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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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  • 395 episodes
  • Updated Monday

Episodes395

Newest first
  • April 29 · 25 min

    From Epic Fury to Economic Fury | feat. Rich Goldberg

    Headlines: The United Arab Emirates announced that it’s leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. Tensions are brewing between Israel and Ukraine over allegations that Israeli authorities are allowing vessels carrying “stolen” grain to dock at Haifa port. Earlier this week, Israeli journalist Amit Segal posted a few paragraphs on X explaining that, according to his sources, Qatar is cutting off Hamas. No more money, no more hosting. -- FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation between Jon and FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 27 · 29 min

    Israel on trial | feat. Roy K. Altman

    Headlines: An attempt on the life of the president of the United States on Saturday night. The talks scheduled between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States over the weekend didn’t happen. A serious exchange of hostilities over the weekend between Israel and Hezbollah over there in the Land of the Cedars. Security services in Israel busted a Hamas financing cell in the West Bank and Gaza. The political pair of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are teaming up again for another run in Israel. FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Roy K. Altman, federal judge and author of the upcoming book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 24 · 25 min

    Can Lebanon break free from Hezbollah? | feat. Hussain Abdul-Hussain

    Headlines: Israeli authorities charged two IDF Air Force mechanics with spying on behalf of Iran. France is getting feistier, threatening to impose sanctions on Israel if Jerusalem doesn’t change course in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. President Trump attended a meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors at the White House yesterday. A couple of announcements out of Washington relating to those nasty Iraqi militias. First, a 10 million dollar bounty on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji of the group known as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, or KSS. The city of Islamabad is reportedly still on a high security alert, as the Pakistani government continues to prepare for another round of talks between the United States and Iran. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD's Hussain Abdul-Hussain. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 22 · 28 min

    The Gulf's crude awakening | feat. Bernard Haykel

    Headlines: At least two maritime vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations. The Treasury Department issued a fresh batch of Iran sanctions, this time targeting Iranian missile and drone procurement networks. The UAE government dismantled an Iran-linked terrorist cell that was allegedly planning terrorist attacks and sabotage operations in the country. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Bernard Haykel. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 20 · 22 min

    Iran's dirty hand in Sudan | feat. Ambassador Fernandez, guest hosted by Mariam Wahba

    Headlines: The U.S. negotiation team is heading to Islamabad for round two of U.S.-Iran talks, and they’re opening under considerably worse conditions than round one. Egypt is working with Pakistan on lasting U.S.-Iran peace, says Egypt's Foreign Minister. Sudan enters its fourth year of war amid the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. -- FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, vice president of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 17 · 28 min

    China's MidEast reckoning | feat. Gen. H.R. McMaster

    Headlines: A ten-day ceasefire is now in effect in Lebanon. The Treasury Department issued a fresh batch of sanctions targeting a network of people, companies, and ships involved in illicitly smuggling Iranian oil. A group of U.S. senators sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asking him to explain why the Trump administration dropped a criminal case against Turkey’s Halkbank. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, met with a pair of Kurdish leaders yesterday to discuss the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces — or SDF — into Syria’s state forces. Word on the street is that there was meeting between the U.S. and Hamas in Cairo earlier this week. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States and chairman of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 15 · 22 min

    The unsettled score in Iran | feat. David Adesnik

    Headlines: Lebanon and Israel held direct talks for the first time in decades. The Trump administration is gearing up for its blockade of Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf. There are plans for new ceasefire talks in Islamabad. The UK and France are planning to host virtual talks to iron out a strategy for securing the Strait of Hormuz. A defense cooperation memorandum of understanding between Italy and Israel that’s automatically renewed every five years since 2005 expired on Monday. Yesterday, Rome announced that it’s ending the agreement amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with David Adesnik. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 13 · 30 min

    Can Iran bypass the blockade? | feat. Miad Maleki

    FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Miad Maleki. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 10 · 38 min

    FDD Morning Brief SITREP | The stakes behind the Iran ceasefire

    Headlines: The IDF said it eliminated Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem’s personal secretary in a strike near Beirut. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that Beirut isn’t going to let any other government negotiate for a ceasefire on its behalf. The Trump administration is reportedly considering moving troops out of NATO countries after several of them hamstringed American efforts in Iran. Iran continues to strangle the Strait of Hormuz. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP episode of the FDD Morning Brief featuring FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus and FDD CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman. They examine the implications of the ceasefire and negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 8 · 24 min

    The art of the ceasefire deal? | feat. Khosro Isfahani

    Headlines: Yesterday, the IDF said it completed the deployment of ground troops to a so-called anti-tank line in south Lebanon. An American journalist kidnapped in Iraq last week is on her way home. A firefight broke out adjacent to the Israeli consulate in Istanbul yesterday. Massive explosion at the Panama Canal yesterday. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with NUFDI Research Director Khosro Isfahani. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 6 · 26 min

    The 20-year war on freedom | feat. Yana Gorokhovskaia

    Today's headlines: The regime in Tehran somehow managed to shoot down an American F-15 fighter jet over the weekend. The aviators from that downed F-15 are both ok. Donald Trump’s Truth Social post yesterday seems to suggest that the April 6 deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz has been extended until tomorrow night. The internet blackout continues inside Iran. The war in Lebanon continues. Tough day in Israel yesterday, with a building in Haifa absorbing a direct hit from a ballistic missile, while cluster munitions also hit dozens of locations across central Israel. Turkey is somehow getting its oil tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz. Featured FDD piece: "Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism" - FDD Memo, Sinan Ciddi and William Doran FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Freedom House's Yana Gorokhovskaia. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • April 3 · 31 min

    Is Turkey the new Iran? | feat. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, guest hosted by Sinan Ciddi

    Today's headlines: Turkey is working with Iranian authorities to secure permission for 11 Turkish-owned ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli forces eliminated the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front. The International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank are joining forces to coordinate a response to the ongoing war with Iran. Featured FDD piece: "Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism" - FDD Memo, Sinan Ciddi and William Doran -- FDD Turkey Program Director Sinan Ciddi fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with world-renowned Turkey scholar Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak.

  • April 1 · 26 min

    Hezbollah versus Lebanon | feat. Hagar Chemali

    Today's headlines: Trouble continues in the Strait of Hormuz. Kosovo announced that it plans to deploy troops to the U.S.-backed international stabilization force for Gaza. The Iranian ambassador is still in Lebanon, and the Lebanese government is still effectively beholden to Hezbollah. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wants President Trump to end the war. -- FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba delivers headlines ahead of a conversation between FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer and "Oh My World!" host Hagar Chemali. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • March 30 · 26 min

    30 days of Roaring Lion | feat. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amir Eshel

    FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Major General (Ret.) Amir Eshel. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • March 27 · 24 min

    The splintering axis of evil | feat. Ilan Berman

    Today's headlines: U.S.-Israeli air superiority continues Iranian air defenses remain down Israel eliminated the head of Iran’s navy The Islamic Republic is preparing for a ground war U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for the regime to make a deal Beirut declared Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon persona non grata and instructed him to leave the country Hezbollah continues to batter northern Israel with rockets The U.S. embassy in Iraq told American citizens to leave Iraq immediately IDF chief of staff informed the cabinet that the army could collapse on itself if the war continues at this pace due to manpower shortages -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • March 20 · 23 min

    Winning the sanctions war | feat. Peter Doran

    FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Adjunct Senior Fellow Peter Doran, who authored the FDD Monograph "Winning the Race of the Red Queen: How U.S. Sanctions Can Outpace Russia’s Evasion." They discuss how Russia and Iran have adapted to U.S. sanctions, why economic pressure often falls short, and what it will take for Washington to regain the upper hand. Learn more: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

  • March 18 · 29 min

    Washington's two-front war | feat. Lewis Libby

    FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Distinguished Fellow Lewis Libby. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

  • March 16 · 29 min

    The mullah's monarchy | feat. Ray Takeyh

    FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ray Takeyh of the Council on Foreign Relations. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief