It's a bumper episode this week, and slight departure from our usual format given the realities in Lebanon right now.

Nizar and Ben are joined by Timour Azhari, senior reporter at The Daily Star, to discuss everything that has unfolded over the last seven days, starting with wildfires on Monday and erupting into still ongoing mass protests across the country that began Thursday night.

We break down what has happened day by day, with analysis on why events unfolded as they did, what the protests seek to achieve, the political response thus far, and the immediate and potential impacts of the protests going forward.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of the economic model begins at 15:36.

Ben and Nizar break down reasons behind recent gas station strikes and the growing concerns of medicine/wheat importers, before taking a step back to look at the wider picture—Lebanon's economic model—and how an accumulation of economic policies have lead us to a critical point today that will require more than just securing dollar liquidity to resolve.

Also covered: A dangerous dismissal of judicial process, increading attacks on press freedom, and vague promises of financial support from the UAE.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of sectarianism begins at 10:38.

Nizar and Ben are joined this week by Bassel Salloukh, associate professor of political science at the Lebanese American University, to talk about the issue that underlines every other aspect of Lebanese politics: sectarianism. From its historical beginnings to its influence on the Lebanese political economy and current issues of the day, we look at how the sectarian identity was first constructed and the difficulties of breaking down sectarian divides.

Book Reference: Salloukh et a. (2015): The Politics of Sectarianism in Post-War Lebanon

Also discussed: the reasons behind the dollar shortage and is impact on the economy.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion on the SLA begins at 19:15.

With the recent return and subsequent arrest of Amer Fakhoury, Nizar and Ben put the heated debate in the country into context by looking at the origins and history of the South Lebanon Army, with a particular focus on the notorious Khiam detention centre, and how the Lebanese have sought to address the issue of those who fled south following the Israeli withdrawal in 2000.

Also covered: The suspension of Future TV, the suing of Nida al-Watan, STL opening a new case against Salim Ayyash, cabinet meeting on budget 2020—with the potential to have a budget passed in the constitutional deadline for the first time in 15 years—Hariri’s trips to Saudi and France, and the gas station strike.

Resources on Khiam:

Amnesty letter just after the Liberation: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/140000/mde180082000en.pdf

The Independent (Robert Fisk): http://willzuzak.ca/lp/fisk02.html

Video - Liberation day (start at 12:30) - https://youtu.be/gRKzGwwSn0E?t=749

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of public spaces and urban activism begins at 09:30.

Nizar is joined by Mona Harb, professor of urban studies, planning, and politics at the American University of Beirut to talk about the fracturing of Beirut's public space, its social consequences, and how urban activists have targeted public spaces to enact political change.

Also covered: the return and arrest of Amer Fakhouri, more sanctions on Hezbollah, Nasrallah's speech, Budget 2020, and a laid back approach from the Americans on border talks.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

We’re back! What a summer to take a holiday. Ben and Nizar talk over everything that has happened in this past month, in particular the now declared “state of economic emergency” in Lebanon and why no side wants to escalate the border skirmish between Hezbollah and Israel.

Also covered: cabinet gets back to work, what the ratings downgrade actually means in practice, a tentative plan to avoid another trash crisis, and the US sanctioning of Jammal Trust Bank.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of the Lebanese diaspora begins at 20:05.

Nizar and Ben are joined by Sergio Jalil, director of CELIBAL, the Centro De Estudios Libaneses Para America Latina(Center for Lebanese Studies in Latin America) to talk about the Lebanese diaspora, its impact here in Lebanon, and why it is not near as homogenous as it is made out to be.

Also discussed: Aoun refuses to sign the budget law, cabinet still hasn't met, the Palestinians continue their protest, the Israeli ambassador to the UN tries to set up the Port of Beirut as a target, and the band Mashrou’ Leila becomes the target of campaign against it performing next month at Byblos International Festival.

**In the podcast Ben notes the president cannot veto a law. This is true, however, some details were incorrect. If the president refuses to sign a law he can delay its passage for a month. Once that month runs out the law goes into effect. However, the president can also send the law back to Parliament, and if he does it must be repassed by a majority.**

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of Palestinian labor protests begins at 15:20.

Ben and Nizar are joined by Islam Khatib, a Palestinian organizer, to talk about the Palestinian labor protests that have erupted in this past week; what sparked them and the political and historical context around them.

Also covered in the 52nd episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast: We finally have a budget! Though, as Ben explains, it's not quite a champagne moment for the country. Meanwhile, it's been 20 days without a cabinet meeting as the fallout over Aley continues to cause division.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

The border discussion begins at 19:35.

Ben and Nizar are joined by Joseph Haboush, the Lebanon desk editor at The Daily Star, to talk about southern border disputes, in particular the recent shuttle diplomacy efforts of the Americans to bring Lebanon and Israel to the table over their shared maritime border.

Also discussed on the 51st episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast: the energy ministry launches a prequalification round for two new power plants; the budget committee finishes its review of the budget with further cuts implemented, the budget is now passed to Parliament; the continuing fallout from the Aley clashes, and how this could prevent the budget being passed; US sanctions of Hezbollah officials, including two MPs, and Nasrallah's speech.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

The discussion on the Aley clashes begins at 17:05.

Ben and Nizar take a closer look at the clashes in Aley that left two people dead on June 30, the political context behind this violence, and how in Lebanon, geography and rhetoric matter.

Also covered in the 50th episode: the latest on controversial incinerators, Trump's "Deal of the Century," Parliament's appointment of members to the Constitutional Council, the budget, and the IMF's lack of enthusiasm for proposed deficit cutting measures.

Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel