FDD Morning Brief

Latest Episodes:

From Epic Fury to Economic Fury | feat. Rich Goldberg Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The United Arab Emirates announced that it’s leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC.
Tensions are brewing between Israel and Ukraine over allegations that Israeli authorities are allowing vessels carrying “stolen” grain to dock at Haifa port.
Earlier this week, Israeli journalist Amit Segal posted a few paragraphs on X explaining that, according to his sources, Qatar is cutting off Hamas. No more money, no more hosting.

FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation between Jon and FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg.

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

Israel on trial | feat. Roy K. Altman Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

An attempt on the life of the president of the United States on Saturday night.
The talks scheduled between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States over the weekend didn’t happen.
A serious exchange of hostilities over the weekend between Israel and Hezbollah over there in the Land of the Cedars.
Security services in Israel busted a Hamas financing cell in the West Bank and Gaza.
The political pair of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are teaming up again for another run in Israel.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Roy K. Altman, federal judge and author of the upcoming book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Can Lebanon break free from Hezbollah? | feat. Hussain Abdul-Hussain Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

Israeli authorities charged two IDF Air Force mechanics with spying on behalf of Iran.
France is getting feistier, threatening to impose sanctions on Israel if Jerusalem doesn’t change course in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
President Trump attended a meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors at the White House yesterday.
A couple of announcements out of Washington relating to those nasty Iraqi militias. First, a 10 million dollar bounty on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji of the group known as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, or KSS.
The city of Islamabad is reportedly still on a high security alert, as the Pakistani government continues to prepare for another round of talks between the United States and Iran.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD's Hussain Abdul-Hussain.

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

The Gulf's crude awakening | feat. Bernard Haykel Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

At least two maritime vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.
The Treasury Department issued a fresh batch of Iran sanctions, this time targeting Iranian missile and drone procurement networks.
The UAE government dismantled an Iran-linked terrorist cell that was allegedly planning terrorist attacks and sabotage operations in the country.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Bernard Haykel.

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

Iran's dirty hand in Sudan | feat. Ambassador Fernandez, guest hosted by Mariam Wahba Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The U.S. negotiation team is heading to Islamabad for round two of U.S.-Iran talks, and they’re opening under considerably worse conditions than round one.
Egypt is working with Pakistan on lasting U.S.-Iran peace, says Egypt's Foreign Minister.
Sudan enters its fourth year of war amid the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.

FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, vice president of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

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

China's MidEast reckoning | feat. Gen. H.R. McMaster Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

A ten-day ceasefire is now in effect in Lebanon.
The Treasury Department issued a fresh batch of sanctions targeting a network of people, companies, and ships involved in illicitly smuggling Iranian oil.
A group of U.S. senators sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche asking him to explain why the Trump administration dropped a criminal case against Turkey’s Halkbank.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, met with a pair of Kurdish leaders yesterday to discuss the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces — or SDF — into Syria’s state forces.
Word on the street is that there was meeting between the U.S. and Hamas in Cairo earlier this week.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States and chairman of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power.

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

The unsettled score in Iran | feat. David Adesnik Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

Lebanon and Israel held direct talks for the first time in decades.
The Trump administration is gearing up for its blockade of Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf.
There are plans for new ceasefire talks in Islamabad.
The UK and France are planning to host virtual talks to iron out a strategy for securing the Strait of Hormuz.
A defense cooperation memorandum of understanding between Italy and Israel that’s automatically renewed every five years since 2005 expired on Monday. Yesterday, Rome announced that it’s ending the agreement amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with David Adesnik.

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

Can Iran bypass the blockade? | feat. Miad Maleki Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow Miad Maleki.

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

FDD Morning Brief SITREP | The stakes behind the Iran ceasefire Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

The IDF said it eliminated Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem’s personal secretary in a strike near Beirut.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that Beirut isn’t going to let any other government negotiate for a ceasefire on its behalf.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering moving troops out of NATO countries after several of them hamstringed American efforts in Iran.
Iran continues to strangle the Strait of Hormuz.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP episode of the FDD Morning Brief featuring FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus and FDD CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.

They examine the implications of the ceasefire and negotiations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

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

The art of the ceasefire deal? | feat. Khosro Isfahani Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Headlines:

Yesterday, the IDF said it completed the deployment of ground troops to a so-called anti-tank line in south Lebanon.
An American journalist kidnapped in Iraq last week is on her way home.
A firefight broke out adjacent to the Israeli consulate in Istanbul yesterday.
Massive explosion at the Panama Canal yesterday.

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with NUFDI Research Director Khosro Isfahani.

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected