The Middle East Breakdown With Dan and Hayvi

Middle East 24
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY

The Middle East Breakdown from Middle East 24 delivers clear, in-depth reporting and analysis on the forces shaping the region. Each episode takes a neutral, investigative approach to breaking news, geopolitics, and cultural shifts, with a focus on uncovering cutting-edge trends and long-term dynamics behind the headlines. Listeners get context, evidence, and clarity every time. 🌍 Website: middleeast24.org  🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@MiddleEast_24  🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp  📸 Instagram: instagram.com/middleast24  🐦 X (Twitter): twitter.com/MiddleEast_24

  1. 18H AGO

    The Saudi Pivot With Hussein Abu Bakr Mansour

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Dan Feferman and Hayvi Bouzo are joined by Hussein Abu Bakr Mansour, Egyptian-American writer, analyst, and author of The Abrahamic Metacritic. The conversation unpacks a significant and underreported shift in the Gulf: growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two countries long seen as close strategic allies and partners. The discussion examines Saudi Arabia's recent pivot—from pulling major media platforms out of UAE hubs like Dubai and relocating them to Riyadh, to diverging positions on South Yemen, Somaliland, Sudan, and even the Palestinian issue. This is not just diplomatic friction. It's a reassertion of power, influence, and regional leadership. The panel explores where Qatar actually fits into this realignment, and how conflicts in South Yemen, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa have become arenas for Gulf competition. Mansour breaks down the conditions that gave birth to the Abraham Accords framework—the Iranian axis of resistance, US involvement, and Arab Gulf alignment—and explains why those conditions no longer structure regional politics. The episode dives into the asymmetries of power: Israel's military dominance, Qatar's narrative control empire, Turkey's drone industry and regional projection, and the UAE's elite legitimacy versus street-level unpopularity. The conversation tackles uncomfortable questions about ideology, ego, oil prices, fiscal pressures, and whether the Abraham Accords honeymoon is over—or just transforming into something far more complex. Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full episode. Website: https://middleeast24.org YouTube: / @middleeast_24 Instagram: / middleast24 X: https://x.com/middleeast24 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0

    58 min

  2. FEB 9

    Inside Iran’s Crisis: 30,000 Dead and the Post War Fallout With Jonathon Schanzer

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Dan Feferman and Hayvi Bouzo are joined by Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, executive director and senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The conversation takes a wide angle look at how Washington is weighing its options on Iran, and how those decisions connect to Gaza’s next phase and the shifting balance of power across the region. The discussion examines the collapse of planned US Iran talks, what it signals about Trump’s red lines, and the range of scenarios on the table, from coercive diplomacy and regime alteration to military degradation and outright regime change. Schanzer also assesses the opposition’s leadership vacuum, the role of the exiled crown prince, and the risk of unintended consequences as pressure on Tehran rises. The panel then turns to Gaza and the “Board of Peace,” arguing that Hamas cannot be allowed to hold reconstruction hostage, and exploring whether a phased model could emerge where non Hamas areas move forward while Hamas controlled zones stagnate until disarmament. The episode closes with a deeper dive into the Turkey Qatar axis, why Washington continues to work with both despite their Islamist agendas, and how Saudi UAE friction is reshaping Gulf competition, normalization prospects, and regional alignments. Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full episode. Website: https://middleeast24.org YouTube: / @middleeast_24 Instagram: / middleast24 X: https://x.com/middleeast24 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0

    58 min

  3. JAN 20

    Sudan’s War of Narratives: Propaganda, Militias, and the Battle for a New Sudan

    In this episode of the Middle East Breakdown on ME24, we dive deep into the war in Sudan and the information battle surrounding it. Why did this conflict erupt when it did? Who is really fighting whom? And how much of what the world is seeing online is real, and how much is manufactured? Hayvi Bouzo and Dan Feferman speak with Dr Tayseer Mustafa and Dr. Alaa Eldin two senior leaders from the Tasis coalition, including one guest joining us directly from El-Fashir in Darfur. Together, we unpack the competing power centers inside Sudan’s army (SAF), the role of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and how Muslim Brotherhood-linked militias, regional players, and global powers are shaping the war. We discuss: • How Sudan’s conflict became a proxy struggle involving Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Turkey and others • The history behind the Janjaweed, RSF, and Islamist networks – and who is aligned with whom today • Viral atrocity videos from El-Fashir: what’s real, what appears to be fabricated, and why AI-generated content is changing war reporting • Why Sudan has been a strategic gateway for Iran into Africa and what that means for Red Sea security • The Tasis coalition’s vision for a democratic, secular “Abrahamic Sudan” aligned with a broader win–win regional order • What Sudanese civilians are demanding, and why they insist they must be at the negotiating table – not just the armed actors If you want clear, evidence-based analysis that cuts through propaganda and media bias, this conversation will help you understand what is really at stake in Sudan, for Africa, the Red Sea, and the wider Middle East. Stay connected with Middle East 24: Website: https://middleeast24.org YouTube:    / @middleeast_24  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/th... Instagram:   / middleast24  X (Twitter): https://x.com/MiddleEast_24

    54 min

  4. JAN 12

    Iran’s New Wave of Uprisings, What’s Different This Time, and What Comes Next

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Dan Feferman and Hayvi Bouzo lead a timely, in depth conversation on Iran’s expanding nationwide protests and what this moment could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic and the region as a whole. The discussion brings together Gazelle Sharmahad, Iranian freedom advocate and host of the War and Freedom Podcast, Dr. Walid Phares, political scientist and former foreign policy adviser to President Trump, and Iranian born journalist and media commentator Younes Sadaghian. Gazelle also speaks as the daughter of Jamshid Sharmahad, an Iranian freedom activist who was kidnapped and later executed by the regime. Together, they examine why this protest wave differs from 2009 and 2022, how economic collapse and long standing repression intersect, and whether the movement is becoming more organized and coordinated across Iran and the diaspora. The panel also explores the regime’s internal weakness, the role of the IRGC and Basij, and the international dimension, including signals from Washington and Jerusalem, and how October 7 reshaped strategic assumptions about Iran’s power and deterrence. Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full episode. Website: https://middleeast24.org YouTube:    / @middleeast_24  Instagram:   / middleast24  X: https://x.com/middleeast24 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0

    1h 21m
  5. The Top 5 Stories Shaping The Middle East in 2025

    JAN 4 · BONUS

    The Top 5 Stories Shaping The Middle East in 2025

    In this special end of year episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Hayvi Bouzo and Dan Feferman are joined by an expert panel for a wide ranging conversation on the five stories that reshaped the Middle East in 2025 and will continue to shape the region in 2026. Joining the discussion are Dr. Walid Phares, counterterrorism and Middle East analyst, Nervana Mahmoud, Egyptian British commentator and expert on Islamist movements, and Robert Silverman, former US diplomat, senior foreign service officer and  editor in chief of the Jerusalem strategic tribune with decades of regional experience. Together, they break down Israel’s direct confrontation with Iran, the end phase of the Gaza war, Hezbollah’s weakening in Lebanon, major shifts in Yemen and Syria, and the broader collapse of long standing regional power structures. The panel examines how these developments altered the balance of power, exposed the limits of Iranian influence, and opened new questions about regional realignment, political Islam, and stability moving forward. The conversation also looks ahead, exploring what these changes mean for 2026, from Iran’s internal unrest to the future of Islamist movements, emerging alliances, and the role of the United States and Israel in the region. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full episode 🌍 middleeast24.org 🎥 YouTube: @middleeast_24 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp

    2h 11m

  6. 12/29/2025

    The Muslim Brotherhood, Iran & Hezbollah: How They Impact the West

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Hayvi Bouzo sits down with Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for a clear and urgent conversation about the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamist ideology, Iran, and Hezbollah—and why these forces matter far beyond the Middle East. Hussain explains how the Muslim Brotherhood operates not just as an organization, but as a global ideology that adapts, rebrands, and embeds itself inside democratic systems. He breaks down why targeting individual groups misses the bigger picture, how state sponsors like Qatar and Turkey fuel Islamist influence, and why Western societies often misunderstand the threat. The discussion also examines Hezbollah’s role as Iran’s most powerful proxy, Lebanon’s fragile moment of transition, and how Israel’s post–October 7 strategy has reshaped the regional balance. Throughout, Hussain draws a sharp distinction between Islam as a faith and Islamism as a political project built on rejecting liberty, democracy, and individual rights. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full episode 🌍 middleeast24.org 🎥 YouTube: @middleeast_24 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp

    1h 14m

  7. 12/22/2025

    Inside the Muslim Brotherhood Network and the New US Crackdown With Mariam Whaba

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Hayvi Bouzo and Dan Feferman sit down with Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for an in-depth conversation about the Muslim Brotherhood, the US executive order launching investigations into its branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, and what these moves could mean for US policy and global security. Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Egypt, Arab politics, and Middle East minorities. Previously she worked in FDD’s communications team and served as associate director of advocacy with the Philos Project. Mariam holds a BA in Middle East studies, Arabic, and Jewish studies from Fordham University and is a vocal commentator on Middle East affairs. Follow her on X: https://x.com/themariamwahba They discuss: 🕌 What the Muslim Brotherhood is and why it is not a single centralized organization 📜 The new US executive order and why it directs investigations rather than immediate designations 🇪🇬 🇯🇴 🇱🇧 Why Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon were named first 💣 Links between Brotherhood branches, Hamas, and regional militant activity 🧠 Patient extremism and how the Brotherhood’s long game works 📺 How Brotherhood aligned media narratives spread influence 🌍 Why the West should pay attention to these developments 🧾 What FTO and SDGT designations mean in practice 🔍 What could come next if investigations meet legal standards 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full breakdown 🌍 Website: middleeast24.org 🎥 YouTube: / @middleeast_24 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/middleast24 🐦 X Twitter: twitter.com/MiddleEast_24

    49 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    From Prison to Parliament: Hard Conversations on Peace, Power and the Middle East’s Future

    In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Hayvi Bouzo and Dan Feferman sit down with Dr. Einat Wilf and Samer Sinijlawi for one of the most direct, detailed conversations yet about what Israelis and Palestinians actually want and what a real path forward could look like after two years of war and upheaval. About the guests: Dr. Einat Wilf: Former Member of Knesset, author, political thinker and one of the clearest voices on Zionism, antisemitism, and the roots of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She holds degrees from Harvard and Cambridge, has authored several best-selling books including The War of Return, and recently launched a new political movement focused on Zionism, democratic strength and long-term regional peace. Samer Sinijlawi:Palestinian political activist, reform advocate, and Chairman of the Jerusalem Development Fund. A former Fatah leader for Israeli and international relations, he is one of the most prominent Palestinian voices calling for internal reform, democratic elections, and coexistence. He studied conflict resolution at Hebrew University and is widely published, with op-eds in the NYT, Newsweek, Haaretz, Le Figaro, and more. He was the only high-profile Palestinian figure to visit the Gaza Envelope after October 7 and publicly condemn Hamas. They discuss: 🇮🇱 How October 7 reshaped Israeli society and why many Israelis now see the conflict through an ideological rather than territorial lens 🇵🇸 How Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora think differently, and why support for Hamas inside Gaza is far lower than assumed 📚 UNRWA and the refugee narrative, and why Wilf describes it as the institutional engine sustaining rejectionism 🗳️ Palestinian elections: why Sinijlawi says the first real change must start at the ballot box 🧭 A viable two-state framework: redefining “right of return,” safeguarding minorities, and securing mutual recognition 🌍 Arab public opinion after the Abraham Accords and how the region is shifting toward integration over rejectionism 🏛️ Why past peace efforts failed, and Wilf’s call for “constructive specificity” instead of diplomatic shortcuts 🤝 Can Israelis and Palestinians imagine a shared future? Sinijlawi outlines why persuasion, not pressure, must drive progress 🔍 Identity, trust, and leadership failures on both sides, and why both guests argue the real battleground is ideological, not geographic A rare, unsentimental conversation between two thinkers who disagree on key issues but share a commitment to clarity, honesty, and new political imagination. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe for the full breakdown 🌍 Website: middleeast24.org 🎥 YouTube: / @middleeast_24 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/middleast24 🐦 X Twitter: twitter.com/MiddleEast_24

    1h 28m
See All (18)

About

The Middle East Breakdown from Middle East 24 delivers clear, in-depth reporting and analysis on the forces shaping the region. Each episode takes a neutral, investigative approach to breaking news, geopolitics, and cultural shifts, with a focus on uncovering cutting-edge trends and long-term dynamics behind the headlines. Listeners get context, evidence, and clarity every time. 🌍 Website: middleeast24.org  🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@MiddleEast_24  🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3ZJcMz0Fz52rgzsqG5dTIp  📸 Instagram: instagram.com/middleast24  🐦 X (Twitter): twitter.com/MiddleEast_24

Information

You Might Also Like