FDD Morning Brief

Latest Episodes:

The 20-year war on freedom | feat. Yana Gorokhovskaia Apr 06, 2026

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Today's headlines:

The regime in Tehran somehow managed to shoot down an American F-15 fighter jet over the weekend.
The aviators from that downed F-15 are both ok.
Donald Trump’s Truth Social post yesterday seems to suggest that the April 6 deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz has been extended until tomorrow night.
The internet blackout continues inside Iran.
The war in Lebanon continues.
Tough day in Israel yesterday, with a building in Haifa absorbing a direct hit from a ballistic missile, while cluster munitions also hit dozens of locations across central Israel.
Turkey is somehow getting its oil tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Featured FDD piece: "Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism" - FDD Memo, Sinan Ciddi and William Doran

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Freedom House's Yana Gorokhovskaia.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Is Turkey the new Iran? | feat. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, guest hosted by Sinan Ciddi Apr 03, 2026

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Today's headlines:

Turkey is working with Iranian authorities to secure permission for 11 Turkish-owned ships to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli forces eliminated the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front.
The International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank are joining forces to coordinate a response to the ongoing war with Iran.

Featured FDD piece: "Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism" - FDD Memo, Sinan Ciddi and William Doran

FDD Turkey Program Director Sinan Ciddi fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with world-renowned Turkey scholar Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak.

Hezbollah versus Lebanon | feat. Hagar Chemali Apr 01, 2026

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Today's headlines:

Trouble continues in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kosovo announced that it plans to deploy troops to the U.S.-backed international stabilization force for Gaza.
The Iranian ambassador is still in Lebanon, and the Lebanese government is still effectively beholden to Hezbollah.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wants President Trump to end the war.

FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba delivers headlines ahead of a conversation between FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer and "Oh My World!" host Hagar Chemali.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

30 days of Roaring Lion | feat. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amir Eshel Mar 30, 2026

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The splintering axis of evil | feat. Ilan Berman Mar 27, 2026

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Today's headlines:

U.S.-Israeliair superiority continues
Iranian air defenses remain down
Israel eliminated the head of Iran’s navy
The Islamic Republic is preparing for a ground war
U.S. President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for the regime to make a deal
Beirut declared Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon persona non grata and instructed him to leave the country
Hezbollah continues to batter northern Israel with rockets
The U.S. embassy in Iraq told American citizens to leave Iraq immediately
IDF chief of staff informed the cabinet that the army could collapse on itself if the war continues at this pace due to manpower shortages

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council.

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

Washington's war with itself | feat. Rep. Gottheimer (D-NJ) Mar 25, 2026

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

Is the U.S. maxing out the pressure on Iran? | feat. Brian Hook Mar 23, 2026

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with former U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook.

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

Winning the sanctions war | feat. Peter Doran Mar 20, 2026

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FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Adjunct Senior Fellow Peter Doran, who authored the FDD Monograph "Winning the Race of the Red Queen: How U.S. Sanctions Can Outpace Russia’s Evasion."

They discuss how Russia and Iran have adapted to U.S. sanctions, why economic pressure often falls short, and what it will take for Washington to regain the upper hand.

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

Washington's two-front war | feat. Lewis Libby Mar 18, 2026

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Distinguished Fellow Lewis Libby.

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

The mullah's monarchy | feat. Ray Takeyh Mar 16, 2026

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ray Takeyh of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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