Episode description

Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia. Rebel leaders have taken over Damascus. And hundreds of thousands of refugees from the country’s long civil war are making their way back home. 

And while many in Syria and around the world are rejoicing at the downfall of Assad and his brutal regime, there are growing concerns that the country could go the way of Libya, Yemen, and Iraq, where insurgent groups and sectarian strife have wreaked havoc on the civilian population and created failed states, which in the case of Syria, could threaten to further destabilize an already volatile Middle East.

And beyond Syria, how does Assad’s regime collapse affect broader conflicts and regional powers like Iran, Israel, Russia, the U.S. and Turkey?

To make sense of this moment, and the seismic changes taking place, we are joined by Michael Weiss. Michael is an investigative journalist who focuses on international affairs,  specifically the wars in Syria and Ukraine. His understanding of this region and its players gives him a unique insight into this rapidly evolving situation.