would ask you so whether, because you spoke about this problem in terms, of, of course, the coverage of Israel, but that it's it's also more widespread you talk, you spoke about President Biden in your article, you name other examples of how this sort of activist journalism is affecting everything we read. So what should everyone in this room be reading, truly, from your opinion. This is Matti's opinion. But if you want to you want to get information from our news and not activist journalism, obviously The Free Press, perhaps. But are there other sites or outlets that you think are getting this more down the line, or at least better than some, some better than others?  Matti Friedman:   No, it's just The Free Press. No. I mean, it's a question that I also wrestle with. I haven't given up on everyone, and even in publications that have, I think, largely lost the plot, you'll still find good stuff on occasion. So I try to keep my eye on certain reporters whose name I know. I often ask not just on Israel, but on anything, does this reporter speak the language of the country that they're covering? You'd be shocked at how rare that is for Americans. A lot of the people covering Ukraine have no idea what language they speak in Ukraine, and just as someone who covers Israel, I'm aware of the low level of knowledge that many of the Western reporters have. You'll find really good stuff still in the Atlantic. The Atlantic has managed, against steep odds, to maintain its equilibrium amid all this. The New Yorker, unfortunately, less so, but you'll still see, on occasion, things that are good. And there are certain reporters who are, you know, you can trust. Isabel Kirchner, who writes for The New York Times, is an old colleague of mine from the Jerusalem report. She's excellent, and they're just people who are doing their job. But by and large, you have to be very, very suspicious of absolutely everything that you read and see. And I'm not saying that as someone who I'm not happy to say that, and I certainly don't identify with, you know, the term fake news, as it has been pushed by President Trump.  I think that fake news is, you know, for those guys, is an attempt to avoid scrutiny. They're trying to, you know, neuter the watchdog so that they can get away with whatever they want. I don't think that crowd is interested in good press coverage. Unfortunately, the term fake news sticks because it's true. That's why it has worked. And the press, instead of helping people navigate the blizzard of disinformation that we're all in, they've joined it. People who are confused about what's going on, should be able to open up the New York Times or go to the AP and figure out what's going on, but because, and I saw it happen, instead of covering the circus, the reporters became dancing bears in the circus. So no one can make heads or tails of anything. So we need to be very careful.  Most headlines that are out there are out there to generate outrage, because that's the most predictable generator of clicks, which is the, we're in a click economy. So I actually think that the less time you spend following headlines and daily news, the better off you'll be. Because you can follow the daily news for a year, and by the end of the year, you'll just be deranged. You'll just be crazy and very angry.  If you take that time and use it to read books about, you know, bitten by people who are knowledgeable, or read longer form essays that are, you know, that are obviously less likely to be very simplistic, although not, you know, it's not completely impossible that they will be. I think that's time, that's time better spent. Unfortunately, much of the industry is kind of gone. And we're in an interesting kind of interim moment where it's clear that the old news industry is basically dead and that something new has to happen. And those new things are happening. I mean, The Free Press is part of a new thing that's happening. It's not big enough to really move the needle in a dramatic way yet, but it might be, and I think we all have to hope that new institutions emerge to fill the vacuum.  The old institutions, and I say this with sorrow, and I think that this also might be true of a lot of the academic institutions. They can't be saved. They can't be saved. So if people think that writing an editor, a letter to the editor of the New York Times is going to help. It's not going to help. Sometimes people say, Why don't we just get the top people in the news industry and bring them to Israel and show them the truth? Doesn't help. It's not about knowing or not knowing. They define the profession differently.  So it's not about a lack of information. The institutions have changed, and it's kind of irrevocable at this point, and we need new institutions, and one of them is The Free Press, and it's a great model of what to do when faced with fading institutions. By the way, the greatest model of all time in that regard is Zionism. That's what Zionism is. There's a guy in Vienna in 1890 something, and his moment is incredibly contemporary. There's an amazing biography of Herzl called Herzl by Amos Elon. It's an amazing book. If you haven't read it, you should read it, because his moment in cosmopolitan Vienna sounds exactly like now. It's shockingly current. He's in this friendly city. He's a reporter for the New York Times, basically of the Austro Hungarian empire, and he's assimilated, and he's got a Christmas tree in his house, and his son isn't circumcised, and he thinks everything is basically great. And then the light changes.  He notices that something has changed in Vienna, and the discourse about Jews changes, and like in a Hollywood movie, the light changes. And he doesn't try to he doesn't start a campaign against antisemitism. He doesn't get on social media and kind of rail against unfair coverage. He sits down in a hotel room in Paris and he writes this pamphlet called the Jewish state, and I literally flew from that state yesterday. So there's a Zionist model where you look at a failing world and you think about radical solutions that involve creation. And I think we're there. And I think Herzl's model is a good one at a dark time you need real creativity. Belle Yoeli:   Thank God you found the inspiration there, because I was really, I was really starting to worry. No, in all seriousness, Matti, the saying that these institutions can't be saved. I mean the consequences of this, not just for us as pro-Israel, pro-Jewish advocates, but for our country, for the world, the countries that we come from are tremendous.  And the way we've been dealing with this issue and thinking about how, how can you change hearts and minds of individuals about Israel, about the Jewish people, if everything that they're reading is so damaging and most of what they're reading is so damaging and basically saying there's very little that we can do about that. So I am going to push you to dream big with us. We're an advocacy organization. AJC is an advocacy organization. So if you had unlimited resources, right, if you really wanted to make change in this area, to me, it sounds like you're saying we basically need 15 Free Presses or the new institutions to really take on this way. What would you do? What would you do to try to make it so that news media were more like the old days? Matti Friedman:   Anyone who wants unlimited resources should not go into journalism. I have found that my resources remain limited. I'll give you an answer that is probably not what you're expecting or not what you want here. I think that the fight can't be won. I think that antisemitism can't be defeated. And I think that resources that are poured into it are resources wasted. And of course, I think that people need legal protection, and they need, you know, lawyers who can protect people from discrimination and from defamation. That's very important. But I know that when people are presented with a problem like antisemitism, which is so disturbing and it's really rocking the world of everyone in this room, and certainly, you know, children and grandchildren, you have a problem and you want to address it, right? You have a really bad rash on your arm. You want the rash to go away, and you're willing to do almost anything to make it go away. This has always been with us. It's always been with us.  And you know, we recently celebrated the Seder, and we read in the Seder, in the Haggadah, l'chol dor vador, omdim aleinu l'chaloteinu. Which is, in every generation, they come at us to destroy us. And it's an incredibly depressing worldview. Okay, it's not the way I wanted to see the world when I grew up in Toronto in the 1990s. But in our tradition, we have this idea that this is always gonna be around. And the question is, what do you do? Do you let other people define you? Do you make your identity the fight against the people who hate you? And I think that's a dead end.  This crisis is hitting the Jewish people at a moment when many of us don't know who we are, and I think that's why it's hitting so hard. For my grandfather, who was a standard New York Jew, garment industry, Lower East Side, poor union guy. This would not have shaken him, because he just assumed that this was the world like this. The term Jewish identity was not one he ever heard, because it wasn't an issue or something that had to be taught. So if I had unlimited resources, what I would do is I would make sure that young Jewish people have access to the riches of Jewish civilization, I would, you know, institute a program that would allow any young Jewish person to be fluent in Hebrew by the time they finish college. Why is that so important? Why is that such an amazing key?  Because if you're fluent in Hebrew, you can open a Tanakh, or you can open a prayer book if you want. Or you can watch Fauda or you can get on a plane to Israel and hit on Israeli guys. Hebrew is the key to Jewish life, and if you have it, a whole world will open up. And it's not one that antisemites can interfere with. It does not depend on the goodwill of our neighbors. It's all about us and what we're doing with ourselves. And I think that if you're rooted in Jewish tradition, and I'm not saying becoming religious, I'm just saying, diving into the riches of Jewish tradition, whether it's history or gemara or Israel, or whatever, if you're if you're deep in there enough, then the other stuff doesn't go away, but it becomes less important.  It won't be solved because it can't be solved, but it will fade into the background. And if we make the center of identity the fight against antisemitism, they've won. Why should they be the center of our identity? For a young person who's looking for some way of living or some deep kind of guide to life, the fight against antisemitism is not going to do it, and philanthropy is not going to do it. We come from the wisest and one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and many of us don't know how to open the door to that civilization, and that's in our hands. And if we're not doing it, it's not the fault of the antisemites. It's our own fault. So if I had unlimited resources, which, again, it's not, it's not going to happen unless I make a career change, that's where I would be putting my effort. Internally and not externally.  Belle Yoeli:   You did find the inspiration, though, again, by pushing Jewish identity, and we appreciate that. It's come up a lot in this conversation, this question about how we fight antisemitism, investing in Jewish identity and who we are, and at the same time, what do we do about it? And I think all of you heard Ted in a different context last night, say, we can hold two things, two thoughts at the same time, right? Two things can be true at the same time. And I think for me, what I took out of this, in addition to your excellent insights, is that that's exactly what we have to be doing.  At AJC, we have to be engaging in this advocacy to stand up for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But that's not the only piece of the puzzle. Of course, we have to be investing in Jewish identity. That's why we bring so many young people to this conference. Of course, we need to be investing in Jewish education. That's not necessarily what AJC is doing, the bulk of our work, but it's a lot of what the Jewish community is doing, and these pieces have to go together. And I want to thank you for raising that up for us, and again, for everything that you said. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in as John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, breaks down Israel's high-stakes strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the U.S. decision to enter the fight. 

Omar Sakr is a poet and writer born in Western Sydney to Lebanese and Turkish Muslim migrants. His previous book of poetry, The Lost Arabs, won the 2020 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Poetry. In this interview he speaks to Di Cousens about his new book, The Nightmare Sequence, which reflects on the war in Gaza.Photo by Tyler Aves.

Estelle Zaghloul Ramia is a Lebanese-born, Costa Rica-based belly dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador who rose to fame after winning the first season of Hezzi Ya Nawaeem on Lebanese TV and later became the first belly dancer to perform on the national stages of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In recognition of her artistic and community impact, she was honored in 2017 as one of Costa Rica's Women's Empowerment Icons. Her most recent project, Modern Organic Dance and Sacred Arts, is a creative and spiritual collective she co-founded, combining dance, music, videography, ritual, and energy work to create immersive, transformative experiences rooted in sisterhood and sacred expression. She shares her work through performances, teachings, and online platforms.In this episode you will learn about:- Oriental dance as a vessel for ancestral memory and feminine empowerment- What it means to dance with the elements and how fire, water, air, and earth can shape your movement practice- The role of ritual in Estelle's classes, from altars and candles to setting intentions before movement- What blocked shimmies can reveal about your deeper energetic or emotional patterns- How Egyptian mythology holds simple truths about energy, healing, and feminine powerShow Notes to this episode:Find Estelle Zaghloul on Facebook, YouTube,Instagram, and her website.Our previous interview with Estelle Zaghloul :Ep 126. Estelle Zaghloul: Why Has This Dance Entered Your Life?Books recommended by Estelle in this episode:Sacred woman, sacred dance: Awakening spirituality through movement and ritual, by Iris J. StewartGrandmother's secrets : the ancient rituals and healing power of belly dancing, by Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia BThe Secret Language of Your Body: The Essential Guide to Health and Wellness, by Inna SegalVisit Bellydance.com today: you'll always find something fresh, whether you're looking for costumes, practice wear, veils, hip scarves, jewelry, or music.Follow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Send us a textIn a rare and deeply moving conversation, Ricardo Karam meets Ginane Makki Bacho, Lebanese artist and grieving mother, who speaks publicly for the first time since the loss of her son. After years of silence, she opens about war, exile, and memory, revealing how her art, often sculpted from bomb shrapnel, became her voice.This is more than an interview. It is a return, a reckoning, and a reminder of art's power to transform grief into hope. Support is needed to bring this story to wider audiences because when silence finally breaks, it must be heard.Join Ricardo and Ginane for an inspiring conversation and the power of creativity to transform pain into a message of hope.في لحظة مؤثّرة ونادرة، يجلس ريكاردو كرم مع جينان مكي باشو الفنانة التشكيلية اللبنانية والأم المفجوعة، التي تتحدّث للمرّة الأولى منذ فقدان ابنها. بعد سنوات من الصمت والعزلة، تبوح بما عجزت الكلمات عن قوله، متحدثّة عن الحرب، والمنفى، والذاكرة، وعن كيف تحوّل فنّها، المصنوع من شظايا القنابل، إلى وسيلتها للتعبير.ليست هذه مجرّد مقابلة، بل عودة، ومصالحة، ورسالة أمل. نحن بحاجة إلى دعم لنشر هذه القصة، لأنّ حين ينكسر الصمت أخيراً، علينا أن نُصغي.انضموا إلى ريكاردو وجينان في حوار ملهم عن قدرة الإبداع على تحويل الألم إلى رسالة أمل.

In this episode, we head to the mountains of Northern Lebanon to meet Michelle and Claudine, neighbors, best friends, and the visionary founders of Heya Wines, a natural winery rooted in inclusion, heritage, and community. Heya Wines (meaning “She” in Arabic) is more than just a label, it's a movement. From championing gender equity and employing Syrian refugee women, working with indigenous grapes and fermenting with apples in response to Lebanon's energy crisis, every bottle tells a story of purpose and place. We dive into their hands-on winemaking approach, explore the beauty of high-altitude terroir, and taste their soulful wines, from Nour, a textured white blend of direct press Obeideh & White Grenache to Kanz, a red made with carbonic maceration and aged in amphora. We also hear about the challenges of making wine in a region grappling with instability, and how the power of community, resilience, and female solidarity fuels every step. This is a story of women rewriting what it means to make wine, not just in Lebanon, but everywhere. Whether you're curious about natural wine, socially conscious farming, or planning a trip to the Levant, this episode will inspire you to pour with intention. Episode Guide (Chapters) 1:23 - Founding Heya Wines: friendship, passion, and a mission for equity 5:15 - Facing gender bias and creating equal pay in Lebanon's wine industry 7:53 - Hiring and empowering Syrian refugee women 9:57 - The rainy harvest: a community effort that defines Heya's spirit 11:25 - Traditional Lebanese breakfast: manoushe, za'atar and labneh 13:38 - Heya's location: high-altitude terroir (1450m) near the Syrian border 14.07 - The region of Dimane, North Lebanon and it's terroir 17:27 - Creating Farha, a co-ferment of apples and indigenous Merwah grapes 18.03 - What does Merwah taste like? 18:40 -  Travel tips: Beirut → Batroun (45min) → Heya Wines (another 45min) 20.46 - What does Obeidah taste like, and how it compares to Merwah? 21:13 - Tasting Nour (white blend of Obeideh & Grenache) — made during the war Gnarly Vines - £30  29:06 - Tasting Kanz (red Grenache-Syrah): carbonic maceration in amphora Gnarly Vines - £28  29:34 - Kanz: “Treasure”: why it's their most playful and textural wine 30.44 - How ageing in amphora affects the wine 34:49 - Food pairings: platters with white & red meats, yogurt, vegetables 35:45 - Global feedback and building a growing Heya Wines community 39:02 - Labels featuring real harvest women - authentic and unfiltered 41:12 - What's next: expanding opportunities for women and working moms 42.17 - One message for listeners working in a vineyard, cellar or boardroom who can shape the future of wine  

Lebanese scholar Rania Hafez joins Korea Deconstructed for a wide-ranging conversation on class, culture, and the search for meaning. Rania reflects on how media pushes culture wars over class solidarity, the importance of leadership in academia, and how she discovered Korean dramas during the Covid pandemic. Her love for Crash Landing on You and Hometown Cha Cha Cha helped her find beauty and purpose again, calling Korea her "Narnia." A deeply personal and philosophical episode about rediscovery, passion, and why Korea speaks to so many hearts around the world. She also reflects on her experiences as a Muslim in Korea and how she is able to navigate these spaces. Rania: https://www.instagram.com/the_lebanese_londoner/ David A. Tizzard has a PhD in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He writes a weekly column in the Korea Times, is a social-cultural commentator, and a musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He can be reached at datizzard@swu.ac.kr.   Watch this video next: https://youtu.be/vIbpLfWJoZM Subscribe to the channel: @DavidTizzard/videos Thanks to Patreon members: Hee Ji Jacobs, Bhavya, Roxanne Murrell Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=62047873 Discussion Outline 0:00 Korea Deconstructed 2:45 Meaning in modern life 31:00 The importance of class 1:01:20 The struggles of capitalism 1:08:30 K-dramas and the love of the country 1:26:40 Being a Muslim in Korea 1:37:00 How to foster connection 1:46:45 Recommendations   Music by Jocelyn Clark    Connect with us:  ▶ Get in touch: datizzard@swu.ac.kr ▶ David's Insta: @datizzard ▶ KD Insta: @koreadeconstructed   Listen to Korea Deconstructed  ▶ Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/kr/podcast/korea-deconstructed/id1587269128 ▶Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zdXkG0aAAHnDwOvd0jXEE ▶ Listen on podcasts: https://koreadeconstructed.libsyn.com 

Her protagonist is a cinematic Sheherazade, captivating viewers with tales of courageous feats and astonishing achievements. Yet Heiny Srour's "Leila" is not dealing in fiction but in fact: re-telling the story of the Palestinian and Lebanese people with women back in their rightful roles, as active participants in their country's stories. As the film returns to cinemas 40 years after it was made, the Lebanese director tells us why its themes are still extremely topical today. We also discuss her pioneering documentary, "The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived", which made Srour the first Arab women to present a feature at the Cannes Film Festival in 1974.

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube.

Jerry Ghazal is a Lebanese actor, writer, and media personality known for his diverse talents and authentic voice in entertainment and literature. He began his career in television, starring in hit Lebanese dramas like Shatti Ya Beirut and Beirut 303, and later expanded into hosting and music. Beyond the screen, Jerry is also a published author of several popular books that explore themes of love, identity, and self-reflection. With a strong presence on social media, he connects with a wide audience through thoughtful posts, poetry, and lifestyle content. His blend of creativity, emotional depth, and charisma has made him a beloved figure in the Arab world and beyond.#hikmatwehbipodcast #podcast#arabicpodcast #JerryGhazal#wstudiodxbحكمت_وهبي#حكمت_وهبي_بودكاست##

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.'” - Isaiah 6:8The news from the Middle East can be overwhelming, but our hope in Christ calls us to take action. Today, May-Lee Melki from Heart for Lebanon joins us to share how you can help protect young women and girls facing crisis. Then it's on to your calls at 800-525-7000.​May-Lee Melki is a Lebanese-American advocate, legal scholar, and ministry leader dedicated to advancing justice and holistic transformation in the Middle East. She serves as the Strategic Engagement Manager at Heart for Lebanon, an underwriter of Faith and Finance.Why Lebanon's Girls Need Us NowLebanon today is not the Lebanon of a generation ago. Compounded crises have pushed countless families into desperation, and girls ages 13–21 often bear the heaviest burden. Without a father, brother, or male guardian to protect them, they face decisions made for them—decisions that can lock them into abuse for life.The urgency has never been higher. These girls can change their country, the region, and the Church—but only if someone intervenes before tragedy strikes.A Concrete Goal: 500 Girls by June 30Heart for Lebanon has already welcomed 250 at-risk girls into its programs this year. With your help, we can reach the remaining 250 before June 30. The math is simple—and remarkably attainable:$114 introduces three girls to Jesus and a pathway to safety.$950 opens the door for twenty-five girls.Less than $10,000 completes the entire goal.Every investment provides:Safe spaces & mentorshipChrist-centered counseling focused on identity and dignityEducation & vocational training rooted in biblical character and life skillsChurch communities where girls—and, prayerfully, their families—can grow in faithHow Your Gift Transforms a LifeRecently, Meili met Iman, a 12-year-old refugee forced to work all day for $20 a month—money her father uses for cigarettes. After a chapel session, with tears in her eyes, Iman asked, "Who is Jesus?" That day, she prayed to receive Christ, saying:“My circumstances may not change immediately, but Jesus will change my heart and be with me.”Your support keeps Iman in school, surrounds her with Christian counselors, and plugs her into a loving church, offering hope not only to her but to her whole family.Two Ways You Can Help TodayPray:Ask the Lord to protect these girls and soften the hearts of their families.Pray for the Heart for Lebanon staff who daily serve in challenging conditions. Give Generously:Text “FAITH” to 98656—we'll reply with a secure giving link.Visit FaithFi.com/Lebanon to give online.Remember: $114 = three girls rescued and discipled in Christ.Jesus taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) When you invest in Heart for Lebanon, you're putting your heart into something that echoes into eternity—protecting girls from exploitation, introducing them to the Savior, and empowering them to transform their communities for Christ.Let's finish strong. Join us in reaching the final 250 young women before June 30. Together, we can turn desperation into dignity and despair into hope—one precious girl at a time. Give now at FaithFi.com/Lebanon or text “FAITH” to 98656.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I have two financial advisors, and I would like to know which one to work with. One has been with our family for 30 years, but his fees are high. The other has a different investment approach, but his fees are much lower. I'm struggling with the emotional side of potentially changing advisors after such a long-term working relationship. How should I evaluate this situation?I have a 13-year-old son who has been earning money doing yard work and has now saved over $2,000. I would like to know the best place for a young teenager to start saving and investing. What would your recommendation be?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Heart For LebanonStash | Acorns | Betterment | Charles Schwab | FidelityWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr250620.mp3 (29:00) From FRANCE- First two press reviews from Monday on the Israel war on Iran, from both the Israeli, Iranian,Lebanese, and French press. Then Monday opinion pieces from the Guardian and Foreign Policy. From Thursday the role of Trump and the US in the war is discussed in French and British press. Then global criticism of the cause of the war from China, while a Chinese military delivery plane that seemed to go to Iran. A science website warns that global carbon emissions are on track to go beyond the 1.5 degree threshold for irreversible global warming in three years. From GERMANY- The Israeli military operation in Iran has not slowed down activities in Gaza, where the distribution of limited aid supplies has resulted in nearly daily massacres of starving people. An interview with Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the United Nations office for Humanitarian Affairs. From JAPAN- Nippon Steel says it has done everything necessary to buy US Steel, which Trump has approved. Australian PM Albanese wasn't able to have a one on one with Trump who left the G7 meeting early. While the G7 leaders were meeting in Canada the Chinese President was on a tour of Central Asia and offered to play a constructive role in stabilizing the Middle East. The Japanese Defense Ministry is evacuating citizens from Iran and Israel. Israel bombed a TV studio that was on air. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released their annual report on global nuclear weapons. From CUBA- Netanyahu has been urging Trump to join the war on Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry says the Israeli strikes are not surgical and are killing many women and children. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts "War is a place where young people who do not know each other and do not hate each other, kill each other, based on decisions made by old people who know each other and hate each other, but do not kill each other." -- Paul Valery Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion—a precise and defensive military campaign aimed at preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons—Iran has responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, indiscriminately targeting Israeli civilians. Dr. Matthew Levitt, director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and a leading expert on Iran's global terror network, explains what's at stake—and what could come next. Take Action: We must stop a regime that vows to murder millions of Israelis from gaining the weapons to do it. Urge your elected leaders to assure that Israel has all the necessary support to end Iran's nuclear threat. Resources and Analysis: Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Explained: What You Should Know AJC Advocacy Anywhere: Israel and Iran: Latest Updates, Global Responses, and the Path Ahead 5 Key Reasons Behind Israel's Defensive Strike on Iran's Imminent Nuclear Threat Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod: Latest Episodes: Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program What Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' State of the Jewish World Teaches Us Today Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Israel's shadow war with the Iranian regime, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, erupted into open conflict last week following a stunning report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that confirmed Iran was much closer to obtaining nuclear weapons than previously known. Since Israel launched a wave of attacks on nuclear sites and facilities, Iran has fired missiles toward Israel's most populated cities. Joining us to discuss what this all means is one of the foremost experts on Iran and its global threats, and a regular guest when trouble arises with Iran. Dr. Matthew Levitt, director of the Reinhard Counterterrorism Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  Matt, welcome back to People of the Pod. Matthew Levitt:   It's a pleasure to be back, but I need to come sometime when the world's okay.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   That would be nice. That'd be nice. But what will we talk about? Matthew Levitt:   Yeah, just call me one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, you are one of the foremost experts on the dangers posed by Iran, especially its terror proxies. And you've written the definitive book on Hezbollah, titled Hezbollah: the Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God. And I say that whole title, I want to get in there, because we are talking about global threats here.  Can you explain the scale of Iran's global threat and the critical role that its terror proxies, like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, play in advancing that strategy? Matthew Levitt:   So I really appreciate the question, because it's really important to remind listeners that the Israel Iran war did not start Thursday night US time, Friday morning, Israel time. In fact, it's just the latest salvo where the Israelis, after years and years and years of Iranian we call it malign activity, but that's too soft a term. We're talking about Iran sending weapons and funds to proxies like Hamas to carry out October 7, like Hezbollah to fire rockets at Israel almost daily for almost a year. Like the Houthis, who were much more than a thorn in the Saudi backside until the Iranians came and gave them more sophisticated capabilities.  We're talking about an Iran that a few years ago decided that instead of making sure that every gun that it sent to the West Bank had to go to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. They decided to just flood the West Bank with guns. Who cares who's shooting at the Israelis so long as somebody is. And an Iran that not only carries out human rights abuses of all kinds at home, but that threatens Israel and its neighbors with drones, low altitude cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and medium and long range ballistic missiles.  And so the totality of this, much like the totality of Hezbollah's striking Israel for almost a year, ultimately led Israel to do what most people thought couldn't be done, and just tear Hezbollah apart, that the Israel war on Hezbollah is the prequel to what we've been seeing over the past few days in Iran. Similarly, for the Israelis, it got to be too much. It wasn't even really that President Trump's 60 days expired and Israel attacked on day 61. It wasn't only that the IAEA came out with a report saying that the Iranians have refused to explain certain activities that can only be explained as nuclear weaponization activities.  It was that the Israelis had information that two things were happening. One, that Iran was working very, very hard to rebuild its capability to manufacture medium, long range ballistic missiles that can hit Israel. After the Israeli reprisal attack last October took out a key component of that program, the mixers that are important for the solid propellant, without which you can't make ballistic missiles. And Iran is believed to have, at least the beginning of this recent round of the conflict –Thursday, Friday–about 2000 such missiles. Far fewer now, the Israelis say they've taken out about a third of them, plus launchers, plus radars, et cetera. But that Iran had a plan within just a few years to develop as many as 8000 of these. And that simply was not tolerable for the Israelis.  And the second is that the Israelis say that they compiled evidence that Iran had a secret, secret nuclear weapons program that had been going on predating October 7, but was fast tracked after October 7, that they were planning to maintain this program, even as they were negotiating over the more overt program with the Trump administration. President Trump has even taken issue with his own Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who testified in March that the US intelligence committee does not assess that Iran is weaponizing. And President says, I don't care what she says, I think they were very close to weaponizing.  The Israelis say they have shared this information at least recently with their US counterparts and that was not tolerable. So the primary goals that Israel has set out for itself with this campaign is beyond the critically important shattering the glass ceiling. Think where people in particular, in Iran thought this would never happen, was two things, one, addressing and significantly degrading and setting back the Iranian ballistic missile production program, and second, doing the same to the nuclear program. They've already carried out strikes at Isfahan, Natanz, even at the upper parts of Fordow. And there is an expectation that the Israelis are going to do something more. The Israeli national security advisor said on Israeli television today, We are not going to stop without addressing the nuclear activities at Fordow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You know, you called it a prequel, Israel's operations against Hezbollah last year. Did you know that it was a prequel at the time and to what extent did it weaken Iran and leave it more vulnerable in this particular war? Matthew Levitt:   I'm going to be the last person in Washington, D.C. who tells you when he doesn't know. And anybody who tells you they did know is lying to you. None of us saw what Israel did to Hezbollah coming. None of us saw that and said, Oh, they did it to a non-state actor right across their border. So they'll definitely be able to do it to Iran, 1000+ kilometers away, big nation state with massive arsenals and a nuclear program and lots of proxies. One plus one does not equal three in this.  In other words, the fact that Israel developed mind boggling capabilities and incredible intelligence, dominance and then special tools, pagers and walkie talkies, in the case of Hezbollah, did not mean that they were going to be able to do the same vis a vis Iran. And they did. The same type of intelligence dominance, the same type of intelligence, knowing where somebody was at a certain time, that the protocols would be that certain leaders would get in a certain secret bunker once hostilities started, and they'd be able to take them out in that bunker. As they did to a bunch of senior Hezbollah commanders just months ago. Drone operations from within Iran, Iran being hit with missiles that were fired at Iran from within Iran, all of it. One case did not necessarily translate into the other. It is exponentially impressive. And Israel's enemies have to be saying, you know, that the Israelis are just all capable. Now you're absolutely right. You hit the nail on the head on one critical issue. For a very long time, Israel was at least somewhat deterred, I would say very deterred, from targeting Iran. Because Iran had made very, very clear if Israel or the United States or anybody else targeted Iran or its nuclear program, one of the first things that would happen would be that Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel, Iran's first, most important proxy would rain hellfire in Israel in the form of 1000s upon 1000s of rockets. Until Israel addressed the problem, Hezbollah is believed to have had 150 to 200,000 different types of projectiles, up to and including precision guided munitions.  Not only have the overwhelming majority of those been destroyed, Hezbollah still has 1000s of rockets, but Hezbollah leadership has been decimated. There's a new sheriff in town in Lebanon. There's a new government that immediately, when hostility started with Iran's, went to Hezbollah and said, You're not doing this, not dragging Lebanon back into a war that nobody wanted again. We are finally coming out of this economic crisis. And so Iran was faced with a situation where it didn't have Hezbollah to deter Israel.  Israel, you know, paved the way for a highway in the air to Iran, taking out air defense systems. It was able to fly over and through Syria. The Syrians are not shedding any tears as they see the Quds Force and the IRGC getting beaten down after what Iran did in Syria. And the Israelis have air dominance now. President Trump said, We, using the we term, air dominance now, earlier today. And they're able to slowly and methodically continue to target the ballistic missile program. Primarily, the medium and long range missiles that target Israel, but sometimes it's the same production lines that produce the short range missiles that Iran uses to target U.S. Forces in the region, and our allies in the Gulf. So Israel is not just protecting itself, it's protecting the region. And then also taking out key military security intelligence personnel, sometimes taking out one person, then a couple days later, taking out the person who succeeded that person, and then also taking out key scientists who had the know-how to potentially rebuild all the things that Israel is now destroying. Manya Brachear Pashman:   But Israel is also not hearing from the Houthis, is not hearing from Hamas. It's not hearing from other terror proxies either. Very few attacks from Iran's terror proxies in the aftermath of this wave. Why? Why do you think that is? Matthew Levitt:   The crickets are loud. The crickets are loud. Look, we've discussed Hezbollah. Hezbollah understands that if it were to do something, the Israelis will come in even harder and destroy what's left. Hamas is still holding hostages. This is still an open wound, but it doesn't have the capabilities that it once had, and so there have been a couple of short range things that they tried to shoot, but it's not anything that's going to do huge damage, and the Israeli systems can deal with those.  The Houthis did fire something, and it hurt some Palestinians near Hebron. You know, the Houthis and the Iranians in particular, in this conflict have killed Palestinians, and in one case, Syrians. They're continuing to hurt people that are not Israelis. One of the things that I think people are hopeful for is that as Iran tries to sue for peace, and it already is, it's been reaching out to Cyprus to pass messages, etcetera. The hope is that Iran will recognize that it's in a position whereby A) there has to be zero enrichment and the facilities have to be destroyed, whatever's left of them. And B) there's a hope that Israel and the United States together will be able to use this diplomatic moment to truly end the conflict in Gaza and get the hostages home. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, that was what I was going to ask. I mean, if Israel achieves its objectives in this war, primarily eliminating Iran's nuclear threat, how significant a setback would that be for Hamas and Iran's other terror proxies, and could it indeed pave the way for an end of the war in Gaza and the return of the hostages? Matthew Levitt:   Like everybody else, I'm so scarred, I don't want to get my hopes up, but I do see this as a distinct possibility, and here's why. Not Hezbollah, not the Houthis, not Hamas, none of them, and plenty of other proxies that don't start in the letter H, none of them could have been anywhere as capable as they've proven to be, were it not for Iranian money and weapons. Also some training, some intelligence, but primarily money and weapons.  And so Hamas is already on its back foot in this regard. It can still get some money in. It's still being able to make money off of humanitarian aid. Iran is still sending money in through money exchange houses and hawaladars, but not weapons. Their ability to manufacture weapons, their military industrial complex within Gaza, this is destroyed. Hezbollah, we've discussed, discussed, and a lot of their capabilities have been destroyed. And those that remain are largely deterred. The Houthis did shoot up some rockets, and the Israelis did carry out one significant retaliatory attack. But I think people are beginning to see the writing on the wall. The Israelis are kicking the stuffing out of Iran with pinprick attacks that are targeting the worst of the bad guys, including people who have carried out some of the worst human rights transgressions against Iranians. Let's not pretend that this is not affecting the average Iranian. It is. The president says, Everybody get out of Tehran. That's just not possible. People, average Iranians, good people. It must be just an absolute terror.  But Israel's not bombing, you know, apartment buildings, as Iran is doing in Israel, or as Russia is doing in Ukraine. And so it really is a different type of thing. And when the Houthis, when Hamas, when Hezbollah, look at this, you don't you don't poke the tiger when it's angry. I think they also understand now's the time to get into survival mode. What you want is for the regime in Iran not to be destroyed. This is no longer a moment, as it's been since long before October 7, but certainly since then, of how Iran as proxies, export Iran's revolution. This is now a question of how they maintain and preserve the revolution at home. And it's extremely important to the proxies that Iran remain, so that even if it's knocked down over time, hopefully, theoretically, from their perspective, it can regain its footing. It will still have, they hope, its oil and gas, etcetera, and they will get back to a point where they can continue to fund and arm the proxies in. Maybe even prioritize them as it takes them longer to rebuild their ballistic missile, drone, and nuclear programs. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Which is a scary prospect as well to know that terror proxies could be spread throughout the world and empowered even a little bit more. President Trump left the G7 summit a day early to meet with security advisors, and just a few hours ago, prior to this interview, President Trump called for Iran's, quote, unconditional surrender, saying that the US knows where the Supreme Leader is, and some other threatening language. But I mean, this appears to be a kind of a clear commitment to Israel. So I'm curious how you assess his administration's actions before and during the war thus far, and do you see the United States edging toward direct involvement? Matthew Levitt:   All politics is local, and there is a tug of war within the MAGA movement over whether or not the US should be getting involved. Not only in supporting an important ally, but in removing a critical threat. The President is clearly frustrated that Iran was not being more forthcoming in the negotiations. He said many times, we'd offered you a great deal, you should have taken the deal. He's very aware that his deadline ended, and they didn't particularly seem to care. There's also the background that once upon a time, they tried to assassinate him, I think, after the Israelis did what they did, the President appreciates capabilities. He appreciates success. He likes backing the winning horse. And so the New York Times is reporting that after getting off the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump reportedly turned to some aides and said, maybe we need to help him. Now it's not clear that's what's going to happen, and my understanding is that the Israelis have plans of their own for things like the heavily fortified facility at Fordow, which is the most important and highly fortified, protected of the nuclear installations. The Israeli National Security Advisor spoke today and said, you know, we're not going to be done until we do something with Fordow.  The United States can do multiple things only the United States has the MOP: the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, and the airplanes to deliver it, and they could end Fordow if they wanted. Short of that, they could do other things to support Israel. There's been defensive support for the State of Israel already, but there's other things they could do, refueling and other things if they wanted to. And at a minimum, I don't see the president restraining Israel at all. Now, I've heard some people say that so far, the President has fired nothing more than some social media postings, some of them even in all caps.  But the truth is, those do have an effect, and so long as Israel is not restrained. I think the Israelis went into this with a plan. That plan is not necessarily to entirely destroy the entire nuclear program, but if the ballistic missile program and the nuclear program are sufficiently degraded so that it will take them years and a tremendous amount of time and money to rebuild, knowing that Israel has broken the glass ceiling on this idea of targeting Iran, that if the Israelis feel they need to, they will come back. If the Iranians rebuild their air defense systems, the Israelis will address them and create a new highway going if they need to. I think the Israelis are making that clear. Knowing that it's going to be a little bit of a road for Iran, especially when it will have to deal with some domestic issues coming out of this.  Finally, the Israelis have started signaling there's other things they could do. The Israelis have not yet fully targeted oil and gas fields and facilities. For example, they had one set of attacks where they basically knocked at the front door of some of these facilities without walking in the house. That's signaling, and I think it's one of the reasons you're seeing Iran quietly trying to reach out for some type of a ceasefire. Other signaling, for example, is the Israelis deciding to fly all the way to Mashhad, which is in far eastern Iran, to take out an airplane. That airplane was not particularly important. It was the message. There is nowhere in Iran we can't go. It's not a question of distance, it's not a question of refueling, it's not a question of air defense systems. We can do what we need to do. And I think the Iranians understand that now. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So we talked about the commitment to Israel, and how clear, how important it is to clarify that commitment to Israel. How important is it to clarify the United States commitment to Arab partners in the Middle East to help defend them in other words, if this conflict escalates? Matthew Levitt:   This is critically important. You know, one of the individuals who was taken out, for example, was the person who was in charge of the drone attack on the Abqaiq oil facility in Saudi Arabia. If you look, for example, at the Saudi statement condemning the Israeli actions, it was issued by the Foreign Ministry without a single name attached to it. Wasn't issued by the Crown Prince, wasn't issued by the foreign minister. So I think you should expect a whole lot of public criticism. I imagine there's a different conversation going on behind closed doors. It's not necessarily, you know, pom-poming. This makes the Gulf states very, very nervous, in part because they understand that one way Iran could try and get out of this is to expand the conflict.  And that the reason they haven't is because, short of trying to prevent Iranians from taking to the streets and potentially doing something to maybe overthrow the regime, short of that, the number one thing that the Iranian regime is most desperate to avoid is getting the United States involved militarily. And I think the Iranians really understand and the messaging's been clear. If you target US Forces in the region, if you target our allies in the region, we'll get involved. If you don't, then we might not.  Now the President now is talking about potentially doing that, and as a lot of maybe this, maybe that, nothing very clear. I think what is clear is that the Israelis are going to continue doing what they need to do for another one to two weeks. Even going so far as doing something, though they haven't made clear what to address the really complicated problem of the fortified facility at Fordow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So how important is it for global security if Israel is successful in eliminating the nuclear threat in Iran? Matthew Levitt:   Look, Iran has been the single most destabilizing factor in the region for a long time now. Imagine a region without a destabilizing revolutionary regime in Iran without a regime that is supporting Shia militants in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.  Imagine the Shia militias in Iraq suddenly without a funder and a patron, enabling the Shia government in Iraq to actually be able to take control of the country and establish a monopoly over the use of force. At a time when the Shia militias, because of Iran's backing, are becoming more dangerous and more powerful in Iraq.  Imagine the Lebanese government being able to be more forward leaning in their effort to establish a monopoly over the use of force in that country, reclaim bases that Hezbollah has used for all this time, and establish a new Lebanon that is not beholden to Iran and Hezbollah.  And imagine an Israeli-Palestinian situation where you didn't have Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as spoilers. Recall that October 7 happened in large part because Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran could not tolerate the prospect of Israeli-Saudi normalization. For most Palestinians, this was great news. The Saudis were demanding real dividends for the Palestinians from the Netanyahu government, which was likely going to do them. This was great for Palestinians, bad for Hamas.  Imagine Hamas no longer getting that support from Iran. Imagine Iran no longer able to send or being interested in sending millions upon millions of dollars to its proxies, and instead spending what money it has on helping its population, instead of cracking down on it with human rights violations. You could have a very, very different region, let alone imagine Iran no longer carrying out acts of terrorism, kidnapping plots, abduction plots of dissidents and Jews and Israelis and others around the world of the type that we've seen throughout Europe and throughout the Middle East and even in the United States over the past few years. Manya Brachear Pashman:   That's quite an imagination you have. But I take your point. Let me ask you this then. Did you ever imagine that Israel would take this dramatic step?  Matthew Levitt:   What the Israelis have achieved, when you are so against the wall and you're forced to come up with solutions, because it's a matter of life or death – you make the impossible possible. And I think that perhaps the Iranians assumed that the Israeli post-October 7 doctrine applied to non-state actors only. And that doctrine is very simple. Israel will no longer allow adversaries who are openly committed to its destruction to build up weapons, arsenals that they can then use at some point to actually try and destroy Israel. They will not allow that to happen.  They allowed it to happen with Hamas. It was a mistake. They allowed it to happen with Hezbollah. It was a mistake that they corrected. And Iran is the biggest, arguably, really, the only existential threat as huge, as a tasking as that was, clearly they invested in doing it. And the question became, not, why can't it be done? What is it that has to be overcome? And I don't think sitting here with you right now, you know, what is it, 3:30 on Tuesday, the 17th, that we've seen the last of the tricks up Israel's sleeve.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   I only have one last question for you, and that is about the United States. The importance of the United States getting directly involved. I mean, we've talked about previously undisclosed nuclear sites, and who knows how many there could be. We're talking about more than what, 600,000 square miles of Iran. If the goal is a non nuclear Iran, can Israel finish this war without the United States, or does it even matter? I mean, is this just a step to force Iran back to the negotiating table with virtually zero leverage? Matthew Levitt:   So look, I don't think the goal here is completely destroying the Iranian nuclear program, or even completely destroying the Iranian ballistic missile program. The goal is to so degrade it that it is set back many, many years, and break that ceiling. People now understand if Israelis need to come back, they're coming back. I think they would like to do as much damage to these destructive programs as possible, of course, and I don't think we've seen the end of it. I think there are more tricks up Israel's sleeve when it comes to some of these complicated problems.  Judged by this yardstick, by the way, the Israeli operation is a tremendous success, tremendous success, even though there have been some significant casualties back in Israel, and even though this has caused tremendous trauma for innocent Iranians who have no love for the regime. This is a situation that the Iranian regime has brought down on all of us.  I do think that the Israelis have made very, very clear that this doesn't end until something is done to further disrupt and dismantle Fordow, which is the most important and the most heavily fortified, underground, under a mountain facility. It's not clear what the Israelis have in mind. It seems they have something in mind of their own. It's clear they would love for the United States to get involved, because the United States could do real damage to that facility and potentially end the Iranian nuclear program. But at the end of the day, if it can't be completely destroyed, I anticipate it's going to be damaged enough to significantly set it back. This phase of the Israel-Iran war, which didn't start last week, is not about pushing them back a week or a month or two months. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, Matt, thank you so much for your wise counsel and perspective on this matter, and yes, hopefully we can have you back another time to talk about peace and love and things that have nothing to do with war and conflict with Iran or its terror proxies. Matthew Levitt:   I would really look forward to prepping for that interview. In the meantime, I want to thank AJC for all the important work it does, and thank you guys for having me on the podcast. Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you missed last week's episodes, be sure to tune in for our crossover episode with Books and Beyond: The Rabbi Sacks Podcast, a podcast of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy, and my conversation with AJC's Jerusalem Director Avital Liebovich. During a special breaking news episode the day after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, the latest in Israel's ongoing war of self-defense against the Iranian regime.  

Bobby and Jared start out during the end of the US Open, why this was a great tournament, talk about why golf is such a unique sport compared to the Big 4, why the media sucks, what's going on with Rory McIlroy, the lead tape chronicles, and a Lebanese barber that is well versed in US/global politics.Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to the show to stay up to date on the latest releases! You can also find the video show on YouTube by clicking here.Make sure you check out LMNT electrolyte drink mix at drinklmnt.com! Use the following link to get a FREE variety pack with your first purchase! http://elementallabs.refr.cc/jaredmello Thank you to our sponsor MoonBrew! Go to www.noonbrew.com/jaredmello for 10% off your entire purchase!

Five heartwarming stories kick off the weekend. A California father, Bryce Weiner, channels Taken to rescue his kidnapped 14-year-old daughter from human traffickers in Mexico after a three-year, 5,000-mile quest, reuniting at the U.S. embassy. Amy, a former pediatric oncology social worker, founds A Doll Like Me, crafting custom dolls for children with disabilities, funded by donations to affirm their uniqueness. A neighbor surprises another with smoked sausages, sharing 100 pounds of meat in a wholesome gesture. Dirty Paws Agape Haven in Michigan, run by cardiologist Tom Pappas, provides a sanctuary for over 20 senior dogs, ensuring their final years are filled with love. A woman's viral TikTok reveals her eclectic accent, shaped by Indian, Arabic, Lebanese, Nigerian, and American influences, learned via YouTube and Eminem. The duo dives into C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, Book 3, discussing social morality and the church's role in applying Christian principles through laypeople, not clergy. Highlights include Ben's McDonald's adventure and Bella's love for Sicario. The question of the week explores impactful books: Bella cites Perks of Being a Wallflower, while Aaron picks Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.

THIS WEEK's BIRDS: Qawma music from Hasan al-Ajami & Ahmed Ushaysh (Yemen);  I. Wayan Sudiarsa Pacet w. Gamelan Suling Gita Samara (Bali); Lebanese vocalist Maya al Khaldi; recent compositions from Jen Shyu and David Leon (USA); trombonist/composer Joseph Daley; Kurdistani pop from De'Lori; Kai Winding & Curtis Fuller (more trombone); Tchangodei w. Itaru Oki & Kent Carter; the inimitable Lucha Reyes; bop from Dexter Gordon; jazz vocalists Mary La Rose & Marianne Solivan; Albert Ayler; Rajasthani music from Anwar Khan and others; Roma song from Trio Salvej; Bulgarian legend  Ivo Papasov; Julio Benavente Diaz from Peru; and (as always) so much, much more. Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/20632151/Conference-of-the-Birds and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/  Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR

Greatest hits episode! This conversation was first shared in 2023, and this is what I had to say about it: So, you know I love me a story about someone running away to figure out who they are. And, this week we have a doozy. Naomi Mourra, who is Sydney's only Lebanese, lesbian, ex-Jehovah's Witness, comedian, first came to London in the late 90s when she was trying to reconcile the thoughts she was feeling about women-folk with the teachings of her religion. And, she got to explore at Soho's Candy Bar, a lesbian bar that first opened in 1996, but closed in 2014 due to rising rents in the area. Boo!We talk all about the magic of London, finding your bearings in a new city, and wooly jumpers... Follow meInstagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the Queer Word newsletter: https://queer-word.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠Support meBuy Me A Coffee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lostspacespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow my guest Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/naomimourra/⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/naomimourracomedy⁠

Big E starts to get political and gets snatched back. The gang debates whether or not getting high is still possible. Dane brings us some Lebanese snacks to try. Doc relives his border crossing days. We say goodbye to a few celebrities. 

Send us a textIn this episode, Ricardo Karam meets with Nada Boulos, a pioneering auctioneer and expert in Middle Eastern art based in Beirut, Lebanon.Nada shares her unique journey from studying political science at the American University of Beirut and Université Paris II to pursuing art history at Sotheby's Institute of Art in London. She reflects on her formative apprenticeship with renowned auctioneer Guy Loudmer at Drouot in Paris, where she gained invaluable experience in the world of auctions.Returning to Lebanon, Nada founded her own auction house and became one of the first to specialize in modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art auctions, breaking new ground in the region's art scene. She talks about the challenges and triumphs of building a business that merges passion for art with the intricacies of the auction world.Nada opens up about hosting bi-annual auctions in a historic Lebanese mansion, her deep connections with artists and collectors, and her commitment to supporting charitable causes through successful fundraising auctions. Join Ricardo Karam and Nada Boulos for an intimate conversation about art, culture, and the enduring legacy of creativity in Lebanon.في هذه الحلقة، يلتقي ريكاردو كرم مع ندى بولس، مزادة رائدة وخبيرة في فنون الشرق الأوسط مقرّها في بيروت، لبنان.تشارك ندى رحلتها الفريدة التي بدأت بدراسة العلوم السياسية في الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت وجامعة باريس الثانية، ثم متابعة تاريخ الفن في معهد سوذبي للفنون في لندن. تستعرض تجربتها التدريبية الهامة مع المزادجي الشهير غاي لودمر في دروا باريس، حيث اكتسبت خبرة لا تقدر بثمن في عالم المزادات. عند عودتها إلى لبنان، أسّست ندى دار مزاداتها الخاصة وأصبحت من أوائل المختصين في مزادات الفن الحديث والمعاصر من الشرق الأوسط، مبتكرة مجالاً جديداً في المشهد الفني في المنطقة. تتحدث عن التحديات والنجاحات في بناء عمل يمزج بين الشغف بالفن وتعقيدات عالم المزادات.تتحدث ندى عن تنظيم المزادات، وصلاتها العميقة مع الفنانين والهواة، والتزامها بدعم القضايا الخيرية من خلال مزادات ناجحة لجمع التبرعات.انضموا إلى ريكاردو كرم وندى بولس في حديث حميم عن الفن، والثقافة، والإرث الدائم للإبداع في لبنان.

The UN's nuclear watchdog has accused Iran of concealing three nuclear sites in the early 2000s. There's new fighting in Gaza, now between Hamas and an Israel-backed gang in the south of the strip. A Lebanese official has denied reports that Israel and the United States have agreed to end Unifil. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Iran operated three secret nuclear sites until early 2000s, UN watchdog says Lebanon denies reports of US-Israel deal to withdraw UN peacekeepers Daily killings as Hamas and Israel-backed gang engage in battle of attrition in Gaza Who are the activists on board the aid yacht intercepted by Israel? This episode features Lemma Shehadi, Senior Communities Correspondent, UK bureau, and Jamie Prentis, Beirut Correspondent.

Tadhg Hickey stands in for George Galloway to unpack the brutal realities hidden behind political posturing—from Gaza to Lebanon. Leila Hatoum exposes Israel's daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty, while brave activists set sail to break the Gaza siege. Plus, a sharp look at Trump and Musk's ego clash, Greta Thunberg's bold stand, and what comes next in a post-genocide world.Featuring:Leila Hatoum - War Reporter and Editor-in-Chief at Mena UncensoredAbubaker Abed - Palestinian Journalist and Commentator

Atlanta Grubber Dining Podcast: Discover Roswell, GA's Burgeoning Restaurant Scene Welcome to the Atlanta Grubber dining podcast, where we explore the dynamic culinary landscape of Roswell, GA. This charming town's restaurant scene is bursting with new flavors and exciting eateries that are sure to delight your palate. From upscale Latin cuisine to authentic Mediterranean dishes, classic red sauce Italian, Polish pierogies, and one of the most renowned delis in metro Atlanta's history, we've curated a list of must-try spots that will satisfy every craving. Featured Restaurants Arepa Grill Kitchen & Wine An upscale twist on the beloved Buford Highway favorite. Don't miss their salmon tartar – it's a must-try dish that elevates Latin dining to new heights. Bey Mediterranean Located in the vibrant Southern Post, this Lebanese gem offers an array of authentic dishes. The kibbeh nayeh is a standout, praised as one of the best dishes in recent memory. Savory Gourmet Situated on Canton Street, this deli is celebrated as the best in metro history. Their brisket sandwich is a culinary masterpiece that you simply have to experience. Mashawi Mediterranean Featuring all-you-can-eat Palestinian, Persian, and Mediterranean cuisine, this eatery offers both incredible quality and quantity. Imagine Smith House meets Persian BBQ – it's a feast for the senses. Grana Italian Located in Roswell's stunning new Southern Post development, this spot serves the best red sauce Italian cuisine, perfect for those craving traditional Italian flavors. Chelo Steps away from Canton Street, this Persian restaurant is led by the original chef from Rumi's Kitchen. The Chilean sea bass is a knockout dish that exemplifies Persian culinary excellence. Baltic Deli In East Roswell, this top-tier Polish deli is known for its exceptional pierogies. It's a must-visit for anyone seeking authentic Polish flavors. Additional Spots to Explore Voodoo Brewing: Enjoy killer bar food paired with an amazing beer selection. I Taqueria Mucho: Offers better-than-average Mexicali fare that's worth a try. Tipsy Thaiger (Coming Soon): Their pop-up pork jowl was phenomenal, leaving us eagerly anticipating their full menu. Join us as we continue to explore these culinary hotspots and uncover even more hidden gems. Have a favorite new restaurant we should check out? Drop your recommendations in the comments! Stay tuned to the Atlanta Grubber dining podcast for more delicious discoveries in Roswell and beyond. #RoswellGA #AlpharettaGA #JohnsCreekGA #MiltonGA #EastCobb #AtlantaEats #CantonStreet #BestRestaurants

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today's show:·        Jo-Jo Valenzuela, executive chef/ managing partner at Tiki on 18th, a unique cocktail bar that blends Polynesian and Filipino cultures in original cocktails and tiki classics, all complemented by Filipino food favorites;                                                                                                                                                            ·        Leah Culley, founder and head pastry chef of Sweet Almond French macarons;                                                                                                                                                     ·        Fatema Issa, general manager and managing partner of Vera Cocina & Bar, where the menu is a tribute to the unexpected connection between Lebanon and Mexico, inspired by Lebanese migration to Veracruz in the 19th century;             ·        Michelin-starred Chef Masaaki “Uchi” Uchino and co-owner Dean Mosones of Bar Japonais, where blends of Japanese cuisine and French influences delight;    ·        Derek Battle of Flave, an app that rewards users for posting photos of their food and drinks at local restaurants. Tune in to hear about Flave's Pride Month promotion -- you can turn your food photos into extra rewards and highlight LGBTQ+ owned restaurants.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the wake of the Assad regime's fall in Syria, thousands of Alawites, a minority Shia sect historically linked to the former regime, have fled to Lebanon. They are seeking refuge from discrimination and sectarian violence that has left over 1,000 civilians dead, including women and children. The late Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, became the most powerful Alawite when he seized control of Syria in a coup in 1970. Under the rule of Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar - the ruling Assad's recruited heavily from the Alawite community placing them in top posts in state, security and intelligence branches. Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa, promised to protect Syria's minorities, but has struggled to contain a wave of violence directed towards the Alawite community. Emily Wither travels to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli to meet with Syrian Alawite refugees and a new youth movement. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

NBN host Hollay Ghadery speaks with award-winning author Dave Margoshes' novel, A Simple Carpenter (Radiant Press, 2024)—which recently won a Saskatchewan Book Award and the Western Canada Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Set in the early and mid-‘80s in the Middle East, A Simple Carpenter plays out against a backdrop of strife in Lebanon and ethnic/religious tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine. This historical backdrop serves as an empathetic and thoughtful commentary on our modern political climate. Part biblical fable, part magic realism, and part thriller, A Simple Carpenter follows the epic journey of a ship's carpenter stranded on a small Mediterranean island and visited by a frightening mysterious creature. He's lost his memory but has acquired the ability to speak, write and understand all languages. After his rescue, he spends time in a Lebanese coastal village recuperating with a group of nuns who, observing him perform what appear to be small miracles, take him to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Later in Beirut he's hired as a translator for the UN peacekeeping force, and is recruited as a messenger for a group named Black September. On a quest to find his true identity he travels on foot across the hills to the Sea of Galilee, encountering a series of strange and magical communities evoking biblical times along the way. More about Dave Margoshes: Dave Margoshes is a Saskatoon-area poet and fiction writer. He began his writing life as a journalist, working as a reporter and editor on a number of daily newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, and has taught journalism​ and creative writing​.He has published twenty books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His work has appeared widely in literary magazines and anthologies, in Canada and beyond, including six times in the Best Canadian Stories volumes; he's been nominated for the Journey Prize​ several times and was a finalist in 2009. His Bix's Trumpet and Other Stories won two prizes at the 2007 Saskatchewan Book Awards, including Book of the Year. He also won the Poetry Prize in 2010 for Dimensions of an Orchard. His collection of linked short stories, A Book of Great Worth, was named one of Amazon. CA's Top Hundred Books of 2012. Other prizes include the City of Regina Writing Award, twice; the Stephen Leacock Prize for Poetry in 1996 and the John V. Hicks Award for fiction in 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

NBN host Hollay Ghadery speaks with award-winning author Dave Margoshes' novel, A Simple Carpenter (Radiant Press, 2024)—which recently won a Saskatchewan Book Award and the Western Canada Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Set in the early and mid-‘80s in the Middle East, A Simple Carpenter plays out against a backdrop of strife in Lebanon and ethnic/religious tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine. This historical backdrop serves as an empathetic and thoughtful commentary on our modern political climate. Part biblical fable, part magic realism, and part thriller, A Simple Carpenter follows the epic journey of a ship's carpenter stranded on a small Mediterranean island and visited by a frightening mysterious creature. He's lost his memory but has acquired the ability to speak, write and understand all languages. After his rescue, he spends time in a Lebanese coastal village recuperating with a group of nuns who, observing him perform what appear to be small miracles, take him to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Later in Beirut he's hired as a translator for the UN peacekeeping force, and is recruited as a messenger for a group named Black September. On a quest to find his true identity he travels on foot across the hills to the Sea of Galilee, encountering a series of strange and magical communities evoking biblical times along the way. More about Dave Margoshes: Dave Margoshes is a Saskatoon-area poet and fiction writer. He began his writing life as a journalist, working as a reporter and editor on a number of daily newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, and has taught journalism​ and creative writing​.He has published twenty books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His work has appeared widely in literary magazines and anthologies, in Canada and beyond, including six times in the Best Canadian Stories volumes; he's been nominated for the Journey Prize​ several times and was a finalist in 2009. His Bix's Trumpet and Other Stories won two prizes at the 2007 Saskatchewan Book Awards, including Book of the Year. He also won the Poetry Prize in 2010 for Dimensions of an Orchard. His collection of linked short stories, A Book of Great Worth, was named one of Amazon. CA's Top Hundred Books of 2012. Other prizes include the City of Regina Writing Award, twice; the Stephen Leacock Prize for Poetry in 1996 and the John V. Hicks Award for fiction in 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

NBN host Hollay Ghadery speaks with award-winning author Dave Margoshes' novel, A Simple Carpenter (Radiant Press, 2024)—which recently won a Saskatchewan Book Award and the Western Canada Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Set in the early and mid-‘80s in the Middle East, A Simple Carpenter plays out against a backdrop of strife in Lebanon and ethnic/religious tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine. This historical backdrop serves as an empathetic and thoughtful commentary on our modern political climate. Part biblical fable, part magic realism, and part thriller, A Simple Carpenter follows the epic journey of a ship's carpenter stranded on a small Mediterranean island and visited by a frightening mysterious creature. He's lost his memory but has acquired the ability to speak, write and understand all languages. After his rescue, he spends time in a Lebanese coastal village recuperating with a group of nuns who, observing him perform what appear to be small miracles, take him to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Later in Beirut he's hired as a translator for the UN peacekeeping force, and is recruited as a messenger for a group named Black September. On a quest to find his true identity he travels on foot across the hills to the Sea of Galilee, encountering a series of strange and magical communities evoking biblical times along the way. More about Dave Margoshes: Dave Margoshes is a Saskatoon-area poet and fiction writer. He began his writing life as a journalist, working as a reporter and editor on a number of daily newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, and has taught journalism​ and creative writing​.He has published twenty books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His work has appeared widely in literary magazines and anthologies, in Canada and beyond, including six times in the Best Canadian Stories volumes; he's been nominated for the Journey Prize​ several times and was a finalist in 2009. His Bix's Trumpet and Other Stories won two prizes at the 2007 Saskatchewan Book Awards, including Book of the Year. He also won the Poetry Prize in 2010 for Dimensions of an Orchard. His collection of linked short stories, A Book of Great Worth, was named one of Amazon. CA's Top Hundred Books of 2012. Other prizes include the City of Regina Writing Award, twice; the Stephen Leacock Prize for Poetry in 1996 and the John V. Hicks Award for fiction in 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

NBN host Hollay Ghadery speaks with award-winning author Dave Margoshes' novel, A Simple Carpenter (Radiant Press, 2024)—which recently won a Saskatchewan Book Award and the Western Canada Jewish Book Award for Fiction. Set in the early and mid-‘80s in the Middle East, A Simple Carpenter plays out against a backdrop of strife in Lebanon and ethnic/religious tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine. This historical backdrop serves as an empathetic and thoughtful commentary on our modern political climate. Part biblical fable, part magic realism, and part thriller, A Simple Carpenter follows the epic journey of a ship's carpenter stranded on a small Mediterranean island and visited by a frightening mysterious creature. He's lost his memory but has acquired the ability to speak, write and understand all languages. After his rescue, he spends time in a Lebanese coastal village recuperating with a group of nuns who, observing him perform what appear to be small miracles, take him to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Later in Beirut he's hired as a translator for the UN peacekeeping force, and is recruited as a messenger for a group named Black September. On a quest to find his true identity he travels on foot across the hills to the Sea of Galilee, encountering a series of strange and magical communities evoking biblical times along the way. More about Dave Margoshes: Dave Margoshes is a Saskatoon-area poet and fiction writer. He began his writing life as a journalist, working as a reporter and editor on a number of daily newspapers in the U.S. and Canada, and has taught journalism​ and creative writing​.He has published twenty books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. His work has appeared widely in literary magazines and anthologies, in Canada and beyond, including six times in the Best Canadian Stories volumes; he's been nominated for the Journey Prize​ several times and was a finalist in 2009. His Bix's Trumpet and Other Stories won two prizes at the 2007 Saskatchewan Book Awards, including Book of the Year. He also won the Poetry Prize in 2010 for Dimensions of an Orchard. His collection of linked short stories, A Book of Great Worth, was named one of Amazon. CA's Top Hundred Books of 2012. Other prizes include the City of Regina Writing Award, twice; the Stephen Leacock Prize for Poetry in 1996 and the John V. Hicks Award for fiction in 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

After an extended break, this is a Lebanese-focused Lebanon with our good friend Joy Tassidis and new character Sylvio Chiha!

On the next episode of A2 THE SHOW, we welcome CMK Beats, a trailblazing Lebanese music producer signed to Bentley Records since 2019. Known for his chart-topping hit Girl I Want Your Love, CMK made history in Lebanon and climbed to #2 on China's NetEase DJ/Dance chart. In 2025, he's breaking even more ground as the first Lebanese and Arab artist to collaborate with Eminem on a new track. In this powerful conversation, CMK opens up about his musical evolution from electronic to rap, the impact of war on his uplifting sound, and how music serves as a tool for healing and unity. From condemning violence to inspiring the next generation, CMK shares his journey, vision, and hopes for Lebanon's rising music scene.⭐Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmkbeatslb/?hl=en⭐Please visit our website to get more information: https://a2theshow.com/a2-the-show/⏰Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction07:29 – Musical journey & dance album success15:21 – War experiences shaping upbeat music22:25 – From electronic to rap: artistic evolution29:46 – Music as healing & community36:43 – Condemning violence against civilians39:11 – Youth frustration & lack of change44:15 - Desensitisation & negative youth trends50:55 – Rap's message & evolution57:59 – Lebanon's rising music scene1:05:25 – Finding identity through music

In this episode of Tales & Talk: Learn Arabic Through Novels, we dive into the powerful and controversial Lebanese novel Hikayet Zahra by Hanan al-Shaykh. Discover how real storytelling can transform your Arabic learning journey — through rich vocabulary, emotional depth, and authentic Levantine expressions. If you're serious about learning Arabic, let me help you. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Khaled Nassra Method on Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠get full access to transcripts, exclusive exercises, and real Levantine Arabic that'll take your skills to the next level, inshallah.

What did you do because of a celeb? BS Meter: Crushed hoss in Cambodia Finding out who our radio mum loves the most What broke up the friendship? Currency Quiz: One million Lebanese pound Why did the cops come to your house? Join the Pod Squad Listen Live on the Nova Player App Follow us on Instagram - TikTok - Facebook - SnapchatSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our latest Select, we have Lebanese vinyl maverick, NeighborsByMusic. Her penchant for discovering new sounds has led her to build an extensive repertoire over the years, blending diverse music styles from different cultures. Her sets often incorporate influences from oriental, Brazilian funk, hip-hop and jazz. NeighborsByMusic treats us to a special vinyl-only set–initially recorded at JIVE in Beirut–that meshes together threads of Brazilian bossa nova, funk, and Arabic oldies from Simone and Hamid El Shaeri with 90s hip-hop and a hint of jazzy house here and there. The colossal proportions of the set, fitting together a multitude of different sounds, are somewhat reflective of the organised chaos that Lebanon is known for. Featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of feel-good tunes, such as Ezra Collective's ‘Palm Wine', Mtume's ‘Juicy Fruit', and Simone's ‘Mabsouta', the set ends abruptly, as if alluding to a typical electricity cut at midnight in Beirut.

Send us a textIn this episode, Ricardo Karam meets with Josyane Boulos, a prominent Lebanese writer, actress, and theater director known for her profound contributions to theater and media in Lebanon.Josyane shares her artistic journey growing up in a creative environment as the daughter of the late journalist Jean Claude Boulos, and how this background influenced her career in theater and media. She talks about her beginnings in school plays, her rise to become one of the leading figures in the Lebanese theater scene, as well as her work hosting television and radio programs that deeply and thoughtfully address social and cultural issues.Josyane highlights her role as the director of Monot Theater, where she worked on renewing programs and attracting a new audience through diverse and innovative performances. She believes that theater is a form of resistance and a way to express people's struggles. Josyane is dedicated to strengthening its role in promoting social change and cultural awareness in Lebanon. She also discusses her commitment to supporting local artists by organizing workshops and performances aimed at enriching the Lebanese artistic scene.Join Ricardo Karam and Josyane Boulos for an honest conversation about theater, culture, social responsibility, and her vision for the future of art in Lebanon.في هذه الحلقة، يلتقي ريكاردو كرم مع جوزيان بولس، الكاتبة والممثلة والمخرجة المسرحية اللبنانية البارزة، التي تميّزت بإسهاماتها العميقة في المسرح والإعلام اللبناني.تشارك جوزيان رحلتها الفنية التي نشأت في بيئة فنية، كونها ابنة الإعلامي الراحل جان كلود بولس، وكيف أثّرت هذه الخلفية على مسيرتها في المسرح والإعلام. تتحدث عن بداياتها في العروض المدرسية، وتطوّرها لتصبح من أبرز الأسماء في المشهد المسرحي اللبناني، بالإضافة إلى عملها في تقديم البرامج التلفزيونية والإذاعية التي تتناول القضايا الاجتماعية والثقافية بعمق وموضوعية.تسلّط جوزيان الضوء على دورها في إدارة مسرح مونو، حيث عملت على تحديث البرامج وجذب جمهور جديد من خلال عروض متنوعة ومبتكرة.تؤمن جوزيان بأنّ المسرح هو وسيلة مقاومة وتعبير عن هموم الناس، وتسعى لتعزيز دوره في دعم التغيير الاجتماعي وتعزيز الوعي الثقافي في لبنان. كما تتحدث عن التزامها بدعم الفنانين المحليين وتنظيم ورش عمل وعروض تهدف إلى إثراء المشهد الفني اللبناني.انضموا إلى ريكاردو كرم وجوزيان بولس في حوار صادق عن المسرح، الثقافة، والرسالة الاجتماعية، ورؤيتها لمستقبل الفن في لبنان.

On today's show we speak with Lebanese-born, australian-based filmmaker Samia Mikhail about her poetry which responds to the barbarism of imperialism, while feeling the pain of the oppressed and the  murdered, and expressing the pain and rage of all that is left of humanity as we watch senseless wars created in the Global South by ruling classes of the Global North. How can one write any other poetry when people make money from killing others and stealing their fields? We don't beg emotions from those who don't have any. Oh God, how cruel people can be.Samia's poetry and writing can be found at the following Arabic publications: Ilaaf, Ana AlAaghar, Eihterafaat kinaah,Thakafaat, Kitabaat, Horraas alwatan, Kalimaat bawhh al-rouh, Rasa'el maa kahwat Alsabaah.

Show Notes In this episode, Simon Western speaks with Lebanese scholar and activist Karim Safieddine. Together, they discuss the vibrant and volatile political landscape of Lebanon, exploring how social movements, intellectual traditions, and grassroots activism collide and coalesce in the streets of Beirut. Karim shares his personal story of growing up amidst conflict, complexity, and contradiction, offering a lens into how identity is formed in a fractured society and how hope emerges through resistance. They explore themes of secularism, anti-establishment politics, and the evolving role of intellectuals in social change. The conversation touches deeply on what it means to live a good life and how ordinary people - through organising, dissent, and imagination - shape the possibility of a good civile society. Key Reflections · Elites often suppress transformative movements; activism persists through localised, organic mobilisation. · Intellectuals must step beyond theory and engage meaningfully with activist work. · A good life is not about material excess but about meaningful relationships, creativity, and communal survival. · Resistance is necessary for vitality; dissent keeps societies alive and evolving. · Bridging academia and activism is essential for sustainable change. · Empowering local voices and grassroots movements is crucial to Lebanon's future. Keywords social movements, political sociology, secularism, identity, intellectuals, activism, anti-establishment, cosmopolitanism   Brief Bio Karim Safieddine is a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh whose work explores the intersection of social movements, intellectual history, and political power in Lebanon. With a particular focus on the Lebanese Left, Karim investigates how oppositional movements both contest and reproduce dominant ideological frameworks and structures of authority from the late 20th century to the present. Rooted in a Gramscian tradition yet open to diverse theoretical tools, his research engages with questions of leadership, resistance, and hegemony. His work bridges political sociology and historical analysis, offering critical insights into how movements emerge, evolve, and navigate Lebanon's sectarian and neoliberal political terrain. Karim holds an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics (2020) and a BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut (2019). His academic interests include political and historical sociology, social movements, and the role of intellectuals in shaping public discourse.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. On this 600th day since the Hamas onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, we do a zoomed-out update on all seven fronts of the war and where they stand today. Fabian begins the program by updating us on new humanitarian aid operations in the Gaza Strip and chaos on Tuesday as Gazans temporarily overtook a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation disbursement center near Rafah. We turn to the West Bank where Israeli forces raided foreign exchange stores in Ramallah and Nablus on Tuesday, accusing their parent company of “connections with terrorist organizations,” according to an army closure notice. Fabian delves into other -- as yet -- unrealized fears regarding the West Bank. We reported this morning that Israel and Syria are in direct contact and have, in recent weeks, held face-to-face meetings aimed at calming tensions and preventing conflict in the border region between the two longtime foes. Fabian weighs in on the evolution of the over 19 months of war there. Although there were early drones and missiles coming from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, recent news indicates negotiations to release Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Israeli-Russian researcher who was taken hostage in Iraq two years ago, are at advanced stages. For the past six months, the militias have not targeted Israel, explains Fabian. However, even as we were recording today's episode, the Israel Air Force retaliated against the Iran-backed Houthis' relentless ballistic missiles and struck the Houthi-held Sanaa airport. Again. Since November 27, 2024, there has been a negotiated ceasefire with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist army. But all is not quiet and, as Fabian explains, Israel will likely remain in fighting form along the border -- permanently. And finally, the great unknown: reports from The New York Times indicate that US officials are worried that Israel could decide to carry out strikes on Iran’s nuclear program without much warning. Fabian reviews what we know. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Gazans overrun Strip’s new aid center; operator says distribution has resumed Israel launches anti-terror raids on West Bank money changers Israel and Syria holding face-to-face meetings at border to calm tensions Reports claim deal in works to free Israeli-Russian held hostage by Iraqi militia Security cabinet approves plan for high-tech security barrier along Jordanian border US officials concerned Israel may strike Iran nuke sites without much warning – NYT Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. Illustrative: Fighters from the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah train in southern Lebanon, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this episode, Ricardo Karam meets with Maria Hibri, Lebanese designer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Bokja, a renowned Beirut-based design studio known for merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary expression.Maria takes us on a journey through her life in Beirut, where she was born, raised, and continues to draw deep creative inspiration. She speaks about her academic background in Arabic Literature and Journalism, and how her early experiences as an event designer, antique dealer, and floral shop manager helped shape her unique design sensibility.She reflects on the founding of Bokja in 2000 alongside Hoda Baroudi, and how the studio became a space for storytelling through textiles. With a deep appreciation for Central Asian and Middle Eastern fabrics, Maria and Hoda began reimagining vintage furniture into vibrant, meaningful art pieces that have captivated collectors around the world.In this intimate conversation, Maria opens up about her profound love for Beirut, a city she sees as both fragile and fiercely inspiring. She explores the delicate tension between art and commerce, sharing how she has learned to protect creative integrity while building a sustainable design business.Join Ricardo Karam and Maria Hibri for a conversation about identity, creativity, and the power of design to bridge memory and modernity.في هذه الحلقة، يلتقي ريكاردو كرم مع ماريا هبري، مصممة لبنانية ورائدة أعمال، ومؤسسة مشاركة لاستوديو بقجة، وهو استوديو تصميم شهير مقره بيروت معروف بدمج الحرفية التقليدية مع التعبير المعاصر.تأخذنا ماريا في رحلة عبر حياتها في بيروت، حيث وُلدت ونشأت وتستمر في استلهام إبداعها العميق من هذه المدينة. تتحدث عن خلفيتها الأكاديمية في الأدب العربي والصحافة، وكيف ساهمت تجاربها المبكرة كمصمّمة فعاليات، وتاجرة تحف، ومديرة متجر زهور في تشكيل حسها التصميمي الفريد. تستعرض ماريا تأسيس استوديو بقجة في عام 2000 إلى جانب هدى بارودي، وكيف أصبح الاستوديو مساحة لسرد القصص من خلال الأقمشة. وبفضل تقديرها العميق للأقمشة الآسيوية الوسطى والشرق أوسطية، بدأت ماريا وهدى في إعادة تصور الأثاث العتيق وتحويله إلى قطع فنية نابضة بالحياة ومليئة بالمعاني، جذبت اهتمام جامعي التحف حول العالم.في هذه المحادثة الحميمة، تتحدث ماريا عن حبها العميق لبيروت، المدينة التي تراها هشة وملهمة في آنٍ معاً. تستكشف التوتر الدقيق بين الفن والتجارة، وتشارك كيف تعلّمت الحفاظ على نزاهة الإبداع أثناء بناء عمل تصميم مستدام.انضموا إلى ريكاردو كرم وماريا هبري في حديث عن الهوية، والإبداع، وقوة التصميم في ربط الذاكرة بالحداثة.