The Inside Story Podcast

A deep look at mounting violence in south Lebanon and how peacekeeping forces are stretched thin. Conversations about massive civilian displacement and collapsing shelters. Analysis of strikes hitting infrastructure and the risk of sectarian escalation. Debate over whether military aims include creating a buffer or expanding operations and what that means for regional stability.

Foad Izadi, Iranian professor offering Tehran’s perspective; Lawrence Wilkerson, retired U.S. Army colonel and foreign policy critic; Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist and McCain adviser. They debate whether a U.S. off-ramp exists. They clash over objectives, legality, intelligence readings, Iran’s likely demands, escalation risks, and the possibility of ground troops and regime-change aims.

Alan Tonelson, economist and RealityChek founder, weighs trade-offs in energy and policy. Chris Weafer, CEO of Macro-Advisory, analyzes Russia, Eurasia and energy market shifts. Steven Erlanger, NYT diplomatic correspondent, outlines European diplomatic strains. They discuss competition for gas with Asia, who profits from higher oil, sanctions’ erosion, diverted missiles affecting Ukraine, and Russia’s pivot to Asia.

Paolo von Schirach, Washington-based geopolitics and energy analyst. Mohammad Reza Farzanegan, Middle East economics professor focused on sanctions and oil markets. Foad Izadi, Iranian political scholar on regional strategy. They debate U.S. aims toward Iran, the role of oil and sanctions, China and Russia’s influence, and strategic leverage like the Strait of Hormuz.

Alex Vatanka, a Middle East Institute analyst on Iranian security; Mehran Kamrava, a Georgetown professor specializing in Iranian politics; Hassan Ahmadian, a Tehran-based political analyst. They discuss who Iran’s new leader is, Tehran’s public reaction, behind-the-scenes power networks, signals to the US and Israel, factional balances and whether the regime can shift strategy to survive.

Trita Parsi, Iran policy expert at the Quincy Institute, offers insight on Iranian politics. Bader Al-Saif, Kuwait University professor, explains Gulf-state perspectives. John Brennan, former CIA director, discusses intelligence and security responses. They explore Iran's command structure, Gulf defenses and restraint, de-escalation efforts, and risks of wider regional escalation.

Serhan Afacan, director of the Center of Iranian Studies in Ankara, maps regional incidents and Turkey/Azerbaijan ties. Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings foreign policy researcher, evaluates U.S. strategy and military effects. Alam Saleh, ANU Iranian studies lecturer, explains Iranian strategy and domestic dynamics. They discuss geographic spread, confused strikes, factional command splits, and competing endgames in short, sharp conversations.

Dominique Trinquand, former head of France’s military mission to the UN and NATO, Anatol Lieven, Eurasia Programme director at the Quincy Institute, and Theresa Fallon, director of CREAS and expert on Europe-Russia-China ties. They debate Western alienation, unilateral US tactics, sidelined allies, and the wider geopolitical and energy fallout as global powers react.

Nabeel Khoury, former U.S. diplomat offering regional and Washington analysis; Nimrod Novik, Israeli security adviser with strategic policy experience; Heiko Wimmen, on-the-ground analyst of Lebanon and humanitarian impacts. They discuss Hezbollah's motives and timing. They explore internal decision-making, Israel’s strategic responses, Lebanon’s government limits, remaining militant capabilities, and mounting humanitarian fallout.

Christopher Hill, veteran U.S. diplomat and former ambassador to Iraq. Maha Yahya, regional analyst and Middle East center director. Sasan Karimi, former Iranian deputy for strategic affairs. They discuss how Iran rebuilds leadership after decapitation strikes. They explore internal unity versus protests. They debate regional escalation, de-escalation paths, and the odds of direct U.S. military intervention.