Nizar and Ben are back after a short break with updates and analysis on all the latest news in Lebanese politics including: coronavirus, the Caesar Act, the attempted gagging of US Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the US' anti-Hezbollah narrative, the ongoing lira collapse and alarming food price inflation, queues outside bakeries, and where the politicians are at, with appointments, the boycotted Baabda meeting, little progress on IMF talks, and calls to remove bread and fuel subsidies.

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

Discussion of the 6/6 protest and counterrevolutionary rhetoric begins at 16.23.

Ben and Nizar take a look at the protest and clashes over the weekend in Beirut and their context, including the build up of sectarian rhetoric, calls to disarm Hezbollah, why thawra organizations did or did not participate, and how securitization and sectarianization could reverse the achievements of October 17.

Also covered, the news of the past week, including updates on coronavirus and the lira value, Parliament's extraordinary session, Banque du Liban and the Ministry of Finance's decision to agree on the numbers, the killing of a local banker, the impacts of the economic crisis on domestic workers with many Ethopian workers left outside their embassy by their employers with no pay and no way home, civil defense strikes, and Jamil el-Sayyed's explosive rhetoric against protesters.

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

Back to the basics for this episode as Nizar and Ben take a look at the political news of the past two weeks, including South Liberation Day, coronavirus updates, Parliament's LL1.2 trillion emergency package, failures on the amnesty, banking secrecy, and capital control laws, a change to appointments, and Grand Mufti Ahmad Qabalon's call to end Taif and the National Pact.

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

Discussion of Lebanon's industry begins at 17:00.

Ben and Nizar are joined remotely this week by Paul Abi Nasr, member of the board of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and CEO of Polytextile, to discuss the Lebanese industrial sector over the past few decades, the impacts of the current economic crisis, how the government plan was lacking in vision and content, and what Lebanese industry actually needs to reach its full potential.

Also discussed: the latest on the lira, coronavirus, and the fuel scandel in Lebanon, the arrest of Mazen Hamdan, head of monetary operations at Banque du Liban, a crackdown on smuggling across the Syrian Lebanese border, and the start of talks with the IMF.

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

Discussion of workers and labor unions begins at 22:22.

Ben and Nizar are joined this week by Lea Bou Khater, a researcher in labor movements, lecturer in development at Lebanese American University, and development researcher at Consultation and Research Institute, to discuss the impacts of the recent economic and coronavirus crises on workers in Lebanon, how the ruling class has historically coopted the labor unions, and how the thawra has impacted the formation of new unions.

Also discussed: coronavirus cases in Lebanon begin to tick up, a fuel scandel emerges, army actions are investigated, Baabda hosts some political theater, and Bahaa Hariri eyes a political spot.

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

Discussion of the government's economic and financial rescue plan starts at 23:35.

Ben and Nizar are back for our fifth lockdown episode with all the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, the renewed protests, and the economy, including BDL Governor Riad Salameh's speech.

Our main topic this week is the government's proposed economic and financial rescue plan, what it covers, what is missing, and our analysis on the good, the bad, and optimistic.

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

The fourth of our remote lockdown episodes, Ben and Nizar are joined by Hicham Safieddine, lecturer in the history of the Modern Middle East at King’s College London and author of “Banking on the State: The Financial Foundations of Lebanon,” to talk about the depreciating lira, the role of the central bank and BDL Governor Riad Salameh, and who ultimately has responsbility for monetary policy in Lebanon.

Also covered: the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, a disappointing parliamentary session, and the ongoing economic crisis.

NB: Apologies for the slight echo in the second half of the recording, week four of remote recording brought with it new challenges.

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

Discussion on the BDL circular begins at 20:50.

Ben and Nizar are (remotely) joined this week by Mohamad Faour, a postdoctoral researcher in finance at the University College Dublin and one of the NERDS(https://finance4lebanon.com) to discuss the logic behind the Banque du Liban circular released this past week that would allow those with deposits less than or equal to $3,000 to withdraw their money in lira at the market rate.

Also covered: the latest on coronavirus in Lebanon, politics as usual when it comes to BDL and Banking Control Commission appointments, Lebanese expatriates start returning, and Al-Jadeed comedian Wissam Saad's "jokes" fall flat.

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

Ben and Nizar are back for our second remote lockdown episode with all the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, the dismantling of the downtown protest camps, and the economic situation. We ask the question on everyone's mind: Where are the Lebanese government's plans for social protections as the twin crises of coronavirus and Lebanon's economic meltdown set the stage for mass unemployment and poverty?

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

Ben and Nizar are joined by journalist Timour Azhari for a special remotely recorded lockdown episode, with all the latest on coronavirus in Lebanon, updates on the economic situation, and the fallout from the controversial release of Amer Fakhoury.

NB: The lockdown isn't getting to you, those are notification beeps in the first five minutes, our bad, internet recording teething troubles.

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