After military defeat abroad and at home where the economy also has collapsed, the Islamic Republic is weaker than ever, and the Iranian people know it. The regime is facing a nationwide uprising unlike anything seen in decades with Iranians across class, age, and ideology back in the streets, and they’re no longer asking for reform. They’re demanding an end to the Islamic Republic itself. Meanwhile, President Trump warned that U.S. military action is on the table if the regime slaughters protes...
Jan 12, 2026•38 min
In a lightning-fast U.S. military raid, Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured in Caracas, arrested, and transported to the United States, sending shockwaves across Latin America and far beyond. Bill is joined by Sam Ben-Ur to unpack the raid and the intelligence behind it, what comes next when the dictator is gone, but the regime remains — and why Bill says "the ayatollah must be sh*tting himself."
Jan 06, 2026•33 min
Iran is erupting again — and this time, the protests are openly anti-regime. Strikes are spreading, nationalist slogans are surging, and the Islamic Republic’s margin for control is shrinking. Guest host Behnam Ben Taleblu is joined by Janatan Sayeh and Navid Mohebbi to discuss what’s driving the unrest and what (dwindling) options the regime still has. The Iran protest resources you need: We're tracking the Iran protests at fdd.org/iranprotests . Mark's podcast, The Iran Breakdown , is required...
Jan 01, 2026•36 min
On Christmas Day, the United States launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria, framed as a response to jihadist violence and the persecution of Christians. But did Washington hit the right enemy? In the right place? For the right reasons? Bill and Caleb analyze the known knowns of the strike, including who was targeted and who wasn’t — and why the operation may have been more about optics than outcomes. Editorial note: The 1997 film known as "Home Alone 3" is not a l...
Dec 28, 2025•21 min
After two American soldiers are killed in Syria, Washington responds (not with hard questions). Same war. Same mistake. Same tragic — and avoidable — consequences. In a solo rant, Bill Roggio dismantles the official story behind Operation Hawkeye, exposes the jihadist reality of Syria’s “security forces,” and ponders why the U.S. is (again) covering for al Qaeda–linked entities and calling it counterterrorism.
Dec 24, 2025•14 min
According to the Taliban's self-assessment (what could go wrong), Afghanistan is "stable" — but according to reality, it's not. Terrorist groups still operate openly, al-Qaeda remains embedded, and the same extremists are now being trusted to “fight” other extremists. Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown break down why outsourcing counterterrorism to jihadists is a fatal mistake — and why the so-called "peace of the Taliban" comes at an unbearable price: the erasure of half the country’s populati...
Dec 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss to dissect the recently-viral claim that Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamza bin Laden (the one President Trump had previously announced was killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation several years ago), is alive and secretly leading al-Qaeda from Afghanistan.
Dec 11, 2025•40 min
In a seismic policy shift after decades of Western indifference, the Trump administration has moved to designate key chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. Bill is joined by FDD’s Edmund Fitton-Brown, who explains why this first round of designations is just the opening salvo — and how pulling this initial thread could eventually unravel the Brotherhood’s sprawling global network from Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon to Turkey, Qatar, and beyond.
Dec 03, 2025•54 min
A precision strike in southern Beirut wiped out Haitham al-Tabataba’i, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, longtime military leader, and architect of its elite Radwan force. He was also the man overseeing Hezbollah’s post-ceasefire rearmament. Bill is joined by FDD’s David Daoud and Joe Truzman to unpack who Tabataba’i was, why the Israelis chose to strike now and what it means for Hezbollah’s failed regeneration, Beirut politics, and Israel’s next moves.
Nov 26, 2025•35 min
Ceasefire on paper. Chaos on the ground. Trump’s 20-point plan promises “peace” in Gaza — but Hamas is already violating the ceasefire, gaming hostage returns, killing rivals, and rearming in tunnels. Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Samuel Ben-Ur and Aaron Goren to discuss why disarming Hamas is a fantasy, why an international force risks becoming UNIFIL 2.0, and why Israel may be forced to finish the war.
Nov 20, 2025•45 min
Washington is rolling out the red carpet for Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now “President Shara.” Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown ask the hard question: why is a former al-Qaeda leader who oversaw massacres and foreign-terror networks suddenly treated like Syria’s George Washington? They unpack the risks, the Taliban déjà vu, and what this means for Israel, minorities, and the next phase of the long war.
Nov 12, 2025•45 min
Bill and David Daoud examine how Israel’s near-daily strikes on Hezbollah barely register in the West while even minor flare-ups in Gaza seemingly become a global crisis. They unpack why Lebanon’s decades of incompetence paved the way for Hezbollah entrenchment and failed statehood — and Western exhaustion, which may help explain why the “belligerent occupation” narrative remains strong in Gaza.
Nov 06, 2025•44 min
Will the next phase of the Long War erupt inside a nuclear-armed state? The Taliban, a monster Islamabad built but can’t control, is waging a war against Pakistan — and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. After decades of Islamabad playing both arsonist and firefighter — nurturing the Taliban, harboring al Qaeda, and weaponizing jihad against India — Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn reunite to dissect why the blaze is finally backfiring on Pakistan.
Oct 22, 2025•38 min
Guest host Behnam Ben Taleblu and FDD’s Janatan Sayeh delve into the complexities of Iran's internal politics, implications of the recent 12-day war, and ongoing discussions surrounding the truth about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. They unpack the regime's strategies, the impact of social media on public perception, and the challenges faced by regime leadership in maintaining “legitimacy” and control.
Oct 20, 2025•36 min
There’s a ceasefire in Gaza — not a peace deal. Hamas won’t disarm, the Houthis won’t quit, and Iran’s already rebuilding. Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown unpack the unfinished wars still burning from Yemen to Tehran and trace the next fronts in this Long War.
Oct 15, 2025•58 min
Bill Roggio, Sinan Ciddi, and Ahmad Sharawi discuss the brewing fight between Erdogan's Turkey, the SDF, and Sharaa’s Syria.
Oct 13, 2025•36 min
Two years after the Iran-backed, Hamas-led attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel remains locked into a multi-front, defensive war against the Islamic Republic and its patrons — including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Bill Roggio and Joe Truzman look back at how 10/7 reshaped the region, what’s surprised them most, and why the conflict is far from over.
Oct 07, 2025•39 min
Ahmad Sharawi is back with Bill to discuss the ongoing Sharaa spectacle, from massacres whitewashed and sanctions lifted with no conditions to foreign fighters handed Syrian citizenship — in its rush to embrace him, is the West willfully ignoring Sharaa’s blood-soaked past?
Sep 30, 2025•28 min
Ahmed al-Sharaa used to be known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — al Qaeda’s man in Syria. Now he’s known as the president of Syria. He’s in New York City this week, headlining the UN General Assembly (UNGA), fraternizing with world leaders and meeting with senior Trump administration officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was even hosted by a prominent think-tank for a fireside chat with General David Petraeus, a self-described “fan.” Why is everyone so eager to embrace someone with a rec...
Sep 24, 2025•29 min
Four years after America’s chaotic retreat from Afghanistan, President Trump has said he wants U.S. forces back at Bagram — or as Bill and Tom call it: a fantasy. They explain why the Taliban will never allow it, China wouldn’t tolerate it, and Washington still hasn’t learned. From Doha to Abbey Gate, they retrace how America’s exit empowered jihadists—and why talk of going back is pure madness.
Sep 22, 2025•21 min
Bill is joined by Joe Truzman and David Daoud to dissect Israel’s high-risk strike in Qatar that targeted senior Hamas leaders, including how it missed its top target, the blowback across the region, and what it might mean for the future of the Abraham Accords. They also assess the latest Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and IRGC targets in Lebanon as Israel's Long War expands.
Sep 12, 2025•42 min
Israel’s biggest strike yet on the Houthis killed 12 ministers — including their prime minister — signaling a major intelligence breakthrough in Yemen. Bill is joined again by Brad Bowman and Bridget Toomey to break down what this means for Israel’s fight against Iran’s Axis of Resistance, why targeting leaders (“the archers”) matters more than just shooting down missiles, and how the Red Sea conflict ties into a bigger global struggle with Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea.
Sep 05, 2025•45 min
President Trump’s red-carpet meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska followed with talks to Zelensky and European leaders could reshape the war in Ukraine. Bill is joined by Brad Bowman and John Hardie to unpack these meetings—from Putin’s demands and whether Washington risks handing Moscow a “bad peace,” to Ukraine’s manpower crisis and whether a ceasefire would buy Kyiv time or lock in defeat.
Aug 19, 2025•57 min
Israel’s push into Gaza City could decide the war’s next phase. Bill Roggio, Joe Truzman, and David Daoud unpack the high-stakes offensive and discuss the IDF’s manpower crunch, international backlash, Hamas’ refusal to disarm, and in Lebanon: Hezbollah warns of sectarian war if the government moves to disarm it.
Aug 15, 2025•38 min
In this co-host takeover, Joe Truzman and David Daoud cut through the very loud noises emanating from Beirut and Gaza — from Israel’s controversial killing of an Al Jazeera reporter it accused of Hamas ties to Lebanon’s unprecedented and ambitious push to disarm Hezbollah.
Aug 12, 2025•53 min
Bill, Joe, and David unpack Israel’s controversial decision to occupy Gaza City nearly two years into the war. From the absence of a viable “day after” plan and the Arab world’s refusal to police the Strip to the political, military, and diplomatic costs of Israel enmeshing itself deeper into Gaza, they examine whether or not this move can actually weaken Hamas.
Aug 08, 2025•46 min
Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss and Edmund Fitton Brown to analyze the UN's latest Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report on the evolving threats posed by Al-Qaeda and ISIS — from their current state and leadership to the geopolitical influences at play and strategic significance of areas like Syria, Iraq, and Somalia.
Jul 30, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Behnam, David, and Ahmad unpack the ongoing tensions in Syria and the country’s political landscape, the role of the Druze community, Iranian influence, Israel’s military strategy, and the broader implications for Israel and the United States.
Jul 25, 2025•57 min
Bill, Joe and Ahmad cut through the social media smokescreen surrounding Suwayda’s Druze‑Bedouin clashes, from shifting loyalties to regime reprisals, as well as unpack Israel’s Gaza City offensive.
Jul 25, 2025•46 min
Bill and Edmund Fitton‑Brown break down the post‑12‑day war chessboard: Houthis, Hezbollah, and Tehran’s other proxies—what they’ve learned, and where to anticipate the next flashpoint.
Jul 20, 2025•59 min
