Middle East Focus

MEI Senior Fellow Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to discuss the latest developments in Gaza. Nearly four months after the Israeli government and Hamas agreed to President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, Washington has announced that phase two of the process is now underway. Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, Taylor, and Czekaj examine the humanitarian situation in the devastated coastal strip, assess what phase two could entail, break down how international actors are responding, and explore what would need to happen to realize the plan's aspirations. Recorded on January 27, 2026.

F. Gregory Gause III, Gulf politics scholar, and Fatima Abo Alasrar, Yemen policy specialist, explore Yemen's shifting civil war landscape. They discuss Saudi consolidation of power and the restructuring of southern forces. They analyze the Saudi‑UAE tensions, Tehran’s ties to the Houthis, the rise of nonstate actors, and the obstacles to credible dialogue and DDR in Yemen.

MEI Senior Fellow Charles Lister joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the latest developments in Syria, as a tenuous cease-fire takes hold after several days of intense fighting between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Their discussion explores the drivers of the conflict, the prospects for a lasting deal that would integrate the SDF into the Syrian military, as well as the role and perspective of key external actors, including the US, Turkey, and Israel. For more background on the Damascus-SDF conflict, please see Charles's recent article on the fighting in Aleppo in mid-January here. Recorded on January 20, 2026.

Ken Pollack, Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute and former U.S. analyst, dives into how the Trump administration’s handling of Nicolás Maduro might reshape U.S. policy in the Middle East. He discusses the impact of U.S. military options against Iran’s regime during ongoing protests and evaluates the risks of economic coercion. Pollack contrasts the quick Venezuelan operation with the complexities in Iran, highlighting how such precedents could shift perceptions of U.S. resolve and influence regional stability.

Alex Vatanka, analyst of Iranian politics, and Alan Eyre, retired U.S. diplomat with decades negotiating Iran, discuss Iran's January 2026 mass protests. They cover why markets and bazaars joined the unrest. They assess Tehran's limited options, risks of foreign strikes, elite fractures, and how unrest could reshape regional dynamics.

In the final episode of 2025, MEI Senior Fellow Paul Salem joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the major developments that shaped the Middle East over the past year and to look ahead to 2026. Salem reviews the key events that redefined the regional order, including President Donald Trump's return to office, the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, and the ongoing negotiations over Gaza. He assesses how the region has changed over the past year and what those shifts could mean moving forward. Read MEI scholars' reflections on the past year and what to expect in 2026 here. Recorded on December 16, 2025.

In this episode, MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow Ambassador David Hale joins host Alistair Taylor to unpack the Trump administration's new National Security Strategy (NSS). Released on December 4, the document outlines the administration's foreign policy vision, priorities, and approach to global challenges. Ambassador Hale analyzes the new NSS and how it compares to previous US strategy documents. The conversation focuses on what the NSS means for the future of US policy in the Middle East, and how it is likely to be received by regional actors. Recorded on December 9, 2025.

Fadi Nicholas Nassar, a Lebanon expert and Senior Fellow at MEI, shares his insights on Pope Leo XIV's pivotal visit to Lebanon. He vividly recounts the atmosphere during the papal mass and highlights the Pope's outreach to marginalized groups. Nassar explores whether spiritual leadership can fill the void left by political failures and discusses the importance of the Pope's messages on peace and youth engagement. The conversation also touches on the delicate situation post-visit, as tensions rise and the need for political accountability looms large.

F. Gregory Gause, III, a distinguished Professor emeritus of international affairs, dives into the implications of Crown Prince MBS's historic visit to the U.S. Gause outlines how MBS has shifted Saudi policy since 2018 and the challenges of long-term investment commitments. He discusses the balancing act of U.S. and Saudi interests, particularly regarding defense deals and tech partnerships. Gause also highlights crucial factors like nuclear enrichment and Gaza reconstruction, emphasizing the complex and evolving U.S.-Saudi relationship in a turbulent regional landscape.

In this discussion, Charles Lister, a seasoned expert on Syria and terrorism, shares insights from his recent trip to Damascus. He highlights the transitional government's shift towards technocratic leadership and ongoing infrastructure projects. Lister also delves into the complex relationship between Syria and the U.S., emphasizing the crucial need to repeal the Caesar Act for recovery. The talk sheds light on security challenges from ISIS and ongoing negotiations for regional stability, showing that Syria's journey towards reconstruction is far from straightforward.