Rania Khalek joins Habibi House for one of the most powerful, unapologetic deep dives we’ve ever had...covering U.S. imperialism, Israel’s global influence, media manipulation, and the rise of independent Arab voices in journalism.From her recent spinal surgery recovery to her fearless commentary on Gaza, Syria, and the American political divide, Rania opens up about her life, her career, and the contradictions of power that define the modern world.Topics Covered:The right-wing fracture over Israel and U.S. politicsHow Israel and the U.S. share imperialist interestsThe myth of “progressive except for Palestine”The media’s complicity in global oppressionArab representation in independent journalismWomen in liberation movementsFitness, discipline, and resilience as political actsAbout the Guest:Rania Khalek is a Lebanese-American journalist and host at BreakThrough News, known for her fearless reporting on Palestine, U.S. foreign policy, and global imperialism. Her work has appeared in The Electronic Intifada and BreakThrough News, where she hosts Dispatches.About Habibi House:Habibi House is the unapologetic voice of the Arab & MENA diaspora in global media — where culture, politics, and art collide. We’ve hosted guests like Cenk Uygur, Maz Jobrani, Abby Martin, and Ana Kasparian.YouTube:  @BreakThroughNews  Instagram: @raniakhalekTwitter: @RaniaKhalekListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all platforms:https://linktr.ee/habibihousepodcastSupport Independent Arab Media. Subscribe, share, and comment to help us grow.Hashtags#RaniaKhalek #HabibiHouse #Palestine #Syria #Gaza #IndependentMedia #USImperialism #Lebanon #ArabVoices #BreakthroughNews #MENA #Politics #Podcast #LeftistMediaTimestamps00:00 – Rania Khalek joins Habibi House00:15 – Recovering from spinal surgery like a superhero02:00 – Has Israel lost the American right?04:00 – The media war and control over public opinion05:00 – U.S. capitalism, fascism, and media monopoly06:00 – “Palestine as a laboratory” — how oppression is tested and exported08:00 – Tucker Carlson, the MAGA split, and anti-imperialist contradictions09:00 – The Democratic Party’s collapse and corporate capture13:00 – The symbiotic relationship between U.S. empire and Israel17:00 – Dual citizenship and U.S.-Israel power networks19:00 – White supremacy and imperial ideology in the West27:00 – American imperialism, sanctions, and global mafia politics29:00 – The Arab Spring, Syria, and Western intervention35:00 – Being labeled an “Assadist” for anti-intervention views37:00 – Western double standards on democracy in the Middle East42:00 – Women in media and liberation movements45:00 – Representation and resilience as an Arab woman journalist48:00 – Independent media, fitness, and leftist strength51:00 – Closing thoughts: outlive RFK and Zionism

Alone in Congress. Targeted by AIPAC. Silenced for speaking truth. But still standing.In this raw and fearless episode of Habibi House, we sit down with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib—the only Palestinian-American in U.S. Congress—for a conversation you won’t hear anywhere else. From surviving House censure to confronting Zionism, genocide, and the weaponization of antisemitism, Tlaib opens up like never before.Topics we cover:Why speaking up for Gaza made her a targetThe difference between Judaism and ZionismThe U.S. role in genocide and settler colonialismBeing silenced by Democrats and censured by CongressWhat Palestinian liberation and solidarity actually look likeThe emotional toll of watching her people suffer—from inside the systemhis is not your average political interview. This is truth, unfiltered.Who Is Rashida Tlaib?First Palestinian woman in U.S. CongressFierce advocate for justice, indigenous rights, and accountabilityOne of the few in Congress to call out Israeli apartheid and U.S. complicitySubscribe for more unfiltered voices:We spotlight the culture, comedy, and courage of the Arab, Muslim, and MENA diaspora.New episodes weekly → @HabibiHousePodcastFollow us everywhere: @habibihousepodcastWant to support Palestinian creatives?Keywords for SEORashida Tlaib interview, Gaza genocide, Zionism vs Judaism, Congress Palestine, Free Palestine, Rashida Tlaib podcast, Habibi House, Palestinian voices, ceasefire now, antisemitism, Israel Palestine

This episode of Habibi House is unlike anything we've done before. We’re joined by acclaimed filmmaker Justin Mashouf and the courageous star of his new documentary Hamzah Furqani, who imprisoned in the U.S. for decades navigating the corrupt, exploitative, "for profit" prison system.🛍️ MERCH SUPPORT: https://thehabibihouse.com 📺 Subscribe Hit the Bell for more unfiltered conversations. 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple all major platforms.Their new film 17.74 explores the post-9/11 surveillance state, FBI entrapment tactics, and the criminalization of young Muslim men. It also draws powerful parallels between U.S. carceral systems and the occupation of Palestine — revealing how imperial structures replicate themselves across borders.🗣️ In this powerful conversation:- Hamzah opens up about surviving solitary confinement, institutional betrayal, and the faith that got him through it.- Justin details how his documentary became a viral TikTok movement, building momentum around the intersection of Islamophobia, prison abolition, and Free Palestine.- We examine how the U.S. targets Muslim communities, how media controls our narratives, and why standing up for Palestine is non-negotiable.📌 Topics include:- FBI entrapment post-9/11 Muslim repression- Islamophobia in liberal vs conservative circles- The connection between prison and settler colonialism- Reclaiming Muslim identity and faith under attack- Building alliances between abolitionists and Palestinian activists- Viral media as resistance🎞️ Watch the full documentary 17.74 now at:#Palestine #FreePalestine #Islamophobia #MuslimVoices #PrisonAbolition #JustinMashouf #HamzahFurqani #1774 #FBIEntrapment #HabibiHouse #DocumentaryFilm #ResistanceMedia

In this episode of Habibi House, comedian Sammy Obeid sits down to unpack the complicated relationship between cancel culture, free speech, and how it impacts comedians, activists, and Palestine advocates.From his experience in the comedy industry to his outspoken views on Gaza, Sammy shares what it's like to perform while navigating politically charged topics. He opens up about getting unbooked from comedy shows, feeling pressure to self-censor, and the business risks of standing in solidarity with Palestine.Topics covered include:The double standard in comedy when it comes to PalestineWhy many comedians stay silent about genocideWhether cancel culture has become good or bad for businessHow activism can impact creative careers — for better or worseComedy as resistance in a time of silenceWhether you're a fan of political comedy, fighting censorship, or exploring where business and ethics collide, this episode brings sharp insight and raw honesty.Watch, like, and share — because free speech only works if we use it.Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, Charlie Kirk, MAGA, Free Speech, Habibi House, Arab, Middle East, Anti Zionist, Comedian, Sammy Obeid

In this powerful episode of Habibi House, we sit down with Palestinian singer-songwriter, director, and cultural force Lina Makoul — the first Palestinian winner of The Voice I*rael — who’s redefining what it means to be a “radical” artist. From rejecting a conventional path in biology to headlining global festivals, Lina has become a voice for the voiceless, blending music, visuals, and identity into a singular creative force. In this conversation, we dive into: 🔥 Her decision to leave university and pursue music 🔥 How she reclaimed the word “radical” and made it the title of her upcoming EP 🔥 The trauma and triumph of being banned in Haifa 🔥 Her visual storytelling, symbolism, and why Arabic lyrics matter 🔥 Chanting as sacred ritual: why music is a form of collective healing 🔥 Standing beside ancient olive trees while singing about Palestinian memory 🔥 How occupation shaped her creativity, and how she channels that into liberation 🔥 Her dinner with Will.i.am (!), Aquarius Festival, and building Palestine’s music future Lina breaks down how being Palestinian isn’t just geography — it’s a mindset. And how she's turning every performance into a healing ritual for resistance.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Dr. Mohamed “Mo” Mustafa—emergency physician, humanitarian advocate, and headliner at ArabCon 2025—joins us to break down the emotional, spiritual, and political weight of healing in a world trying to erase us.From the ER to the frontlines of activism, Dr. Mo opens up about:How Gaza shaped his entire worldviewThe trauma of being an Arab doctor in American hospitalsIslam, masculinity, and gentlenessThe pressure to be perfect when you're one of the only Arab voices in medicineAbout Dr. Mohamed “Mo” MustafaDr. Mo is an emergency room physician and outspoken advocate for Gaza, human rights, and cultural healing. He’s been featured at ArabCon, in international media, and across social platforms for his unique ability to weave together compassion, science, and politics. He doesn’t just treat wounds—he tells stories that demand justice.About Habibi HouseHabibi House is a podcast reclaiming Arab and Muslim narratives. We bring fire interviews, bold satire, and soul-shaking moments.Sponsored By: ArabCon 2025 This episode is brought to you by ArabCon — the largest Arab American cultural, political, and artistic conference in the country.🎟️ Get tickets now at ArabCon.org🔥 Featuring Bassem Youssef, Mehdi Hasan, Dana Salah, Linda Sarsour, Cenk Uygur & more.#Gaza #DrMoMustafa #HabibiHouse #ArabCon #Palestine #ArabDoctor #MuslimVoices #MedicalActivism #FreePalestine #EmergencyMedicine #SWANA #Resistance #SoftnessIsPower

In this landmark episode, we sit down with Usman Riaz—the visionary Pakistani creator behind The Glassworker, the first hand-drawn Muslim animated feature film. A composer, artist, and rebel storyteller, Usman takes us inside the years-long odyssey of building an animation studio from scratch in Pakistan, navigating comparisons to the prestigious Studio Ghibli, challenging the Euro-American monopoly on fantasy, and reclaiming the right to dream in our own languages.We unpack what it means to be a Muslim artist in a post-9/11 world, how The Glassworker blends South Asian, Ottoman, and Islamic aesthetics, and why stories rooted in our worlds should never need Western validation. With the release of his film on the horizon, Usman shares the moments that almost broke him—and the fire that kept him going.

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In this explosive episode of Habibi House, we sit down with the unapologetic and razor-sharp Ana Kasparian — co-host of The Young Turks, executive producer, journalist, and one of the most polarizing voices in progressive media.Watch, Subscribe, and Hit the BellListen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts From her roots as an Armenian American with family from Haifa, Palestine, to the online firestorms she’s endured over trans rights, TYT politics, Hasan Piker, Sam Seder, and more — Ana takes us on a no-BS journey through the contradictions of American liberalism, the collapse of the progressive media ecosystem, and why she’s more politically homeless than ever.🎙️ We cover:• Why The Young Turks is a loaded name for an Armenian woman — and what she really thinks• Palestine, media gaslighting, and the death of journalistic integrity• The Canary Mission, online harassment, and receiving death threats• Ana’s public fallout with HasanAbi, Sam Seder, and “the online left”• Homelessness in California — and why the media lies about solutions• Unionization, political burnout, and finding your own compassPlus: Her uncensored views on Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and moreWhether you love her or hate her, Ana shows up with clarity, complexity, and unflinching honesty — and it’s one of our rawest conversations yet.

This episode of Habibi House features a dynamic double feature with two powerful Arab women: Abeer — a sharp, rebellious Palestinian-Bulgarian comedian — and Rolla — a filmmaker and creative force behind the upcoming Arab-led thriller The Visitor.Together, Abeer and Rolla explore what it means to create authentic, dangerous, culture-shifting art as Arab women navigating censorship, shame culture, and an entertainment industry afraid to say "Free Palestine" with its chest.Topics include:Why Rolla was dropped by CAA for posting about genocideZionism in Hollywood and how it impacts Arab creativesThe double standard Arab women face in content creation and family expectationsChristian Palestinians & the myth of a "Muslims vs. Jews" conflictThe power of satire, AI in storytelling, and new paths for Arab cinemaRolla’s bold upcoming film The Visitor — Get Out meets Occupation🎤With real talk, brutal honesty, and moments that’ll make you laugh and rage in the same breath — this episode shows the new face of Arab resistance through art, comedy, and community.🎟️ Catch Abeer on tour: Easy Visit (San Diego, LA, SF, OC)🎬 Keep an eye out for Rolla’s film The Visitor, the first Arab psychological horror to hit global stagesAbeer comedian PalestineRolla filmmaker The VisitorArab women in HollywoodZionism in entertainmentPalestinian Christian persecutionShame culture Arab womenCAA censorship PalestinePalestinian Arab podcastHabibi House AbeerArab women unfiltered

In this powerful Habibi House segment, we sit down with Rolla Selbak, a community organizer and cultural voice, to explore the deep questions surrounding joy, resistance, and Palestinian solidarity.How do we balance celebration and cultural expression while our people are enduring genocide?Is community organizing, food, fashion, and music in the diaspora a form of resistance?What role does Little Arabia in Orange County play as a safe haven and cultural hub for Arabs in California?Rolla breaks down why joy is more than just a feeling – it’s a weapon against erasure. From Gaza to LA, Rolla explains how community spaces, events, and culture become essential tools of resilience, even as Palestinians are targeted not only physically but culturally.Key Themes in this Episode:Why the oppressor wants to take away Palestinian joy, culture, and community – and why we must do the opposite.The power of bringing online solidarity into real-life organizing and why being together matters.The delicate balance of celebrating without flaunting “abundance” while Gaza suffers.Why Palestinians are literally banned from celebrating prisoner releases – and what that says about the power of joy.How businesses in the diaspora can ethically use Palestinian culture while giving back to the movement.Rolla’s personal stories of Little Arabia in Anaheim and how it became a lifeline during difficult timesWhether you’re Palestinian, Arab, or an ally, this conversation will challenge the way you see joy, celebration, and community organizing in times of crisis.Tags / Keywordspalestine, palestinian resistance, rolla interview, joy as resistance, little arabia oc, palestinian diaspora, habibi house podcast, mena culture, palestinian solidarity, rolla palestine, palestinian community organizing, joy culture resistance, palestine genocide, arab diaspora los angeles