The Diplomat | ديبلومات Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-diplomat In the rooms where war, peace, and power are decided, words matter most. The Diplomat brings you raw conversations with ambassadors, envoys, and negotiators who shaped the hardest decisions in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East diplomacy. Hosted by Joe Kawly. Recorded from Washington. Produced by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN). Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time. MBN cc7d4fae-a1ba-5c3b-b0c0-2f60c4ec6d45 no en Mon, 18 May 2026 13:53:22 -0700 Mon, 18 May 2026 13:54:21 -0700 https://img.transistorcdn.com/-vmKvyqHMf2fWRlnxXGEvbFoMJW_sHIUzTMXDrwOsFU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85ODY4/ODZjN2ZkODk5NTIw/ZDgzMzE2ODg2MTBk/YjY1OS5qcGc.jpg The Diplomat | ديبلومات episodic Joe Kawly In the rooms where war, peace, and power are decided, words matter most. The Diplomat brings you raw conversations with ambassadors, envoys, and negotiators who shaped the hardest decisions in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East diplomacy. Hosted by Joe Kawly. Recorded from Washington. Produced by Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN). Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time. In the rooms where war, peace, and power are decided, words matter most. Politics, Foreign affairs, Diplomacy Joe Kawly No No Nothing Works Without Stability 2 2 10 10 Nothing Works Without Stability full 3399b50e-d3bf-430e-a137-3bb103dbce76 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5d397f4c The war with Iran is paused, not closed. Gaza is at a stalemate with no clear way forward. Lebanon is holding under a fragile ceasefire. And Washington just released a counterterrorism strategy that is raising alarm among the people who wrote the original playbook.

Two of the most decorated American diplomats alive sit down with Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly to tell you what the headlines are missing.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker survived the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing, the deadliest attack on American diplomatic life in history. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He says the U.S.-Iran talks are not negotiations. They are messages being passed. And that Iran cannot be bombed into submission.

Ambassador Susan Ziadeh was in Jerusalem the night Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. She spent her career across the Gulf and the Levant. She says the Gulf states are not coordinating with Washington on Gaza, they are running parallel. And that the billion-dollar reconstruction fund has come to a standstill.

Together they reach the same conclusion from opposite ends of the region: nothing good happens, nothing moves, nothing is built, without stability first.

The Diplomat is produced by MBN/Alhurra. New episodes every week.

]]> The war with Iran is paused, not closed. Gaza is at a stalemate with no clear way forward. Lebanon is holding under a fragile ceasefire. And Washington just released a counterterrorism strategy that is raising alarm among the people who wrote the original playbook.

Two of the most decorated American diplomats alive sit down with Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly to tell you what the headlines are missing.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker survived the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing, the deadliest attack on American diplomatic life in history. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He says the U.S.-Iran talks are not negotiations. They are messages being passed. And that Iran cannot be bombed into submission.

Ambassador Susan Ziadeh was in Jerusalem the night Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. She spent her career across the Gulf and the Levant. She says the Gulf states are not coordinating with Washington on Gaza, they are running parallel. And that the billion-dollar reconstruction fund has come to a standstill.

Together they reach the same conclusion from opposite ends of the region: nothing good happens, nothing moves, nothing is built, without stability first.

The Diplomat is produced by MBN/Alhurra. New episodes every week.

]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 12:30:15 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1451 The war with Iran is paused, not closed. Gaza is at a stalemate with no clear way forward. Lebanon is holding under a fragile ceasefire. And Washington just released a counterterrorism strategy that is raising alarm among the people who wrote the original playbook.

Two of the most decorated American diplomats alive sit down with Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly to tell you what the headlines are missing.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker survived the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing, the deadliest attack on American diplomatic life in history. He has served as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He says the U.S.-Iran talks are not negotiations. They are messages being passed. And that Iran cannot be bombed into submission.

Ambassador Susan Ziadeh was in Jerusalem the night Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. She spent her career across the Gulf and the Levant. She says the Gulf states are not coordinating with Washington on Gaza, they are running parallel. And that the billion-dollar reconstruction fund has come to a standstill.

Together they reach the same conclusion from opposite ends of the region: nothing good happens, nothing moves, nothing is built, without stability first.

The Diplomat is produced by MBN/Alhurra. New episodes every week.

]]> Middle East, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Diplomacy, Ryan Crocker, Susan Ziadeh, US Foreign Policy, Stability, Hormuz, Hamas, Gulf States, Counterterrorism, Trump, Xi Jinping, Geopolitics No The Middle East Rewritten: This Is the Inside Story 2 2 9 9 The Middle East Rewritten: This Is the Inside Story full 776596ec-d6ac-4494-bad1-d292e6369ebc https://share.transistor.fm/s/889be826 Ambassador Tom Nides served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Biden. He had screaming matches with Netanyahu. He sat with families who buried their children. He was in the room when Saudi normalization almost happened.

Now he is speaking freely.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Nides joins Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly and MBN Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the new Middle East taking shape after the Iran war, the collapse of the old map, and what American diplomacy actually looks like behind closed doors.

He calls Ben-Gvir "a thug." He says the JCPOA will effectively come back under a different name. He argues that regime change in Iran can only succeed from the bottom up. And he reveals what he was quietly doing for Palestinians while serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, something most people never knew.

This is the kind of honesty rarely heard in Washington. And that is exactly why it matters.


]]> Ambassador Tom Nides served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Biden. He had screaming matches with Netanyahu. He sat with families who buried their children. He was in the room when Saudi normalization almost happened.

Now he is speaking freely.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Nides joins Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly and MBN Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the new Middle East taking shape after the Iran war, the collapse of the old map, and what American diplomacy actually looks like behind closed doors.

He calls Ben-Gvir "a thug." He says the JCPOA will effectively come back under a different name. He argues that regime change in Iran can only succeed from the bottom up. And he reveals what he was quietly doing for Palestinians while serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, something most people never knew.

This is the kind of honesty rarely heard in Washington. And that is exactly why it matters.


]]> Mon, 04 May 2026 10:32:37 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2426 Ambassador Tom Nides served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Biden. He had screaming matches with Netanyahu. He sat with families who buried their children. He was in the room when Saudi normalization almost happened.

Now he is speaking freely.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Nides joins Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly and MBN Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi for a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about the new Middle East taking shape after the Iran war, the collapse of the old map, and what American diplomacy actually looks like behind closed doors.

He calls Ben-Gvir "a thug." He says the JCPOA will effectively come back under a different name. He argues that regime change in Iran can only succeed from the bottom up. And he reveals what he was quietly doing for Palestinians while serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, something most people never knew.

This is the kind of honesty rarely heard in Washington. And that is exactly why it matters.


]]> Middle East, Tom Nides, Blackstones, Israel, Iran, War, Hormuz, Conflict, Trump, Netanyahu, No S2 E8 | After Khamenei: Who Rules Iran Now? 2 2 8 8 S2 E8 | After Khamenei: Who Rules Iran Now? full d84f4b6e-28d0-4e7f-b239-02925f74727e https://share.transistor.fm/s/b734b8e1 Khamenei is gone, but the real story is not his death. It is the dangerous vacuum now opening behind him.

In this urgent episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly, Washington Bureau Chief, sits down with Alex Vatanka, one of Washington’s most respected Iran analysts, to break down the power vacuum now opening inside Tehran. Who takes over after Khamenei? Does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tighten its grip, or does the system begin to fracture from within? And if the regime falls, is anyone actually ready for what comes after?

This is not just a conversation about Iran. It is about the future of the Middle East, the risks of state collapse, the danger of regional spillover, and the question no one can dodge anymore: can the Islamic Republic survive the moment that finally tested it from every direction at once?

A must-listen for anyone following Iran, regime change, Gulf security, U.S. foreign policy, and the next phase of the Middle East.

]]> Khamenei is gone, but the real story is not his death. It is the dangerous vacuum now opening behind him.

In this urgent episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly, Washington Bureau Chief, sits down with Alex Vatanka, one of Washington’s most respected Iran analysts, to break down the power vacuum now opening inside Tehran. Who takes over after Khamenei? Does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tighten its grip, or does the system begin to fracture from within? And if the regime falls, is anyone actually ready for what comes after?

This is not just a conversation about Iran. It is about the future of the Middle East, the risks of state collapse, the danger of regional spillover, and the question no one can dodge anymore: can the Islamic Republic survive the moment that finally tested it from every direction at once?

A must-listen for anyone following Iran, regime change, Gulf security, U.S. foreign policy, and the next phase of the Middle East.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:01:01 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2070 Khamenei is gone, but the real story is not his death. It is the dangerous vacuum now opening behind him.

In this urgent episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly, Washington Bureau Chief, sits down with Alex Vatanka, one of Washington’s most respected Iran analysts, to break down the power vacuum now opening inside Tehran. Who takes over after Khamenei? Does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tighten its grip, or does the system begin to fracture from within? And if the regime falls, is anyone actually ready for what comes after?

This is not just a conversation about Iran. It is about the future of the Middle East, the risks of state collapse, the danger of regional spillover, and the question no one can dodge anymore: can the Islamic Republic survive the moment that finally tested it from every direction at once?

A must-listen for anyone following Iran, regime change, Gulf security, U.S. foreign policy, and the next phase of the Middle East.

]]> Iran, War, Khameni, Koe Kawly, Middle East, Israel, Trump No S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman 2 2 7 7 S2 E7 | Bridge or War: U.S. and Iran in Oman full c08a8f68-8d41-493d-a7fa-89810f171e9d https://share.transistor.fm/s/ac8cf203 A negotiation is unfolding quietly in Muscat, and it may define the next chapter of the Middle East, or simply postpone the next crisis.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Ambassador Dennis Ross, Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, and one of the most experienced American diplomats of the modern era, about what is really happening beneath the surface of the U.S.–Iran talks.

Ross lays out the core clash: Washington’s push for zero enrichment; Tehran’s insistence that enrichment stays. He explains why public messaging may not match private positions, how deadlines and force posture shape the room, and what could trigger unintended escalation even if neither side wants a long war.

We also look beyond the nuclear file, because sanctions relief is never just technical. It touches missiles, proxies, regional stability, and the credibility of deterrence itself.

The key question: is Muscat a bridge to a framework, or simply a holding pattern until something breaks?

]]> A negotiation is unfolding quietly in Muscat, and it may define the next chapter of the Middle East, or simply postpone the next crisis.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Ambassador Dennis Ross, Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, and one of the most experienced American diplomats of the modern era, about what is really happening beneath the surface of the U.S.–Iran talks.

Ross lays out the core clash: Washington’s push for zero enrichment; Tehran’s insistence that enrichment stays. He explains why public messaging may not match private positions, how deadlines and force posture shape the room, and what could trigger unintended escalation even if neither side wants a long war.

We also look beyond the nuclear file, because sanctions relief is never just technical. It touches missiles, proxies, regional stability, and the credibility of deterrence itself.

The key question: is Muscat a bridge to a framework, or simply a holding pattern until something breaks?

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:53:50 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1780 A negotiation is unfolding quietly in Muscat, and it may define the next chapter of the Middle East, or simply postpone the next crisis.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Ambassador Dennis Ross, Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, and one of the most experienced American diplomats of the modern era, about what is really happening beneath the surface of the U.S.–Iran talks.

Ross lays out the core clash: Washington’s push for zero enrichment; Tehran’s insistence that enrichment stays. He explains why public messaging may not match private positions, how deadlines and force posture shape the room, and what could trigger unintended escalation even if neither side wants a long war.

We also look beyond the nuclear file, because sanctions relief is never just technical. It touches missiles, proxies, regional stability, and the credibility of deterrence itself.

The key question: is Muscat a bridge to a framework, or simply a holding pattern until something breaks?

]]> Middle East, Diplomat, Oman, Iran, war, joe kawly No S2 E6| Syria: Washington’s Bet and Risks on the Ground 2 2 6 6 S2 E6| Syria: Washington’s Bet and Risks on the Ground full fdc517d7-87e9-49c0-aff8-4184525a937c https://share.transistor.fm/s/ce60d084 Washington is betting on a new Syria. The question is whether Syria can survive the bet.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Will Todman of CSIS, who recently returned from Syria, about what has changed since the fall of Assad and what has not.

The conversation cuts through optimistic policy narratives and examines the risks that remain beneath the surface: fragile security, internal factionalism, unrealistic economic expectations, and the danger of U.S. disengagement once sanctions are lifted.

This is not a story about triumph. It is a story about timing, leverage, and how easily momentum can collapse.

]]> Washington is betting on a new Syria. The question is whether Syria can survive the bet.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Will Todman of CSIS, who recently returned from Syria, about what has changed since the fall of Assad and what has not.

The conversation cuts through optimistic policy narratives and examines the risks that remain beneath the surface: fragile security, internal factionalism, unrealistic economic expectations, and the danger of U.S. disengagement once sanctions are lifted.

This is not a story about triumph. It is a story about timing, leverage, and how easily momentum can collapse.

]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:28:58 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2333 Washington is betting on a new Syria. The question is whether Syria can survive the bet.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Joe Kawly speaks with Will Todman of CSIS, who recently returned from Syria, about what has changed since the fall of Assad and what has not.

The conversation cuts through optimistic policy narratives and examines the risks that remain beneath the surface: fragile security, internal factionalism, unrealistic economic expectations, and the danger of U.S. disengagement once sanctions are lifted.

This is not a story about triumph. It is a story about timing, leverage, and how easily momentum can collapse.

]]> Joe Kawly, Syria, Will Todman, Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, Politics, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Middle East, SDF, Netanyahu No S2 E5|Israel at a New Strategic Crossroad 2 2 5 5 S2 E5|Israel at a New Strategic Crossroad full 2e9103b0-cca4-4ae2-9a1f-b82eed6f2d0a https://share.transistor.fm/s/b6d59e12 Israel’s security model is being tested on every front. Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are all shifting at the same time, and the old formulas of deterrence are no longer behaving the way they used to. 

In this episode of The Diplomat, Israeli Defense Strategist Assaf Orion breaks down why Israel’s traditional reliance on walls, buffer zones, and preemptive deterrence is reaching its limit. Orion served more than three decades in the IDF, headed the strategic division, and worked directly with UN peacekeepers and neighboring militaries. 

This conversation explains the collapse of old doctrines and the uncomfortable choices that lie ahead. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand the next phase of conflict in the region and Washington’s role in it. 

]]> Israel’s security model is being tested on every front. Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are all shifting at the same time, and the old formulas of deterrence are no longer behaving the way they used to. 

In this episode of The Diplomat, Israeli Defense Strategist Assaf Orion breaks down why Israel’s traditional reliance on walls, buffer zones, and preemptive deterrence is reaching its limit. Orion served more than three decades in the IDF, headed the strategic division, and worked directly with UN peacekeepers and neighboring militaries. 

This conversation explains the collapse of old doctrines and the uncomfortable choices that lie ahead. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand the next phase of conflict in the region and Washington’s role in it. 

]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:27:16 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2163 Israel’s security model is being tested on every front. Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran are all shifting at the same time, and the old formulas of deterrence are no longer behaving the way they used to. 

In this episode of The Diplomat, Israeli Defense Strategist Assaf Orion breaks down why Israel’s traditional reliance on walls, buffer zones, and preemptive deterrence is reaching its limit. Orion served more than three decades in the IDF, headed the strategic division, and worked directly with UN peacekeepers and neighboring militaries. 

This conversation explains the collapse of old doctrines and the uncomfortable choices that lie ahead. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand the next phase of conflict in the region and Washington’s role in it. 

]]> Israel, Gaza, Iran, Yemen, Middle east, foreign policy, politics, conflict, saudi, turkey, Netanyahu, erdogan, Trump. Biden, No S2 E4| Partner or Problem: Turkiye’s Power Explained 2 2 4 4 S2 E4| Partner or Problem: Turkiye’s Power Explained full c1b1537f-f65d-4284-ac3e-8c3b1abef670 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f4daf113 Why Trump sees Turkey as an essential problem solver, and why Israel views the same moves as a growing danger. 

Middle East politics are rearranging themselves in real time, and Turkey is touching every pressure point. Ankara is brokering deals in Gaza, pushing into Syria, resetting ties with Egypt, and balancing between Washington and Moscow. All of this is happening while Israeli officials warn that Turkey is becoming a strategic threat.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Soner Çağaptay, Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joins Joe Kawly to decode how Ankara is playing multiple games at once: rebuilding ties with Egypt, negotiating influence in Gaza, managing refugees from Syria, and positioning itself as Washington’s indispensable, and unpredictable, partner.

This conversation traces the real levers of influence behind the headlines: regional triangles, security doctrines, refugee politics, and a rivalry over who gets to set the terms of the next Middle East order. If you want to understand power in this moment, you cannot understand it without understanding Turkey.

]]> Why Trump sees Turkey as an essential problem solver, and why Israel views the same moves as a growing danger. 

Middle East politics are rearranging themselves in real time, and Turkey is touching every pressure point. Ankara is brokering deals in Gaza, pushing into Syria, resetting ties with Egypt, and balancing between Washington and Moscow. All of this is happening while Israeli officials warn that Turkey is becoming a strategic threat.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Soner Çağaptay, Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joins Joe Kawly to decode how Ankara is playing multiple games at once: rebuilding ties with Egypt, negotiating influence in Gaza, managing refugees from Syria, and positioning itself as Washington’s indispensable, and unpredictable, partner.

This conversation traces the real levers of influence behind the headlines: regional triangles, security doctrines, refugee politics, and a rivalry over who gets to set the terms of the next Middle East order. If you want to understand power in this moment, you cannot understand it without understanding Turkey.

]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:10:27 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1929 Why Trump sees Turkey as an essential problem solver, and why Israel views the same moves as a growing danger. 

Middle East politics are rearranging themselves in real time, and Turkey is touching every pressure point. Ankara is brokering deals in Gaza, pushing into Syria, resetting ties with Egypt, and balancing between Washington and Moscow. All of this is happening while Israeli officials warn that Turkey is becoming a strategic threat.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Soner Çağaptay, Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joins Joe Kawly to decode how Ankara is playing multiple games at once: rebuilding ties with Egypt, negotiating influence in Gaza, managing refugees from Syria, and positioning itself as Washington’s indispensable, and unpredictable, partner.

This conversation traces the real levers of influence behind the headlines: regional triangles, security doctrines, refugee politics, and a rivalry over who gets to set the terms of the next Middle East order. If you want to understand power in this moment, you cannot understand it without understanding Turkey.

]]> turkey, joe Khawly, Middle East, Israel, Gaza, foreign policy, conflict, Hamas, Egypt, Saudi, Trump, MBS, Erdogan No S2 E3| Why Lebanon’s leadership can’t disarm Hezbollah without risking civil war 2 2 3 3 S2 E3| Why Lebanon’s leadership can’t disarm Hezbollah without risking civil war full 54c804ac-0ebb-4659-8c4a-e02b036e5802 https://share.transistor.fm/s/10b85b5e Lebanon has been called a failed state, a fragile state, even a cautionary tale,  but none of these labels capture what’s really happening.
In this episode, Dania Arayssi, Senior Fellow at the New Lines Institute and a political scientist studying Lebanon’s public trust and remittance economy, joins Joe Kawly to unpack:
• Why Lebanon’s leadership can’t disarm Hezbollah without risking civil war
• How the U.S. and Israel’s pressure campaigns are reshaping Beirut’s politics
• What “sovereignty” actually means in a system run by multiple powers
• Why civil society may be the country’s only functioning institution
• How foreign remittances are quietly reshaping political behavior
This is not another segment about Lebanon’s collapse: it’s an explanation of why it hasn’t fallen apart completely.

]]> Lebanon has been called a failed state, a fragile state, even a cautionary tale,  but none of these labels capture what’s really happening.
In this episode, Dania Arayssi, Senior Fellow at the New Lines Institute and a political scientist studying Lebanon’s public trust and remittance economy, joins Joe Kawly to unpack:
• Why Lebanon’s leadership can’t disarm Hezbollah without risking civil war
• How the U.S. and Israel’s pressure campaigns are reshaping Beirut’s politics
• What “sovereignty” actually means in a system run by multiple powers
• Why civil society may be the country’s only functioning institution
• How foreign remittances are quietly reshaping political behavior
This is not another segment about Lebanon’s collapse: it’s an explanation of why it hasn’t fallen apart completely.

]]> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:31:20 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1828 Lebanon has been called a failed state, a fragile state, even a cautionary tale,  but none of these labels capture what’s really happening.
In this episode, Dania Arayssi, Senior Fellow at the New Lines Institute and a political scientist studying Lebanon’s public trust and remittance economy, joins Joe Kawly to unpack:
• Why Lebanon’s leadership can’t disarm Hezbollah without risking civil war
• How the U.S. and Israel’s pressure campaigns are reshaping Beirut’s politics
• What “sovereignty” actually means in a system run by multiple powers
• Why civil society may be the country’s only functioning institution
• How foreign remittances are quietly reshaping political behavior
This is not another segment about Lebanon’s collapse: it’s an explanation of why it hasn’t fallen apart completely.

]]> Lebanon, Hezbollah, Civil war, war, Israel, Middle east, Iran, Yemen, Joe Kawly, MBN, Policy, Politics, No S2 E2 | The Quiet Collapse of Global Democracy 2 2 2 2 S2 E2 | The Quiet Collapse of Global Democracy full cb0b9256-49c5-4874-bba6-49209f474737 https://share.transistor.fm/s/68d780bc This week on The Diplomat, we look at how some democracies are quietly reshaping themselves under pressure. Jonathan Katz, an anti-corruption and democracy expert, from the Brookings Institution explains why Moldova is moving forward while Ukraine, Tunisia, and others are struggling to keep reform alive. From strategic corruption to AI-fueled disinformation, this episode reveals how democracy can slip away in silence, and why that matters now more than ever.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> This week on The Diplomat, we look at how some democracies are quietly reshaping themselves under pressure. Jonathan Katz, an anti-corruption and democracy expert, from the Brookings Institution explains why Moldova is moving forward while Ukraine, Tunisia, and others are struggling to keep reform alive. From strategic corruption to AI-fueled disinformation, this episode reveals how democracy can slip away in silence, and why that matters now more than ever.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:28:46 -0800 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1916 This week on The Diplomat, we look at how some democracies are quietly reshaping themselves under pressure. Jonathan Katz, an anti-corruption and democracy expert, from the Brookings Institution explains why Moldova is moving forward while Ukraine, Tunisia, and others are struggling to keep reform alive. From strategic corruption to AI-fueled disinformation, this episode reveals how democracy can slip away in silence, and why that matters now more than ever.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Middle East, Democracy, Foreign Policy, US, Diplomacy, Jonathan Katz, Joe Kawly, anti-corruption No S2 E1| The Middle East After the Wars: A Region Rewriting Itself 2 2 1 1 S2 E1| The Middle East After the Wars: A Region Rewriting Itself full 300d247d-b5e0-4ef5-887a-0fc59413f4b2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ec01d0b6 In this episode of The Diplomat, Dr. Kenneth Pollack joins Joe Kawly to map what comes next:
Iran is retrenching, Israel is recalibrating, and Gulf capitals are quietly rewriting the rules of power?

Pollack has been inside the CIA, briefed U.S. presidents, and watched the Middle East reinvent itself through war, diplomacy, and everything in between.

From Tehran’s post-war caution to Washington’s search for deals, and Saudi Arabia’s strategic flexibility between the U.S., China, and Iran, this is a rare look inside how power is being redistributed across the Middle East. A must-listen for anyone trying to understand where this region is heading after Gaza, after the Iran war, and before whatever comes next.

]]> In this episode of The Diplomat, Dr. Kenneth Pollack joins Joe Kawly to map what comes next:
Iran is retrenching, Israel is recalibrating, and Gulf capitals are quietly rewriting the rules of power?

Pollack has been inside the CIA, briefed U.S. presidents, and watched the Middle East reinvent itself through war, diplomacy, and everything in between.

From Tehran’s post-war caution to Washington’s search for deals, and Saudi Arabia’s strategic flexibility between the U.S., China, and Iran, this is a rare look inside how power is being redistributed across the Middle East. A must-listen for anyone trying to understand where this region is heading after Gaza, after the Iran war, and before whatever comes next.

]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:59:01 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1881 In this episode of The Diplomat, Dr. Kenneth Pollack joins Joe Kawly to map what comes next:
Iran is retrenching, Israel is recalibrating, and Gulf capitals are quietly rewriting the rules of power?

Pollack has been inside the CIA, briefed U.S. presidents, and watched the Middle East reinvent itself through war, diplomacy, and everything in between.

From Tehran’s post-war caution to Washington’s search for deals, and Saudi Arabia’s strategic flexibility between the U.S., China, and Iran, this is a rare look inside how power is being redistributed across the Middle East. A must-listen for anyone trying to understand where this region is heading after Gaza, after the Iran war, and before whatever comes next.

]]> Middle East, Iran, Israel, Drones, Geopolitics, Gaza, Tehran, Joe Kawly, The Diplomat, Politics, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Kenneth Pollack, War, Hamas, October 7, department of states, USA, Washigton, Khamenie No Gaza’s Agony and America’s Gamble: What Comes Next a conversation with Elliott Abrams 1 1 12 12 Gaza’s Agony and America’s Gamble: What Comes Next a conversation with Elliott Abrams full e4ac3de9-11e7-4626-a94c-5ffc4daba3df https://share.transistor.fm/s/59556aae He served under three U.S. presidents, shaped policy on the Middle East and Latin America, and was America’s special envoy for both Iran and Venezuela.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Elliott Abrams joins Joe Kawly to assess whether Iran’s influence across the region is truly weakening or if that is just an illusion. From Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon to Gaza’s uncertain future and the so-called Iran Russia China axis, Abrams explains where U.S. strategy meets Middle East reality.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Iran’s regional network, and the future of diplomacy in a fractured Middle East.

Elliott Abrams has spent decades inside the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy. In this conversation, he delivers an unfiltered take on Iran’s vulnerabilities, Hezbollah’s weapons, and the political choices facing Washington in Gaza and beyond.

In this episode, Abrams and host Joe Kawly explore:
• Whether Hezbollah is truly weakening under pressure
• Why the Iran Russia China axis is more illusion than alliance
• The political future of Gaza and the risks of displacement
• Why U.S. credibility still hinges on human rights

This episode reveals the opportunities and dangers that could define America’s role in the Middle East for years to come.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> He served under three U.S. presidents, shaped policy on the Middle East and Latin America, and was America’s special envoy for both Iran and Venezuela.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Elliott Abrams joins Joe Kawly to assess whether Iran’s influence across the region is truly weakening or if that is just an illusion. From Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon to Gaza’s uncertain future and the so-called Iran Russia China axis, Abrams explains where U.S. strategy meets Middle East reality.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Iran’s regional network, and the future of diplomacy in a fractured Middle East.

Elliott Abrams has spent decades inside the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy. In this conversation, he delivers an unfiltered take on Iran’s vulnerabilities, Hezbollah’s weapons, and the political choices facing Washington in Gaza and beyond.

In this episode, Abrams and host Joe Kawly explore:
• Whether Hezbollah is truly weakening under pressure
• Why the Iran Russia China axis is more illusion than alliance
• The political future of Gaza and the risks of displacement
• Why U.S. credibility still hinges on human rights

This episode reveals the opportunities and dangers that could define America’s role in the Middle East for years to come.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2025 06:15:50 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 3102 He served under three U.S. presidents, shaped policy on the Middle East and Latin America, and was America’s special envoy for both Iran and Venezuela.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Elliott Abrams joins Joe Kawly to assess whether Iran’s influence across the region is truly weakening or if that is just an illusion. From Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon to Gaza’s uncertain future and the so-called Iran Russia China axis, Abrams explains where U.S. strategy meets Middle East reality.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Iran’s regional network, and the future of diplomacy in a fractured Middle East.

Elliott Abrams has spent decades inside the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy. In this conversation, he delivers an unfiltered take on Iran’s vulnerabilities, Hezbollah’s weapons, and the political choices facing Washington in Gaza and beyond.

In this episode, Abrams and host Joe Kawly explore:
• Whether Hezbollah is truly weakening under pressure
• Why the Iran Russia China axis is more illusion than alliance
• The political future of Gaza and the risks of displacement
• Why U.S. credibility still hinges on human rights

This episode reveals the opportunities and dangers that could define America’s role in the Middle East for years to come.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> The Diplomat, Joe Kawly, Middile East, Elliott Abrams, Hezbollah’s weapons, Lebanon, Israel, US foreign policy No Inside NATO’s Blind Spot on Russia and Cyber Wars 1 1 11 11 Inside NATO’s Blind Spot on Russia and Cyber Wars full 13303856-a6c9-4e66-bc86-b083bea9500f https://share.transistor.fm/s/1dff89e3 He warned NATO about Russia long before the tanks rolled into Ukraine and built one of the world’s most advanced digital societies from a country once dismissed as a “former Soviet republic.”
In this episode of The Diplomat, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves joins Joe Kawly to reveal how ignorance, prejudice, and misplaced faith in dialogue left NATO exposed and how Estonia turned technology into a tool of national survival.
From cyberattacks that shut down his country to diplomatic battles over language and perception, Ilves offers a rare inside look at how small states survive in a world shaped by bigger powers’ blind spots.

A must-listen for anyone interested in NATO, Russia, cybersecurity, and the hidden rules of diplomacy in dangerous times.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> He warned NATO about Russia long before the tanks rolled into Ukraine and built one of the world’s most advanced digital societies from a country once dismissed as a “former Soviet republic.”
In this episode of The Diplomat, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves joins Joe Kawly to reveal how ignorance, prejudice, and misplaced faith in dialogue left NATO exposed and how Estonia turned technology into a tool of national survival.
From cyberattacks that shut down his country to diplomatic battles over language and perception, Ilves offers a rare inside look at how small states survive in a world shaped by bigger powers’ blind spots.

A must-listen for anyone interested in NATO, Russia, cybersecurity, and the hidden rules of diplomacy in dangerous times.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:25:35 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1666 He warned NATO about Russia long before the tanks rolled into Ukraine and built one of the world’s most advanced digital societies from a country once dismissed as a “former Soviet republic.”
In this episode of The Diplomat, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves joins Joe Kawly to reveal how ignorance, prejudice, and misplaced faith in dialogue left NATO exposed and how Estonia turned technology into a tool of national survival.
From cyberattacks that shut down his country to diplomatic battles over language and perception, Ilves offers a rare inside look at how small states survive in a world shaped by bigger powers’ blind spots.

A must-listen for anyone interested in NATO, Russia, cybersecurity, and the hidden rules of diplomacy in dangerous times.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Diplomacy, Joe Kawly, Thomas Ilves, War, Cyber war, Russia, Nato, Depth analysis No Why the U.S. Can’t Quit Israel - Even Now 1 1 10 10 Why the U.S. Can’t Quit Israel - Even Now full f3ac38b2-222c-4524-8b79-47fa5ab5bc7e https://share.transistor.fm/s/45d0fdac He advised U.S. presidents, negotiated peace deals, and shaped Washington's Middle East policy from the inside.

In this episode of The Diplomat, veteran peace negotiator Aaron David Miller joins Joe Kawly to explain how domestic politics, evangelical support, and deep-rooted alliances continue to shape America’s policy on Israel and Gaza. From the Trump-Netanyahu partnership to the silence on civilian suffering, this conversation breaks down what drives U.S. diplomacy today.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and the political dynamics influencing American decisions in the Middle East.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> He advised U.S. presidents, negotiated peace deals, and shaped Washington's Middle East policy from the inside.

In this episode of The Diplomat, veteran peace negotiator Aaron David Miller joins Joe Kawly to explain how domestic politics, evangelical support, and deep-rooted alliances continue to shape America’s policy on Israel and Gaza. From the Trump-Netanyahu partnership to the silence on civilian suffering, this conversation breaks down what drives U.S. diplomacy today.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and the political dynamics influencing American decisions in the Middle East.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:57:46 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1849 He advised U.S. presidents, negotiated peace deals, and shaped Washington's Middle East policy from the inside.

In this episode of The Diplomat, veteran peace negotiator Aaron David Miller joins Joe Kawly to explain how domestic politics, evangelical support, and deep-rooted alliances continue to shape America’s policy on Israel and Gaza. From the Trump-Netanyahu partnership to the silence on civilian suffering, this conversation breaks down what drives U.S. diplomacy today.

A must-listen for anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and the political dynamics influencing American decisions in the Middle East.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East, Aaron David Miller, Iraq, ISIS, Kuwait No The Memo Before the War: James Jeffrey on Iraq, Iran, and the Limits of Power 1 1 9 9 The Memo Before the War: James Jeffrey on Iraq, Iran, and the Limits of Power full 4ea2213d-d343-466c-aac9-341b4a928c65 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3302e83b What happens when the truth comes too early, and no one listens?
He wrote the memo that warned the Iraq war could ignite a regional storm. Then he was sent into the storm.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador James Jeffrey reflects on what Washington refused to see, from Iraq’s fragile sovereignty to the myth of unlimited U.S. support. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the delicate line between blunt honesty and diplomatic risk.

This is not a history lesson. It’s what happens when diplomacy runs up against denial.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, or still ask: how did we get here?


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> What happens when the truth comes too early, and no one listens?
He wrote the memo that warned the Iraq war could ignite a regional storm. Then he was sent into the storm.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador James Jeffrey reflects on what Washington refused to see, from Iraq’s fragile sovereignty to the myth of unlimited U.S. support. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the delicate line between blunt honesty and diplomatic risk.

This is not a history lesson. It’s what happens when diplomacy runs up against denial.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, or still ask: how did we get here?


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:19:32 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2528 What happens when the truth comes too early, and no one listens?
He wrote the memo that warned the Iraq war could ignite a regional storm. Then he was sent into the storm.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador James Jeffrey reflects on what Washington refused to see, from Iraq’s fragile sovereignty to the myth of unlimited U.S. support. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the delicate line between blunt honesty and diplomatic risk.

This is not a history lesson. It’s what happens when diplomacy runs up against denial.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, or still ask: how did we get here?


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East, Douglas Silliman, Iraq, ISIS, Kuwait No The Quiet Wars of Kuwait and the Battle to Rebuild Iraq 1 1 8 8 The Quiet Wars of Kuwait and the Battle to Rebuild Iraq full b2919478-8be8-435b-aa90-6f7bf208a890 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bd8acc27 What happens when war creeps to your doorstep, and you’re the one sent to hold the line?

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador Douglas Silliman tells the untold stories of his time in Kuwait and Iraq. From covert smuggling routes to tense backroom talks, this is the kind of diplomacy that never makes the news, but changes everything.

Host and Producer Joe Kawly brings you into the conversations that happened off-mic.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, foreign policy, or just want to know what really happened after Mosul.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> What happens when war creeps to your doorstep, and you’re the one sent to hold the line?

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador Douglas Silliman tells the untold stories of his time in Kuwait and Iraq. From covert smuggling routes to tense backroom talks, this is the kind of diplomacy that never makes the news, but changes everything.

Host and Producer Joe Kawly brings you into the conversations that happened off-mic.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, foreign policy, or just want to know what really happened after Mosul.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:31:03 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2262 What happens when war creeps to your doorstep, and you’re the one sent to hold the line?

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador Douglas Silliman tells the untold stories of his time in Kuwait and Iraq. From covert smuggling routes to tense backroom talks, this is the kind of diplomacy that never makes the news, but changes everything.

Host and Producer Joe Kawly brings you into the conversations that happened off-mic.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, foreign policy, or just want to know what really happened after Mosul.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East, Douglas Silliman, Iraq, ISIS, Kuwait No What Washington Avoided: From the Backrooms of Addis Ababa to the Fires of Darfur 1 1 7 7 What Washington Avoided: From the Backrooms of Addis Ababa to the Fires of Darfur full d8e28edb-6813-4785-9122-ae76ed90c009 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2e690c5 Former U.S. Ambassador David Shinn offers rare insights into the shifting dynamics of the Horn of Africa.
 In this exclusive podcast interview, he unpacks U.S. policy, regional rivalries, and the road ahead.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Former U.S. Ambassador David Shinn offers rare insights into the shifting dynamics of the Horn of Africa.
 In this exclusive podcast interview, he unpacks U.S. policy, regional rivalries, and the road ahead.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:44:33 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1767 Former U.S. Ambassador David Shinn offers rare insights into the shifting dynamics of the Horn of Africa.
 In this exclusive podcast interview, he unpacks U.S. policy, regional rivalries, and the road ahead.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East No Inside Israel’s Quiet Wars: From Iran to Lebanon 1 1 6 6 Inside Israel’s Quiet Wars: From Iran to Lebanon full e6b7a4b5-afe6-4037-bf5f-6e9c50a9d522 https://share.transistor.fm/s/11573335 From nuclear red lines to backchannel diplomacy, Eyal Hulata was at the heart of Israel’s national security strategy during some of its most delicate moments.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Hulata speaks openly about covert strikes on Iran, the maritime deal with Lebanon, and the sentence that made him a political target. From secret mediation between Moscow and Kyiv to standing in Bahrain and reciting “Women. Life. Freedom.” in three languages—this isn’t just a conversation about security. It’s about message discipline in a region where silence is sometimes the loudest statement. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the hidden messages behind official statements—and what it means when Israel chooses to speak first.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> From nuclear red lines to backchannel diplomacy, Eyal Hulata was at the heart of Israel’s national security strategy during some of its most delicate moments.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Hulata speaks openly about covert strikes on Iran, the maritime deal with Lebanon, and the sentence that made him a political target. From secret mediation between Moscow and Kyiv to standing in Bahrain and reciting “Women. Life. Freedom.” in three languages—this isn’t just a conversation about security. It’s about message discipline in a region where silence is sometimes the loudest statement. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the hidden messages behind official statements—and what it means when Israel chooses to speak first.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:56:10 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1904 From nuclear red lines to backchannel diplomacy, Eyal Hulata was at the heart of Israel’s national security strategy during some of its most delicate moments.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Hulata speaks openly about covert strikes on Iran, the maritime deal with Lebanon, and the sentence that made him a political target. From secret mediation between Moscow and Kyiv to standing in Bahrain and reciting “Women. Life. Freedom.” in three languages—this isn’t just a conversation about security. It’s about message discipline in a region where silence is sometimes the loudest statement. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the hidden messages behind official statements—and what it means when Israel chooses to speak first.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East No Lessons from Washington’s Mistakes in the Middle East 1 1 5 5 Lessons from Washington’s Mistakes in the Middle East full 2e786711-11ac-4618-a61f-db5d5ab281b3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/fb36e646 “We were not careful in Lebanon.” With that quiet indictment, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker begins a story that doesn’t read like memoirs, but like real lessons from the heart of war.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Crocker recounts surviving the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, exposing how Syria used terror as a foreign policy tool, and warning why Bashar al-Assad was never the reformer the West wanted to believe.

From the disillusionment in Iraq—“We weren’t seen as liberators”—to the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Crocker draws a map of where American strategy unraveled. His lesson? Wars begin in politics. And they end in politics.

This is a story about what it means to stay when others leave, speak when others fall silent, and learn from failure without flinching.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> “We were not careful in Lebanon.” With that quiet indictment, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker begins a story that doesn’t read like memoirs, but like real lessons from the heart of war.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Crocker recounts surviving the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, exposing how Syria used terror as a foreign policy tool, and warning why Bashar al-Assad was never the reformer the West wanted to believe.

From the disillusionment in Iraq—“We weren’t seen as liberators”—to the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Crocker draws a map of where American strategy unraveled. His lesson? Wars begin in politics. And they end in politics.

This is a story about what it means to stay when others leave, speak when others fall silent, and learn from failure without flinching.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:10:38 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1877 “We were not careful in Lebanon.” With that quiet indictment, former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker begins a story that doesn’t read like memoirs, but like real lessons from the heart of war.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Crocker recounts surviving the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, exposing how Syria used terror as a foreign policy tool, and warning why Bashar al-Assad was never the reformer the West wanted to believe.

From the disillusionment in Iraq—“We weren’t seen as liberators”—to the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Crocker draws a map of where American strategy unraveled. His lesson? Wars begin in politics. And they end in politics.

This is a story about what it means to stay when others leave, speak when others fall silent, and learn from failure without flinching.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, Middle East No Did We Fail to Stop Nuclear Proliferation? 1 1 4 4 Did We Fail to Stop Nuclear Proliferation? full dfe18fa0-2f7b-47c2-ae42-c2eb06e3ff36 https://share.transistor.fm/s/93a730ab Behind every nuclear crisis is a pattern of overlooked loopholes, ignored warnings, and political blind spots. From civilian cover stories to strategic exceptions, Henry Sokolski has spent four decades warning about the cracks in the global nonproliferation system.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Sokolski explains how enrichment and reprocessing became normalized under the guise of peaceful energy, and why those loopholes remain the greatest threat to nuclear restraint today. He challenges the double standards applied to Israel and Iran, dissects the illusions of deterrence in a multipolar world, and warns what it would really mean for the Middle East to go nuclear.

This episode doesn’t predict war… it warns of the quiet road that leads to it.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Behind every nuclear crisis is a pattern of overlooked loopholes, ignored warnings, and political blind spots. From civilian cover stories to strategic exceptions, Henry Sokolski has spent four decades warning about the cracks in the global nonproliferation system.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Sokolski explains how enrichment and reprocessing became normalized under the guise of peaceful energy, and why those loopholes remain the greatest threat to nuclear restraint today. He challenges the double standards applied to Israel and Iran, dissects the illusions of deterrence in a multipolar world, and warns what it would really mean for the Middle East to go nuclear.

This episode doesn’t predict war… it warns of the quiet road that leads to it.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:27:13 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 2106 Behind every nuclear crisis is a pattern of overlooked loopholes, ignored warnings, and political blind spots. From civilian cover stories to strategic exceptions, Henry Sokolski has spent four decades warning about the cracks in the global nonproliferation system.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Sokolski explains how enrichment and reprocessing became normalized under the guise of peaceful energy, and why those loopholes remain the greatest threat to nuclear restraint today. He challenges the double standards applied to Israel and Iran, dissects the illusions of deterrence in a multipolar world, and warns what it would really mean for the Middle East to go nuclear.

This episode doesn’t predict war… it warns of the quiet road that leads to it.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Nuclear Proliferation, Iran, Israel, Joe Kawly, The diplomat, Tehran, Trump, IAEA, Netanyahu, Middle east, diplomacy, No Cables, Chaos, and the Truth That Sparked a Revolution 1 1 3 3 Cables, Chaos, and the Truth That Sparked a Revolution full 0e8e7b47-69f2-4478-aefe-0fe30136fdbb https://share.transistor.fm/s/72386927 In December 2010, a fruit vendor’s act of protest sparked a revolution. Weeks later, Tunisia’s longtime dictator fled the country—and at the center of it all was Gordon Gray, the U.S. ambassador whose private cables pulled no punches about what was really happening on the ground.

In this third episode of The Diplomat, Gray reflects on the moment when honesty turned explosive, what it means to listen instead of impose, and why diplomats today should be more careful with words like “red line” than ever before.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> In December 2010, a fruit vendor’s act of protest sparked a revolution. Weeks later, Tunisia’s longtime dictator fled the country—and at the center of it all was Gordon Gray, the U.S. ambassador whose private cables pulled no punches about what was really happening on the ground.

In this third episode of The Diplomat, Gray reflects on the moment when honesty turned explosive, what it means to listen instead of impose, and why diplomats today should be more careful with words like “red line” than ever before.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:47:38 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1395 In December 2010, a fruit vendor’s act of protest sparked a revolution. Weeks later, Tunisia’s longtime dictator fled the country—and at the center of it all was Gordon Gray, the U.S. ambassador whose private cables pulled no punches about what was really happening on the ground.

In this third episode of The Diplomat, Gray reflects on the moment when honesty turned explosive, what it means to listen instead of impose, and why diplomats today should be more careful with words like “red line” than ever before.


  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Politics, Foreign affairs, Gaza, Syria, Diplomacy, The diplomat, MBN, Joe Kawly, Gordon Gray, Egypt, Tunisia, Arab Spring, No The Word That Sparked Accusations: From Egypt to Turkey 1 1 2 2 The Word That Sparked Accusations: From Egypt to Turkey full e9e6202d-8f06-46fe-a1e6-bf4fedaef4f0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7c73132d When former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone spoke up about freedom of expression in 2013, it wasn’t meant to ignite a firestorm. But the backlash was swift, and the accusations - explosive. In this premiere episode of The Diplomat, we explore the thin line between diplomacy and provocation, and how one sentence turned into a geopolitical flashpoint. Amb. Ricciardone opens up about Gezi Park, the weight of words, and why empathy, not just strategy, might be diplomacy’s most underused tool.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> When former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone spoke up about freedom of expression in 2013, it wasn’t meant to ignite a firestorm. But the backlash was swift, and the accusations - explosive. In this premiere episode of The Diplomat, we explore the thin line between diplomacy and provocation, and how one sentence turned into a geopolitical flashpoint. Amb. Ricciardone opens up about Gezi Park, the weight of words, and why empathy, not just strategy, might be diplomacy’s most underused tool.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:40:50 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1447 When former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone spoke up about freedom of expression in 2013, it wasn’t meant to ignite a firestorm. But the backlash was swift, and the accusations - explosive. In this premiere episode of The Diplomat, we explore the thin line between diplomacy and provocation, and how one sentence turned into a geopolitical flashpoint. Amb. Ricciardone opens up about Gezi Park, the weight of words, and why empathy, not just strategy, might be diplomacy’s most underused tool.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Politics, Foreign affairs, Gaza, Syria, Diplomacy, The diplomat, MBN, Joe Kawly No On Gaza, Assad, and The Truth They Didn’t Want to Hear 1 1 1 1 On Gaza, Assad, and The Truth They Didn’t Want to Hear full 9bc19c85-e44d-4a53-aed1-a90bb0a083ee https://share.transistor.fm/s/db6d3c8f From the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000 to the looming famine in Gaza in 2024, Ambassador David Satterfield has been in the room where decisions are made—but rarely discussed. In this first episode of The Diplomat, Satterfield reveals how Hafez al-Assad tried to sabotage Israel’s withdrawal by leveraging Hezbollah, how Syria blocked Lebanese cooperation with the UN, and why the crisis in Gaza is not just humanitarian—but political.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> From the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000 to the looming famine in Gaza in 2024, Ambassador David Satterfield has been in the room where decisions are made—but rarely discussed. In this first episode of The Diplomat, Satterfield reveals how Hafez al-Assad tried to sabotage Israel’s withdrawal by leveraging Hezbollah, how Syria blocked Lebanese cooperation with the UN, and why the crisis in Gaza is not just humanitarian—but political.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Mon, 26 May 2025 13:30:03 -0700 Joe Kawly Joe Kawly 1683 From the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon in 2000 to the looming famine in Gaza in 2024, Ambassador David Satterfield has been in the room where decisions are made—but rarely discussed. In this first episode of The Diplomat, Satterfield reveals how Hafez al-Assad tried to sabotage Israel’s withdrawal by leveraging Hezbollah, how Syria blocked Lebanese cooperation with the UN, and why the crisis in Gaza is not just humanitarian—but political.

  • Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.
]]> Politics, Foreign affairs, Gaza, Syria, Diplomacy, The diplomat, MBN No