The Beirut Banyan

An episode discussing the Lebanese army's role and limitations, prospects of economic recovery alongside an ever-expanding cash economy, and general expectations regarding next year's parliamentary elections.

With economist and Arab News columnist Nadim Shehadi.

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Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal:

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:52 The Lebanese army

10:57 Political impasse

14:43 1980s & local militias

18:01 US pressure on government

20:15 Chances of disarmament

22:55 Iranian regime’s positioning

24:38 Beirut One conference

28:49 Timing

31:29 Description & solution

35:50 Beirut as a geography

40:40 Cash economy & Qard el Hassan

47:12 Captive wealth

49:47 Election expectation & diaspora

52:57 Seeking solutions abroad

Getting Iran out of Lebanon comes first. Not second or third.

An episode discussing a personal decision to return to government, walk out after other ministers from the same sect left during cabinet sessions on disarmament, picking up where Fouad Chehab left off and the long-term task of administrative reform, and regaining trust among citizens.

With Minister of Administrative Reform Fadi Makki.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:47 A personal decision

14:58 Walk out

27:30 Administrative reform

44:35 Trust

An episode discussing sub-state disarmament, the mood for 'Change' approaching 2026 parliamentary elections, pragmatism vs purity tests on measuring government success, factors due to war vs local agency, positive trends moving forward and how to interpret the moment we're living through.

With Member of Parliament Ibrahim Mneimneh.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

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@thebeirutbanyan

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www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:22 Is war on the horizon?

3:21 Delayed disarmament

6:31 Measuring govt success

15:03 Mood for ‘Change’ & 2026 elections

25:37 A victory scored & needed?

35:34 Gap resolution

37:54 Red lines on withdrawing govt support

40:30 Purity tests

45:53 Interpreting this moment

A ZDF German Television interview

hosted by Golineh Atai

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:38 Why is sub-state disarmament so important?

2:36 What do you want Hezbollah not capable of anymore?

5:21 Is it an issue of domination of the country through weapons?

6:42 How can you measure Lebanese support for Hezbollah’s armed role today?

12:02 How do you reply to those who say without Hezbollah there is no challenge to Israel?

15:09 What options does Hezbollah have?

17:32 Would Iran ever let go of Hezbollah?

18:56 Are Naim Qassem’s threats just a ploy?

20:53 How feasible is it to avoid violence?

24:24 What do current Israeli attacks mean for the stability of the Lebanese government?

26:58 What does Ali Larijani’s recent visit indicate?

28:10 Does Hezbollah have to create a new identity?

30:23 How can the state fulfill social and economic roles without Hezbollah?

I answer press-related questions on the government's political decisions and security condiserations needed for sub-state disarmament.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

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www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:03 What do you make of current American engagement?

2:30 What are America's intentions towards Lebanon?

4:54 Is the lack of Israeli withdrawal playing into

Hezbollah's hands?

7:09 Is there any threat of civil war?

9:13 Do sanctions against the Iranian regime impact

behavior towards Lebanon?

11:47 Are there factions within Hezbollah that want

to turn the group into a political party, only?

13:14 Was Hassan Nasrallah the only Hezbollah figure

that could bring about the group's transition?

14:18 Does Israel want the complete disarmament of Hezbollah?

16:25 Is it possible that the current status quo remains long-term?

21:38 How linked is Hezbollah to the Palestinian cause?

24:27 Is Hezbollah's disarmament a political decision

that cannot be rolled back?

An episode discussing David Schenker's latest policy analysis titled "Lebanon's Moment of Truth" and the multiple variables needed to line up for Hezbollah's disarmament to succeed and for Israel's full withdrawal to take place.

With David Schenker, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

The article mentioned in this piece is available here:

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/lebanons-moment-truth

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:49 Slip-up

3:18 Moment of truth

5:42 Variables lining up a

9:01 Under immense pressure

12:06 Israeli obstacles to US position

14:17 Pending Lebanese army proposal

18:24 Iranian leverage today

21:42 Beirut’s commitment & int’l attention

26:01 Vulnerability following war

29:53 Israel’s reaction towards progress

33:25 Five hilltops

An episode examining Hezbollah's weakened sub-state position, Iranian leveraging, separating militia disarmament from war with Israel, international pressure on the Lebanese government and potential new names for next year's parliamentary elections.

With Tony Boulos - journalist at Independent Arabia.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

4:16 A weaker position

9:13 Hezbollah of today

15:38 Winner(s) & loser(s)

20:14 An Iranian comeback?

22:25 Last chance for Lebanon

28:58 Lebanese army & authority

32:42 Divorcing Hezbollah from Israel

37:44 2024 (again)

44:01 Regional peace vs stability

45:41 2026 parliamentary elections

An episode looking at the possibilities for state-to-state engagement, direct diplomacy and constructive dialogue between Lebanon and Iran.

With Michael Young - senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan.

Articles mentioned in this episode include

"Israel can inflict even more damage if Hezbollah doesn't disarm"

https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/08/13/how-much-damage-can-israel-cause-if-hezbollah-doesnt-disarm/

"Hezbollah’s Margin is Tightening - The Lebanese government’s efforts to secure a monopoly over weapons are advancing, but can it ignore Iran?"

https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/08/hezbollahs-margin-is-tightening?lang=en

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:12 Diplomacy with Iran

4:56 What Iran wants

7:53 What the Iranians and Americans are discussing

8:47 The Lebanese Forces' rejection to Larijani's visit

11:57 Lebanese state as interlocutor

13:15 Deadline for disarmament

14:34 Comparisons to earlier attempts at militia disarmament

15:37 Israeli entry into the fight

17:10 Betting on time

20:48 US goals vis-a-vis dialogue with Iran

21:52 A normal relationship with Iran

25:05 Letter to Rouhani

For the victims of August 4, 2020. May justice prevail.

The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations.

Please 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 YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter:

@thebeirutbanyan

And check out our website:

www.beirutbanyan.com