Best FDD Podcasts (2025)

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Is United Nations reform a possibility or a pipe dream? | feat. Ambassador Jeff Bartos 26:51

Play Pause

3d ago26:51

26:51

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ambassador Jeff Bartos, who serves as the U.S. Representative for UN Management and Reform. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbriefBy FDD

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Special Edition: Happy FDD Season 14:53

9d ago14:53

14:53

A checklist to remove clutter, save the important, and improve content integrity.By Bryan Garner

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Home Alone 3: Lost in Nigeria? 20:54

15h ago20:54

20:54

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 …

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The War Against Christians (With Chinese Characteristics) 50:01

3d ago50:01

50:01

This Christmas week, we're left to confront a hard truth: Christians are under attack in many corners of the world. On October 10, the Chinese Communist Party arrested Pastor Ezra Jin, founder of Beijing’s Zion Church — along with 28 other leaders — in the largest crackdown on a Christian church in China in decades. Pastor Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin…

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Better Call Sharaa 14:12

17h ago14:12

14:12

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) coverin…

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The Empire Strikes Back? (feat. Tal Kelman) 57:36

3d ago57:36

57:36

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. Israel’s 12-day war with Iran upended years of assumptions and may have rewritten the rules of deterrence — but the aftermath could prove more dangerous than the war itself. As Tehran absorbs the shock of defeat, it now faces a stark choice: regroup, retaliate, or retreat. The regime’s next move will determine…

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Why Chinese Economic Statecraft is a U.S. National Security Threat 56:18

10d ago56:18

56:18

Watch this episode on YouTube here. China isn’t just competing economically — it’s coercing strategically. Drawing on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s latest report, guest host Craig Singleton is joined by Commission Vice Chair Randy Shriver and Commissioner Mike Kuiken to unpack how Beijing weaponizes its economic power — a…

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Is the Bondi Beach massacre Australia's wake-up call? | feat. Joel Burnie 23:51

6d ago23:51

23:51

IS THE BONDI BEACH MASSACRE AUSTRALIA'S WAKE-UP CALL? HEADLINE 1: The United States just slapped new sanctions on Iran’s shadow oil fleet. HEADLINE 2: Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are mulling a military coalition to deter the Turks. HEADLINE 3: U.S. MidEast envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Gaza ceasefire talks…. In Miami. --- FDD Executive Director …

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Fighting terror with terror 1:10:02

7d ago1:10:02

1:10:02

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 t…

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Is herd mentality the new norm? | feat. Miriam Haart 21:59

8d ago21:59

21:59

HEADLINE 1: Qatar is once again pushing Washington to sell it F-35s. HEADLINE 2: Israel facilitated the exit of more than 200 Palestinians from Gaza. HEADLINE 3: Hamas is abusing Gazans. Again. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Miriam Haart, who starred in the hi…

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The Widening Gulf Between Iran and the Gulf 57:29

9d ago57:29

57:29

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. We're bringing you another riveting episode from our sister podcast, Foreign Podicy, repackaged for Iran Breakdown followers: Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of FDD’s Iran Program, is joined by former senior U.S. intelligence official Norman Roule to assess Iran’s post–12-Day War reality, including the gap…

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End of Year Special Edition Clip 2:08

9d ago2:08

2:08

By Bryan Garner

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15 Crumbl Stores with Shideler Bennett: The Real Scaling Playbook 1:00:19

10d ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Send us a text Scaling a franchise sounds glamorous — until you're staring at three simultaneous buildouts and a contractor who just walked off with your materials. That's where Shideler Bennett started. Today he operates 15 Crumbl stores. In this episode, we dig into the real levers of franchise profit: → Labor at 25%, COGS under 25%, occupancy be…

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Schrödinger’s Hezbollah: Neither strong nor weak — yet both | feat. Hagar Chemali 22:25

10d ago22:25

22:25

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with political satirist and "Oh My World" podcast host Hagar Chemali. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbriefBy FDD

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Americans Want U.S. Strength and Statesmanship 1:02:07

17d ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Politicians love to tell Americans what we think about U.S. leadership, our military, our allies, and our enemies — but the data tells a different story. A new Reagan National Defense Survey cuts through the noise to reveal what Americans actually believe during a moment of strategic flux. To unpack the findings and what they mean for U.S. power, d…

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Should Israel pardon Bibi? | feat. Aviva Klompas 25:23

13d ago25:23

25:23

SHOULD ISRAEL PARDON BIBI? HEADLINE 1: The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. HEADLINE 2: Israeli and Taiwanese officials recently conducted a series of secret meetings. HEADLINE 3: The U.S. and Israel wrapped up joint naval exercises yesterday. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates a…

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"Trust Me, Bro" and The Art of Verification 40:29

14d ago40:29

40:29

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.By FDD's Long War Journal

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Why do some in Hollywood want freedom for a convicted terrorist? | feat. Noa Tishby 26:18

15d ago26:18

26:18

HEADLINE 1: After taking a beating during the 12-day war, Iran is back to building up its ballistic missile arsenal. HEADLINE 2: Israeli authorities raided a vacant United Nations Relief and Works Agency facility in East Jerusalem. HEADLINE 3: The IDF discovered three crude rockets in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Sc…

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The debate around the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | feat. Michal Cotler-Wunsh 29:03

19d ago29:03

29:03

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Michal Cotler-Wunsch, CEO of The International Legal Forum (ILF) and former Member of Israel's Knesset (Parliament). Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbriefBy FDD

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The Widening Gulf Between Iran and the Gulf 58:18

25d ago58:18

58:18

Guest host Behnam Ben Taleblu is joined by former U.S. intelligence official Norman Roule to examine Iran’s postwar moment: from puncturing the comforting illusion created by viral clips of loosened social activity (or, as Norm puts it, why “a few videos of dancing and hijab-free afternoons don’t outweigh 21,000 arrests and expedited executions”) t…

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What role will AI play in the future of warfare? | feat. Leah Siskind 21:10

22d ago21:10

21:10

HEADLINE 1: Yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing will provide $100 million to help with reconstruction and ease the humanitarian situation in Gaza. HEADLINE 2: The Pentagon deployed a new type of drone to the Middle East. HEADLINE 3: Iraq added Hezbollah and the Houthis to its asset freeze list. -- FDD Senior Research Analyst Natali…

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Jay and Carolina Orosa: From Franchisees To Franchise Mentors 1:04:25

21d ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Send us a text Ready to turn a franchise into a true asset rather than a demanding job? We sit down with Jay and Carolina Orosa—former top-performing home care franchisees and now part of our franchise consulting team—to unpack how they launched, scaled to hundreds of clients and 300+ caregivers, and exited on favorable terms without losing the hea…

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O Muslim Brotherhood, Where Aren't Thou? 53:44

22d ago53:44

53:44

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 event…

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What's happening in southern Yemen? | feat. Amr Al Bidh 20:09

27d ago20:09

20:09

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SOUTHERN YEMEN? HEADLINE 1: Saudi Arabia is providing the Palestinian Authority with a $90 million grant. HEADLINE 2: Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in two separate attacks yesterday. HEADLINE 3: The IDF raided the offices in Ramallah and Hebron of an organization called the Union of Agricultural Work Committees. --- FDD Se…

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U.S. defense policy and strategy in the Middle East | feat. Dana Stroul 35:28

26d ago35:28

35:28

Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Dana Stroul, who serves as Director of Research and Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorning…

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Africa 2025: Things Fall Apart 55:38

1M ago55:38

55:38

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Africa rarely makes the headlines — but it should. Here are just a few: Islamist movements are expanding from Nigeria to Mozambique, Mali to Somalia. The French have been pushed out, Russian forces are moving in, while China is building influence and quietly extracting wealth from African earth and people. Ambass…

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Hezbollahi: Gotta Catch ‘Em All 34:48

1M ago34:48

34:48

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…

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Washington cracks down on the Muslim Brotherhood | feat. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) 25:31

1M ago25:31

25:31

HEADLINE 1: Anyone heard of Binance? It's the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange — and it may well have facilitated $1 billion in transactions for Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations — that’s billion with a “b.” HEADLINE 2: The Palestinian economy is on the brink of collapse. HEADLINE 3: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or “GH…

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Is this Yemen's calm before the storm? | feat. Edmund Fitton-Brown 27:17

1M ago27:17

27:17

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with former UK Ambassador to Yemen and current FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbriefBy FDD

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Why Pilates Franchises Win: Recurring Revenue & Strong Margins Explained 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

Send us a text Pilates franchise investment is exploding - but is it actually profitable? Emily Brown from Limitless Franchise Growth breaks down the real numbers behind Jet Set Pilates, Project Lean Nation, and Fundraising University franchises. We cover franchise costs, unit economics, profit margins, and what differentiates top-performing boutiq…

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DJT and the VIP (Very Important Prince) 49:38

1M ago49:38

49:38

President Trump gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, A.K.A. MbS, a royal welcome to Washington. But beyond the flashy diplomacy, quite a lot of business was transacted. Host Cliff May is joined by Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss the visit, the future of U.S.–Saudi relations, the threat from Tehran and the Houthis, Turkey’s neo-Ottoman ambiti…

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What can Israel expect from its neighbors? | feat. BG (Res.) Prof. Jacob Nagel 26:20

1M ago26:20

26:20

WHAT CAN ISRAEL EXPECT FROM ITS NEIGHBORS? HEADLINE 1: The IDF carried out strikes against several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in south Lebanon. HEADLINE 2: Israeli prosecutors charged seven men suspected of smuggling arms from Syria into Israel. HEADLINE 3: Israeli prosecutors charged seven men suspected of smuggling arms from Syria into …

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Don't Call it a Peace Deal 45:13

1M ago45:13

45:13

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 beco…

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Is Iran Unraveling? 51:27

1M ago51:27

51:27

With the regime reeling from military humiliation, economic decay, and growing defiance at home, Mark sits down with frontline journalist David Patrikarakos to cut through Tehran’s spin to explain what’s really happening inside the Islamic Republic. From the collapse of Iran’s nuclear prestige to the widening cracks in its coercive power, this conv…

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How Hamas controls the narrative | feat. Eran Lahav 27:16

1M ago27:16

27:16

HEADLINE 1: The U.N. Security Council blessed Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. HEADLINE 2: Syria opened its first trial over the mass killings of Alawite minorities last spring. HEADLINE 3: Yee Haw! The State of Texas designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational upd…

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Hamas stands between Gaza and its future | feat. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib 29:53

1M ago29:53

29:53

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza native who serves as the founder and director of the Realign for Palestine project at the Atlantic Council. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief…

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Brandon Downer: How Pink's Window Cleaning Franchise Turned Home Services Into Hospitality | The Franchise Insiders Podcast 53:09

1M ago53:09

53:09

Send us a text Brandon Downer: How Pink's Window Cleaning Franchise Turned Home Services Into Hospitality | The Franchise Insiders Podcast Discover how Brandon Downer built Pink's Window Cleaning from a neighborhood observation into a thriving home services franchise that treats customers like guests and technicians like hospitality professionals. …

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No Country for Old Mullahs 1:14:59

1M ago1:14:59

1:14:59

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. Before new episodes of The Iran Breakdown return (soon!), we’re bringing you a riveting discussion from our sister podcast, Foreign Podicy, featuring FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu in dialogue with Dr. Ali Ansari — one of the world’s foremost scholars of modern Iran. In a sweeping, incisive discussion, they trace th…

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Back to Iraq 46:29

2M ago46:29

46:29

📺: Watch this episode on YouTube here. Filmmaker Michael Pack joins host Cliff May to tell the extraordinary story of The Last 600 Meters, his gripping documentary on the battles of Fallujah and Najaf. Though the film was finished in 2007, it sat on a shelf for 17 years before PBS finally aired it this Veterans Day. From young Americans fighting al…

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What happens when MBS comes to town? | feat. Sarah Zaaimi 20:35

1M ago20:35

20:35

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MBS COMES TO TOWN? HEADLINE 1: The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on over two dozen targets that support Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production networks. HEADLINE 2: U.S. Central Command provided an update on operational activity in Syria. HEADLINE 3: Israeli forces dismantled a Hamas network in the West Bank. -…

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Syria's George Washington? 44:31

1M ago44:31

44:31

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 …

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Israel's reckoning after October 7 | feat. Seth Frantzman 26:38

2M ago26:38

26:38

HEADLINE 1: French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. HEADLINE 2: The Houthis might be hitting pause on their attacks against Israel and Red Sea shipping. HEADLINE 3: Iran said it dismantled a spy network linked to Israel and the United States. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situa…

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Is another Israel-Iran war looming? | feat. Ilan Berman 26:01

2M ago26:01

26:01

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers 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/By FDD