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FDD Morning Brief

FDD

The FDD Morning Brief provides timely situational updates on contemporary events. Start your Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 8:30am (ET) with digestible analysis and the headlines our experts are watching. The FDD Morning Brief can be streamed on YouTube, X, and is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday

Episodes20

Newest first
  • Yesterday · 27 min

    The rise of the Axis of Aggressors | feat. Bradley Bowman

    Headlines: Two more Iranian nationals have been executed by the regime for allegedly spying on behalf of Israel. Reports are swirling in the region that the Saudis may need to go back to military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. If the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t open, the Brits could experience a serious recession in 2027. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • Friday · 21 min

    Iran's conflict calculus | feat. Norman Roule

    Headlines: Last night President Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to give up its weapons and hand over power in Gaza to the newly established National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (or NCAG). U.S. officials say multiple U.N. relief agencies continue to stonewall a U.S. probe into their ties to Hamas, withholding key documents and other information that could reveal their employees as affiliates of the terror group. -- FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Norman Roule, former national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and current non-resident senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • Wednesday · 27 min

    America's next strategic test | feat. LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster

    Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with CMPP Chairman LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 27 · 26 min

    Defusing Iran's nuclear ambitions | feat. Richard Goldberg

    FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 24 · 28 min

    Digging into Pickaxe Mountain | feat. Ilan Berman

    Headlines: Greece is planning to buy a multi-layer air defense system, drones, and other military aircraft from Israel. Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs is pushing to shutter the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem. Iranian strikes on CIA facilities in the Gulf has intel folks wondering: is Russia helping the Islamic Republic target American facilities? A congressional letter landed on Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s desk this week. The topic: Malaysia. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council. Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 22 · 27 min

    The MidEast view from Capitol Hill | feat. Alexandria Paolozzi Moore

    Headlines: The Lebanese Armed Forces started deploying troops to areas in south Lebanon formerly held by the IDF. The Iran-backed Houthis sent an email blast to shipping companies warning them not to load or offload cargo at Saudi ports. Hamas announced the election of Khalil al-Hayya as its new leader, replacing the late Yahya Sinwar who was killed back in October 2024. The Wall Street Journal reports that Saudi Arabia has been granted approval by Donald Trump to begin operating a civilian nuclear reactor. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Alexandria Paolozzi Moore, senior director of government relations at FDD Action. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 20 · 28 min

    Testing the waters of Hormuz | feat. Behnam Ben Taleblu

    Headlines: The Israelis were forced to activate their air defenses on Saturday night as an Iranian missile hurtled toward Aqaba, the southern Jordanian city that is nestled right next to the Israeli city of Eilat. Two Iranians were hanged over the weekend for anti-government protests and activities. The Wall Street Journal reports that the ceasefire between the Islamic Republic and the United States enabled the regime to get a bunch of its oil out onto the open market. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with FDD Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 17 · 28 min

    Britain's belated reckoning with the IRGC | feat. Robin Simcox

    Headlines: The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned seven companies and individuals that are part of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ weapons procurement network. Iran instructed the Houthis in Yemen to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the U.S. strikes Iranian power infrastructure. Syrian authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle arms from Iraq through Syria and onward to Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Trump announced the release of a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen from the Islamic Republic almost two years after she was detained. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with former UK Commissioner for Countering Extremism Robin Simcox. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 15 · 28 min

    Lebanon's Sisyphean struggle with Hezbollah | feat. Hagar Chemali

    Headlines: The regime in Iran publicly hanged two people accused of membership to the Islamic State. Yes, you got that right. The world’s most prolific state sponsor of terrorism is punishing, uh, terrorists. President Donald Trump hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House yesterday. Lebanon and Israel have resumed talks over in Rome. This is the sixth round of direct talks, but the first since the two sides signed a framework agreement last month. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with foreign policy expert and "Oh My World!" host Hagar Chemali. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 13 · 27 min

    The fire that barely ceased | feat. Miad Maleki

    Headlines: Sad news on Sunday morning. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina passed away following a brief illness after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Iraqi prime minister Ali al-Zaidi is due in Washington today for high level talks with the Trump Administration. Channel 12 in Israel released the contents of a handwritten letter penned in 2022 by none other than Yahya Sinwar. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Miad Maleki. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 10 · 24 min

    Inside Israel's Operation Arnon | feat. Hannah Puder

    FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with documentary filmmaker and "Operation Arnon" producer Hannah Puder. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 8 · 30 min

    Axis of Aggressors and NATO's path forward | feat. Cam McMillan

    Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with CMPP Senior Research Analyst Cam McMillan. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 6 · 33 min

    What to watch at the NATO summit | feat. Celeste Wallander

    RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI), fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Celeste Wallander, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs of the United States. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • July 1 · 27 min

    Lebanon's 14-point path to sovereignty | feat. Ahmad Sharawi

    Headlines: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is giving the Iran-backed Iraqi militias until September 30 to give up their weapons. Iraq and Syria agreed on Monday to strengthen cooperation across a number of sectors, including energy and border security, but also water, agricultuare and transport. Israeli forces eliminated three senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives in Gaza. The International Monetary Fund reached an agreement with Egypt that could unlock over $1.6 billion for the country. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Research Analyst Ahmad Sharawi. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • June 29 · 26 min

    The jet engine deal fueling Turkey's NATO moment | feat. Steven A. Cook

    Headlines: Israel and Lebanon, under the auspices of the United States have entered into a new diplomatic agreement. Reports out of Israel suggest that Hamas may be making some sort of a comeback. Egypt and Iran played soccer against eachother on Friday in Seattle. That’s not really news. The World Cup match, which ended in a 1-1 draw was overshadowed by the fact that both countries were outraged that their game was designated as a Pride Match. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • June 26 · 28 min

    The proxy that hasn't barked (yet) | feat. Edmund Fitton-Brown

    Headlines: Remember the Gaza Board of Peace? Yeah. It’s been pretty quiet lately. Well, presentatives from the Board are planning to meet in Cyprus next week. OPEC, the oil cartel for oil-producing nations, is in danger of losing another member. Secretary of State Marco Rubio just wrapped up a three-day tour of the Gulf. Confusion continues over the state of affairs in Lebanon. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • June 24 · 25 min

    What Washington left on the negotiating table | feat. Rep. Max Miller (R-OH)

    Headlines: Saudi media reported that Hamas leaders recently met with French officials on an undisclosed date in an unspecified location in the Middle East. Really informative, right? So now, for something more specific. This is the first reported meeting between Hamas and European officials since October 7. Turkey just concluded joint military drills with Qatari land forces. Iran and Oman agreed to form a joint working group to keep talks going on the future of the Strait of Hormuz. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Rep. Max Miller (R-OH). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • June 17 · 28 min

    Ankara's media shadow war | feat. Eitan Fischberger

    Headlines: President Trump suggested that Syria should fight Hezbollah instead of Israel. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. is going to allow Iran to begin selling oil and fuel as soon as the ceasefire deal is signed. France and Britain are planning to deploy a multinational coalition to the Strait of Hormuz if and when the ceasefire with Iran comes into effect. We spend a lot of time talking about war in the Middle East, but don’t forget that there’s a brutal civil war ravaging Sudan. Foreign powers have gotten involved on both sides — and Iran is one of them. -- FDD Turkey Program Director Sinan Ciddi fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Middle East analyst Eitan Fischberger. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief