Hesham Sallam of Stanford University joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss Pres. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's 10 years as ruler of Egypt and how this one man has dominated Egypt, its institutions, and its 110 million people for a decade. They dive deep into El-Sisi's motives, how his brand of authoritarianism differs from those of his predecessors, and what the future holds for this new pharaoh and the 110 million people over whom he rules.

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How El-Sisi Rules Egypt

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Francisco Rodríguez of the University of Denver joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss Venezuela's long political and economic crises, the drivers of its instability, the role played by the U.S., its links to the migrant crisis, and the potential for a way out.

In this episode, we take a deep look at the broader political and economic crisis that Venezuela has been experiencing for more than two decades and is driving the ongoing migrant crisis. We’ll unpack the roots of populist authoritarianism in Venezuela and the impact of the U.S. sanctions regime on the country's politics and society.

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Murtaza Hussain of The Intercept joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss India’s global assassination campaign, its modes, methods, and motivations, and what it means for the future of India’s partnership with the United States and the West.

Previously limited to its neighborhood, India's assassination campaign is now extending to the West. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed it has charged an Indian man of attempting to kill a Sikh American supporter of the Khalistan separatist movement. The development comes just months after the killing in Canada of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani activist. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attributed the murder to "agents of India."

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University of Michigan-Dearborn Professor Sally Howell joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss the history of the Arab Americans of Detroit and Dearborn and their rise as a force that is not only reshaping the political landscape in Michigan but could also play a decisive role in choosing the next president of the United States.

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Rice University scholar Kristian Ulrichsen joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss how the October 7 attacks by Hamas have impacted Saudi Arabia's moves toward normalizing ties with Israel, its relations with Iran, and plans by its de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform the country's economy and society through Vision 2030.

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King's College London Professor Jeroen Gunning joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss Hamas's ideology, internal struggles between pragmatists and hardliners, competition with other Palestinian groups, and use of violence against Israel.

The episode concludes with a discussion on how to hold both state and non-state actors accountable for violence against civilians.

Gunning lived in Gaza in the late 1990s and interviewed most of Hamas's leading political leaders as well as many rank-and-file members of the group. His first book, "Hamas in Politics: Democracy, Religion, Violence," is informed by this field research.

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International Crisis Group analyst Mairav Zonszein joins host Arif Rafiq to discuss the mood on the ground in Israel after the October 7 attacks by Hamas, how it may shape Netanyahu’s decision-making, and what the ongoing crisis means for his legacy.

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The Middle East Institute's Khaled Elgindy and host Arif Rafiq discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. policy toward Palestine, and the future of the Palestinian national movement.

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Host Arif Rafiq speaks with journalist Rana Ayyub and Professor Audrey Truschke on the danger Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a "New India" poses to Muslims and other minorities, free speech, and academic inquiry in India.

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Host Arif Rafiq speaks with columnist Mosharraf Zaidi and NYT correspondent Salman Masood on whether Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan can succeed in building a "New Pakistan" in a time of austerity and severe economic crisis.

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