FDD's Long War Journal

Generation Jihad

A News Commentary , News and Government podcast

#46 in News Commentary · 🇳🇬 #47 in News Commentary · 🇮🇳

About the show

The war against Islamic Jihadism is defining generations. It was our father’s war, it’s our war, and will most likely be our children’s war. The FDD' s Long War Journal team has been researching and reporting for over two decades on the jihadists fueling this terror. “Generation Jihad” features LWJ Editor Bill Roggio as he diagnoses the black and white motivations behind the world’s most notorious terrorists, reports on their expanding malign activities, and offers prescriptions for confronting the multi-generational menace that is Islamic Jihadism.

Newest episodes

The Muslim Brotherhood's long game: Influence, infiltration, and Islamist politics

Nov 11, 2026 58 min

The Muslim Brotherhood's growing influence in Western politics and institutions is raising concerns about free speech, religious extremism, and national security. Bill Roggio is joined by Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former British ambassador to Yemen and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to examine the Islamist organization's activities in the United States and Europe. They begin with a proposed New Jersey law defining Islamophobia, which they argue could suppress legitimate criticism of political Islam, before exploring the Muslim Brotherhood's political strategy and its unlikely alliances with Western progressives. Bill and Edmund turn to US and European efforts to counter the Brotherhood, including American terrorist designations targeting several overseas affiliates. As Western governments increase their scrutiny of the organization, can they confront its activities without compromising the freedoms they seek to defend? https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/partner_surveys/sharia_law_43_of_youngest_voters_like_it https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1146/bill-text?f=A1500&n=1146_I1

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban: Strategic depth, strategic disaster

Nov 5, 2026 40 min

Pakistan's decades-long support for the Afghan Taliban has come back to haunt Islamabad, as fighting between the former allies intensifies along their shared border. Bill Roggio is joined by retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Long War Journal contributor Will Selber to discuss the latest clashes, Pakistani airstrikes, and the growing threat from the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP). They examine how Pakistan's pursuit of strategic depth against India drove its support for the Afghan Taliban, why the TTP's allegiance to the Taliban's supreme leader complicates Islamabad's efforts to contain the insurgency, and how Pakistan's longstanding strategy has backfired. Bill and Will also examine Afghanistan's growing armed resistance, including a surge in attacks claimed by the Afghanistan United Front. But the resistance remains fragmented, poorly supported, and unable to hold territory. With Pakistan reportedly considering backing these groups, could Islamabad become the unlikely patron of the very forces it spent decades undermining?

Syria's counterterrorism dilemma: Who can Washington trust?

Oct 30, 2026 37 min

A deadly attack on a Christian funeral in Jordan prompted retaliatory Jordanian airstrikes in Syria, sparking a diplomatic dispute between Amman and Damascus and raising questions about the Islamic State's involvement and the security threats emanating from southern Syria. Bill Roggio is joined by FDD Senior Research Analyst Ahmad Sharawi to discuss the killing of nine mourners, Jordan's subsequent airstrikes, and conflicting claims over whether the strikes targeted Islamic State operatives or killed civilians. They examine the evidence linking the attackers to the Islamic State, the absence of an official claim of responsibility, and why Jordan's response has strained relations with Damascus. Bill and Ahmad also assess the deteriorating security situation in southern Syria, where Islamic State cells, local militias and competing regional interests complicate efforts to establish effective government control. With jihadists reportedly infiltrating Syria's security forces, they debate the difficult policy choices facing Washington and its regional partners: whether to work with the government of Ahmed al Sharaa, rely on previously vetted Syrian counterterrorism partners, or pursue alternative security arrangements.

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 351 episodes

The Muslim Brotherhood's long game: Influence, infiltration, and Islamist politics

Nov 11, 2026 58 min

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban: Strategic depth, strategic disaster

Nov 5, 2026 40 min

Syria's counterterrorism dilemma: Who can Washington trust?

Oct 30, 2026 37 min

One war, many fronts: Iran and its proxies

Oct 27, 2026 53 min

The war with Iran is far from over, and the fight extends well beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Bill Roggio is joined by FDD Senior Fellow and former British Ambassador to Yemen Edmund Fitton-Brown to assess the status of the US-Iran conflict, Tehran's efforts to break the American naval blockade, and the growing role of its terrorist proxies. They discuss why the fighting in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and elsewhere should be understood as interconnected theaters of a wider war rather than separate conflicts, and how Iran is exploiting its network of allies to pressure the United States and its regional partners. Bill and Edmund also examine the Houthis' renewed offensive in Yemen, including their advance along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab al Mandeb Strait, the siege of Taiz, and the fight for the strategic city of Marib. Although Saudi-backed forces have slowed the Houthi advance, the Iranian-backed group continues to strike Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and other economic targets. With the Houthis emerging as arguably Iran's most consequential proxy, Bill and Edmund assess the threat to Saudi Arabia's economic ambitions, the stability of the Saudi monarchy, and the consequences of treating the Houthi campaign as a separate war rather than part of Iran's broader regional strategy.

The Houthis' Red Sea power play

Oct 23, 2026 43 min

The Houthis are on the offensive in Yemen, threatening one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints and bringing the war back to Saudi Arabia's doorstep. Bill Roggio is joined by FDD research analyst and Long War Journal contributor Bridget Toomey to discuss the Iranian-backed group's renewed campaign to conquer Yemen, its advances along the Red Sea coast, and its siege of the strategic city of Taiz. They examine the battle for control of the Bab al Mandeb Strait, why the Houthis have largely refrained from attacking international shipping, and how missile and drone strikes against Saudi airports and energy infrastructure are designed to pressure Riyadh into concessions. Bill and Bridget also assess the Saudi-led response, the divisions among Yemen's anti-Houthi forces, and the limits of international support for Saudi Arabia. While Turkey, Pakistan, and other partners have offered defensive assistance, few appear willing to confront the Houthis directly. Meanwhile, Iran's support for the Houthis and its coordination with Iraqi militias have helped transform a once-local insurgency into a regional threat. The Houthis may not be capable of destabilizing the Saudi monarchy in the near term. However, their campaign threatens Riyadh's economic ambitions and raises a larger question: Can Saudi Arabia contain an increasingly powerful enemy on its southern border without a more decisive international response?

Shipshow: The world's waterways are at war

Oct 14, 2026 51 min

The world's most critical shipping lanes are becoming battlegrounds as Iran targets commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis threaten shipping through the Bab al Mandab, and Russia and Ukraine wage an escalating maritime war in the Black Sea. Generation Jihad host Bill Roggio is joined by Dr. Sal Mercogliano, host of What's Going On With Shipping?, to discuss how these conflicts are disrupting global trade, driving up energy prices, and threatening the freedom of navigation. They examine Iran's efforts to undermine US-led shipping operations in the Persian Gulf, the Houthis' renewed campaign against Saudi shipping, and the mounting economic costs of keeping vital sea lanes open. In the Black Sea, Ukraine is targeting Russia's commercial shipping and maritime infrastructure, while Russia retaliates against Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels, including ships operating near NATO territory. Bill and Sal discuss how drones, missiles, and economic warfare are transforming naval operations, the challenges facing the US Navy in sustaining a prolonged maritime campaign, and the growing danger that these seemingly separate conflicts could converge into a wider war.

Hezbollah's miscalculation: Down but not out

Oct 9, 2026 1 hr 9 min

Three years after Hezbollah entered the war against Israel, the Iranian-backed terrorist group has suffered devastating losses, including much of its senior leadership, command structure, and military infrastructure. But Hezbollah remains a formidable force, and its decision to join Hamas's war against Israel may prove to be one of the greatest strategic miscalculations in the group's history. FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud joins Generation Jihad host Bill Roggio to assess Hezbollah's ability to survive, rebuild, and avoid a strategic defeat despite Israel's significant tactical victories. They examine how Hezbollah exploits Lebanon's sectarian political system, relies on its Shiite support base, and leverages political allies and social networks to preserve its arsenal and buy time to regenerate.

The Taliban vs Pakistan: Can they both lose?

Oct 8, 2026 42 min

Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban is stronger than ever, Al Qaeda continues to operate under its protection, and Pakistan is learning the hard way that supporting jihadists comes with a price. Bill Roggio is joined by retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Long War Journal contributor Will Selber to assess the state of the Taliban's Islamic Emirate, the fractured and ineffective Afghan resistance, and the continued presence of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State's Khorasan Province. They also dismantle the persistent myth of a divided Taliban and examine why the jihadist regime faces little meaningful opposition to its rule. Across the border, Pakistan is confronting a resurgent Taliban insurgency fueled by the same jihadist networks its military and intelligence services spent decades nurturing. Roggio and Selber examine the growing threat from the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP), the emergence of former Pakistani allies among its enemies, and Islamabad's increasingly futile reliance on airstrikes inside Afghanistan. The irony is difficult to ignore: Pakistan helped the Taliban defeat the United States and overthrow the Afghan government, only to find itself battling an insurgency operating from Taliban-controlled territory. The question is no longer whether Pakistan's jihadist strategy has backfired, but how much worse the consequences will become.

Operation Enduring Failure: 25 years after the US invasion of Afghanistan

Sep 29, 2026 56 min

Was Operation Enduring Freedom—the US invasion of Afghanistan launched in October 2001 to kill or capture Al Qaeda’s leaders and oust the Taliban from power—a success or a failure? With the Taliban currently in control of Afghanistan and Al Qaeda operating training camps throughout the country, the answer seems obvious. Generation Jihad host Bill Roggio, an FDD senior fellow and the editor of FDD’s Long War Journal, talks with terrorism expert Thomas Joscelyn about the failures of Operation Enduring Freedom and how they cascaded into the terrorism threats we now face from Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other jihadist groups. Bill and Tom also discuss Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamza, and reports that he may be alive and at the helm of Al Qaeda, as well as Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa’s refusal to answer a question about whether he renounced his oath of allegiance to Al Qaeda.

Strait lines

Sep 23, 2026 1 hr 4 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington, shaking hands and smiling as the People’s Liberation Army prepares for aggression in the Pacific. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to try to play the victim while continuing his brutal invasion of Ukraine. The regime in Iran is severely weakened but continues to menace commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. And North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is responding to American concessions and South Korean conciliation with more ballistic missile launches. Some Americans are familiar with the threats China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea pose individually. But how are these adversaries helping each other, and how does American action or inaction and strength or weakness in one region or against one adversary impact the others? To explore these questions and more on Generation Jihad, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H.R. McMaster and Ryan Brobst join guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). H.R. McMaster is a former US national security advisor to President Trump and serves as chair of the Advisory Board for CMPP, where Ryan Brobst is deputy director.

Is Hezbollah finished, or just adapting?

Sep 15, 2026 58 min

Hezbollah no longer owns every road in South Lebanon. In mixed villages that kept the group out and brought the Lebanese Army in, daily life looks almost normal—and Israel’s deployment in Lebanon bends around instead of through them. This could mark the start of Lebanon asserting its sovereignty in the south, spelling the beginning of the end of Hezbollah’s demise. But given Beirut’s inertia, it’s equally plausible Hezbollah will adapt and wait it out. Generation Jihad guest host David Daoud, an FDD senior fellow focused on Lebanon and Hezbollah, talks with Lina Khatib, an associate fellow in Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, about her July trip through that pocket, why the 2006 war never put the army in charge of the border, and whether Beirut can take Hezbollah’s weapons now that the group is weaker and Assad is gone. This episode digs into the Lebanese military’s limited seizure of weapons, the fear that a forced disarmament will spark another civil war, and the Shiite community that Hezbollah still dominates through sincere conviction, material benefits, and intimidation. Daoud and Khatib ask whether Hezbollah is limping toward the exit or adapting in the stasis, and whether talks with Israel are the start of a real peace—or just another pause before the next war.

The truth about America’s munitions crisis

Sep 10, 2026 46 min

Conflicts continue in Europe and the Middle East, and Beijing is sprinting to prepare for potential aggression in the Pacific. Meanwhile, the United States confronts a military munitions crisis—but few Americans understand what is really going on. What is the true nature of America’s munitions crisis? What are the consequences of the current challenges? How did we get into this position? And what must we do to build the defense industrial base production capacity and munitions arsenals that the US needs? Generation Jihad guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power, is joined by Colonel (Ret.) Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to discuss these and related questions. Cancian, who formerly worked on defense budget strategy, war funding, procurement programs, and more at the Office of Management and Budget and spent over three decades in the US Marine Corps, draws on that experience to discuss the true state of America’s defense industrial base and arsenal.

The UN Monitoring Team’s latest report: Where the global jihad stands now

Sep 2, 2026 44 min

The UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team’s latest 1267 report traces a $50 million ransom from JNIM in the Sahel to Al Qaeda’s senior leadership, puts the Islamic State at a “lower ebb” after the killing of two of its deputy leaders, and finds that about two-thirds of both jihadist groups’ fighters are now in Africa. It also draws attention to risks from cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan and from jihadists released en masse from detention in Syria. Generation Jihad guest host Edmund Fitton-Brown, FDD senior fellow and former coordinator of the UN Monitoring Team, talks with Colin Smith, the Monitoring Team’s current coordinator, about what the latest release shows about Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and their affiliates, plus how the report is built and the challenges of keeping the spotlight on jihadist groups. Colin also explains the background to the UN’s counterterrorism work, including his own team and the wider UN CT architecture. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n26/171/00/pdf/n2617100.pdf

What is the Axis of Aggressors doing in Europe and the Middle East?

Aug 28, 2026 54 min

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are engaged in “unprecedented” cooperation, and that is empowering Russian aggression in Ukraine and making the regime in Iran more lethal and resilient. Axis security cooperation is iterative and flowing in both directions across the bilateral relationships within the Axis, making its militaries more formidable and eroding the margin of safety for Americans and their partners. What is the latest in Ukraine? How are Axis members supporting Putin’s invasion? What role have drones played in Ukraine and the Middle East? How are Moscow and Tehran cooperating, and what are the consequences? What is the status of US and partner air defenses and lessons learned? And what changes are afoot when it comes to US military posture in Europe? Generation Jihad guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), discusses these questions and more with John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia program, and Cameron McMillan, senior research analyst at FDD’s CMPP.

25 Years Later: The state of Al Qaeda

Aug 19, 2026 1 hr 0 min

Twenty-five years after 9/11, analysts still can't agree on whether Al Qaeda is a spent force or a resurgent threat. Generation Jihad's Bill Roggio and co-host Will Selber speak with guest Graeme Wood, staff writer at The Atlantic, and unpack his new article on the group's uncertain legacy. The conversation digs into Al Qaeda's true objectives, the blurred line between its "core" and its regional affiliates, and mounting evidence of the group's expanding footprint inside Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The three debate how to judge Al Qaeda's 25-year campaign — and whether Syria's new president, a former Al Qaeda commander, signals the jihadist group's decline or its evolution in the Long War.

UN report: The jihad’s new center of gravity

Aug 17, 2026 1 hr 32 min

The latest report by the United Nations Security Council Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team states that Africa has become the main battlefield for both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, that Al Qaeda’s senior leadership remains marginalized, and that Al Qaeda is collaborating with the Afghan Taliban and TTP to project threats into Pakistan. Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown, FDD senior fellow and former coordinator of the UN Monitoring Team, unpack the new 1267 report on the global state of the Islamic State, Al Qaeda, and their affiliated groups. They challenge the report’s claim that Al Qaeda’s leadership is marginalized, highlight a $50 million ransom that strengthened its network, and examine what a UN assessment can and cannot reveal about the Long War’s current threat. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n26/171/00/pdf/n2617100.pdf

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea: Inside the Axis of Aggressors, Part 2

Aug 14, 2026 41 min

The weapons flowing through the Axis of Aggressors don't move in one direction—they boomerang. In the second installment of this two-part episode, Generation Jihad's Bill Roggio continues his conversation with Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, and Ryan Brobst, CMPP deputy director, digging deeper into the mechanics of authoritarian convergence. Bowman and Brobst trace how Iran's Shahed drone became a shared arsenal—copied by China, produced by North Korea, and returned to Tehran in upgraded form after Russia improved it on the battlefields of Ukraine. They break down the munitions crisis draining US and allied stockpiles, explain why North Korea may be in its strongest strategic position in decades, and unpack the "trilateral tango" between Kim Jong-un, Beijing, and Moscow. The conversation closes with a five-line grand strategy for countering the axis—and a sobering warning about what happens if Washington waits for the next crisis to act. For Part One, check out: https://www.fdd.org/podcasts/2026/08/11/china-russia-iran-north-korea-inside-the-axis-of-aggressors/

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea: Inside the Axis of Aggressors

Aug 11, 2026 34 min

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea aren't just aligned in rhetoric—they're actively coordinating to erode American military, economic, and cyber dominance. In this episode, Generation Jihad's Bill Roggio sits down with Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power, and Ryan Brobst, CMPP deputy director, to unpack the real-world mechanics behind this dangerous authoritarian convergence. From joint military exercises and sanctions evasion to weapons transfers and cyber warfare collaboration, Bowman and Brobst break down exactly how members of “the Axis of Aggressors” prop each other up on the world stage—and what it will take for the US to counter a group of nations that no longer play by the old rules of great power competition.

Losing ground: Somalia and Mali's jihad problem

Aug 7, 2026 44 min

The US is losing leverage in Somalia — and may be about to repeat the mistake in Mali. Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, a Long War Journal editor and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, break down why Washington's frustration with Mogadishu is putting critical African Union support at risk, what that means for Al Shabaab's grip on southern Somalia, and whether Puntland and Emirati-backed forces can hold the line without it. They also discuss Mali, where renewed US airstrikes against JNIM raise a familiar question: what do strikes accomplish without a ground strategy or political reform? Bill and Caleb trace the pattern across the Sahel before tackling the bigger debate over whether Al Qaeda is dead or everywhere, and why our visibility into the network may be at an all-time low.

Seeking forgiveness from the Taliban

Jul 29, 2026 42 min

Former Marine and New York Times journalist Thomas Gibbons-Neff recently returned to Afghanistan to find accountability and closure, specifically seeking out Mullah Abdul Rahim Gulab, a Taliban commander he had battled in 2010. His article, “Why I Sought Out a Taliban Commander I Had Fought,” inspired Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio to seek out Will Selber, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, the co-founder of the Grumpy Combat Veteran + Friends media network, and an Afghanistan veteran, to discuss the Times article. Bill and Will break down the merits of Gibbons-Neff’s recent tour in country, his struggle with his experience as a soldier, where his investigation lacked depth and due diligence, and whether this type of article will skew a full understanding of the Afghan War as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 nears.

What is Iran’s breaking point? Part 2

Jul 24, 2026 49 min

In part two of their conversation, Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio, FDD CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman, and FDD Senior Analyst Cameron McMillan ask a tough question following months of kinetic warfare with Iran: What’s the Pentagon’s readiness for the next battle? The US currently falls dangerously short on munitions supply, a modernized naval fleet, and the manpower to fight in multiple theaters. Is our military prepared for the next round of conflict with Iran—and the potential threats from other members of the “Axis of Aggressors,” Russia, China, and North Korea? For Part One, check out: https://www.fdd.org/podcasts/2026/07/23/what-is-irans-breaking-point/

What is Iran's breaking point?

Jul 22, 2026 38 min

The US says it's degrading Iran's threat, but as the renewed air campaign approaches the two-week mark, the math still doesn’t check out. In Part 1 of this conversation, Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio joins FDD CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman and Senior Analyst Cameron McMillan to discuss the real gap between degrading Iran's missile, drone, and naval capabilities and actually eliminating them, and why murky end goals could lead to a long-term, inconclusive standoff. With Russia and China already helping Tehran rebuild its arsenal, this episode digs into the Strait of Hormuz calculus, the pain thresholds on both sides, and whether escalation is a genuine path to peace—or just revenge for killing American soldiers.

The Blockade’s Back: US-Iran MOU Unravels

Jul 14, 2026 44 min

The Iran ceasefire is dead. With the Strait of Hormuz closed and US strikes pounding Iranian military and infrastructure targets, President Trump has reinstated a full naval blockade even as peace talks limp on. FDD Research Analyst Janatan Sayeh and Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio discuss whether Europe may finally be turning on Tehran, whether Israel will rejoin the active fight, and whether the weakened Islamic Regime survives by playing its last card and unleashing its terror proxies across the Gulf.

Iraq’s Proxy Problem

Jul 7, 2026 30 min

Iraq's political system is caught in a chokehold, squeezed between fragile reform efforts and the entrenched power of Iran-backed militias. Deep-rooted corruption and patronage networks keep the status quo alive while the US attempts to financially pressure the Iraqi government into action. Can Iraq break free toward real sovereignty—or is it destined to stay locked in Tehran's orbit? FDD Research Analyst and Fulbright Scholar Bridget Toomey meets with Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio to break down why Iraqi disarmament may promise collapse, and how armed Iran-backed groups quietly pull the strings on Iraq's political and economic future.

Hezbollah’s Moment of Truth

Jul 2, 2026 34 min

A new 14-point trilateral framework toward ending hostilities in Lebanon, brokered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, puts Hezbollah, Iran’s strongest terror proxy, at a crossroads. Disarm and let Lebanon reclaim its southern border—or keep threatening Israel and risk blowing up the fragile US-Iran peace deal. FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud, an expert on Lebanon and Hezbollah, joins Generation Jihad’s Bill Roggio to break down what's really at stake in these negotiations. Is this framework a genuine path to Hezbollah’s disarmament, or just another geopolitical dead end?

Is the MOU DOA?

Jun 24, 2026 1 hr 1 min

One week after President Trump signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, the 60-day negotiation window is already under pressure — and the concessions are piling up. Iran has gained unblocked oil sales, potential sanctions relief on frozen assets, and signals that Washington may allow Tehran to keep its ballistic missile program. Meanwhile, the US is pressuring Israel to stand down against Hezbollah. So, is this two-page MOU actually worth paper it’s written on? FDD Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu joins host Bill Roggio to break it all down.

Fog of the Deal

Jun 17, 2026 57 min

President Donald Trump said that a two-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran that will end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. But will this deal bring about a lasting peace in the region, or has peace just become another five-letter word? FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud and Bill Roggio speculate on what will become of the Middle East and America’s influence in the region as this very thin MOU moves forward.

Gaza: Smoldering Battlefield?

Jun 2, 2026 29 min

Despite multiple attempts by Israel to quell the fighting in Gaza and decapitate their leadership, Hamas continues a guerilla-style resistance. The IDF now fights on three active fronts, Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza. But it’s perhaps the forgotten war in Gaza that could resume major hostilities if left unchecked. Bill speaks with FDD Research Analyst Samuel Ben-Ur about next steps in Gaza. Was Trump’s Board of Peace a false window for both combatants to regroup? And, what may trigger a flare up in this long battle spurred by October 7th?

The Next Caliphate Battleground

May 29, 2026 43 min

While attention remains fixed elsewhere, jihadist groups are expanding across Africa. Bill and Caleb revisit the growing threats in Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia—and why the continent remains one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the war against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Everybody Wants a McWar

May 28, 2026 39 min

Iran's military has been shattered. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested. Three months in, Bill and FDD's Jon Schanzer examine why quick victories are rare, patience is scarce, and this war is entering its most consequential phase yet.

Dune: The Brotherhood Jihad

May 18, 2026 33 min

Before Hamas. Before Al-Qaeda. Before the Islamic State. There was... (🥁) The Muslim Brotherhood. And for nearly a century, it has played the long game by building influence across the Middle East and even deep inside the West. But what exactly is it — a political movement? A terrorist organization? The ideological engine behind modern Islamism? Some combination? Bill is joined again by longtime friend of the show Edmund Fitton-Brown, now his colleague at FDD, to discuss.

POV: FPV (or: "The Anarchist Cookbook of War")

May 13, 2026 58 min

Hezbollah's missiles may be depleted, but cheap FPV drones are changing the battlefield — slipping past defenses, targeting Israeli troops, and exposing a dangerous new vulnerability. Bill and David Daoud unpack Hezbollah’s drone evolution, the psychological warfare behind the footage, and why Israel may be drifting back toward the failed security zone dynamics of the past.

Iran's Nukes: Degraded but not Dead

May 7, 2026 29 min

Iran’s nuclear program is in ruins, but the threat is far from dead. Deputy Director of FDD's Non-Proliferation Program, Andrea Stricker and Bill dive into the desperate gamble Tehran is making at the negotiating table with the U.S. — and the terrifying chemical contingency they might be holding in reserve.

Gridlock at the Strait

May 5, 2026 35 min

The world’s most vital trade artery is under siege. As the U.S. launches "Project Freedom" to break the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping remains in a chokehold. This week, Bill sits down with shipping expert Sal Mercogliano to break down the stalemate, the dual blockade, and the massive economic ripple effects threatening the global supply chain.

Strait Strategy

May 3, 2026 1 hr 3 min

Tehran is shifting the battlefield from missiles to markets, turning the Strait of Hormuz into leverage and testing whether Washington will trade long-term strategy for short-term relief. Bill and Behnam discuss.

Can Fortress Bamako Hold?

Apr 28, 2026 32 min

Across Mali, jihadis are seizing territory, encircling the capital, and pushing a fragile regime toward collapse. Backed by a sprawling network and years in the making, Al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate has launched its most ambitious offensive yet—one that could redraw the map of West Africa. Bill and Caleb unpack.

Iran's Choke Point

Apr 23, 2026 36 min

Iran says it’s not in a rush to negotiate, but reality signals something else. Bill is joined by FDD senior fellow Miad Maleki — former U.S. Treasury sanctions architect — to break down why Tehran walked away from talks, what the Strait of Hormuz blockade is really doing, and why the regime may be under more pressure than at any point since 1979.

Define Destroyed

Apr 16, 2026 40 min

Bill joins fellow FDD colleagues, Cameron McMillan and Ryan Brobst, from the Center on Military and Political Power to reassess the combat objectives met by the U.S. military after seven weeks of engagement in the Iranian War. Can the Department of Defense stand by their robust claims about Iranian hardware destruction? And, will the recent naval blockade be the military operation that ultimately breaks the Iranian regime?

Battle for the Strait

Apr 14, 2026 41 min

FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown joins Bill to assess the current state of the Iran War. From the dual blockade in the Strait of Hormuz to the failed peace negotiations, they consider: why did Pakistan step up as mediator? Can Tehran stretch the Houthis for even more leverage in the Red Sea? Has the war pushed the Gulf States closer together?

Ceasefire or Long Game?

Apr 9, 2026 47 min

FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud and Bill examine the recent and fragile ceasefire in the ongoing Iran War. Will the fighting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah break the peace, and has the Iranian resistance movement missed a golden opportunity?

Risky Raid Behind Enemy Lines

Apr 6, 2026 44 min

Bill and FDD Senior Analyst, Cameron McMillan, unravel the complex rescue of two US airmen shot down over Iran - including the strategic coordination and risks involved with the operation - as well as the current state of the Iranian ballistic missile program, and Tehran’s strategic adaptability amidst the dynamic conditions of this war.

Timeline after Timeline

Apr 2, 2026 51 min

FDD’s Janatan Sayeh is back with Bill for an update on the Iran war, including: the potential for concrete regime change, last night’s address by President Trump, rumored U.S.-Iran deliberations, the fragile balance of power on the ground, and the possibility of a popular uprising against the wounded Islamic Republic.

Tehran's proxies have entered the chat

Mar 31, 2026 32 min

As U.S. and Israeli strikes hit inside Iran, the regime is firing back outside its borders — and the war is expanding because of it. Iraqi militias target U.S. forces. The Gulf is under attack. The Houthis are back in the fight. This isn’t spillover — it’s strategy. Ahmad Sharawi and Bridget Toomey are back with Bill to assess Iran’s expanding proxy war — and the growing risk that America is funding forces now targeting its own troops.

The Kharg Island Trap

Mar 27, 2026 42 min

Kharg Island looks like the perfect target — take it, and you choke off Iran’s oil. But it’s not that simple. Bill is joined by Ryan Brobst and Cameron McMillan to discuss why seizing Kharg could hand Tehran exactly what it wants: a wider war, a vulnerable U.S. position, and a fight on the regime’s terms.

The Hormuz Shake(down)

Mar 25, 2026 48 min

Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed. It’s not. Ships are still moving. Oil is still flowing. Just not for everyone. Friends pass. Also anyone with millions of dollars to spare. Enemies don’t. This isn’t a blockade. It's a shakedown. Bill Roggio sits down with shipping expert Sal Mercogliano to break down Tehran’s latest act of war: turning the world’s most critical shipping chokepoint into leverage.

The regime falls when the people rise

Mar 23, 2026 58 min

The bombs are falling. The regime is reeling. But revolutions aren’t won from 30,000 feet. As Washington and Jerusalem pummel toward a mission accomplished, Bill is joined by FDD's Jon Schanzer to grapple with a harder question that looms: what happens if there’s no uprising when the bombing stops?

Games Without Frontiers

Mar 19, 2026 1 hr 3 min

As pressure builds inside Iran, the regime is lashing out across the region. Bill Roggio, Joe Truzman, and David Daoud break down Tehran’s expanding battlefield from internal strain to external escalation and the question at the center of it all: Is this strength or a regime under stress trying to change the game before it loses control? Mentioned by Bill We didn't light it, but we tried to fight it. Day 14 of the Iran War Don't want the regime to have nukes? Eliminate the regime.

When the most stable place in the Middle East is Syria...

Mar 16, 2026 38 min

As the US and Israel strike targets inside Iran’s borders, the regime is firing back outside of them. Across the region from tourist hubs and capital cities to energy infrastructure and U.S. military bases, Iranian attacks are dragging the region into the war and raising the cost of conflict. Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill to assess Tehran’s strategy and the threat it poses to Middle East stability — including a nightmare maritime scenario that no one is talking about.

Day 14 of the Iran War

Mar 13, 2026 43 min

As U.S. and Israeli strikes pound Iran’s military and Tehran threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase. FDD’s Bradley Bowman joins Bill to break down what the strikes have achieved — and the harder question that remains: is the goal to weaken the regime… or bring it down?

Day 12 of the Iran War

Mar 11, 2026 32 min

After 12 days of war—and the death of Iran’s supreme leader—the Islamic Republic is under unprecedented pressure. Bill and Janatan Sayeh assess this initial phase of the war, the gap between Washington and Jerusalem’s goals, and the decisive question still looming over Tehran: will the Iranian people finish the job?

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The Muslim Brotherhood's long game: Influence, infiltration, and Islamist politics

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Podcast details

Created by: FDD's Long War Journal
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 11, 2026
Episodes: 351
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 46 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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