A Conversation with Leila Bazzi Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/a-conversation-with-leila-bazzi A weekly conversation with Leila Bazzi, where insight meets analysis on the most pressing issues shaping the Middle East and beyond. In each episode, Bazzi sits down with leading voices—from policymakers and analysts to journalists and regional experts—to unpack what’s really happening across the region. The podcast goes beyond the headlines, offering in-depth discussions on geopolitics, conflict dynamics, power shifts, and the forces driving change in the Middle East. With sharp editorial perspective and informed dialogue, each episode delivers clarity, context, and credible reporting in a fast-moving news environment. From breaking developments to long-term trends, this is a space for thoughtful conversation, diverse perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the stories that matter most. MBN c132d67c-ba7f-57f7-b653-37de8bfedb3d yes en Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:59:24 -0700 Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:00:20 -0700 http://www.alhurra.com/en https://img.transistorcdn.com/uZg_xINdnJVY18Lyq3ZYIjV2cyi0n-ADRewL47PqwGY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82ZDI4/Zjg3OGMzMGJkZjQ2/OGQxNmRjZmZkYmY2/OTZlYi5qcGc.jpg A Conversation with Leila Bazzi http://www.alhurra.com/en episodic Leila Bazzi A weekly conversation with Leila Bazzi, where insight meets analysis on the most pressing issues shaping the Middle East and beyond. In each episode, Bazzi sits down with leading voices—from policymakers and analysts to journalists and regional experts—to unpack what’s really happening across the region. The podcast goes beyond the headlines, offering in-depth discussions on geopolitics, conflict dynamics, power shifts, and the forces driving change in the Middle East. With sharp editorial perspective and informed dialogue, each episode delivers clarity, context, and credible reporting in a fast-moving news environment. From breaking developments to long-term trends, this is a space for thoughtful conversation, diverse perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the stories that matter most. A weekly conversation with Leila Bazzi, where insight meets analysis on the most pressing issues shaping the Middle East and beyond. Podcast, Iran, Leila Bazzi, Middle East, War, Hormuz, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, UAE MBN No No Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Deal Tests the UAE’s “Gold Standard” 3 3 Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Deal Tests the UAE’s “Gold Standard” full f4f73f65-58ea-4867-9214-c2d8ca85aaf3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c5698931 A U.S. nuclear nonproliferation expert warns that Washington’s nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia could challenge decades of American policy on helping nonnuclear states develop nuclear fuel capabilities.

In an interview with MBN Editor-in-Chief Layla Bazi, Henry Sokolski, former Pentagon nonproliferation policy official and executive director of the Center for Nonproliferation Education, explains why the Saudi agreement is drawing scrutiny and how it differs from the UAE’s nuclear deal with Washington, often described as the “gold standard” for civilian nuclear cooperation.

]]> A U.S. nuclear nonproliferation expert warns that Washington’s nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia could challenge decades of American policy on helping nonnuclear states develop nuclear fuel capabilities.

In an interview with MBN Editor-in-Chief Layla Bazi, Henry Sokolski, former Pentagon nonproliferation policy official and executive director of the Center for Nonproliferation Education, explains why the Saudi agreement is drawing scrutiny and how it differs from the UAE’s nuclear deal with Washington, often described as the “gold standard” for civilian nuclear cooperation.

]]> Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:59:24 -0700 Leila Bazzi Leila Bazzi 1321 A U.S. nuclear nonproliferation expert warns that Washington’s nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia could challenge decades of American policy on helping nonnuclear states develop nuclear fuel capabilities.

In an interview with MBN Editor-in-Chief Layla Bazi, Henry Sokolski, former Pentagon nonproliferation policy official and executive director of the Center for Nonproliferation Education, explains why the Saudi agreement is drawing scrutiny and how it differs from the UAE’s nuclear deal with Washington, often described as the “gold standard” for civilian nuclear cooperation.

]]> Podcast, Iran, Leila Bazzi, Middle East, War, Hormuz, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, UAE No China, Taiwan, and the Middle East— A Conversation with Matt Pottinger 2 2 China, Taiwan, and the Middle East— A Conversation with Matt Pottinger full 8aa855dd-0ed4-4847-9c35-7d89f9f3a551 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6d5751d2 Matt Pottinger redefined how Washington approaches China. Speaking with MBN Alhurra's Min Mitchell and Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi, he argues that this year's war with Iran exposed Beijing as an unreliable partner for the Gulf— the same power that helped arm the regime attacking its neighbors. He weighs the risks of the new Trump-Xi "détente," why Gulf states are right to route around the Strait of Hormuz, and the dangers of importing Chinese surveillance technology. Pottinger served as Deputy National Security Advisor under President Trump and now chairs the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.


Hosts: Leila Bazzi, Editor-in-Chief, MBN Alhurra | Min Mitchell, China Editor, MBN

Guest: Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor | China Program Chairman at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

]]> Matt Pottinger redefined how Washington approaches China. Speaking with MBN Alhurra's Min Mitchell and Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi, he argues that this year's war with Iran exposed Beijing as an unreliable partner for the Gulf— the same power that helped arm the regime attacking its neighbors. He weighs the risks of the new Trump-Xi "détente," why Gulf states are right to route around the Strait of Hormuz, and the dangers of importing Chinese surveillance technology. Pottinger served as Deputy National Security Advisor under President Trump and now chairs the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.


Hosts: Leila Bazzi, Editor-in-Chief, MBN Alhurra | Min Mitchell, China Editor, MBN

Guest: Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor | China Program Chairman at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:26:45 -0700 Leila Bazzi Leila Bazzi 1701 Matt Pottinger redefined how Washington approaches China. Speaking with MBN Alhurra's Min Mitchell and Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi, he argues that this year's war with Iran exposed Beijing as an unreliable partner for the Gulf— the same power that helped arm the regime attacking its neighbors. He weighs the risks of the new Trump-Xi "détente," why Gulf states are right to route around the Strait of Hormuz, and the dangers of importing Chinese surveillance technology. Pottinger served as Deputy National Security Advisor under President Trump and now chairs the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.


Hosts: Leila Bazzi, Editor-in-Chief, MBN Alhurra | Min Mitchell, China Editor, MBN

Guest: Matt Pottinger, Former Deputy National Security Advisor | China Program Chairman at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

]]> Iran, China, Middle East, War, Geopolitics, Foreign Policy No Are We Losing Control of Nuclear Weapons? 1 1 Are We Losing Control of Nuclear Weapons? full efd3668e-c075-4231-9824-e5a915772fcd https://share.transistor.fm/s/37f8642b For more than half a century, the world has relied on one system to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons: the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Today, that system is under unprecedented strain.

With no binding limits on major nuclear powers, rising global tensions, and growing uncertainty around Iran’s nuclear program, the question is no longer whether the system is being tested—but whether it can still hold.

In this conversation, Leila Bazzi MBN Editor in chief  sits down with Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center and former U.S. Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy, to unpack:

  • Is the global nuclear system breaking down?
  • How close is Iran to a nuclear weapon—and do we even know?
  • Why inspections and safeguards may no longer be enough
  • The double standard at the heart of the nuclear order
  • What the upcoming NPT Review Conference could (or won’t) achieve
]]> For more than half a century, the world has relied on one system to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons: the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Today, that system is under unprecedented strain.

With no binding limits on major nuclear powers, rising global tensions, and growing uncertainty around Iran’s nuclear program, the question is no longer whether the system is being tested—but whether it can still hold.

In this conversation, Leila Bazzi MBN Editor in chief  sits down with Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center and former U.S. Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy, to unpack:

  • Is the global nuclear system breaking down?
  • How close is Iran to a nuclear weapon—and do we even know?
  • Why inspections and safeguards may no longer be enough
  • The double standard at the heart of the nuclear order
  • What the upcoming NPT Review Conference could (or won’t) achieve
]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:10:58 -0700 Leila Bazzi Leila Bazzi 2033 For more than half a century, the world has relied on one system to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons: the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Today, that system is under unprecedented strain.

With no binding limits on major nuclear powers, rising global tensions, and growing uncertainty around Iran’s nuclear program, the question is no longer whether the system is being tested—but whether it can still hold.

In this conversation, Leila Bazzi MBN Editor in chief  sits down with Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center and former U.S. Deputy for Nonproliferation Policy, to unpack:

  • Is the global nuclear system breaking down?
  • How close is Iran to a nuclear weapon—and do we even know?
  • Why inspections and safeguards may no longer be enough
  • The double standard at the heart of the nuclear order
  • What the upcoming NPT Review Conference could (or won’t) achieve
]]> Henri Sokolski, IAEA, Nuclear weapons, Iran, Middle East, War, Trump, Hormuz, Oil, No