FDD's Foreign Podicy

FDD Podcasts

4.8 (31)
NEWS COMMENTARY
UPDATED WEEKLY

A national security and foreign policy podcast from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).

2H AGO

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Houthis But Were Afraid to Ask

“God is great. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.” The Houthi slogan isn’t just a chant — it’s a worldview. To understand who they are and what they want, Cliff is joined by former British ambassador to Yemen and FDD senior fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown, who gained firsthand experience dealing with senior Houthi leaders while serving as ambassador.

1h 10m
JAN 30

The National Defense Strategy and the Threats That Matter Most

Washington just unveiled its new National Defense Strategy. But is it a serious blueprint for deterrence—or a dangerous exercise in wishful thinking? Host Cliff May is joined by Bradley Bowman and Mark Montgomery to examine whether America is underfunding its military on the brink of great-power conflict, why China’s cyber war is being soft-pedaled, and what the strategy gets right—and wrong—on Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, and deterrence itself.

1h 1m
JAN 24

Wikipedia Wars

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. In addition to slaughtering Iranian citizens by the thousands, Iran’s Islamist rulers are waging a cognitive war. To conceal their brutal crackdown, the regime has shut down the internet inside Iran. Beyond Iran’s borders, one corner of the digital world remains fully operational — shaping much of the world’s perceptions of what’s happening inside the Islamic Republic. That corner is Wikipedia, now an integral node in a nefarious network that propagates Islamist disinformation while whitewashing Tehran’s human rights atrocities. Investigative journalist Ashley Rindsberg joins Cliff to unpack Wikipedia’s role in modern information warfare.

52 min
JAN 17

Persian Puzzles

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. Iran is once again convulsed by nationwide protests — but this time, the regime has pulled the plug. With the internet shut down and security forces unleashed, the Islamic Republic is violently crushing dissent in virtual darkness, silencing both protesters and the outside world. As the Iranian people continue risking everything for freedom, will America finally put its money where its mouth is? When? How? Reuel Marc Gerecht and Behnam Ben Taleblu join host Cliff May to discuss.

1h 6m
JAN 9

Southern Exposure: Trump’s Arrest of Maduro Brings Opportunities and Dangers

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. The arrest of Nicolás Maduro was a complex operation that exposed the weakness of a narco-dictatorship and sent a clear signal to America’s adversaries. In short: it was a tactical success. But taking out a dictator is not the same as dismantling a regime — and Venezuela’s regime remains largely intact. Host Cliff May is joined by Carrie Filipetti to assess what the operation changed, what it didn’t, and what comes next — from who still holds power in Caracas and the fate of political prisoners, to what Venezuela’s uncertain future means for U.S. strategy in the Western Hemisphere and beyond.

49 min
JAN 3

Recognizing Somaliland

For more than three decades, Somaliland has functioned as a free, independent, Muslim, pro-peace, anti-Islamist republic on the Horn of Africa. Now, Israel has formally recognized it as a sovereign state. Somaliland’s bad neighbor, Somalia, and other Islamist regimes are furious. Britain also insists the people of Somaliland have no right to decide their future. Meanwhile, Somaliland is looking toward America — and is eager to join the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords. Host Cliff May is joined by Bashir Goth, Somaliland’s representative to the United States, and Middle East analyst Michael Rubin to discuss why Israel’s recognition of reality matters, why Islamists hate and fear a free and democratic Somaliland, and why too many in the West pretend this nation doesn’t exist.

50 min
12/27/2025

The War Against Christians (With Chinese Characteristics)

This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world. On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing’s Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades. Pastor Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, joins host Cliff May to scrutinize Beijing’s campaign against Christians and Christianity.

50 min
12/20/2025

Why Chinese Economic Statecraft is a U.S. National Security Threat

Watch this episode on YouTube here. China isn’t just competing economically — it’s coercing strategically. Drawing on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s latest report, guest host Craig Singleton is joined by Commission Vice Chair Randy Shriver and Commissioner Mike Kuiken to unpack how Beijing weaponizes its economic power — and why Chinese economic statecraft now sits at the center of U.S. national security.

56 min

See All (301)

4.8

out of 5

31 Ratings

Foreign Service school Georgetown Qatar influence

07/19/2025

wellgaveitatry

The revelations here make your head spin. Vital info
Host needs to change a bit

09/20/2025

Mrs.KEdwards

The subjects are very interesting but the host needs professional podcast training. The host is constantly grunting and “uh-huh”ing during interviews. This is common during real life conversation, but typically podcasters try to avoid it so that the guest can say everything clearly and uninterrupted.
City of David

05/25/2024

Heartandbile

Magnificent episode. Thank you. Would welcome more about the international refusal to recognize or acknowledge it, the mass attempt at erasure of deep Jewish history.
Not worth my time

04/26/2025

Colorado Vader

Just shut up and call yourself FDI already ok. Total war hawks here!