Cabinet begins at 25:56.

We dared to dream. The twenty-fourth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast—recorded slightly later in the vein hope of a cabinet—sees Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan analyze the news of the past week, including support for Saudi Arabia among Lebanese politicians following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the reopening of the Nassib crossing, violent clashes in Mieh Mieh, the resolution of Shaker Berjawi’s case, an STL fine paid on behalf of Ibrahim al-Amin—which he denies—and the US Department of Justice’s designation of Hezbollah as a top transnational organized crime threat.

Also in the news, the sixth anniversary of the assassination of ISF security chief Wissam al-Hasan: we dive into who he was, his major achievements, and the political context around his assassination.

And while there might not be a cabinet yet there is still plenty going on. We take a look at the flurry of activity in this past week, what roadblocks have been resolved, and what remain before a cabinet can be formed.

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

Parliament begins at 16:25.

Timour Azahari joins regular hosts Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hasan in the twenty-third episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast covering last week’s news, including Nikki Haley's resignation, the results of the Lebanese student elections, an update on the hack of the security forces back in July, more on the military tribunal, and our take on An-Nahar’s blank paper stunt. Also discussed, cabinet formation and how the window of confidence is beginning to close, as well as the leaked list of potential cabinet members.

Our main topic is Parliament, with analysis on what it has achieved since the election, the ways laws should be and are actually passed, and the role of MPs in light of research showing a stunning lack of knowledge and lawmaking from those in Parliament.

Referenced throughout the episode is research undertaken by the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies on Parliament and its MPs from 2009-2017, see the full breakdown at http://www.niyabatanani.com/

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

CEDRE begins at 19:53.

Nizar is back! The twenty-second episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has regular hosts Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan discuss news of the past week, including a stalemate between the government and generator owners, refugee returns, a $18 million project for the airport, more on the airport scuffle, a tour by Bassil to prove Bibi wrong, where responsibility for the cabinet stalemate lies, and a shock report on Lebanon’s sovereign debt.

Our main topic: CEDRE and the Capital Investment Program. What was pledged at the Paris IV conference, why the international community is invested in propping up Lebanon, whether the reforms pledged at CEDRE will actually happen, and are the proposals even the right move for Lebanon?

For further information see:

http://www.executive-magazine.com/cover-story/whats-in-the-capital-investment-plan

http://www.pcm.gov.lb/Admin/DynamicFile.aspx?PHName=Document&PageID=11231&published=1

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lebanon/publication/strategic-assessment-a-capital-investment-plan-for-lebanon

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

Women's movement begins at 19:50.

The twenty-first episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast sees presenter Benjamin Redd joined by guest presenter Nadine Moawad to discuss the news of the past week, including the deadline for metered generators, Siemens’ plan to save Lebanon’s electricity, an airport scuffle, a disembarked plane, Netanyahu's accusations at the UN, as well as Aoun's UN speech, his threat of a majority government, and how time is running out for cabinet formation.

Our main topic: the women’s movement in Lebanon, how it has become more intersectional, the issues being fought over, how politics is a man’s game, and how Lebanese sectarianism impacts women’s rights.

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

Real estate begins at 20:49.

The twentieth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast sees presenter Benjamin Redd joined by guest presenter Jeremy Arid to discuss news of the past week, including a controversial street name in Ghobeiry, the new Saudi ambassador, more refugee returns, Ain al-Hilweh on edge, the difficulties in implanting the access to information law, and the latest on the budget.

Our main topic: real estate, how the halt of PCH loans will impact first time home buyers, the pricing out of Lebanese from Beirut, and whether we can say that we have reached a crisis point in the Lebanese real estate market.

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

STL begins at 19:25.

The nineteenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan discuss news of the past week, including who should bare responsibility for the flooding from the first post-summer rains, protests over Horsh Beirut excavations, political bickering through the bureaucracy between the FPM and PSP, Judge Marwan Abboud calling for half of all state employees to be sacked for incompetence and corruption, Abu Faour’s extraordinary outburst against Aoun, the economic pressures for cabinet formation, and the growing need to pass the budget.

Our main topic: The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). The prosecution at the STL presented its closing arguments this week. We analyse the political atmosphere around the assassination of Rafic Hariri and its aftermath, as well as the political dimensions to the STL, and what a guilty verdict against the accused would mean for Hezbollah internationally and within Lebanon.

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

Bashir Gemayel begins at 15:10.

The eighteenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan test out a new format for the podcast: an episode dedicated to a politically important historical figure in Lebanon.

Bashir Gemayel, the president who was assassinated on September 14, 1982, just three weeks after being elected and before officially taking office is the first of these historical figures. His life, his impact during the civil war, his path to the presidency, his assassination and its aftermath, and what his legacy is in Lebanon today are analysed in this episode.

Also covered, news of the past week including: chaos at the airport, the latest on UNRWA and cabinet formation, STL, Lebanese politicians in Damascus, Syrian refugees and Hezbollah’s role in the returns, and parliament getting to work.

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

The seventeenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan divert from the usual format to cover a jam-packed week of news and the polices and the issues behind them. From a potential phone hack of Hariri, UNIFIL’s mandate renewal, and the Day of the Disappeared, to dropped election appeals and a city without water for days, we give you analysis on all the latest news.

Covered in depth: the murder in Minyeh and the death penalty in Lebanon, used in fits and bursts in the past and with a surprising sectarian dimension; the legality behind refusing to speak under questioning; cannabis and corruption; cabinet formation, Aoun’s to-be-revealed plan and the possibility of an interim government; and UNRWA, the American aid withdrawal, what that means practically for Palestinians in Lebanon and for the wider right of return.

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

UNIFIL begins at 06:35.

The sixteenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan discuss news of the past week, including Nasrallah's meeting with the Houthis, the Russian push to move Syrian refugees back to Syria, the latest on cabinet formation, and UNIFIL's mandate renewal.

Our main topic: UNIFIL, 40 years on. What is the mandate, what does UNIFIL actually do, why does it rile Nikki Haley so much, and should UNIFIL be addressing Hezbollah?

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

Polluted seas begins at 17:22.

The fifteenth episode of The Lebanese Politics Podcast has presenters Benjamin Redd and Nizar Hassan discuss news of the past week, including an extraordinary push-back from NGOs against the investigation of Lebanese citizens for views posted on social media, what to look out for with UNIFIL's mandate due for renewal, and the latest on cabinet formation, with the involvement of Syria and Russia and a new theory on the negotiations from Ben.

Our main topic: Is it safe to swim in the sea? Recent media reports on scientific studies have given conflicting views on just how polluted the coastal waters off Lebanon are. We take and look at these studies and the legal framework in Lebanon to try and determine if the sea is safe and who is responsible for ensuring that it is.

Further resources:

http://www.cnrs.edu.lb/Library/Files/Uploaded%20Files/CNRS%20Report%202018-%20FINAL%20TO%20PRESS.pdf

http://www.lb.undp.org/content/dam/lebanon/docs/Energy%20and%20Environment/Publications/SOER_en.pdf

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Jun-21/453858-do-not-swim-coastal-water-pollution-getting-worse.ashx

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Aug-04/459060-pollution-study-findings-take-toll-on-business.ashx

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