Podcasts about Syrians

When governments want to help, they do. Refugees learn quickly who is seen and who is overlooked.Michael Desrosiers talks with Kayra Martinez, the founder of Love Without Borders for Refugees in Need, about what real support looks like and who gets it. Kayra has spent nearly a decade working with refugees in Greece, building an art-centered nonprofit that gives people more than just supplies. It gives them agency.How does someone with no formal training end up running a global humanitarian effort? Kayra's story begins with listening. What started as a volunteer trip in 2015 became a full-time mission after she saw families stuck in camps with no housing, no food, and no help from the organizations that were supposed to be there.Kayra shares how art became both a survival tool and a way to reclaim dignity. She also draws a sharp contrast between the rapid, well-funded support offered to Ukrainian refugees and the ongoing struggle for Syrians, Afghans, and others still waiting for basic aid.What does it say about our priorities when the same crisis gets two very different responses? And what kind of help actually makes a difference? Kayra doesn't just raise these questions. She answers them with clear, tangible ways to get involved. From local art events to one-on-one support, this episode is a reminder that the scale of a crisis doesn't excuse inaction. It demands creativity, persistence, and a willingness to care.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction03:26 Why Greece Became the Focus04:46 What Triggered the Refugee Crisis in 201505:32 Germany's Response vs. Greece's Challenges08:12 Building Solutions Without a Playbook11:02 Funding the Mission and Staying Afloat15:14 What Governments Could Do but Don't18:12 How You Can HelpLinksConnect with Kayra Martinez:https://lovewithoutborders4refugees.comcuckoo4politics.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_4_politics/https://www.facebook.com/Cuckoo-4-Politics-104093938102793https://www.tiktok.com/@usercuckoo4politicshttps://bsky.app/profile/cuckoo4politics.bsky.socialPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

In 2019, Netflix released a six-episode miniseries starring the English comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen played an Israeli spy, Eli Cohen. The latter Cohen was a Jewish immigrant from Egypt who, once in Israel, was recruited and trained by the Mossad. He then assumed the identity of Kamel Amin Thaabet, a wealthy Arab businessman who, having eventually moved to Damascus, became a backer and confidant of key officials in the Baath party. From his home in Syria, Cohen as Thaabet dispatched vast quantities of military and political intelligence to the Israelis throughout the early 1960s. Viewers of the Netflix show, The Spy, see all of this dramatized, as they also see Cohen's eventual capture, torture, and hanging. The Netflix series, and the story it brings to a new generation of viewers, is true.   Eli Cohen is celebrated as one of Israel's great intelligence agents, one of its great mistaravim, or those who assume the identity of Arabs to carry out their missions. There are streets and institutions and many children and even, in the Golan, a town in Israel named after Eli Cohen. For 60 years the Israeli government has tried to persuade, bribe, cajole, and if necessary steal the Syrian government's Eli Cohen file. During the rule of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, they could not get them. With the fall of the Assad regime, and with a new regime in Damascus looking to curry favor with the United States and the West, earlier this week the Syrians handed over some 2,500 documents from Syria's Eli Cohen file.   This week, Yossi Melman—a Haaretz reporter, journalist, and author of some eight English-language books on Israeli intelligence—joins Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver to talk about Eli Cohen, what Israel has reclaimed, and why this story remains so important some six decades on.

On the show this week: Poland's presidential elections reveal a country on a knife-edge, Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia and the Baltics' hybrid warfare fears. Plus a Hungarian spy ring, Icelandic intrigue, Swiss bunkers, and Syrians returning home from Europe. A security special packed with stories from the frontlines of Europe's shifting geopolitics.

In this Bible Story, we witness the triumph of David over the Syrians and Ammonites. He claims victory after victory in battle, and brings Israel into a place of peace with many surrounding nations. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 10 & 1 Chronicles 19-20. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 10:12 from the King James Version.Episode 101: David's friend Nahash, king of the Ammonites had died, and his son Hanun took his place. David, wishing to show compassion to Hanun, sent him some servants with gifts to mourn the loss of his father. But Hanun's servants were evil and spoke lies about David's servants in his ears. Believing these lies Hanun shaved the servants, shamed them, and sent them away. This led to a ferocious battle between David and the Ammonites. Many lives were needlessly lost because of the lies Hanun believed.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Displaced Syrians are returning to their homes following years of civil war. One photographer, Alaa Hassan, who was 25 years old when the uprisings against former President Bashar al-Assad began, hopes to now document the loss and rebirth of his country. Also, US President Donald Trump holds separate phone calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia as fighting continues. And, hunger and starvation are on the rise in Gaza as Israel's government approves a plan to distribute limited aid and lift its blockade of the territory, while the Israeli military conducts a new offensive with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the goal is to control the Gaza Strip. Plus, a look at the "like" button that was introduced to internet users 20 years ago. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

What would the end of US sanctions mean for Syria? The handshake between US President Donald Trump and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was a dramatic shift, signaling the end of 46 years of US sanctions against Syria. Now, the door is opening to more investment and international aid, and Syrians poured into the streets in celebration. How did the deal come together, and what might it mean for Syria's future? In this episode: Imran Khan (@ajimran), Al Jazeera senior correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Kisaa Zehra, Remas Alhawari, Mariana Navarrete, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Ashish Malhotra, Haleema Shah, Khaled Soltan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Remas Alhawari, Kingwell Ma, Mariana Navarrete, and Kisaa Zehra. Our guest host is Natasha Del Toro. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Aya Elmileik is lead of audience engagement. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

In a move that took many by surprise, President Trump announced this week that the United States will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria. The decision represents a sea change for Syrians, as UN figures estimate that nine out of ten Syrians live in poverty. This move was also something countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey had been calling for, with Turkish President Erdogan reportedly raising the issue in calls with President Trump. Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Trump says US to lift Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi dealTrump's Middle East trip makes it a big week for Turkey's ErdoganFresh momentum seen in Washington for lifting sanctions on TurkeyEuropean Commission appoints Johannes Hahn as Special Envoy for CyprusCyprus hails new EU envoyUS gets back to EU on trade war ― hinting at Trump's willingness to find a deal

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised the world by pledging to lift crippling sanctions on Syria this week. We dig into what this means for rebuilding the country after the fall of Assad, both for Syrians who have grown up in the brutality of the civil war, and those who fled and are longing to return home.

Razan Ibraheem, Irish-Syrian journalist, discusses the future of Syria after US President Donald Trump announced a lifting of all sanctions on the Islamist-led government.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences BBC stars told to follow rules after Gary Lineker post Towie star James Argent sentenced for gender violence in Spain Trumps meeting with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians hopes Mark Carney says Canadians are not impressed by UKs invite to Trump French taxi driver charged with theft after David Lammy dispute Celebrity Traitors How will Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Cat Burns and others fare in new reality show Israel issues major evacuation order for Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City Putin not on Kremlin list of officials attending Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The history from the times of the patriarchs to the Babylonian exile is outlined. Although the relationships between Jew and Gentile were often hostile, they were not necessarily so. Some Gentiles came to be associated with the promises which God made to Abraham, through their faith. To this day Gentiles can share in these blessings through belief and baptism into the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.# SummaryThis PRESENTATION delves into the history of the nations surrounding Israel, focusing on groups such as the Philistines, Phoenicians, Syrians, Kenites, and the descendants of Abraham, including the Amalekites, Moabites, and Ammonites. It explores their origins, interactions with Israel, and the impact of their relationships on the biblical narrative. The speaker highlights both the conflicts and alliances formed between these nations and Israel, emphasising the overarching theme of redemption and faith in God's plan, exemplified through figures like Ruth and Naaman.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Putin not on Kremlin list of officials attending Ukraine peace talks in Turkey French taxi driver charged with theft after David Lammy dispute Israel issues major evacuation order for Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City BBC stars told to follow rules after Gary Lineker post Towie star James Argent sentenced for gender violence in Spain Trumps meeting with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians hopes Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Mark Carney says Canadians are not impressed by UKs invite to Trump Celebrity Traitors How will Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Cat Burns and others fare in new reality show

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv BBC stars told to follow rules after Gary Lineker post Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Israel issues major evacuation order for Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City Celebrity Traitors How will Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Cat Burns and others fare in new reality show Towie star James Argent sentenced for gender violence in Spain French taxi driver charged with theft after David Lammy dispute Putin not on Kremlin list of officials attending Ukraine peace talks in Turkey Mark Carney says Canadians are not impressed by UKs invite to Trump Trumps meeting with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians hopes Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences

Donald J. Trump and the American economy are two beneficiaries of the president's Gulf road show. So are the Gulf states, Syria, and Make America Great Again supporters within Mr. Trump's administration. In less than 24 hours in the kingdom, Mr. Trump received a standing ovation from Arab leaders and hundreds of thousands poured into the streets of Syrian towns and cities to celebrate his lifting of long-standing crippling sanctions—a rare achievement for an American president. On the surface, Syrians, Saudis, and Israel critics have much to celebrate, including Syrians' prospects for reconstruction, Gulf states' defense, technology, and aviation mega deals with the United States, and seemingly upgraded Gulf relations with the US that potentially put them more on par with Israel. Even so, Mr. Trump has yet to pass the litmus test on whether, how much, and what history he wrote on his Gulf tour, packaged in pomp and circumstance.

Qatar and Boeing on Wednesday struck a deal for what US President Donald Trump called the largest order of jets in the history of the planemaker. GCC leaders told Mr Trump that a Palestinian state is central to stability in the Middle East, while Syrians have reacted to the lifting of US sanctions. Mr Trump will continue his Gulf tour in the UAE today. On this episode of Trending Middle East: Boeing secures $200bn jet order from Qatar Airways that Trump says is 'largest' Qatari Emir says Donald Trump visit a chance to 'bring peace to the region' 'There is hope': Trump's Syria pledge marks shift in US foreign policy Landmark meeting between Trump and Al Shara boosts new order in Syria UAE and US working to announce AI and tech partnership during Trump visit This episode features Vanessa Ghanem, Arab Affairs Editor; Mohamed Ali Harisi, Foreign Editor; and Cody Combs, Technology Policy Editor.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Mark Carney says Canadians are not impressed by UKs invite to Trump Israel issues major evacuation order for Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City Putin not on Kremlin list of officials attending Ukraine peace talks in Turkey French taxi driver charged with theft after David Lammy dispute Billingham teen Bella Culley arrested in Georgia over drugs offences Trumps meeting with Sharaa, unthinkable just months ago, boosts Syrians hopes Large sites appear in Gaza ahead of Israeli aid plan rejected by UN, images show Celebrity Traitors How will Stephen Fry, Alan Carr, Cat Burns and others fare in new reality show BBC stars told to follow rules after Gary Lineker post Towie star James Argent sentenced for gender violence in Spain

President Trump's announcement that US sanctions on Syria would be lifted was met with elation by Syrians, but the country still has a long way to go to recover from years of civil war and brutal dictatorship. Also, the German government banned an extremist group known as the Kingdom of Germany, which believes Germany is a monarchy. And, a look back at the life of José Mujica, Uruguay's former president who lived staunchly below his means. Plus, the Swiss Moroccan musician who found his home in the underground art scene. Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Thirteen million Syrians - half the population - left their homes during their country's 13-year civil war. Seven million were internally displaced. Six million fled abroad. Bringing them home is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Syria's new rulers. But many can't return, because their homes are in ruins, and jobs and essential services are lacking. Tim Whewell follows a variety of returnees back to Homs, Syria's third city, which saw some of the worst destruction of the war. A private charity organises convoys of families wanting to return from camps in the north of the country. But once returnees like Fatima Hazzoura get back, they're left to cope on their own. Some who came back earlier have managed to repair their homes. But others find their houses are just empty, burnt-out shells. Meanwhile, some in Homs who stayed throughout the war - members of the Alawite minority, whose neighbourhoods remained intact - are thinking of leaving now, fearful that the new government of former Islamist rebels will not protect them. And Homs people who made new lives abroad are hesitant to return permanently while the situation is so unstable, and the economy still crippled by international sanctions. Can the fabric of an ancient and diverse city be rebuilt? Tim finds grief and fear among the ruins - but also laughter, and flashes of Homs's famous humour.

Thirteen million Syrians - half the population - left their homes during their country's 13-year civil war. Seven million were internally displaced. Six million fled abroad. Bringing them home is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Syria's new rulers. But many can't return, because their homes are in ruins, and jobs and essential services are lacking. Tim Whewell follows a variety of returnees back to Homs, Syria's third city, which saw some of the worst destruction of the war. A private charity organises convoys of families wanting to return from camps in the north of the country. But once returnees like Fatima Hazzoura get back, they're left to cope on their own. Some who came back earlier have managed to repair their homes. But others find their houses are just empty, burnt-out shells. Meanwhile, some in Homs who stayed throughout the war - members of the Alawite minority, whose neighbourhoods remained intact - are thinking of leaving now, fearful that the new government of former Islamist rebels will not protect them. And Homs people who made new lives abroad are hesitant to return permanently while the situation is so unstable , and the economy still crippled by international sanctions. Can the fabric of an ancient and diverse city be rebuilt? Tim finds grief and fear among the ruins - but also laughter, and flashes of Homs's famous humour. Production: Tim Whewell Research/field production/translation: Aref al-Krez Translation: Maria Mohammad Security/photography: Rolf Andreason Sound mixing: James Beard Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy

Read Djene's piece in Compact Magazine here: https://www.compactmag.com/.../neoliberalism-with.../...   For many Syrians, the events of December 2024 had a surreal quality. After nearly a decade and a half of brutal civil war, it had seemed that the regime of Bashar al-Assad had fended off any serious challenges to its authority. Assad and his supporters may not have been able to deliver a killing blow to the various opposition forces in the country, but they had managed to confine them to the country's periphery. That all changed in late November, when Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist group led by former al-Qaeda militant, Ahmad al-Sharaa, launched a lightning offensive from its stronghold on the Turkish-Syrian border, which brought an end to more than half a century of Assad family rule within a matter of weeks.   Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop   Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH!   Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents?   Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!)   THANKS Y'ALL   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland   Read Jason Myles in Sublation Magazine https://www.sublationmag.com/writers/jason-myles   Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/   Read Jason in Unaligned Here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-161586946...

2 Kings 13:14-19 (KJV) Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

Romanians vote for a new president after suspected Russian interference in 2024 poll. The nationalist presidential candidate, George Simion, a self described MAGA candidate, has said his only objective is “to put the Romanian people first”. Also in the programme: We explore the ongoing impact of President Bashar al-Assad's brutal repression tactics on ordinary Syrians; and we hear from International Booker prize nominee Solvaj Balle, alongside the translator who brought her work 'On The Calculation Of Volume' into the English literary canon. (Photo: Banners showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Marian Cucsa, candidate of Republican Party of Romania, on the day of Romanian presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki)

In our latest interview, Wendy Kennedy explores the profound themes of channeling the P's, light language, UFO sightings, and more! We discuss the importance of tuning into new frequencies, the subtlety of spiritual experiences, and the necessity of releasing guilt and grief from past civilizations. The dialogue emphasizes the power of choice in manifesting reality and the significance of living in harmony with nature and oneself.Wendy Kennedy also shares insights from her connection with the Pleiadians, offering a broader perspective on spiritual growth and healing. In this podcast, the Ninth Dimensional Pleiadian Collective discusses the current state of humanity, emphasizing the importance of navigating uncertainty through heart-centered living and manifestation. They explore the role of the heart as a powerful center for health and vitality, the significance of extraterrestrial engagement and the impending disclosure, and the implications of holographic technology. The podcast also touches on the need to transmute fear into positive experiences and the relationship between AI and creativity, encouraging listeners to reconnect with their innate creative abilities. They discuss the language of light, the significance of galactic light codes, and the nature of time and consciousness. Wendy Kennedy is an intuitive, empath, and channel. For more than two decades she has used her gifts and abilities to work with beings in other realms and dimensions, assisting others in recognizing and releasing old patterns and helping them to live more whole and integrated lives. The clear and compassionate wisdom shared through Wendy facilitates a shift in perspective from that of separation and limitation to connection and multidimensional existence.___________________PODCAST CHAPTERS00:00 - Wendy Kennedy Intro1:14 - Humanity's Rising Frequencies2:27 - Rewriting Mental Conditioning3:39 - Memories of Atlantis and Ancient Egypt9:04 - Softness and Reconnecting to the Feminine10:45 - Guilt and Grief from Atlantis12:46 - Ancient Civilizations14:05 - Daily Life in Divine Consciousness16:45 - Living Without Judgment and Releasing Fear19:42 - Egypt Through the Pleiadian Lens21:18 - Letting Go of Fear and Worry23:12 - Pleiadian Teachings on Empowerment26:16 - Choosing Our Reality: Predictions vs Fear29:38 - Releasing Suppressed Energies32:42 - Channeling the P's33:30 - Manifestation and Frequency40:00 - The True Function of the Heart41:43 - Deadlines for Extraterrestrial Disclosure48:13 - The Role of Holographic Technology 52:26 - Navigating Truth in Disclosure53:56 - Emilio's UFO Sighting in Egypt56:40 - Preparing for ET Contact59:42 - Lessons from the AI Wars in Lyra1:06:15 - Moving from Ego to Heart1:11:46 - Mother Earth's Healing & Climate Shifts1:16:31 - Why Galactic Beings Care About Humanity?1:18:26 - Language of Light Activation1:26:12 - The Role of Syrians and Heart Energy Activation1:28:13 - Galactic Contracts and Oversoul Connections1:31:44 - Standing in Personal Power___________________Guest: Wendy Kennedy & the Pleiadians (P's)✦ Website | https://higherfrequencies.net/✦ Galactic Light Codes Monthly | https://higherfrequencies.mykajabi.co...✦ Courses & Group Sessions | https://www.higherfrequencies.academy...✦ IG |   / hgrfrequencies  ✦ YouTube | ​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠‪@hgrfrequencies‬ Host: Emilio Ortiz✦ IG |   / iamemilioortiz  ✦ Subscribe to Channel | ​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠‪@EmilioOrtiz‬ ✦ Watch Emilio's latest series on 4biddenknowledge TV l https://bit.ly/AwakenThe6thSense___________________© 2024 Emilio Ortiz. All rights reserved. Content from Just Tap In Podcast is protected under copyright law.Legal Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Just Tap In are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Emilio Ortiz or the Just Tap In Podcast. All content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.

Late last year, Syrian opposition forces captured Damascus and put an end to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian dictator, whose family had ruled the country for more than 50 years, fled to Moscow. Across the country, Syrians celebrated. Assad's fall exposed the brutality of his regime, including gruesome discoveries in government prisons, tens of thousands of disappeared people, and mass displacement. But the group that replaced it also has a record of violence—and a former affiliation with al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Welcome to Counterpoint. Each week, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view. Today, we're tackling the question: Is Syria on a path to realizing the hopes of the revolution? With us to make the case for viewing Syria's new government with skepticism is David Adesnik, the vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Arguing that Syrians are capable of securing a democratic future for themselves is Alia Malek, a journalist, former civil rights lawyer, and the author of The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria. Counterpoint is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy. The show is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 2024, the Assad regime in Syria was overthrown. Today, Ahmed al-Sharaa is acting as the interim president of Syria, at the head of a new transitional government. What will the future look like for Syria under its new leader? Will the coalition of rebel factions be able to work together to build a stable future for Syrians? Dr Nafees Hamid, Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Nils Mallock and Broderick McDonald discuss their research surveying and interviewing Syrian rebel fighters both before and after the fall of Assad, sharing insights into the motivations and values of Syria's new rulers. *This episode was recorded before the announcement of the new government. Follow ICSR_Centre on X to stay up to date with this research. This research is being undertaken as part of a project called XCEPT, which is funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government's official policies. XCEPT aims to understand the drivers of violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations – and to find solutions that support peace. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.

The Syrians fled

Several months after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad, Syria remains battered by more than a decade of war and is now facing the uphill task of rebuilding from within and claiming legitimacy on the global stage. On this episode of Frankly Speaking we hear from London-based Syrian analyst Ghassan Ibrahim. Is the worst truly behind Syria, or could renewed sectarian violence and growing tensions with Israel and Turkey cause further chaos? Will the new government win over Arab and Western leaders and finally see crippling sanctions lifted? And ultimately, can President Al-Sharaa deliver the peace and unity Syrians so desperately need?

Al Fadi and Dr Jay refute the first four claims : 1. Thomas the Presbyter (634AD), who refers to a battle between the Romans and a "Tayaye d-Mhmt" which happened east of Gaza in 634 AD. 2. A flyleaf (634 AD), this refers to a battle of Yarmuk between the Syrians and the Arab of Mhmud. 3. The Sophronius and Jerusalem (637 AD). A Christian account of the conquest of Jerusalem in 637 AD by the Caliph Umar. 4. The Pact of Umar(637 AD). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conservationists in India are celebrating the triumphant resurgence of big cats, but their increase has been mirrored by a surge in violent attacks on people. Michael Benanav dives into the new questions about safety, balance, tolerance, and coexistence. Also: today's stories, including how Syrians are rallying around their new flag, how music fuels Valerie June, her creative journey, and the world, and how collaboration in California between the Army Corps of Engineers, residents, and professional arborists is now leading to new growth after rampant wildfires. Join the Monitor's Noelle Swan for today's news.

Turkey's opposition is accusing Europe of abandoning those fighting to keep democracy alive, as European leaders and the EU offer only muted criticism over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and the crackdown on protests. Rubber bullets, water cannons, and mass arrests continue to meet demonstrators protesting the detention of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main rival. Yet, the EU is treading cautiously. "The arrest of the mayor is deeply concerning. As a member of the Council of Europe and an EU candidate country, Turkey must uphold democratic rights," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.EU and UK reactionsBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer, once a human rights lawyer, has so far remained silent on İmamoğlu's arrest. Only one of his aides issued a muted statement, saying the UK expects Turkey's judicial process to be respected.Turkey braces for more protests over Istanbul mayor's arrestÖzgür Özel, leader of the main opposition CHP party, has lashed out at Europe's response. "Those who champion democracy at home but empower autocracy in Turkey — those who say, ‘We'll give the money so the Syrians are taken care of' — will know this government will change next year. When all is said and done, Turkey will remember the silence of its friends more than the voices of its enemies," Özel told supporters.The UK and EU rely on Turkey to act as Europe's gatekeeper, hosting millions of Syrian refugees in exchange for billions of euros in aid.Erdoğan's two-decade grip on power, having repeatedly defeated the opposition at the polls, has left European leaders feeling powerless. "The consensus is that this is something we cannot change, something we cannot influence from outside. Europeans have mistakenly concluded they have no leverage over Turkey," says Aslı Aydıntaşbaş of the Washington-based Brookings Institution.But Aydıntaşbaş insists Europe still has powerful tools at its disposal. "Of course, Europeans have had — and still have — enormous leverage, particularly economic leverage, especially through Turkey's EU accession process. But they simply don't want to push."Erdoğan's importance to Europe is only growing, as European leaders scramble to strengthen their defences against a resurgent Russia and an unreliable United States. With NATO's second-largest army, Turkey is increasingly seen as critical to Europe's security."Turkey is more important than ever in this era of brutal geopolitical realities; it stands between two wars. President Erdoğan has been masterful in playing the West off against Russia, and the US against Europe. He has become an indispensable middle power — not exactly an ally, but certainly not someone you want to cross," Aydıntaşbaş explains."Europeans are interested in bringing Turkey closer into European defence plans," she adds. "The Americans, too, see Turkey as essential to stabilising Syria. Western countries simply don't want to risk pushing Erdoğan away."Further arrests as Turkey cracks down on protests over jailed Istanbul mayor EU and TurkeyEven before Europe's lukewarm reaction to İmamoğlu's arrest and the crackdown on protests, Turkey's opposition had accused the EU of abandoning Turkish democracy. Local human rights groups, still battling to defend civil liberties, claim the EU has quietly been cutting its funding since Erdoğan's election victory in 2023."There's a visible hesitation among international donors when it comes to Turkey," warns Sinan Gökçen, Turkey representative for the Sweden-based Civil Rights Defenders."When it comes to bilateral or intergovernmental funding, the refugee deal with the EU remains central to Turkey's relations with Europe. No one wants to upset that. In fact, no one wants to risk provoking Turkey," Gökçen adds.Turkey's opposition, however, shows no such restraint. As many as two million people took to the streets of Istanbul last Saturday to protest against Erdoğan and İmamoğlu's arrest. CHP Deputy Chairman İlhan Uzgel says that with Turkish democracy at breaking point, he is dismayed by Europe's silence — but remains confident in the people's resolve."We are losing our democracy. Every other day, a businessperson, a trade unionist, a student, a journalist, a doctor, an ordinary citizen, or an academic is taken into custody. We are facing our authoritarian leader alone," Uzgel declared.The CHP has vowed to continue mobilising mass protests across the country, stepping up its resistance. With Erdoğan accusing the opposition of treason and rebellion, further mass arrests are expected, along with legal moves against the party itself. Whatever the outcome of the battle for Turkey's democracy, Europe's leaders seem destined to be remembered as bystanders.

In our episode of ROPESCAST, we feature Shadi Martini, a Syrian humanitarian activist, doctor, and entrepreneur, who offers a surprisingly hopeful perspective amid Syria's devastation. Martini, who had to run for his life back in 2012 when he helped treating wounded Syrians in Aleppo hospitals against the orders of Assad regime, reveals why he believes a unique diplomatic opening has emerged that could not only end decades of Syria-Israel hostilities but potentially bring Syria into the Abraham Accords framework—a geopolitical shift few thought possible.Against the backdrop of catastrophic humanitarian conditions, where Assad's regime has left an economic wasteland and returning refugees find only ruins where their homes once stood, Martini makes a case for cautious optimism. He acknowledges the legitimate skepticism toward political transitions but argues that this rare convergence of regional interests might offer the Syrian people their best chance for meaningful reconstruction and reintegration into the regional community.Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional wisdom about Syria's future and explores what might be possible when desperation meets diplomatic opportunity.ROPESCAST is produced by the Regional Organization for Peace, Economics, & Security (ROPES), bringing together voices from across the Middle East to foster dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.

What's it like to be an Orthodox Christian in Syria? Father Josiah Trenham shares powerful stories of faith under fire. Over 12 years ago, Sunni jihadists kidnapped the Archbishop. Today's Archbishop faces no less danger. When the leader of ISIS passed through Aleppo, he sent a chilling message: "I'll have your head." The Archbishop's bold reply? "Come and take it—I'm not leaving my people."The courage of Syrian Christians under persecution is both inspiring and convicting—a sharp contrast to the religious freedom we often take for granted. Join Father Josiah and me as we explore religious freedom worldwide, the history of the Orthodox Church, the power of martyrs, and more.Fr Josiah's YouTube channel: ⁨@PatristicNectarFilms⁩ NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://lilaroseshow.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA and get 10% off!-Crowd Health: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ The new alternative to health insurance - sign up and use the code "LILA" for a special deal of $99 for your first 3 months!-Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code “LILA” for a free month!00:00:00 - Intro00:03:46 - Why Orthodox?00:09:09 - Catholic vs Orthodox00:09:43 - Covenant Eyes00:10:46 - Orthodox vs Catholic vs Protestant00:19:08 - Orthodox are Very Stubborn00:20:22 - Crowd Health00:21:21 - Orthodox Liturgy melted Father's heart00:25:41 - Biggest differences between Catholic and Orthodox?00:29:42 - EveryLife00:30:30 - “Radical Difference” in understanding of Holy Spirit00:41:50 - Christians in Syria and Middle East00:44:40 - Early Church Martyrs00:48:43 - Are you in touch with Christians in Syria?00:50:28 - Islam and War in Syria00:54:56 - What do you make of moderate Muslims?01:09:06 - What can we do for Syrians?01:14:41 - Trump Administration

As we entered 2025, there was a sense of cautious optimism about Syria. With Assad gone, many hoped the country could finally begin to turn a page. Instead, earlier this month over 1,000 civilians were killed in an outburst of sectarian violence prompting global concern. This concern is especially acute among Syria's religious and ethnic minorities. With Syria standing at a pivotal moment, Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis to highlight how lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through genuine inclusion and equal citizenship for all Syrians.Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the religious freedom movement globally. She also serves as a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, and previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Syria at a Crossroad: After Mass Killings, Can They Build a Just and Inclusive Future?Great Sea Interconnector moves aheadSouthern Europe rebuffs von der Leyen's debt-based defense plan

After the Syrians besiege Samaria: Elisha has a word from God that He will supply an abundance of food the following day The king's advisor doesn't believe YHWH's word, so Elisha prophesies against him 4 lepers visit the Syrian camp, and to their surprise, the Syrians are gone God's word comes true, and an abundance of food is supplied to the people   Here's other amazing content from P40! YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries  Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries  Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com  Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-6493869  Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk  Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop  YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle    Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee  https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40   This ministry is only made possible due to your generous support https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries

Since the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's regime last December and an increasingly virulent debate on immigration in Germany, many exiled Syrians there are wondering about their future. Some are already packing their bags to return home, while others are eagerly awaiting the resumption of direct flights between Berlin and Damascus so that they can visit their families, but have no intention of returning to live in Syria. More than a million Syrian refugees call Germany home, with many of them having rebuilt their lives there. FRANCE 24's Louay Ghabra, Sébastien Millard, Anne Mailliet and Nick Holdsworth report.

In today's episode: Elisha helps a man recover an ax head The Syrians are at war again with Israel, but this time, none of their plans are working The Syrian king finds out the Elisha has been revealing all his plans Elisha is surrounded by an army of angry Syrians Elisha is surrounded by an army of angels and chariots of fire Do we have personal guardian angels?   There are so many other things P40 does! Check it out: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries  Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries  Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com  Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/c-6493869  Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk  Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop  YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle    Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee  https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40   This ministry is only made possible due to your generous support https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries    

US envoy Witkoff starts talks in Qatar as Israel proposes truce extension "US presidential envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has begun talks in Qatar to push for progress on releasing Israeli captives amid a proposal by Tel Aviv to extend a ceasefire deal in besieged Gaza for 60 days, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported. The first 42-day phase of a three-phase ceasefire and prisoner swap deal, each of equal length, between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US, ended March 1 after starting on January 19. Israel has reneged on the truce deal announced by Biden administration last year and wants to impose its own new deal on Palestine." White House puts pressure on Columbia University as it seeks to deport pro-Palestine activists "The White House says Columbia University is refusing to help federal agents find people being sought as part of the government's effort to deport participants in pro-Palestine demonstrations. In a briefing with reporters in Washington, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said federal authorities have been ""using intelligence"" to identify other people involved in campus demonstrations critical of Israeli aggression. She said Columbia had been given names and was refusing to help the Department of Homeland Security ""to identify those individuals on campus""." Syrians rally in support of new government after attacks by Assad loyalists "Hundreds of civilians have gathered in Syria's Latakia to express support for the government forces following recent incidents in the province. People assembled in Sheikh Dahir Square in the centre of Latakia, holding banners with Arabic messages, including: ""The forces of the deposed regime have destroyed the infrastructure"", "The Alsharaa government represents me", and ""We stand with the security forces"". Some demonstrators carried flags of the Syrian Army, while others displayed photos of security personnel who died in clashes between March 6 and 10." Portuguese government loses confidence vote, paving way for snap elections "Portugal could be heading to its third general election in three years after the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a vote of confidence. The vote was called over conflict-of-interest accusations against Montenegro involving a family business. A last-minute attempt to avoid the vote failed when terms could not be agreed for setting up a mooted parliamentary inquiry. The country's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, must now decide whether to dissolve the assembly and call new elections." India bans Kashmir political parties days after criticising 'obscene' fashion show "The Indian government has imposed a five-year ban on two local political parties in India-administered Kashmir, declaring them ""unlawful associations"" threatening India's sovereignty, integrity and security. According to Indian Home Ministry, the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), were accused of ""supporting terrorism, spreading anti-India narratives, and raising funds for secessionist movements in the region"". The Indian government invoked Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to enforce the five-year ban."

With hundreds dead after days of fighting between armed supporters of former leader Bashar al-Assad and government forces, the worst violence since al-Assad's fall, Syrians are grappling with how to move forward. Days ahead of the 14th anniversary of Syria's uprising, the country faces an uncertain path forward. In this episode: Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich and our guest host, Manuel Rápalo. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editor is Hisham Abu Salah. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Today, we welcome Mick Mulroy to discuss Fogbow, his new humanitarian NGO, and their work in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria. We also discuss the growing number of veteran humanitarian organizations getting involved in some of the most distressed places on Earth. --- One CA is a product of the civil affairs association and brings in people who are current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences on the ground with a partner nation's people and leadership. We aim to inspire anyone interested in working in the "last three feet" of U.S. foreign relations.  To contact the show, email us at CApodcasting@gmail.com  or look us up on the Civil Affairs Association website at www civilaffairsassoc.org --- Great news! Feedspot, the podcast industry ranking system rated One CA Podcast as one of the top 10 shows on foreign policy. Check it out at: https://podcast.feedspot.com/foreign_policy_podcasts/ --- Special Thanks to Businside for the sample of Upbeat Background Music - Dance and Electronic Music. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/1MzdQLTBPPo?si=6cJR4qPYoJUaohh3 --- Rough transcript:  00:00:05    Open Welcome to the 1CA podcast. This is your host, Jack Gaines. 1CA is a product of the Civil Affairs Association and brings in people who are current or former military, diplomats, development officers, and field agents to discuss their experiences on ground with a partner nation's people and leadership. Our goal is to inspire anyone interested in working the last three feet of foreign relations. To contact the show, email us at capodcasting at gmail dot com. or look us up on the Civil Affairs Association website at www .civilaffairsassos .org. I'll have those in the show notes. Today, we welcome Mick Mulroy to discuss Fogbow, his new humanitarian NGO, and their work in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria. We also discuss the growing number of veteran humanitarian organizations getting involved in some of the most distressed places on Earth. So let's get started. 00:00:57    MIC MULROY I've been to Syria several times, but I haven't been there recently and not since all of the Assad regime. So we are looking at the potential for what we as a group who supports humanitarian efforts can do in Syria. 00:01:11    JACK GAINES I hope Syria straightens out. The new government actually does build out something representative for the population and the economy, that it becomes more centrist. I have a lot of hope. I think we all should, 00:01:21    MIC MULROY have a lot of hope. I think we all should, right? It's a good thing, obviously, that Assad's... gone. I mean, hundreds of thousands of deaths are on his hands. So certainly a good thing. The question is whether the incoming crowd who took government control by force are going to be the reformers they say they are, or are they going to go back to their roots? I think the verdict is still out. We should all hope that's the case. I think the incoming or now the team that's in place is a bit more skeptical than the last. You can tell by whether they call them Jelani or Al -Shirar. That's the first indicator when I was doing my rounds on both the Hill Congress and the Trump team. I think there's criticism on just how inclusive they're going to be. But we should all hope that that is the case and that there's an election soon rather than the four years that I think they've been saying. But certainly when it comes to sections that are more related to Assad. They should be reconsidered, and we should look at what we're doing there long term. With the SDF during the defeat of ISIS, the crisis, if we pull out precipitously, both for our partners, the SDF and for the counterterrorism effort, but also our strategy against Iran and Russia to a certain extent, which right now, I think everybody would stay on their backside, especially when it comes to Syria. But when it comes to humanitarian assistance, there is a dire need, for sure. And I think that is something that a lot of groups are looking at, how they can contribute to the rebuilding of Syria and the promotion of a stable country that looks more inward. Their own people vice becoming a client state to actors don't have best interests Syrians like Russia. 00:03:10    JACK GAINES And it's interesting that with their change of government and Lebanon being able to form a government because Hezbollah has their fingers out of the pie right now. I see it as a real strategic opportunity because if Lebanon can get on its foot, Syria can get on its feet, there could be a whole sea change of policy in that region to where Iran's behaviors are balanced, Russia's behavior are balanced, the nations down there can actually rebuild and have a more stable government and a healthier international relationship. I agree with you, 00:03:40    MIC MULROY I agree with you, Derek. I think this is a very big opportunity for the United States. I use boxing analogies because I used to box. I used to coach boxing in the Marine Corps. This is a point where you see your opponent on the ropes, right? You don't back up. You go in and try to end the fight. I know we're not going to end the fight or the competition between us and Russia, but Ayoun is a partner, obviously the former commander of Lebanese Armed Forces. We have supported them for a long period of time. They were a very effective partner with us, and he was the head of it. So that's a huge opportunity right there. Iran, I think, has many strategic mistakes, and they realize that now, and they've seen it both in their major losses with leadership across the board, their capability, and of course in Syria. I mean, their corridor to fund and supply groups like Hamas and Hezbollah has been cut off, and they just don't have the platform that they have. And I think we should capitalize on that. Our policy should be... The promotion of U .S. interests, part of that, I believe, I don't know if we're going to today, is the promotion of democracy and human rights. But certainly, this is an opportunity to do both, our strategic interests and promotion of democratic values. 00:04:55    JACK GAINES With Fog Bow, you have a pretty heady team. Some folks that I've recognized from other efforts, some new. Ambassador Smith is awesome. Roger Thompson, you've got a lot of great people here. 00:05:06    MIC MULROY of great people here. 00:05:08    JACK GAINES By name only. 00:05:08    MIC MULROY name only. 00:05:10    JACK GAINES Well, Chris, he'd be right there with him. 00:05:11    MIC MULROY be right there with him. Yeah, so FABO is primarily veterans, but we have our humanitarian. And the skills that we have that I think are additive to the whole endeavor, which are air delivery. We've done that in Sudan. We've done maritime delivery in Gaza. We know Austere Logistics. We're a very small company, but we really focused on doing that. And that's why I said Roger's the MVP, right? So we have a lot of former SOF folks. We have a lot of... former special operations veterans, whose skill includes all the delivery and the planning and kind of figuring out hard problems where there's no easy solution. But Roger's done Marine Infantry, but he was also a Marine Logistics Officer. So that's why I say he's the MVP, because that's what we do essentially is logistics. Our mission accomplished, it's food delivered, people in need. 00:06:03    JACK GAINES Right. I've had a couple people on talk about the Triton Pier. Some of the challenges with prepping in Cyprus for it, putting the peer out, getting as much aid as possible out, and how the thing broke up. But similar to that, Fogbo seems to be focused on some of the harder areas to reach with aid. It's not a typical aid organization. You go into very restrictive areas that have real security challenges, and you help make sure that humanitarian effort arrives. so that people can continue to survive until conflicts, until crisis or disasters are resolved. That's a tough space to work in. And that's why we get requested to come in. 00:06:42    MIC MULROY to work in. And that's why we get requested to come in. When it comes to the pier, I would say this. We, Sam Mundy, Ricard General, you probably saw on the site, we briefed the last administration several times on the idea of bringing in aid. The Ameritimese, they came up with the JLOPS, the Joint Logistics on the Shore system. To be frank, we didn't think it was the best. Because of the sea states at the time, it could have been done a different way. But we're Americans, and by God, if the U .S. military is going to push up here from Virginia to Gaza, we're going to support it out of pocket. There's not a whole lot of countries that do something. In the United States, it did something, and it might not have been perfect, but it did still over 33 ,000 tons of food into Gaza when it's needed. So that's done, and we're still working to build facilities that can assist the storage of... Critical food aid, medical aid. For NGOs. The other point on how difficult, just to give you a highlight, in Sudan there was a very substantial population that got cut off from ground delivery of food because of that. Primarily the rainy season cut off the roads and the fighting, of course. They were out of food. And all it took was somebody who could come in there and deliver food via air in a very tightly controlled area because of the conflict. And that's where we fit in. That's de -conflicting battle space and airdrops, austere environments. That's what not just people in Fogbo, but that's what the U .S. military is pretty damn good at. So that's what we did for three months, and I think we did a lot of good. And now the situation has changed. It can get ground to leverage. But that's just an example of what we're doing. We're also looking to expand in others. And it's certainly not just about us. There's a lot of groups doing this out there. And if they see a need for our skill set, Give us a call. 00:08:35    JACK GAINES And I'll put it on the show notes as well. I'm sure this must be an adrenaline rush for a lot of the veterans to actually be out in the mix delivering humanitarian supplies, which is a great reward for the skills that a lot of people have. What kind of feedback have you gotten from your logistics teams, your pilots, your air crew, about what it's like to work for the organization? It really comes down to a mission, 00:08:56    MIC MULROY It really comes down to a mission, right? So we're all there because of mission, which is to enable humanitarian operations. We are a private company. That's why it's really incumbent on us to assist NGOs that are out there doing great work. I think the most feedback I've gotten is actually taking the skills that they learned over 20, sometimes 30 years, in our case, the U .S. military, a lot of it in conflict, and do something like this. So it's, and myself included, have really taken this mission on as important as any mission I've ever had. And that's what I hear. But of course, it isn't about us. I mean, there's other groups that are doing this, and there's certainly other groups that can do this, that get veterans that are really looking for something other than your standard jobs. This is an area where they can really have an impact really quick. 00:09:50    JACK GAINES The reason I bring it up is that I had Scott Mann on, and one of the things he really challenged with, we're all cause -based in the military. We work to a cause. We have a bigger thing we're trying to reach. And people get out. Some go to church, some start a business, some start a pizzeria or a workout joint. But some just struggle with trying to find that sense of cause and how they place it, what they can do with it. And his challenge was it drove him to suicide because he couldn't find his place in life after getting out of the military. And so that's why he looked into other things like acting and writing books and lectures and veterans of care programs. Veterans Without Orders, who does water delivery, because I want to show veterans that there are opportunities out there. We can apply that sense of cause to make a difference so that they don't feel like they're alone in this world. When I was talking to the Veterans Without Orders folks, what they found is being on the ground, a lot of the NGOs were surprised at how fast and efficient they were. They went to Haiti and some of the World Food Program folks were like, wow, how long have you guys been working together? It seems like you've been friends for years. And he's like, no, actually, We had a phone call for 20 minutes, landed, met, got on it. But we just have a common language. We understand what each other's doing. We know we're both here for the right reasons. And you just build that instant trust in order to do a mission. And that's what I assume you guys are seeing there as well. I worked pretty closely with him on the Afghan evacuation. 00:11:15    MIC MULROY I worked pretty closely with him on the Afghan evacuation. My group was called Dunkirk. We weren't a Team America Elite. We also did a lot with Scott. Because that was such a cause near and dear to their heart, that was the first. foray into humanitarian work. And I think that's stuck with a lot of them. And we're seeing a lot of that continue around the world where veterans say, oh, we can really do something here. I think that's great. 00:11:41    JACK GAINES With Kabul on the midst of collapsing, I saw a lot of veterans rallying together to figure out how to get private logistics in there, getting buses, getting private planes. One thing that I bumped into was a lot of NGOs that were desperately trying to get help because they had people that were working with aid and with state and with the military that were not represented on those lists that needed to get out of there because they were part of the cigar report or they were part of distribution and the Taliban knew who they were and they were going to come after them. My part was just plugging those NGOs in with veterans who had logistics, who had access to help them get some of those folks out. But I did notice that... Once people got involved, it's just almost like there was a light came on and said, oh, I don't have to wait for the U .S. government to order me to do something. I can actually go make a difference. I can take my skills and help be a part of the whole foreign policy scheme and actually do stuff. I can do it without having to be a part of aid or state. I can just build an NGO and do it. So I'm glad to see that splintering because I think it's created a lot of opportunities for folks. Yeah, 00:12:47    MIC MULROY Yeah, and it just doesn't need to be about... FIBO, we're just one group of many. My preference would be more about the need, and that is where we're going, right, where the need is. And then to the extent that there's a secondary is the fact that veterans can get involved. They can start their own. They can get involved with us. They can get involved with other groups. We do want to be the promoter of that concept. We get a lot of veterans out there. They need a purpose, I think. But there's also a need out there. It's on both sides of the equation. And I think... The skills that they bring to the table, they are very value -added into this arena. And we've heard that from many humanitarians, quite frankly, who have not been able to figure this out. This is something that we would have put in the too difficult category. So it doesn't need to be about our particular group. I think it should be about the need, which is growing. And on that side, there is massive crises around the world. People should care that they're starving kids in Sudan. And on top of that, the consequences. are going to be felt by everybody in the world if there is massive migration of their ability to feed themselves or their fling and conflict that make it untenable to even exist there. So these are issues that are very human issues that I think anybody, whether they're in Europe or the United States or Japan, should care about, but also because it could dramatically impact where they live because this is not something that's just going to stay contained. There are conflicts that are growing, that are perpetuated in existence. And there are, of course, climate issues. Climate's changing, and that's going to cause mass migration. And not people that are coming with their own means to support themselves. So not just taking care of the immediate need, which is food to people that are farming, but building up their ability to feed themselves has to be part of the long -term equation, or we're never going to get out of that cycle. And then we create these permanent IDK camps. and no chance of a future. So that needs to be done, but there needs to be long -term planning in the international community. I think from the U .S. perspective, I think we should lead it, but I don't think we should be it. This needs to be a joint effort by the international community. Actions are what count. So that should be a collective effort of the international community, which the United States would be a part. It'd certainly lead, in my opinion, but it needs to be much more of a collective effort. Some people... I'm just not used to seeing a lot of veterans in the humanitarians here. And there has been some like, wow, you guys are military. What are you guys doing here? And for the groups, the veterans that are out there doing it, if they're asking my opinion, I'd say just be clear. Don't worry about justifying your purpose in the humanitarian. There's never going to be too many people trying to help people around the world. So just drive on, do good work, and they'll either appreciate it or they won't. But I do hear that from other veterans that get into the area. To your point. Very few people serve in the United States, just the way it is. It's a very small group. Not to be corny, but it is a family. It's almost like there's characteristics that you just notice immediately across the services that you just have a commonality. So you talk to say, why would you think? Generally the same way, you're very mission -oriented, and that's something that's covering to a lot of people when they get with other veterans. In veteran suicide, it is a serious problem, and there are people addressing it, and I think they're doing great work. But one of the things I found, and you referenced it when it comes to Scott, is you don't have a purpose. From what I've seen, people can go downhill pretty quick. You go into a pit. And I live in Montana. I love Montana on a veterans here and coming. Some of the guys live in a pretty remote area. Some, like myself, live pretty close there. And when we do vet events, you basically send guys out to get other guys and say, yeah, I'll tell you no for an answer. They need to come in. They need to be around their people. They need to... shoot the shit and rib each other's and smoke a cigar or add a bourbon or whatever their thing is. But you got to go out there and find these guys. And some of them, they might appear to be okay, but next day they're not. 00:16:49    JACK GAINES Let me know if I have this picture right. You've created the Lobos Institute, which is kind of a training and preparation for people who want to get out and work in the humanitarian space or do outreach or work with partner nations. Outreach. to enable people to either help you with your outreach and your programs or to create their own space. And then you have Fogbo, which is kind of your operational arm where you are focusing on humanitarian assistance through Fogbo as when a filter for people who come through the Lobos Institute or other volunteers, but it's also a way for you to get into helping support others in need around the world. Is that kind of a clear way that you align this? Lobos Institute, 00:17:30    MIC MULROY Lobos Institute, three main components. One's like a think tank. where people learn and discuss issues of national security. The second part is tactical training here in Montana. So it's, as you might catch, mountain warfare, because everybody thinks winter warfare when I think of Montana. But the main effort is the enabling of humanitarian operations. And we've worked with the UN and Yemen, with the State Department in Afghanistan after withdrawal. And we're doing a lot of this with FABO in Sudan. As I mentioned, we don't do security sort of thing. It's important and there's groups to do it. That's cool. But it's not us. So my perspective, I would like to see more attention on some of these international and humanitarian crises. It's not something that exists simply on the other side of the world. And I'd like to see the extent that veterans are looking for something to do post -career, of course, military veterans, but State Department, the agency, et cetera. This is a place that I think they'll find meaning and purpose. And I think we all need that. 00:18:32    JACK GAINES Right. Crisis and disasters also attracts opportunism. I think a lot of people realize that with Afghanistan, that we're just feeding the wrong animal in a lot of ways. And that we just have to understand that with our aid and our foreign policy, that anytime that we give something, every time we build something, we also attract opportunism. And we need to make sure that when we're handling the government's business, We're doing it in the right possible way with the right checks and balances so that we're not just passing off vaccines to someone who's going to just sell them on the black market so that they can go to London and party. There's a lot to be learned from the time we spent in Afghanistan on the military side and on the diplomatic side, 00:19:08    MIC MULROY There's a lot to be learned from the time we spent in Afghanistan on the military side and on the diplomatic side, but certainly on the aid side and foreign assistance. When it comes to that, a lot of great work done by a lot of great people. But we need to take the lessons learned from that as well, because I think there's a growing concern that... The United States is the biggest donor around the world, which I think we should be proud of, but it's almost taken for granted. And a lot of it is not actually getting to the people whose it's intended to. Which my humble opinion doesn't mean we stop, it just means we get better at. That needs to be better explained to the American taxpayer who ultimately are the ones paying the bill. That's, I think it should go without saying, but I am saying it because I think there's a backlash and we don't want that to be the case. from the American people on what they view as just like an endless credit card for crises around the world from the American people without proper safeguards. And I think we need to get to a place where they feel more confident that's the case and where they feel it's aligned with our overall interest. 00:20:12    Close Thanks for listening. If you get a chance, please like and subscribe and rate the show on your favorite podcast platform. Also, if you're interested in coming on the show or hosting an episode, email us at capodcasting at gmail .com. I'll have the email and CA Association website in the show notes. And now, most importantly, to those currently out in the field working with a partner nation's people or leadership to forward U .S. relations, thank you all for what you're doing. This is Jack, your host. Stay tuned for more great episodes. One CA Podcast.  

It's been reported that more than 1,000 Syrians have been killed in the past few days in clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, and revenge killings that followed. Syria's interim leader has appealed for unity, and hundreds of people have reportedly fled their homes in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus - strongholds of Assad support. Witnesses have described scenes of looting and mass killings, including of women and children. Nuala McGovern is joined by the BBC's Middle East Correspondent Lina Sinjab in Damascus.Inside Counter Terrorism Policing is a new podcast featuring five women working in a range of roles across the UK who have shared their story with the aim of inspiring others to consider a career in national security and policing. We hear from Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing for the UK, and an officer we are calling ‘Emma', who will explain the challenges of her role as a handler of covert sources.If you've been to Dublin - you might have across the statue to Molly Malone, the very famous Dubliner. You might know the song Cockles and Mussels, which commemorates her. Busker Tilly Cripwell has been campaigning for her to be treated with more respect and to be elevated to stop passers by from groping her breasts - for 'good luck' - a 'tradition' for some.In 1975, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest, battling through avalanches, altitude sickness and the changing elements. Since then, over 800 women have climbed Everest, yet they still only make up an estimated 12% of all climbers to tackle the mountain. Rebecca Stephens is the first British woman to summit Everest and tells us more about Junko.Have you been watching Toxic Town? The Netflix series tells the story of a town's toxic waste case. It follows the real-life battle of families in Corby who gave birth to children with limb differences in the 1980s and 1990s and their search for answers and justice. In 2009, after a long legal battle the High Court ruled Corby Borough Council was negligent in managing the waste. And in 2010 families affected won a financial settlement. Nuala speaks to Tracey Taylor, one of the mothers portrayed in the series, and Annabel Jones, one of the executive producers.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Friday Bible Study (2/28/25) // 2 Kings 13 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.orgFollow us to remain connected: Facebook: / mbc.chicago Instagram: / mbc.chicago TikTok: / mbc.chicago Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & othersTo support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but...2 Kings 13 (ESV)Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel13 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael. 4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (Therefore the Lord gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin, but walked[a] in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7 For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.Jehoash Reigns in Israel10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash[b] the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them. 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.The Death of Elisha14 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” 18 And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Since President Trump's inauguration, Moscow has experienced a dramatic return from the diplomatic wilderness. The Monitor's Fred Weir looks at how the challenge for Russia is to figure out how to exploit the opportunities that have opened up. Also: today's stories, including an online columnist who skewers hypocrisy and absurdity on both sides of the aisle, a film showcasing an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan, and how severe sanctions stand in the way as Syrians are trying to rebuild homes and communities after years of civil war. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The US and Ukraine are planning to work together to develop Ukraine's mineral, oil and gas resources. Also, the Israeli military has conducted strikes in southern Syria as Syrians work through their political transition period. And, development and the elements are unearthing some of the first mummies in the world in Chile. Plus, Japanese youth turn to some unconventional dating methods.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week on Conflicted, we begin in earnest our retrospective on the Syrian Civil War, where we will be inviting actual Syrians from a multitude of different perspectives, to tell us about their experiences of the war.  After setting the scene with our old friend Wassim Nasr last time, over our upcoming episodes, we'll be creating a kind of narrative history for you, our listeners, as we make sense of this most complex of conflicts from as many angles as we can. In this episode, Thomas invites on Syrian Kurd Ronnie Hamada to delve into the complexities of the Syrian Civil War, focusing on the Kurdish experience and setting the scene with their historical identity.  Ronnie has been working in data and analysis of conflicts in Syria and the wider Middle East for the past 10 years, working alongside journalists and NGOs to map conflicts and combat misinformation, and his story of life under siege in Aleppo and Afrin is an extraordinary one… They explore the historical context of Kurdish nationalism, the impact of Arab nationalism, and the political dynamics within Kurdish communities in Syria. Ronnie shares his personal story and insights, highlighting the challenges faced by Kurds, including statelessness and cultural repression and the intricate dynamics of Kurdish identity and politics in Syria, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring. New Conflicted Season 5 episodes will be coming every two weeks, but if you want to have your Conflicted fix every single week, then you'll have to join our Conflicted Community. Subscribers will get bonus episodes every other week, and can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up to the Conflicted Community is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a new administration at the helm, the US voted yesterday against a UNGA resolution blaming Russia for the war in Ukraine. Also, hundreds of Syrians from diverse ethnic and minority communities gathered this week in Damascus for a national dialogue conference to chart the country's political transition. And, mixed reactions in Russia over Oscar-nominated film “Anora.” Plus, “listening lounges” are music bars in Japan that aim to maximize the audio experience.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

He was born sometime in the mid-fourth century on an island in the Aegean. For a time he lived successfully in the world, receiving a good education in Constantinople, then serving for a time for the Prefect of the Praetorium. But, becoming aware of the vanity of worldly things, he answered Christ's call, gave away all his goods to the poor and entered a monastery in Syria. After four years in obedience, he came to feel that the security of monastic life was inconsistent with the Gospel command to take no thought for the morrow; so he withdrew to the desert, taking with him only his garment and the Book of the Gospel. There he lived alone for seven years.   At the end of this period he set out on an apostolic mission to Mesopotamia, where he brought many to Christ: the city prefect Rabbula was converted after Alexander brought down fire from heaven, and a band of brigands who accosted the Saint on the road were transformed into a monastic community. He finally fled the city when the Christians there rose up demanding that he be made bishop. He once again took up a solitary life in the desert beyond the Euphrates, spending the day in prayer and part of the night sheltered in a barrel. There he remained for forty years. His holiness gradually attracted more than four hundred disciples, whom Alexander organized into a monastic community. Each disciple owned only one tunic, and was required to give away anything that they did not need for that day. Despite this threadbare life, the monastery was able to set up and run a hospice for the poor!   Alexander was perplexed as to how the admonition Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) could be fulfilled by frail human flesh, but after three years of fasting and prayer, God showed him a method. He organized his monks into four groups according to whether their native language was Greek, Latin, Syriac or Coptic, and the groups prayed in shifts throughout the day and night. Twenty-four divine services were appointed each day, and the monks would chant from the Psalter between services. The community henceforth came to be known as the Akoimetoi, the Unsleeping Ones. (Similar communities later sprang up in the West, practicing what was there called Laus Perennis; St Columban founded many of these.)   Always desiring to spread the holy Gospel, Saint Alexander sent companies of missionaries to the pagans of southern Egypt. He and a company of 150 disciples set out as a kind of traveling monastery, living entirely on the charity of the villages they visited. Eventually they settled in some abandoned baths in Antioch, setting up a there a monastery dedicated to the unceasing praise of God; but a jealous bishop drove them from the city. Making his way to Constantinople, he settled there with four monks. In a few days, more than four hundred monks had left their monasteries to join his community. The Saint organized them into three companies — Greeks, Latins and Syrians — and restored the program of unsleeping prayer that his community had practiced in Mesopotamia. Not surprisingly, his success aroused the envy and anger of the abbots whose monasteries had been nearly emptied; they managed to have him condemned as a Messalian at a council held in 426. (The Messalians were an over-spiritualizing sect who believed that the Christian life consisted exclusively of prayer.) Alexander was sent back to Syria, and most of his monks were imprisoned; but as soon as they were released, most fled the city to join him again. The Saint spent his last years traveling from place to place, founding monasteries, often persecuted, until he reposed in 430, 'to join the Angelic choirs which he had so well imitated on earth.' (Synaxarion)   The practice of unceasing praise, established by St Alexander, spread throughout the Empire. The Monastery of the Akoimetoi, founded by a St Marcellus, a successor of Alexander, was established in Constantinople and became a beacon to the Christian world. 'Even though it has not been retained in today's practice, the unceasing praise established by Saint Alexander was influential in the formation of the daily cycle of liturgical offices in the East and even more so in the West.' (Synaxarion)

Conflicted takes on… the Syrian Civil War.  In the wake of the fall of Assad, with the Syrian Civil War over, at least for the moment, Conflicted is bringing you a bit of a retrospective. In the coming episodes, we'll be inviting Syrians and other people who experienced the conflict, from a multitude of different perspectives, onto the show to tell us about their experiences of the war. In doing so, we want to create a kind of narrative history as we make sense of this most complex of conflicts from as many angles as we can. In our first episode, we have an old friend of the show Wassim Nasr, a journalist for France24, who Conflicted Community members will remember from when we spoke to him about his incredible reporting from the Sahel Region of Africa. But Wassim's reporting on Syria is equally enlightening, with some of the greatest access you will see anywhere. He has been on the ground in Syria throughout the conflict, and was in fact one of the first Western journalists to meet with Ahmed Al-Sharaa, now the country's interim president, after Assad's fall.  In this episode, we're setting up some crucial context for the Syrian Civil War through the surprising rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), providing a nuanced understanding of their evolution from an Al-Qaeda affiliate to a pragmatic political force that ultimately took control of the country. And then to top it all off, we'll hear all about Wassim's two meetings with Al-Sharaa… New Conflicted Season 5 episodes will be coming every two weeks, but if you want to have your Conflicted fix every single week, then you'll have to join our Conflicted Community. Subscribers will get bonus episodes every other week, and can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more. All the information you need to sign up to the Conflicted Community is on this link: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Conflicted is proudly made by Message Heard, a full-stack podcast production agency which uses its extensive expertise to make its own shows such as Conflicted, shows for commissioners such as the BBC, Spotify and Al Jazeera, and powerfully effective podcasts for other companies too. If you'd like to find out how we can help get your organisation's message heard, visit messageheard.com or drop an email to hello@messageheard.com! Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The tiny thing that unravels your world. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira talks to Chris Benderev, whose high school years were completely upended by an impromptu thing his teacher said. (8 minutes)Act One: For Producer Lilly Sullivan, there's one story about her parents that defines how she sees them, their family, and their history. She finds out it might be wrong. (27 minutes)Act Two: For years, Mike Comite has replayed in his head the moment when he and his bandmate blew their shot of making it as musicians. He sets out to uncover how it all went awry. (13 minutes)Act Three: Six million Syrians fled the country after the start of its civil war. A few weeks ago, one woman watched from afar as everything in her home country changed forever – again. (9 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

TikTok's U.S. future is up to the Supreme Court. The Chinese-owned company wants the high court to stop a ban of the app from taking effect next month. Many Syrian refugees say they want to go home, now that the Assad regime is gone — but what will wait there for them? In France, judges delivered verdicts in a rape case that has shocked the nation and the world. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kara Plantoni, Arezou Rezvani, Ryland Barton, HJ Mai and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Nisha Heinis, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Some people in Syria aren't so sure what the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government means for them. We hear from Syrians who ask if the collapse of the old regime might bring retribution against them. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying one more time for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. What could make this time any different? ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with President-elect Trump. The network will donate millions to his presidential library, even though experts felt ABC had a strong legal defense.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Arezou Rezvani, Carrie Kahn, Emily Kopp, HJ Mai and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Taylor Haney, Nia Dumas and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy