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.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

395 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes395

Newest first

Aug 25, 2025 · 25 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Jonathan Hessen (Aug. 25)
WHY IS ISRAEL INVESTED IN THE FATE OF SYRIA'S DRUZE? HEADLINE 1: Iran just might limit its uranium enrichment to avoid further punishment from Israel and the West. HEADLINE 2: Egypt is reportedly bolstering its military presence along the border with Gaza. HEADLINE 3: U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack and deputy special envoy Morgan Ortagus arrived in Israel yesterday. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Jonathan Hessen, nonresident senior fellow at the Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- Featured FDD Articles: "For the First Time in 25 Years, Syria Acknowledges Direct Talks With Israel" - Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Policy Brief "Behind Khamenei's post-war shake up: Salvaging the remains of the 'Axis of Resistance'" - Saeed Ghasseminejad, The Jerusalem Post "Exodus or Endurance: The Plight of Egypt’s Christians" - Cliff May and Mariam Wahba, FDD's Foreign Podicy
Aug 22, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Rep. Greg Landsman (Aug. 22)
QATAR, TURKEY, IRAN, AND GAZA HEADLINE 1: The Trump administration just went scorched earth on the International Criminal Court with fresh sanctions. HEADLINE 2: An Israeli imprisoned in Lebanon for over a year has quietly been freed — no prisoner swap needed. HEADLINE 3: Tensions are running high in the West Bank. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- Featured FDD Articles: "The single negotiation goal with Iran should be complete dismantlement of nuclear program" - Mark Dubowitz and Brig. Gen. (Res.) Jacob Nagel "Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: August 4–17, 2025" - David Daoud "The Iran Breakdown: American Economic and Financial Power and the Iran File" - Mark Dubowitz and Juan Zarate
Aug 20, 2025 · 22 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Jonas Du (Aug. 20)
WHY ARE LEGACY MEDIA OUTLETS AMPLIFYING HAMAS' NARRATIVE? HEADLINE 1: Hamas has possibly agreed to a 60-day ceasefire with Israel. But don’t hold your breath. The terms are 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. HEADLINE 2: Yesterday, the families of the “Beautiful Six” commemorated one year since Hamas murdered their loved ones in cold blood. HEADLINE 3: Israel and Australia are locking horns — and things are only getting worse. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Jonas Du, a fellow at The Free Press. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- Featured FDD Articles: "Donald Trump Set a Nuclear Precedent. Now He Must Enforce It" - Andrea Stricker and Henry Sokolski in The National Interest "The urgent need to procure more THAAD interceptors" - Bradley Bowman and Ryan Brobst in Defense News "Top US teachers’ union supports Palestinian counterpart with terror-linked leader" - Brandy Shufutinsky in JNS
Aug 18, 2025 · 25 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Richard Goldberg (Aug. 18)
HOW IS ENERGY RELATED TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY? HEADLINE 1: The family of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker released a new video of him in Hamas captivity. HEADLINE 2: Israel is preparing a full-scale offensive in Gaza City. HEADLINE 3: Israel struck the Houthis where it hurts — again. -- 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/ -- Featured FDD articles: "Nvidia⁩ Games: China v. the US in AI Arms Race" — FDD's Foreign Podicy with Cliff May "Egypt Inks Multi-Billion Dollar Energy Deal With Israel Despite Gaza Tensions" — FDD Policy Brief by Mariam Wahba "China Has Most To Gain From Trump-Putin Talks in Alaska" — Craig Singleton
Aug 15, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Janatan Sayeh (Aug. 15)
HOW DID ORDINARY IRANIANS RESPOND TO ISRAEL’S 12-DAY WAR AGAINST THE REGIME’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM? HEADLINE 1: Israel is reportedly in talks with several countries to take in Palestinians from Gaza. HEADLINE 2: Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, visited Beirut this week. HEADLINE 3: Turkey and Syria signed a defense cooperation agreement. BONUS HEADLINE 4: France, Germany, and the UK may reimpose sanctions on Iran. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Analyst Janatan Sayeh, who specializes in Iranian domestic affairs and the regime’s malign influence in the region. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- Featured FDD articles: "The Houthis and the U.N.’s Ship of Fools" by Max Meizlish and Bridget Toomey "Ukraine peace is in reach — if Trump meets Putin’s demands with US vigor" by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and John Hardie "America’s fair-weather friends" by Cliff May
Aug 13, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Ahmad Sharawi (Aug. 13)
IS SYRIA'S NEW STRONGMAN UP TO THE TASK? HEADLINE 1: Iran reported a new statistic about last month’s 12-day war. Between June 13 and 24: Iranian police arrested 21,000 people. HEADLINE 2: The evidence against Hamas’s claim of starvation in Gaza is mounting, even as the accusations against Israel continue to fly. HEADLINE 3: The IDF eliminated five armed terrorists masquerading as World Central Kitchen workers. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Analyst Ahmad Sharawi, who specializes in the Levant. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- Featured FDD articles: "Analysis: Armenia–Azerbaijan deal worries Iran" by Janatan Sayeh "U.S. and Partners Conclude Month of Military Exercises in the Pacific While Eyeing China" by Cameron McMillan and Roc Iore "Mapping a Shadow War: Explosions Across Iran After the 12-Day War" by FDD Visuals Team and NUFDI
Aug 11, 2025 · 23 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Dan Raviv (Aug. 11)
ISRAELI MOSSAD OPERATIVES ARE SPYING IN IRAN WHILE SOME ORDINARY ISRAELIS ARE SPYING FOR IRAN. HEADLINE 1: Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into hiding. HEADLINE 2: The IDF foiled another attempt to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel. HEADLINE 3: White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani in Ibiza, Spain over the weekend. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with journalist Dan Raviv, host of “The Mossad Files” podcast. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/
Aug 8, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Carrie Filipetti (Aug. 8)
HOW DO TRUMP VOTERS VIEW U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES? HEADLINE 1: The United Nations has finally engaged with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or “GHF.” HEADLINE 2: The Lebanese government approved a U.S. proposal to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025. HEADLINE 3: Israel signed a major energy export deal with Egypt. -- FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Carrie Filipetti, executive director of The Vandenberg Coalition. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/
Aug 6, 2025 · 28 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Haviv Rettig Gur (Aug. 6)
WHAT IS THE ISRAELI PUBLIC OPINION ON THE WAR IN GAZA? HEADLINE 1: A group of Iranian scientists secretly visited Russian nuclear facilities last year. HEADLINE 2: Israel is snarling at the United Nations, and it’s high drama. HEADLINE 3: The multi-front war in the Middle East continues on, uh, multiple fronts. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Haviv Rettig Gur, host of the Ask Haviv Anything podcast and Middle East analyst at The Free Press. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/
Aug 4, 2025 · 23 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Andrew Fox (Aug. 4)
WHAT'S THE ON-THE-GROUND REALITY IN GAZA? HEADLINE 1: Turkey hosted a senior Hamas delegation this weekend. HEADLINE 2: White House envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited Gaza on Friday. HEADLINE 3: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or “UNRWA,” is feeling the heat here in the United States. -- FDD Executive Director President Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Major (Ret.) Andrew Fox, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Aug 1, 2025 · 31 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Ambassador Michael Oren (Aug. 1)
HOW ISOLATED IS ISRAEL RIGHT NOW? HEADLINE 1: The Trump administration is forging ahead with its maximum pressure campaign. HEADLINE 2: In more sanctions news, the Trump administration sanctioned the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority. HEADLINE 3: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun intensified his call for Hezbollah to disarm. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 30, 2025 · 28 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Nadav Eyal (Jul. 30)
GAZA FAMINE CLAIMS AND ISRAEL'S INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION HEADLINE 1: Syrian refugees displaced during the country’s civil war are starting to return home. HEADLINE 2: The IDF has released an assessment of its Fall 2024 campaign against Hezbollah. HEADLINE 3: The Houthis have again threatened to escalate attacks against international shipping. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Nadav Eyal, an award-winning Israeli journalist affiliated with Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynetnews. Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 28, 2025 · 25 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Aaron Magid (Jul. 28)
JORDAN'S DELICATE BALANCING ACT HEADLINE 1: Israel has taken a good first step by implementing daily tactical pauses in Gaza. HEADLINE 2: As if to underscore the need for a pause, two more Israelis were killed in action. HEADLINE 3: As if we didn’t have enough Gaza news to cover today, President Trump is reportedly rethinking his Gaza strategy. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Aaron Magid, former Amman-based journalist and author of a biography of Jordan's King Abdullah. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 25, 2025 · 25 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. David Daoud (Jul. 25)
IS LEBANON'S FUTURE BRIGHT OR BLEAK? HEADLINE 1: Saudi Arabia announced $6.4 billion worth of investments in Syria. HEADLINE 2: Another country is poised to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. HEADLINE 3: 8 Israeli soldiers were injured yesterday. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow and expert on Lebanon and Hezbollah. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 23, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (Jul. 23)
IRAN, ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED STATES HEADLINE 1: The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network that generates cash for the Houthis. HEADLINE 2: A round of nuclear talks is scheduled to take place on Friday between Iran, Britain, France, and Germany – the E3. HEADLINE 3: The U.S. pulled out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 21, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Einat Wilf (Jul. 21)
GAZA, SYRIA, AND THE ISRAELI PEOPLE HEADLINE 1: The Israeli army is moving into Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. HEADLINE 2: Hostage families slammed IDF’s Deir al-Balah ground op — fearing for their loved ones’ lives. HEADLINE 3: More allegations of Israeli brutality in Gaza. And more denials from Israel. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Einat Wilf, author, former Israeli Knesset member, and foreign policy advisor to the late Shimon Peres. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 18, 2025 · 25 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Hillel Neuer (Jul. 18)
THE UN ISN'T JUST A FEW BAD APPLES — IT'S ROTTEN TO THE CORE HEADLINE 1: Israel launched a national awareness campaign warning Israelis of Iranian recruitment attempts. HEADLINE 2: The Yemeni National Resistance Forces intercepted a shipment of Iranian weapons. HEADLINE 3: President Trump met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the White House on Wednesday. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 16, 2025 · 24 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Rev. Johnnie Moore (Jul. 16)
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH HUMANITARIAN AID IN GAZA? HEADLINE 1: Lebanon’s central bank banned banks from interacting with a Hezbollah-linked financial institution called Al-Qard Al-Hassan. HEADLINE 2: Sectarian clashes erupted between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze militias in Syria. HEADLINE 3: The UN Human Rights Council is imploding. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Reverend Johnnie Moore, chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 14, 2025 · 22 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Seth J. Frantzman (Jul. 14)
ISRAEL, GAZA, IRAN ... AND MORE HEADLINE 1: The IDF’s Gaza war tempo is picking up. HEADLINE 2: Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly supports a potential nuclear deal that prevents Iran from enriching uranium. HEADLINE 3: New details are emerging about the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Adjunct Fellow Seth J. Frantzman, who serves as a senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Jul 11, 2025 · 26 min
FDD Morning Brief | feat. Meir Javedanfar (Jul. 11)
WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE IRAN RIGHT NOW? HEADLINE 1: The Trump administration continues to escalate its maximum pressure campaign against Iran. HEADLINE 2: Francesca Albanese got sanctioned. HEADLINE 3: Hamas tried to abduct an Israeli soldier. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely updates and expert analysis, followed by a conversation with Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-born Israeli lecturer, author, and expert on Iranian politics. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief