Podcast appearances and mentions of natasha hall

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicolas Pelham, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist. Nicolas has worked in the Middle East and North Africa for more than 30 years and has reported from every state in the region. Together, they discuss his latest article, “The Great Pretender: How Ahmed al-Sharaa Won Syria,” an in-depth profile of the Syrian leader based in part on a mid-February interview. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Ninar Fawal and Natasha Hall to discuss al-Sharaa's opportunities and challenges, and what they mean for Syria's future. Transcript: "Nicolas Pelham: Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syria's Future," CSIS, March 20, 2025. Nicolas' article: "The Great Pretender: How Ahmed al-Sharaa Won Syria," The Economist, March 5, 2025.

Click to Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Youtube-Subscribe-SoapDirt Days of our Lives sees real-life romance often blossoms behind the scenes. Among these are the enduring off-screen love stories of actors Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes, who portrayed Doug Williams and Julie Williams. Their real-life marriage endured five decades before Bill's passing in 2024. DOOL in the 90's brought us the romance of Crystal Chappelle and Michael Sabatino who played Carly Manning and Lawrence Alamain, their enduring marriage lasting nearly 30 years despite Sabatino's recent Parkinson's diagnosis. Another iconic on-set couple is Casey Moss and True O'Brien who played JJ Deveraux and Paige Larson, despite Paige's tragic character death on the NBC Peacock soap opera.  Days of our Lives actors Leo Howard and Natasha Hall, who portray Tate Black and Sloan Petersen respectively, are married in real life, despite their characters never being romantically involved on-screen. Other notable off-screen couples include Brandon Beemer and Nadia Bjorlin, Farah Fath and John Paul Lavoisier, Casey Deedrick and Molly Burnett. Arianne Zucker, who played Nicole Walker, found love twice on the set, first with actor Kyle Louder and later with Shawn Christian.  Visit our Days of our Lives section of Soap Dirt: https://soapdirt.com/category/days-of-our-lives/ Listen to our Podcasts: https://soapdirt.podbean.com/ Check out our always up-to-date Days of our Lives Spoilers page at: https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers/ Check Out our Social Media... Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoapDirtTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoapDirt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soapdirt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soapdirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapdirt/

Tommy and Ben discuss the continued fallout from President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's disastrous White House meeting, including Europe's attempt to come up with an alternative peace plan, Trump casually talking about regime change in Ukraine, and the giddy response from the Kremlin. They also discuss the potentially devastating economic consequences of Trump's trade war with Canada, China, and Mexico, the grim death toll from DOGE destroying USAID, why the Trump administration helped Andrew Tate return to America, Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, and news from Panama, Venezuela, and Mexico. Then Ben speaks to Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the way geopolitics are affecting the establishment of a new government in Syria.

Maria spoke with Hanna Notte and Natasha Hall about the new balance of forces in the Middle East at the start of 2025, and what the current geopolitical situation in the region means for Russia.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with eL Seed, an award-winning French-Tunisian artist whose monumental artwork blending the styles of Arabic calligraphy and graffiti is spreading in the Arab world and far beyond. His smaller works are in some of the most important museum collections around the world, but he takes special pride in his process of working with communities to select meaningful quotations to inspire his art and then to execute that artwork together. Jon and eL Seed discuss the cultural and political forces that shaped eL Seed's artistic evolution, as well as art's role in spurring social change. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Natasha Hall to discuss the ways art anchors Middle Eastern diaspora communities to their homelands and interacts with political movements across the Arab world. Transcript, "eL Seed: Arabic Calligraffiti," CSIS, January 14, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Will Todman and Natasha Hall, senior fellows at the CSIS Middle East Program, for a special episode on the sudden collapse of the Assad regime and what will replace it. Together, they discuss the promise and peril of this historic moment, and the domestic and regional forces moving aggressively to shape Syria's new direction. 

CSIS's Natasha Hall joins the podcast to discuss the rot inside the Assad regime, the country's new power center and the internal tensions that remain.

Today on the show: after Syrian rebels took Damascus, Fareed is joined by Natasha Hall, senior fellow at the CSIS Middle East Program, and Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss what the fall of Assad's regime means for Syria and the region.   Then, former senior CIA and State Department official Jung Pak speaks with Fareed about South Korea's brief period of martial law this week, why President Yoon decided to make the declaration, and what might come next.    Finally, Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins the show to discuss the unrest in Georgia and Romania, and Russia's widening influence in Europe.    GUEST: Natasha Hall (@NatashaHallDC), Karim Sadjadpour (@ksadjadpour), Jung Pak (@junghpak1), Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tommy and Ben discuss President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden declaration of martial law in South Korea, how Trump and his team will approach the Syrian civil war, and why Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, is so dangerous. They also talk about Trump's nepotism hires, more troubling news reports about Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, Trump's threats to levy tariffs on BRICS countries, UNRWA closing a crucial aid route into Gaza due to looting, a former Israeli defense minister's declaration that Israeli is engaging in ethnic cleansing, protests in Georgia, and elections in Romania and Ireland. Finally, Tommy speaks with Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow in the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, to unpack what's happening in Syria, who all the players are, and how we got here. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. 

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Arwa Damon, a former CNN international correspondent and founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance (INARA). She talks with Jon from Gaza. Together, they discuss her two decades of work in war zones and the effects of war on the young children her charity supports. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Martin Pimentel and Natasha Hall to discuss the challenges of humanitarian work in war zones.  Transcript, "Arwa Damon: Gaza's Wounds," CSIS, November 26, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Amjad Iraqi, a senior editor at +972 Magazine and an associate fellow with Chatham House. He is also affiliated with Al-Shabaka, an online Palestinian policy network. Together, they discuss how Palestinian citizens of Israel have been experiencing the Gaza war, and the future of Palestinian communities in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how virtual communities influence national political movements.

On Oct. 6 of last year, the Biden administration was hammering out a grand Middle East bargain in which Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state. And even after Hamas's attack the following day, the U.S. hoped to keep that deal alive to preserve the conditions for some kind of durable peace. But that deal is now basically unviable. The war is expanding. Israel may be on the verge of occupying Gaza indefinitely and possibly southern Lebanon, too. So why was President Biden ineffective at achieving his goals? In the past year, has the U.S. been able to shape this conflict at all?Franklin Foer recently wrote a piece in The Atlantic trying to answer these questions. And he starts with the Biden administration's attempts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East — an effort that began well before Oct. 7. In this conversation, Foer walks through his reporting inside the diplomatic bubble of the conflict and the administrations of other Middle Eastern states that have serious stakes in Israel's war in Gaza.Book Recommendations:Our Man by George PackerSea Under by David GrossmanCollected Poems by Rita DoveThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Annie Galvin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair . Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Efim Shapiro, Isaac Jones and Aman Sahota. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Emma Ashford, Shira Efron, Natasha Hall, Richard Haass, Michael Koplow, Selcuk Karaoglan and Switch and Board Podcast Studio. Soon, you'll need a subscription to maintain access to this show's back catalog, and the back catalogs of other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don't miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Peter Schwartzstein, an environmental journalist who reports on water, food security, and the conflict-climate nexus in around 30 countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Together, they discuss Mr. Schwartzstein's new book, The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence, as well as the outlook for climate adaptation in the Middle East, and the ways in which environmental initiatives can build peace in the region. Then, Leah Hickert continues the conversation with Will Todman and Natasha Hall to discuss how international donors and local civil society groups help Middle Eastern governments adapt to climate change.  Transcript, "Peter Schwartzstein: Climate Violence in the Middle East," CSIS, October 1, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, a columnist for The National, and a regular contributor to The Atlantic. Together, they discuss popular mobilization across the Middle East since October 7th and what it indicates about regional politics. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss why some regimes chose to co-opt rather than suppress protest movements, and the ways in which the Arab world's protests over Gaza differ from those in the past. Transcript, "Hussein Ibish: Popular Mobilization Since October 7," CSIS, September 17, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Michelle Nunn, the president and CEO of CARE. Michelle leads more than 8,000 people working around the world in crisis response, health and education access, gender equality, and climate change. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of Gaza's humanitarian crisis by contextualizing it among other global crises. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss how global attention on Gaza has affected the conflict and the humanitarian response, and whether sustained humanitarian engagement will translate into the “day after.” Transcript, "Michelle Nunn: The Challenges of Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis," CSIS, August 20, 2024.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ambassador Karim Haggag. After an Egyptian diplomatic career that spanned more than 25 years, Amb. Haggag is now a professor of practice at the American University in Cairo's School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the director of the university's Middle East Studies Center, and a non-resident visiting scholar with Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Together, they compare the war in Gaza to other crises in Egypt's history, discuss Egypt's complicated relationships with Israel and Hamas, and anticipate Egypt's role in the "day after" in Gaza. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss U.S. diplomatic leverage in the Middle East.  Transcript, "Karim Haggag: Egypt's Balancing Act," CSIS, July 9, 2024.

Recently, the Lebanese government developed a plan to deport Syrian refugees who were not registered with the United Nations, which accounts for almost half of all refugees in Lebanon. Although Lebanon's sovereignty is important, so are its humanitarian obligations and its role in regional security. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Natasha Hall and Will Todman, “Lebanon's Dangerous Campaign against Refugees,” CSIS, June 4, 2024. 

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House and a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies for almost 20 years. They talk about the fallout from President Raisi's death, how Gulf states are likely to react, and the feasibility of U.S. policy options going forward. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss what's next for Iranian foreign policy and what opportunities there are for the United States. Transcript, "Sanam Vakil: Iran's Trajectory after Raisi," CSIS, May 29, 2024.

Contact Us: 470-318-5034 Awitb2022@gmail.com IG:@anotherweekinthebooks, goodearnerpod_sopranos, @iamspikelou, @The_Conceptual_Mauricehunt WE DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE MUSIC USED IN THIS PODCAST Music By: Maurice Hunt III, Brandy, Erykah Badu, and Mary J. Blidge, Check out more from: Natasha Hall: @ideanaire, @mynetworkingapparel, @thebreadaisle Maurice Hunt III: ROLE: The Audio Drama Series (Fiction Podcast) and SO FAR POD Good Earners (Reviewing The Sopranos) Spike Lou: On Deck Tv Show (Hip Hop) and Good Earners

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Hans Grundberg, the United Nations' special envoy of the secretary-general for Yemen. They discuss what a UN mediator does, why successful mediation is about more than just reaching a peace agreement, and how the internationalization of conflicts complicates mediation. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss the tradeoffs between different mediators and why the UN separates its humanitarian work from its mediation efforts. Transcript, "Hans Grundberg: Mediation in Yemen," CSIS, April 30, 2024.

Click to Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Youtube-Subscribe-SoapDirt Days of our Lives spoilers show lots of action in this weeks promo, titled "The Secret's Out".  Sloan Petersen's (Natasha Hall) baby-stealing secret is set to come to light, with the promo suggesting that the whole truth might be unveiled.  Controversial character Konstantin Meleounis (John Kapelos) is given control over John Black (Drake Hogestyn), with intentions to use him against Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols). A shocking health scare for Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) takes center stage, as Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) reveals her diagnosis of radiation poisoning. Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is also seen telling EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) an unsettling secret about a life-changing situation involving a child.  EJ confronts Sloan in an explosive scene, accusing her of lying about her baby.  The promo ends with a montage of other characters, including Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker), indicating more drama and plot twists to unfold.  It seems that Days of our Lives continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with unexpected storylines and character developments. Visit our Days of our Lives section of Soap Dirt: https://soapdirt.com/category/days-of-our-lives/ Listen to our Podcasts: https://soapdirt.podbean.com/ And Check out our always up-to-date Days of our Lives Spoilers page at: https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers/ Check Out our Social Media... Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoapDirtTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoapDirt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soapdirt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soapdirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapdirt/

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, a former Jordanian diplomat, and the current president and CEO of the International Peace Institute. They discuss the pursuit of human rights in a multipolar world and the role that the United Nations can play in Gaza. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to explore the importance of codifying human rights into international law and the challenges of sustaining international attention on human rights crises. Transcript, "Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein: Human Rights in a Messy World," CSIS, April 2, 2024.

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the CSIS Middle East Program, about the U.S. strategy toward protracted conflicts, which can serve as forums for great power competition. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Natasha Hall, "The New Forever Wars," CSIS, January 25, 2024.

Click to Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Youtube-Subscribe-SoapDirt Days of our Lives weekly promo for March 25-29th, 2024 has the Christening of Jude Brady as it becomes a hotbed of tension as Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart), Sloan Petersen (temporarily played by Natasha Hall), and Melinda Trask (Tina Huang) seem to be hiding a secret. Plus, Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) and Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) conspiring to ignite jealousy in Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Theresa Donovan (Emily O'Brien). Their plan seems to be working as the couple is left shocked after witnessing Kristen and Alex's passionate kiss on DOOL. Look as Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) loses her cool when she spots Everett Lynch (Blake Berris) with Stephanie (Abigail Klein), leading to a heated confrontation.  In a surprising turn of events on the NBC soap opera, Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) finally confesses to Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) about the drugs, setting the stage for a dramatic revelation. As the week concludes, the suspenseful cliffhanger suggests confessions and confrontations in store.  Stay tuned to witness the unraveling of secrets and lies in the heart of Salem! Visit our Days of our Lives section of Soap Dirt: https://soapdirt.com/category/days-of-our-lives/ Listen to our Podcasts: https://soapdirt.podbean.com/ And Check out our always up-to-date Days of our Lives Spoilers page at: https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers/ Check Out our Social Media... Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoapDirtTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoapDirt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soapdirt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soapdirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapdirt/

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Dana Stroul, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. They talk about the U.S. defense strategy in the Middle East before and after the war in Gaza, how the conflict has changed U.S. security partnerships with Arab states, and the lessons Israel should learn from U.S. military experience in the region. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to discuss the multi-dimensional challenges of the Israel-Hamas war and the timeline for U.S. government action. Transcript, "Dana Stroul: The U.S. Defense Strategy in the Middle East," CSIS, March 19, 2024.

This week, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the CSIS Middle East Program, about the challenges of mitigating climate change through humanitarian interventions in conflict-affected countries. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Natasha Hall, "Redefining Climate Finance for a Troubled World," CSIS, March 12, 2024.

Click to Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Youtube-Subscribe-SoapDirt Days of Our Lives predictions from Belynda at Soap Dirt are based on confirmed spoilers and this week, focus on Stefan DiMera, Holly Jonas, and Everett Lynch. Days viewers will see a series of dramatic turn of events. Holly Jonas, played by Ashley Puzemis, is set to confront EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) over his false accusations against Tate Black (Jamie Martin Mann).  Meanwhile, Sloan Petersen, played by Jessica Serfaty (and recast Natasha Hall), is expected to have a mental breakdown during Jude Brady's christening, which will also involve characters such as Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) and John Black (Drake Hogestyn). In other storylines, Stefan DiMera, portrayed by Brandon Barash, might disrupt the honeymoon of newlyweds Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) and Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens).  As the drama unfolds, Everett Lynch (Blake Berris) may uncover some disturbing memories about his father. Lastly, Clyde Weston, played by James Read, seems to be far from done with his criminal activities. Despite his escape with his much younger lover, Officer Goldman, Clyde's return is imminent, potentially setting the stage for a massive showdown. These spoilers promise a week filled with intense drama and unexpected revelations on NBC's Days of Our Lives. Stay tuned for more updates on your favorite characters and their intriguing storylines. Visit our Days of our Lives section of Soap Dirt:  https://soapdirt.com/category/days-of-our-lives/ Listen to our Podcasts: https://soapdirt.podbean.com/ And Check out our always up-to-date Days of our Lives Spoilers at:  https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers/ Check Out our Social Media... Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoapDirtTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoapDirt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/soapdirt/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soapdirt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapdirt/

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Yana Abu Taleb, the Jordanian director of EcoPeace Middle East, a trilateral peacebuilding organization that seeks shared solutions to environmental issues affecting Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Together, they discuss EcoPeace's development over the past 30 years and the unique challenges it faces today. Then, he continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert to explore how grassroots activism and peacebuilding vary in different political contexts. Transcript, "Yana Abu Taleb: Environmental Peacebuilding in the Arab-Israeli Conflict," CSIS, January 23, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with music journalist Danny Hajjar about the changing Arab music scene. They talk about the rise of Arab hip-hop, how increasing connectivity influences the way Arab artists produce and distribute music, and what the next big thing will be. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing soft power, censorship, and music.  Transcript, "Danny Hajjar: The Evolution of Arabic Music," CSIS, December 20, 2023.

This week, Zeid Qiblawi speaks with Natasha Hall, senior fellow with the Middle East Program at CSIS, about the reversal of human rights norms in an increasingly multipolar world. A new Analysis from the CSIS Middle East Program. Natasha Hall, "Breaking Point: Human Rights in a Multipolar World," CSIS, November 30, 2023.

The Middle East is experiencing a water crisis exacerbated by climate change, inefficient water use, and decades of resource mismanagement. Water insecurity not only aggravates pre-existing vulnerabilities; it also drives instability, conflict, and displacement. In this short episode of Babel, Leah Hickert speaks with Natasha Hall about why the region's business-as-usual approach to water is becoming more costly by the day. Natasha Hall, "The Ripple Effects of Water Insecurity," CSIS, May 4, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Palestinian political analyst Khalil Sayegh about what people get wrong about Gaza, the spread of misinformation, and why grassroots peace efforts need to change in the aftermath of the conflict. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing the war's information landscape and the challenges of grassroots peacebuilding. Transcript, "Khalil Sayegh: What We Get Wrong About Gaza," CSIS, November 14, 2023. Jon Alterman, "Israel Could Lose," CSIS, November 7, 2023.

On this special episode of Piecing It Together, filmmaker Joe Black joins me to talk about his new film Suffrage, the sequel to Natasha Hall, as well as some of our picks for our favorite comedy sequels. Some of the films we talk about include Hot Shots! Part Deux, Clerks 2 and Wake Up Ron Burgandy: The Lost Movie.As always, SPOILER ALERT for anyof the movies we discuss!And make sure to check out the episode we did on Natasha Hall too at https://www.piecingpod.com/home/natasha-hall-special-episode/Joe Black is a filmmaker. Check out his work at https://www.bluemeanspregnantfilms.com/My sixth album, MORE CONTENT is available NOW on iTunes, Bandcamp and all other digital music stores! Make sure to check it out!My latest music video “Ascending" which you can watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fypZ3Z8qeT8The song at the end of the episode is the theme song from a film called Last Day Of School.Make sure to “Like” Piecing It Together on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PiecingPodAnd “Follow” us on Twitter @PiecingPodAnd Join the Conversation in our Facebook Group, Piecing It Together – A Movie Discussion Group.And check out https://www.piecingpod.com for more about our show!And if you want to SUPPORT THE SHOW, you can now sign up for our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenShare the episode, comment and give us feedback! And of course, SUBSCRIBE!And of course, don't forget to leave us a 5 star review on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser!Check out TV, I Say w/ Ashley Raye at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tv-i-say-w-ashley-ray/id1535572126And most important of all… Keep going to the theater to see new movies!Mentioned in this episode:Our LIVE show on Thanksgiving is coming up on Friday, November 17th at 6pm at ART HOUZ. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1640705853086931

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Tel Aviv-based journalist and analyst Neri Zilber about the war in Gaza, how Israelis are thinking about what comes next, and what it means for the region. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing Arab states' reactions to the conflict and the circumstances in which they might assist in managing post-war Gaza. Transcript, "Neri Zilber: Inside Israeli Politics During Wartime," CSIS, October 31, 2023. Neri Zilber, "Fears Grow the Israel has 'No Plan' Agreed for Postwar Gaza," Financial Times, October 24, 2023. Jon Alterman and Daniel Byman, "The World Can't Solve the Israel-Hamas War without Egypt," CSIS, October 25, 2023. Neri Zilber, "As Biden Arrives, Israel's War Aims are Ambitious, but Incomplete," the Christian Science Monitor, October 17, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with award-winning Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. During the conversation, Abdul-Ahad discusses the fallout from the war and U.S. occupation, his career reporting from Iraq, and the ways that working alongside leading journalists influenced his work. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing the legacies of sectarianism in Iraq and Lebanon. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War, Penguin Random House, 2023. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, "Guns, cash, and frozen chicken: the militia boss doling out aid in Baghdad," The Guardian, March 20, 2023. Transcript, "Ghaith Abdul-Ahad: Iraq Through Iraqis' Eyes," CSIS, August 22, 2023. Photo credit: Rena Effendi.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman welcomes Jason Rezaian back to the podcast. Jason is a former hostage and alongside Jon, he is the co-executive director of the CSIS Commission on Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention. They speak about the growing phenomenon of hostile governments and groups imprisoning Americans to gain leverage against the United States, why it's becoming more common, and what the United States can do both to respond when an American is detained and to deter wrongful detention and hostage taking altogether. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, speaking about the case of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton graduate student who was kidnapped in Iraq in March by groups close to the Iranian government.  Jason Rezaian, “Now the real work to end hostage-taking and wrongful detentions begins,” Washington Post Global Opinions, August 30, 2022.  Jason Rezaian and Danny Sharp, “Just Call Them Hostages,” CSIS, July 20, 2023.  Transcript, “Jason Rezaian: The Rise of Hostage Taking,” CSIS, July 25, 2023. 

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Christoph Reuter of Der Spiegel magazine, an award winning journalist and conflict reporter. They talk about Captagon, criminal networks, and Syria's war economy. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Lubna Yousef, and they explore the intersection between criminal networks and war zones. Transcript, "Christoph Reuter: Syria's War Economy," CSIS, June 13, 2023. Jon Alterman and Natasha Hall, "Accountability in Syria," CSIS, August 9, 2022. Jörg Diehl, Mohannad al-Najjar, and Christoph Reuter, “Syria's Drug Smuggling: The Assad Regime Would Not Survive Loss of Captagon Revenues,” Der Spiegel, June 21, 2022.   Will Todman and Natasha Hall, "Russia Waged a Cheap War in Syria. Here's What Those Tactics Might Look Like in Ukraine," CSIS, March 11, 2022.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Nicolas Pelham of The Economist and author of a recent article in 1843 magazine entitled "The Mystery of Morocco's Missing King." They talk about the Moroccan monarchy, King Mohammed VI's unusual friendship with a German kickboxer, and what it means for the future of Morocco. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, as they compare the different ruling strategies of Arab kings. Nicolas Pelham, "MBS: despot in the desert," 1843 magazine, July 28, 2022. Transcript, "Nicolas Pelham: Morocco's Missing King," CSIS, May 30, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Prof. Killian Clarke of Georgetown's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service about his forthcoming book tentatively entitled The Return of Tyranny: How Counterrevolutions Emerge and Succeed. They talk about the counterrevolution in Egypt, the complex relationship between the military, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the public, and lessons learned from counterrevolutions around the world. Later, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Lubna Yousef, debating similarities between Egypt and Tunisia, and how the region views U.S. influence post 2011. Killian Clarke, “Revolutionary Violence and Counterrevolution,” American Political Science Review, December 19, 2022.  Killian Clarke, "This Is How to Stop the Coup in Sudan," The New York Times. 29 October 2021. Jon Alterman, "Egypt's Economic Challenge," The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, April 2023. Transcript, "Egypt's Counterrevolution and the Return to Tyranny," CSIS, May 2, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. They talk about the Saudi-Iranian agreement to resume diplomatic ties, how it fits into Iran's wider foreign policy strategy around the region, and the prospects for a broader détente between Iran and its Arab neighbors in the Gulf. Vaez suggests that a regional nuclear agreement between Iran and Arab states in the Gulf might be a more viable path forward than an agreement between Iran and the West. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper, discussing what this all means for U.S. policy toward Iran and in the rest of the region.  Ali Vaez, “The Long Twilight of the Islamic Republic,” Foreign Affairs, February 2, 2023.  Jon Alterman, "Saudi Arabia Steps Out," CSIS, March 23, 2023. Jon Alterman, "Why Did China Help Saudi Arabia and Iran Resume Diplomatic Ties?" CSIS, March 10, 2023. Transcript, "Iran's Regional Policy," CSIS, April 4, 2023.

This week, in a special episode of Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with Middle East Program senior fellow Natasha Hall about the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. They talk about the aid response, how governments are instrumentalizing the aid response to advance their own goals, and the challenges in delivering aid to areas of northwest Syria controlled by rebel groups. Natasha draws on her earlier study, “Rescuing Aid in Syria,” to argue that the United States and other donor governments need to rethink their aid response in Syria, better monitor where aid is going, and prepare for additional acute crises.  Transcript, "The Aftermath of Earthquakes in Syria," CSIS, February 21, 2023.

1. Julia Rock [@jul1arock], reporter at the The Lever, and Allison Fisher [@citizenfisher], director of the Climate and Energy Program for Media Matters for America, on why the Ohio derailment was a foreseeable disaster and how dearth of early media coverage, which failed to hold parties accountable, left space for distrust. Listen. 2. Gönül Tol [@gonultol], the founding director of the Middle East Institute's Turkey program and author of "Erdoğan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria," on the impact of government corruption on Turkey's death toll after this month's earthquake. Listen. 3. Natasha Hall [@NatashaHallDC], a senior fellow at the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, on the ways politics have played into a delay in aid in Syria. Listen. 4. Keren Landman [@landmanspeaking], senior reporter covering public health and emerging infectious diseases at Vox, on the risks of bird flu and if we should be worried about another pandemic. Listen. Music:Fallen Leaves - Marcos CiscarInvitation to a Suicide - John ZornBerceuse In D Flat Major, Op. 57 - Ivan MoravecTime Is Late - Marcos CiscarWhen Doves Cry Airborne Toxic EventLachrymae Antiquae - Kronos QuartetWhite Man Sleeps - Kronos QuartetThe Old House - Marcos Ciscar

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Hanna Notte, a senior research associate with the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. They talk about Russia's interests in the Middle East and where they stand after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's growing economic and defense relationship with Iran, and how Arab states view Russia's war in Ukraine. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, discussing the implications for U.S. policy in the region and what U.S. decision-makers should do about it.  Hanna Notte, “Don't Expect Any More Russian Help on the Iran Nuclear Deal,” War on the Rocks, November 3, 2022.  Hanna Notte, “The Impact of Russia's Ukraine Invasion in the Middle East and North Africa,” Congressional Testimony, Before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism, 117th Congress, May 18, 2022. Jon Alterman, "The Middle East's Indifference to Ukraine is a Warning," Defense One, May 12, 2022. Hanna Notte, “Will Western-Russian Confrontation Shake the Middle East?” War on the Rocks, March 29, 2022.  Transcript, "Russia in the Middle East After Ukraine," CSIS, January 24, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Jihad Azour, the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They talk about the Middle East's economic outlook, the impacts of COVID and the Ukraine war on local economies, and the political consequences of economic reforms. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp, discussing popular attitudes to IMF-supported reforms and the potential consequences of greater Gulf state investment in the region. Transcript, "The Middle East's Economic Outlook," CSIS, January 10, 2023.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Tamar Hermann, a senior fellow with the Israel Democracy Institute who has been analyzing Israeli polling data for decades. They talk about the rightward shift of young Jewish Israelis, changing attitudes toward Arab citizens of Israel, and the rising politics of grievances there. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Danny Sharp about the link between public opinion and decision-making around the region.  Tamar Hermann, "Only Half of Israelis Intend to Repeat Their 2021 Vote," Israel Democracy Institute, August 31, 2022. Tamar Hermann, "Majority Think Low Chances Next Election will End Gridlock," Israel Democracy Institute, July 5, 2022. Tamar Hermann et al., "The Israeli Democracy Index 2021," Israel Democracy Institute, 2022. Transcript, "Israel's Rightward Shift" CSIS, November 28, 2022.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Helen Lackner, the author of the new book, Yemen: Poverty and Conflict, who has spent five decades covering Yemen. ​​​​​​​ They talk about how conflict has been endemic in Yemen for hundreds of years, how the current conflict fits into that history, and what a post-conflict Yemen could look like. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper about U.S. goals in Yemen and other conflict-affected countries in the Middle East.  Helen Lackner, Yemen: Poverty and Conflict (Oxfordshire: Routledge, 2022). Jon Alterman and Peter Salisbury, "Yemen's Civil War," Babel, July 27, 2021. Transcript, "Yemen in Conflict," CSIS, November 15, 2022.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Marc Owen Jones, an assistant professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar. He is the author of the recently released book, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East. They talk about governments' longstanding efforts to shape the news environment in Middle Eastern states, and how the rise of social media creates new opportunities and threats for governments and citizens alike. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper about what this all means for the United States and the region. Marc Owen Jones, "How digital authoritarianism has permeated the Middle East," Middle East Eye, August 11, 2022. Marc Owen Jones, Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East (Hurst Publishers: 2022). Marc Owen Jones, "Social media fueled the Arab Spring, then helped dictators squash it," The New Arab, January 12, 2021. Transcript, "Real News, Fake News, and No News," CSIS, September 20, 2022.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Olivia Lazard, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe focusing on the geopolitics of climate and the transitions ushered by climate change. They talk about the political and social impacts of climate change in the Middle East, what states in the region are already doing to mitigate the effects of climate change, and the bigger, transformative policy changes that are still needed. Then, Jon breaks down how international actors and governments in the region are thinking about these kinds of changes with Natasha Hall and Caleb Harper.  Olivia Lazard et al., “Let's Place Sustainability and Climate Change at the Heart of International Policy,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, July 8, 2022.   Olivia Lazard et al., “The Middle East's Climate Change Wake-Up,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, February 17, 2022.  Jon Alterman, Natasha Hall, and Will Todman, "Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East," CSIS, May 18, 2021. Transcript, "Climate in the Middle East," CSIS, September 6, 2022.

This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Ambassador Beth van Schaack, the State Department's ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice. They talk about holding perpetrators of atrocities accountable in Syria, how accountability and justice fit into U.S. foreign policy, and the ways in which accountability looks different the for winners and losers of conflicts. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Lubna Yousef, the Middle East Program's new Research Associate. Beth van Schaack, Imagining Justice for Syria (UK: Oxford University Press, 2020). Natasha Hall and Will Todman, "Lessons Learned from a Decade of Humanitarian Operations in Syria," CSIS, April 22, 2021. Beth van Schaack, “Good Governance Paper No. 13: Atrocities Prevention and Response,” Just Security, October 29, 2020.  Transcript, "Accountability in Syria," CSIS, August 9, 2022.

Corruption is a trillion-dollar drag for investors. So why doesn't it get more attention? Oliver Bullough is the author of “Butler to the World: How Britain Helps the World's Worst People Launder Money, Commit Crimes, and Get Away with Anything.” He joined Bill Mann, Maria Gallagher, and John Rotonti to discuss: - The “easy” process of money laundering - A look inside the business of corruption - Super yachts, volcanic islands, and opaque legal structures Hosts: Bill Mann, Maria Gallagher, John Rotonti Guest: Oliver Bullough Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Dan Boyd, Natasha Hall