The Inside Story Podcast

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.

Foad Izadi, Iranian professor of world studies offering Tehran’s viewpoint. Badr Al Saif, Kuwait University historian of Gulf politics. Abdulaziz Alghashian, Gulf politics expert focused on Saudi and regional security. They discuss Iran’s strikes on Gulf infrastructure and U.S. bases. They debate motives, Gulf sovereignty and shifts in Gulf–US and regional diplomacy.

Alon Pinkas, former Israeli ambassador in New York, offers a diplomatic lens. Rami Khouri, Middle East analyst, brings regional and historical perspective. Mitchell Barak, Israeli security strategist, explains military and political calculations. They discuss Israel's wider regional campaign, the debate over regime change versus nuclear aims, risks of opening another front, and potential political and strategic fallout.

Sanam Vakil, Chatham House policy director with expertise in Iran’s institutions. Ibrahim Fraihat, international conflict resolution scholar on regime resilience and public reaction. Elijah Magnier, military analyst on succession and security. They discuss constitutional succession, the IRGC’s role, institutional resilience, public mourning and legitimacy, external strikes versus regime-change aims, and economic risks sparking unrest.

Mehran Kamrava, Georgetown professor of government in Qatar, offers academic context on Iran and regional politics. Daniel Levy, president of the U.S./Middle East Project and former Israeli negotiator, analyzes US and Israeli policy choices. They discuss the scale of strikes and retaliation. They debate domestic politics, the limits of air power, and whether diplomacy can survive this gamble.

Kenneth Katzman, a US-focused security analyst; Ahmed Rushdie, an Iraqi politics insider; and Muhanad Saloum, a Middle East scholar, debate Nouri al-Maliki's controversial bid. They unpack his past record, US pressure and diplomacy, Iran and militia influence, troop deployments, and possible alternative candidates. Short, sharp conversations on regional power dynamics and Iraqi political fault lines.

Harry Broadman, a U.S. trade specialist, Dan Wang, an economist on China’s economic model, and Jost Wubbeke, a China industrial policy expert, discuss Germany’s Beijing visit. They explore why Western leaders are going to China now. They unpack Germany’s shifting trade ties, industrial pressures on autos, transatlantic unease, and whether China’s edge is subsidies or real innovation.

Siddharth Varadarajan, investigative journalist focused on Indian policy and surveillance. Andreas Krieg, security studies scholar on defence and strategic ties. Alon Liel, former Israeli foreign ministry director with diplomatic expertise. They discuss Modi's visit, defence and tech cooperation, surveillance and Pegasus, shifting Indian stances on Palestine, and whether India could join a new regional axis.

Chris Dalby, author and CJNG expert; Michael Vigil, former DEA international operations chief; Sergio Aguayo, Mexican politics scholar. They discuss cartel reach and how El Mencho's death sparks violence. They explore why Mexico is a hub for trafficking, US involvement in the raid, and the risks of leadership decapitation. Conversation touches on cartel restructuring and long-term strategies to reduce criminal power.

Richard Weitz, NATO Defence College senior fellow, on military deployments and strategy. Hassan Ahmadian, University of Tehran assistant professor, offering an Iranian policy view. Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council president, on US-Iran diplomacy. They discuss military buildup vs diplomacy, Iranian public posture and enrichment stances, US negotiating intent and internal divisions, and possible compromises.