The Beirut Banyan

0:00 Intro

0:36 A success story

5:07 Parties & families

12:57 Unification

23:41 A path to parliament

36:41 Numbers

44:46 Zgharta

59:44 In parliament

1:11:15 Investigation stalled

We're with Chaden El Daif for Episode 309 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/NAkzkKWOQoQ

We discuss the Shamaluna coalition, its relative success compared to other October 17 electoral lists, and the difficulties of challenging traditional parties and entrenched families.

Our conversation includes increased demands in Zgharta for alternative voices, what political agency would look like in parliament post-May 15, and the limits set for any MP pursuing transparency and accountability.

Chaden El Daif is a member of OSOS and part of the Shamaluna coalition.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

6:31 Limited

12:04 Earlier elections

23:47 Waste management

33:47 Initiative

43:09 Parliament

50:50 Decentralization

1:05:46 Third alternative

We're with Ziad Abi Chaker for Episode 308 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/exiGOw5tPqI

We discuss the difficult work necessary to tackle towards waste management, de facto decentralization emerging from the ongoing political and economic crisis, and political agency afforded through upcoming parliamentary elections.

Our conversation includes individual initiatives at the local Municipal level, how those efforts can translate on a national scale, comparing May 15 to earlier elections and looking at third alternatives for answers.

Ziad Abi Chaker is MP Candidate for Beirut 1 District.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

3:25 List formation

14:55 Political failures

27:33 Building blocks

42:25 The problem persists

49:20 Hezbollah is preserved

1:15:25 Taef

1:32:23 Citizens in a State

We're with Charbel Nahas for Episode 307 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/qN_7g5A7tFw

We discuss difficulties surrounding the list formation process, structural failures that have kept Lebanon's politics paralyzed and the building blocks necessary to reform and rebuild the state.

Our conversation includes addressing the issue of Hezbollah's sub-state security and weaponry, the limitations of the Taef Agreement and Citizen in a State's political journey.

Charbel Nahas is MP Candidate for Beirut 1 District and the General Secretary of Citizens in a State.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

0:25 This round

8:45 Core issue

13:51 Policy

31:10 No tolerance

42:01 Expectation

48:49 Kataeb today

55:36 Post-May

1:00:42 Baabda

We're with Nadim Gemayel for Episode 306 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/lEC-skcbHGs

We discuss upcoming parliamentary elections, what makes this round different than previous years, and the core obstacles preventing reform.

Our conversation includes policy on how to deal with Iran's security interests in Lebanon, an increased disinterest among youth voters in reelecting pre-October 17 figures, and Kataeb's narrative challenge today as supportive of October 17's demands and one of the oldest political groups in Lebanon.

We also talk about expectations placed on Nadim as the son of Bachir Gemayel, and how Nadim sees Baabda - and the country's - future.

Nadim Gemayel is MP Candidate for Beirut 1 District, and a member of Kataeb.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

0:42 Relationship to Li Haqqi

5:55 Design

10:52 Burden

18:17 Tentative alliance

30:46 Reform

39:48 Violent component

45:32 Kataeb & October 17

56:18 Regret

58:06 Decentralization

1:03:49 Resignation

1:14:54 This road

We're with Maher Abou Chackra for Episode 305 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/GdtY8msFqSc

We discuss the founding of Li Haqqi and his personal journey into politics, and reflect on all that has happened since October 17, 2019.

Our conversation includes the inner dynamics within Li Haqqi's horizontal organization, a principled pursuit of political and economic reform and the wider disagreements within October 17 parties.

We also talk about the reasons for Li Haqqi's withdrawal of the majority of its candidates from upcoming parliamentary elections and Maher's own decision to resign from the group.

Maher Abou Chackra is a former member of Li Haqqi.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

1:00 Day-to-day

13:51 No candidate

19:11 Division

25:02 Kataeb

33:49 Secularism

56:36 Hezbollah

1:19:35 Women-led

1:30:33 Personal reasons

We're with Jana Massoud and Ghiya El Assaad for Episode 304 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/M0C8Jweks0w

We discuss their day-to-day workings within Minteshreen, and whether the meaning of what began on October 17, 2019 shifted over time.

Our conversation includes the group's decision not to field a candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections and to focus, instead, on the local and Municipal level. We also talk about divisions within the October 17 movement, the polarizing issue of willing to engage regime parties seeking reform and addressing Hezbollah's sub-state weapons and security.

The episode concludes with a reflection of women-led protests turned politics, and personal reasons for their commitment to Lebanon.

Jana Massoud is a youth coordinator and Ghiya El Assaad directs external relations for Minteshreen.

Check out their website:

www.minteshreen.com

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

1:44 Personal journey

11:19 Buildup to 1975

20:01 Disarmament of the last militia

25:40 Third component

35:54 Tarek Bitar

40:57 Local issues

50:19 Inertia

57:32 The end

1:03:24 All three

We're with Elias Hankach for Episode 302 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/5WU2JD1C_jA

We discuss his personal journey into politics, memories of the civil war and Syrian occupation, and reemergence of Kataeb's role in post-2005 politics.

Our conversation includes three components needed to address Lebanon's lost sovereignty, local pressure points through parliament, and the fallout from communal distance & boycotting.

Elias Hankach is a resigned Kataeb member of parliament and a candidate in upcoming elections.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

0:25 Anti-system

12:20 Fundamental circumstances

25:37 Reformers

37:16 Victory

40:05 Memories of my father

We're with Neemat Frem for Episode 302 of The Beirut Banyan.

Video:

https://youtu.be/g4QBDb6opLc

We discuss his earlier career as an MP affiliated with the Free Patriotic movement, his resignation from the bloc and later from parliament following the Beirut port blast, and his belief in the potential for reform through upcoming parliamentary elections.

Our conversation includes his current candidacy, what he deems an 'anti-system' movement, as well as memories of my father days before his assassination.

Neemat Frem is a resigned member of parliament and a candidate in upcoming elections.

Check out Project Watan’s website:

www.projectwatan.com

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

1:27 Narrative problem

11:44 Selling the message

20:35 Focus on sectarianism

29:08 Parliament

40:21 Persuade

48:52 Glory years

We're with Naji Abou-Khalil for Episode 301 of The Beirut Banyan.

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/faiQxgczKtA

We discuss the National Bloc's evolution from pre-independence years until today, and reflect on overdue reform measures.

Our conversation includes framing a united narrative for October 17 parties, how to address sectarian insecurities through government, tthe maneuvering space afforded for candidates seeking election wins, and the pressure capabilities for a minority opposition in parliament.

Naji Abou-Khalil is the Political Director and Executive Committee member of the National Bloc.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.

0:00 Intro

0:15 Iran

8:18 Sunni void

16:58 Elections

Click to watch:

https://youtu.be/ZV5VP61pcm8

I share a few ideas on how civil society can better deliver policy points on relations with Iran, the 'Sunni void' and sectarianism, and expectations from parliamentary elections.

Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut

Or donating through our Patreon page:

https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan

Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.ronniechatah.com

Music by Marc Codsi. Animation & illustration by Sana Chaaban.