FDD Morning Brief

Latest Episodes:

The Iran ceasefire fallacy | feat. Haviv Rettig Gur Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Haviv Rettig Gur, host of the Ask Haviv Anything podcast and Middle East Analyst at The Free Press.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Is this a done deal? | feat. Miad Maleki, Ahmad Sharawi, and Bradley Bowman Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP episode of the FDD Morning Brief featuring FDD experts Miad Maleki, Bradley Bowman, and Ahmad Sharawi.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

The Ceasefire War | feat. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Conricus, RADM (Ret.) Montgomery, and Behnam Ben Taleblu Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP featuring FDD experts Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, and Behnam Ben Taleblu.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

How the IRGC engineered its own survival | feat. Rafaela Siewert Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

Yesterday, Iran launched missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire took effect.
President Trump urged Netanyahu not to strike back at Iran — to no avail.
Israel doubles down on its efforts to disarm Hamas in Gaza.

FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Rafaela Siewert of The Free Press.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Qatar's $400 billion grip on America | feat. Natalie Ecanow Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The duplicitous, conniving, and corrupt state of Qatar is going to provide 6 billion dollars to Iran’s collapsing economy.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is going to pack up and go home come December 31st.
Yesterday, Hezbollah rejected the latest ceasefire agreement, despite both the Israeli and Lebanese governments agreeing to move forward.
The rump of the Islamic Republic has been hyping a statement supposedly issued by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei claiming that Tehran has dealt the U.S. and Israel a quote, “decisive blow,” and that both countries have been deeply humiliated. That’s pretty rich coming from a man who hasn’t been seen since the first day of the war. Except in the form of a cardboard cutout or an AI rendering.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

To read Natalie's latest memo on Qatari influence, please visit: https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/06/03/mapping-qatars-400-billion-footprint-in-the-united-states/

Where does Europe stand on Iran? | feat. Simone Rodan-Benzaquen Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israel and Hezbollah agreed to stop shooting — basically, a sort-of ceasefire under which Israel would stop striking Beirut and Hezbollah would stop attacking Israel. However, to no one’s surprise, the shooting has continued.
The Iranian regime is planning a three-day funeral for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which will reportedly take place in mid-June.
Bahrain banned its citizens from traveling to Iran and Iraq for somewhat obvious security concerns.
Another round of Iran sanctions hit the books yesterday. This time, Treasury targeted Iran’s digital asset exchanges and their leaders for helping the IRGC access the international financial system and evade U.S. sanctions.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation withSimone Rodan-Benzaquen, FDD's senior envoy for Europe.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

The deal that dooms the Iranian people | feat. Moj Mahdara Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The Israeli military is on the move in Lebanon. The IDF is set to move further north to do more damage to Hezbollah.
We’ll keep with Lebanon and note here that the Europeans are nudging their way into this theater. The Brits are saying that they want the Israeli advance to end. The French have done the same.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, the newish leader of Syria, says he wants all the remaining sanctions on his country lifted.
One of the biggest Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Kataeb Hezbollah, says it will not disarm, despite calls from the United States to do so.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Iranian-American entrepreneur and activist Moj Mahdara.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

The unfinished war on terror | feat. Joseph Zacks May 29, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The Sultanate of Oman committed to increase trade and economic relations with Iran.
The Treasury Department slapped sanctions on the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which is the body that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard stood up to extort vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The IDF carried out a strike in Beirut yesterday — it was the first Israeli strike in Beirut in three weeks.
The U.S. government is expanding its probe into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency — a.k.a. “UNRWA,” a.k.a. Hamas in UN clothing.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Joseph Zacks, FDD Adjunct Fellow and former deputy assistant director for counterterrorism for the CIA.

Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Law and order in the Iran war | feat. Natasha Hausdorff May 27, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

Israeli media reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini met with former Palestinian Authority security official Mohammad Dahlan in the United Arab Emirates.
The regime in Iran executed a man accused of spying on behalf of the Mossad.
The IDF expanded operations in Lebanon, pushing past the ceasefire line delineated in April — the so-called “Yellow Line.
Iranian hackers were responsible for a breach of the Los Angeles transport authority earlier this year. An Israeli cybersecurity firm traced digital evidence to a known operation that’s believed to be affiliated with Tehran.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with UK international lawyer and barrister Natasha Hausdorff.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

What's the deal with the Iran deal? | feat. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus & Behnam Ben Taleblu May 25, 2026

Show notes

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP featuring FDD experts Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus and Behnam Ben Taleblu.

They dissect the latest on the Iran deal: what we know, what we don't, and what we're watching.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief