FDD Events Podcast

EXPOSING TWO-FACED QATARHEADLINE 1: The U.S. Treasury Department issued another round of Iran sanctions.HEADLINE 2: The Trump administration handed Syria’s new rulers a list of conditions they must meet to finally see some of those sanctions lifted.HEADLINE 3: Anti-Hamas protests erupted in Gaza yesterday.--FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer and John Mirisch, who formerly served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

TURKEY: AUTHORITARIANS, BAD ACTORS, AND PROTESTSHEADLINE 1: The U.S. military is beefing up its naval presence in the Middle East.HEADLINE 2: The debate over the credibility of the Lebanese government is heating up again.AND HEADLINE 3: Protests are still raging in Turkey following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor last week – Turkey’s top opposition leader.--FDD Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis on headlines of the Middle East, followed by a conversation with Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for MENA at the Council on Foreign Relations.Learn more at: www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

REVERSING KISSINGERHEADLINE 1: The Trump administration issued a new round of Iran-related sanctions yesterday.HEADLINE 2: Hamas popped off a handful of rockets at Israel yesterday.HEADLINE 3: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei delivered a speech yesterday to mark the start of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with author Lee Smith, who serves as the media columnist for Tablet Magazine.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THE SHIFTING DYNAMICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST: A SPECIAL SITREP EPISODE--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer is joined by former IDF International Spokesperson Jonathan Conricus and U.S. Middle East policy expert John Hannah for a special edition of the FDD Morning Brief. The two will provide Middle East situational updates and analyze the U.S. response to them as the region undergoes tumultuous shifts. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

CHINA, RUSSIA, AND THE MIDDLE EASTHEADLINE 1: The Shin Bet and Israel police foiled a plot to carry out a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. HEADLINE 2: A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard from Iran gave a rare interview with Israeli media. HEADLINE 3: Former Israeli hostage Tal Shoham gave an exclusive interview to Fox News.BONUS HEADLINE 4: A Syrian soldier was killed yesterday by a Hezbollah rocket.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Grant Rumley, who directs The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

LEBANON, ISRAEL, AND THE GULFHEADLINE 1: The IDF carried out a strike in Damascus yesterday.HEADLINE 2: Qatar is preparing to supply natural gas to Syria.HEADLINE 3: The United Nations published a report accusing Israel of perpetrating “genocidal acts” in Gaza.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at FDD.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Cyber threats are evolving – but U.S. cyber policy coordination is still lagging behind. Four years after the establishment of the Office of the National Cyber Director, the Trump administration has a unique opportunity to establish stronger central coordination and drive meaningful improvements in how the federal government secures and defends cyberspace. How should the administration clarify and reinforce the role of the National Cyber Director? How can the administration create a more structured and accountable interagency cyber community? How can these structures set clearer national priorities and achieve the goals of deterring adversaries and advancing national resilience in cyberspace?To discuss these issues and more, FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) hosts a virtual conversation with former National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and John Costello, senior advisor to CSC 2.0, an initiative housed at FDD to continue the work of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The conversation is moderated by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of CCTI and former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission with introductions by Dr. Samantha Ravich, Chair of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/03/12/coaching-thecyberteam-the-future-of-the-office-of-the-national-cyber-director-and-cyber-governance/

A SECURE FUTURE FOR THE MIDDLE EASTHEADLINE 1: The IDF conducted a series of strikes in Syria.HEADLINE 2: The IDF has been busy dismantling terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank city of Jenin.HEADLINE 3: Iran, Russia, and China conducted joint naval exercises.HEADLINE 4: Israel and Lebanon are launching a series of talks to resolve outstanding issues.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Lianne Pollak-David, founding partner of the newly established Coalition for Regional Security.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THE REVERBERATING IMPACT OF THE 1929 HEBRON MASSACREHEADLINE 1: Israel will allow Syrian Druze, along with Circassians – another ethnic minority in Syria – to work in the Israeli Golan Heights. HEADLINE 2: Recent meetings in Qatar between top Hamas terrorists and Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, are focused the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. HEADLINE 3: The Trump administration has followed through on its threat to cancel federal funding to Columbia University, revoking $400 million due to the institution’s failure to respond to campus antisemitism.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with award-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated producer, and bestselling author Yardena Schwartz. Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

WHO ARE THE KURDS, AND HOW DO THEY FIT INTO THE MIDDLE EAST PUZZLE?HEADLINE 1: The U.S. Air Force conducted a joint exercise with the Israeli Air Force on Tuesday.HEADLINE 2: Clashes broke out in Syria between Assad loyalists and the new government’s security forces.HEADLINE 3: The Trump administration is getting creative with its maximum pressure campaign.BONUS HEADLINE 4: Syria’s foreign minister made a historic visit to the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or the OPCW.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Giran Ozcan, who serves as the executive director of the Kurdish Peace Institute.Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief