The Lede

Lebanon is no stranger to conflict. For many of its citizens, a vicious 15-year civil war and a short but brutal war with Israel in 2006 are within living memory. Now, another conflict simmers on the country’s southern border with Israel and threatens every day to expand across the country. New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai speaks to Lebanese translator and writer Lina Mounzer to understand what the atmosphere in Lebanon is like under the threat of a new war, and political analyst Faysal Itani for his take on the geopolitical currents playing out on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Further reading: It Felt Like Love by Lina Mounzer Produced by Finbar Anderson

In 100 episodes on The Lede over five seasons, we have had the pleasure of interviewing politicians, authors, academics, thinkers, explorers and plenty of journalists. To celebrate our 100th episode, we held a live event in front of an audience to discuss how the United Kingdom is viewed from an outsider’s perspective. Our guests were the foreign correspondents Barbara Serra and Michael Peel as well as a returning panelist, satirist Karl Sharro. Produced by Finbar Anderson

On this episode of Global Insights on The Lede, host Kwangu Liwewe discusses the inexorable rise of soccer stars of African origin with former Nigeria player Segun “The Mathematical” Odegbami and soccer journalist Ponga Liwewe. Produced by Finbar Anderson

On this week’s episode of The Lede, host Faisal Al Yafai catches up with New Lines Politics Editor Danny Postel from Milwaukee, where Postel has been attending the Republican National Convention. Their conversation comes after a momentous week in U.S. politics that not only saw an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally, but also the announcement of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as Trump’s running mate for the upcoming presidential election. Al Yafai also talks to Meredith McCarroll, author of a New Lines profile of Vance. Further reading: J.D. Vance and the Myth of White Exceptionalism

On this week’s episode of The Lede, veteran journalist Mark Danner joins New Lines’ Politics Editor Danny Postel for a discussion on Donald Trump, Joe Biden and the possible autocratic future looming ahead for America. Further reading: The Mass Psychology of Trumpism — Watch the accompanying video here The United Auto Workers Rejected Trump. Members Aren’t So Sure How the War in Gaza Is Shaping the 2024 Elections — And the Future of the Democratic Party A Deliberate Political Madness? Produced by Finbar Anderson

On this episode of The Lede, veteran CNN correspondent Hala Gorani sits down with New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai for a discussion on identity and belonging following the publication of her new memoir, “But You Don’t Look Arab: And Other Tales of Unbelonging.”

In this edition of Global Insights, New Lines Culture Editor Lydia Wilson sits down with host Kwangu Liwewe to discuss the upcoming election in the United Kingdom, which despite potentially heralding a change in government for the first time in 14 years, seems to be a bit lackluster. Produced by Finbar Anderson

Cambridge academic Shruti Kapila and New Lines host Surbhi Gupta discuss the Indian election results and the future of democracy in India. They explore Modi's campaign, the evolution of Dalit politics, and the revival of the Congress party. The podcast examines the implications of the elections on Indian politics, emphasizing the shift towards a more balanced power structure and the ongoing contest of ideas between political parties.

While the conflict in Gaza plays out on a tiny strip of land a fraction of the size of Los Angeles, its impact on the wider Middle East region has been huge. New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai speaks to the Guardian’s Ruth Michaelson, Chloe Cornish of the Financial Times and independent journalist Tara Kangarlou to assess how the war has changed the political and economic landscape in Turkey, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Further listening: Living in a State of Hopelessness: On the Ground in Israel — With Lisa Goldman On the Ground in Gaza — With Arwa Damon In the Firing Line — With Joumana Haddad Further reading: The Cost of Leaving Gaza How the War in Gaza Is Shaping the 2024 Elections — And the Future of the Democratic Party Produced by Finbar Anderson

On June 8, 1924, two climbers set off for what they hoped would be the first-ever summit of Mount Everest. As the mist closed in around them high up the mountain, they would never be seen alive again. A century later, the mystery of whether they reached the top continues to inspire fascination and debate, but is perhaps not the most interesting thing about the doomed expedition, anthropologist and former National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis tells New Lines’ Finbar Anderson on this week’s episode.