This is The Lede, the New Lines Magazine podcast. Each week, we delve into the biggest ideas, events and personalities from around the world. For more stories from New Lines, visit our website, newlinesmag.com
38 min
Few expected the Democrats’ midterm victory to be this big. Historian Lily Geismer and New Lines’ Danny Postel join Faisal Al Yafai to unpack the results — from Abdul El-Sayed’s win in Michigan to the paradox facing Republicans after the Iran war — and look ahead to the 2028 race on both sides. Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
Writer Zaina Arafat joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss belonging to multiple cultures, how New York became “Habibi City,” and her new book “Our Arab: On Longing, Belonging and Hope.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
On this month’s episode of Global Insights on The Lede, author and Caine Prize winner Tope Folarin and AI researcher Tuhin Chakrabarty join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the AI accusations that have hit major literary prizes this year, why African writers feel pressure to tell the stories their editors in London and New York expect, and whether detection software can conclusively tell human writing from machine-made text. Produced by Finbar Anderson
The newest 50 of 285 episodes
38 min
Few expected the Democrats’ midterm victory to be this big. Historian Lily Geismer and New Lines’ Danny Postel join Faisal Al Yafai to unpack the results — from Abdul El-Sayed’s win in Michigan to the paradox facing Republicans after the Iran war — and look ahead to the 2028 race on both sides. Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
Writer Zaina Arafat joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss belonging to multiple cultures, how New York became “Habibi City,” and her new book “Our Arab: On Longing, Belonging and Hope.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
On this month’s episode of Global Insights on The Lede, author and Caine Prize winner Tope Folarin and AI researcher Tuhin Chakrabarty join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the AI accusations that have hit major literary prizes this year, why African writers feel pressure to tell the stories their editors in London and New York expect, and whether detection software can conclusively tell human writing from machine-made text. Produced by Finbar Anderson
39 min
On this week’s episode of the podcast, author Anand Giridharadas joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the divisive death of Jordan Neely on a New York subway train in 2023, why Americans across the political divide feel abandoned by the institutions meant to protect them, and what it would take to address the polarization felt across the country, as set out in his new book “Man in the Mirror.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
45 min
On the podcast this week, journalist and author Kim Ghattas joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how the Beirut of the 1980s offers a prism through which to understand today’s regional rivalries, as set out in her new book, “The Best Kind of American: A True Story of Murder, War, and America's Undoing in the Middle East.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
55 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, historian Rashid Khalidi joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss why Western public opinion on Israel has shifted faster than at any point in a century, whether that shift will reach Washington, and what his conversations with the writer Tariq Ali reveal about the story of Palestine, as set out in their new book, “The Neck and the Sword: Palestine's Unfinished Struggle.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
30 min
Jalale Getachew Birru, East Africa regional expert for Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), and Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the return of war to Ethiopia, the armed groups uniting against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the regional rivalries fueling the conflict for this month's edition of Global Insights on The Lede. Produced by Finbar Anderson
50 min
On the podcast this week, journalist and author Jason Burke joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the wave of leftist violence that swept Europe and the Middle East in the 1970s, why its defeat cleared the ground for Islamist movements, and what the West got wrong about political violence in the decade that followed, as set out in his book, "The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s." Produced by Finbar Anderson
39 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist and author Sally Hayden joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss reporting on the artificial families formed by Rwandan genocide survivors, secret weddings under Islamic State rule in Iraq, reporting on the ongoing war in Lebanon — and why she believes journalism loses sight of the people at the center of every crisis, as set out in her recent book, “This Is Also a Love Story.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 2 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, political scientist Shadi Hamid joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss why Osama bin Laden got exactly the overreaction he wanted from 9/11, how 25 years of the war on terror reshaped America and the Middle East, and why he believes a more secular America has become a more polarized one, as set out in his new book with Matthew Kaemingk, “Can Religion Save Democracy?” Produced by Finbar Anderson
42 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, Guardian senior international correspondent Luke Harding joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the war Europe is already fighting but won't admit to, the North Korean soldiers dying in the fields of western Russia, and why Trump's second term marks a breach with what America once claimed to be, as set out in his new book "Betrayal." Produced by Finbar Anderson
45 min
With the podcast team away until the end of the month, listen again to this episode from earlier in the year. On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist and author Suzy Hansen joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how ordinary people experience authoritarianism in the 21st century, what a decade spent in one Istanbul neighborhood reveals about Turkey under Erdoğan, and why the West so often misreads the Middle East, as set out in her new book, "From Life Itself." Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 11 min
With the podcast team away until the end of the month, listen again to this episode from earlier in the year. Loubna Mrie joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how the Syrian state’s authoritarianism seeped into her early home life, her role in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad and the painful memories brought up in the writing of her new memoir, “Defiance.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
As the war in Iran drags on with no end in sight, journalist and humanitarian Arwa Damon joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the human cost of the Iran wars, the neglected conflicts in Sudan and Afghanistan, and why we no longer feel affected by atrocity.
50 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, the historian and writer Ryan Gingeras joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the making of mafias from New York to Lebanon and Tokyo, how gangsters shaped the modern state, and his new book, "Mafia: A Global History." Produced by Finbar Anderson
49 min
Israel goes to the polls in October with a clear majority of voters opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu — and no obvious way to translate that into a government. On this month's episode of Global Insights on The Lede, pollster Dahlia Scheindlin and political analyst Rida Abu Rass join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to consider the arithmetic of the election, the taboo against governing with Arab parties, and the tension that has defined Israeli politics for seven years. Produced by Finbar Anderson
41 min
Journalists Chloe Hadjimatheou and Sarah Dadouch join Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss what the story of former Syrian first lady Asma al-Assad reveals about power and the people who wield it, and their new podcast series “We Call Her Emma.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
43 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, constitutional law scholar Marcus Gadson joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the Declaration of Independence at 250, why Americans have never agreed on what liberty means, and how the country's oldest arguments — over religion, race and citizenship — continue to resurface. Produced by Finbar Anderson
29 min
On the podcast this week, Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper, author of “World Cup Fever” and co-author of “Soccernomics,” joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the politics of the 2026 World Cup, why he says America "isn't just Trump," and how soccer became a vehicle for money and power. Produced by Finbar Anderson
39 min
On the podcast this week, journalist Patrick Gathara and public health expert Tolbert Nyenswah join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei on Global Insights to discuss Kenya's decision to host an Ebola quarantine facility, the geopolitics of disease, and the deadly outbreak spreading across the DRC. Produced by Finbar Anderson
40 min
On the podcast this week, journalist Negar Mortazavi and New Lines’ Danny Postel join Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the chances that the Iran peace deal will hold, the unresolved fault lines from Hormuz to Lebanon and how the conflict leaves Donald Trump exposed. Produced by Finbar Anderson
45 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist Hannah Lucinda Smith joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the rival geopolitical blocs reshaping the world, how Europe's margins — from Transnistria to the Balkans — became the front line of a conflict the West refuses to see, and her new book, “Hinterlands: Journeys Through Europe’s Unfinished Frontiers.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
47 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist Yeganeh Torbati joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the multiple revolutions stolen from the Iranian people by their rulers, why the Islamic Republic has thrived under sanctions and survived war, how the United States has failed to understand its opponents in Tehran, and her new book, "Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran." Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist and author Suzy Hansen joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how ordinary people experience authoritarianism in the 21st century, what a decade spent in one Istanbul neighborhood reveals about Turkey under Erdoğan, and why the West so often misreads the Middle East, as set out in her new book, "From Life Itself." Produced by Finbar Anderson
35 min
On this month's episode of Global Insights on The Lede, human rights lawyer Sari Bashi and journalist Sara Cincurova join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss sexual violence against detainees in Israeli prisons and in Russian captivity in Ukraine; why men so often go unrecognized as victims; and why accountability for these crimes remains so elusive. Please be aware that this episode contains discussions of sexual violence. Produced by Finbar Anderson
50 min
Writer Robin Yassin-Kassab joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss why the Syrian revolution succeeded where others failed, what the new state has and hasn't reckoned with one year on, and his new book, "The Blood Between Us: Syria's Revolutionary Transition." Produced by Finbar Anderson
45 min
Historian Quinn Slobodian joins Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede to discuss what Elon Musk reveals about a new era of digital capitalism, the fusion of rockets and far-right ideology, and his new book, "Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed," co-authored with Ben Tarnoff. Produced by Finbar Anderson
37 min
Novelist Hannah Lillith Assadi joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the century of Arab exile, the question of what it might mean to forget and the spiritual return at the heart of her new novel, "Paradiso 17." Produced by Finbar Anderson
24 min
On this month's episode of Global Insights on The Lede, journalist and historian Michael Smith and New Lines Culture Editor Lydia Wilson join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the strains on the U.S.-U.K. special relationship in the wake of the Iran war, the enduring role of intelligence sharing between the two countries, and whether Britain may pivot closer to Europe as a lasting consequence of the conflict. Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 1 min
Investigative journalist Barbara Matejčić and author Jasmin Mujanović join Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss Matejčić's New Lines investigation into a 1992 execution in Bosnia, the ethics of war photography and the long afterlife of the Bosnian genocide in today's far-right politics. Produced by Finbar Anderson Further reading: They Photographed an Execution in Bosnia. Did They Influence the Killer? by Barbara Matejčić
39 min
Journalists Nada Bakri and Zahra Hankir join Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the latest strikes on Lebanon, the shrinking space of civilian safety and what it means to watch your country's destruction from afar. Produced by Finbar Anderson Far From the Land of Good News by Nada Bakri Who Is Left To Cover Lebanon? by Zahra Hankir
48 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss a world in crisis from China to Iran, why what we call fascism may just be the standard operating practice of the nation-state, and his vision for a political architecture that responds to the needs of today’s global world, as set out in his new book, "After Nations." Produced by Finbar Anderson
35 min
On this month's episode of Global Insights on The Lede, New Delhi restaurateur Anuj Wadhwa tells Kwangu Liwewe Agyei how the Iran war is squeezing his third-generation family business, while economist and Bloomberg columnist Mihir Sharma explains why South Asia is particularly vulnerable to the crisis — and why it could get much worse. Produced by Finbar Anderson
50 min
On this week's episode of the podcast, journalist and author Anand Gopal joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss two decades of conflict from Afghanistan to Iran, how the stories told by the powerful ignore the people who live under them, and what a forgotten democratic experiment in Syria can teach us about authoritarianism worldwide, as set out in his new book "Days of Love and Rage." Produced by Finbar Anderson
54 min
Writer and anti-corruption expert Sarah Chayes and journalist Emran Feroz join Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the Epstein files, global networks of kleptocracy from Washington to the remote valleys of Afghanistan, and what elites really get up to when they think we’re not watching. Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 3 min
As the war on Iran enters its second week, Bloomberg Economics Middle East lead Dina Esfandiary and Saudi analyst Sultan Alamer join Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how the war has come to the Gulf, upending years of careful diplomacy. Further reading: Saudi Arabia’s Break With Interventionism by Sultan Alamer Produced by Finbar Anderson
51 min
In a special emergency episode of The Lede, journalist and The Iran Podcast host Negar Mortazavi and historian Arash Azizi join Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and what comes next for the country and the region. Produced by Finbar Anderson
47 min
On this month’s episode of Global Insights on The Lede, political scientist Zachariah Mampilly and Nigeria expert Ebenezer Obadare join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to examine Donald Trump's surprisingly hands-on approach to Africa, including airstrikes on northern Nigeria and the signing of trade and mineral deals across the continent. Produced by Finbar Anderson
46 min
On this week’s episode of the podcast, the historian Sam Dalrymple joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss the partition of the Raj from Myanmar to Yemen; how borders continue to shape our lives today and their influence on nationalism and ethnic conflict; and his new book, “Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 11 min
Loubna Mrie joins Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how the Syrian state’s authoritarianism seeped into her early home life, her role in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad and the painful memories brought up in the writing of her new memoir, “Defiance.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
40 min
Journalist Nilo Tabrizy joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the dynamics of Iran’s uprisings that get lost in Western coverage, reporting on her country of birth from a position of exile, and her new book, “For the Sun After Long Nights.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
33 min
For this month’s edition of Global Insights on The Lede, journalist Isma’il Kushkush and international law expert Mutasim Ali join Kwangu Liwewe Agyei to discuss the lack of international attention on the war in Sudan, and the prospect of success for peace talks underway in Cairo. Produced by Finbar Anderson
40 min
Sven Beckert joins Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede to unpack how capitalism came to shape our modern world, as set out in his new book, “Capitalism: A Global History,” taking in Aden, Cairo, and Guangzhou along the way. Produced by Finbar Anderson
48 min
The Financial Times journalist and writer Victor Mallet joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the rise of the far right in France, the prospects of victory for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, and his new book, “Far-Right France.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
42 min
In this first episode of 2026, award-winning broadcaster Zeinab Badawi joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss why traditional histories of Africa miss the mark, remarkable African figures from Cleopatra to Shaka Zulu, and Badawi’s book “An African History of Africa.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
45 min
Listen again to this rerun episode of the podcast, in which journalist Gabriel Gatehouse, host of The Coming Storm and the documentary “Seeking Satoshi,” joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how exploring America’s fringe movements is the key to understanding the modern United States. Produced by Finbar Anderson
53 min
For this year’s Christmas special episode, New Lines editors highlight some of their favorite stories from the magazine and reflect on the power of culture to bring people together. A Palestinian Citizen of Israel Reflects on Life in the Shadow of Genocide in Gaza – by Rida Abu Rass Confessions of a Syrian Barrel Bomber – by Kamal Shahin When a Dutch Drug Kingpin Needed a New Base, Sierra Leone Welcomed Him With Open Arms – by Oliver Dunn and Josef Skrdlik The South Asian Vote May Be Split for Zohran Mamdani in New York City – by Yashica Dutt Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 0 min
Author and political scientist Shadi Hamid joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to argue his case for a U.S.-led world order, as set out in his new book, “The Case for American Power.” Produced by Finbar Anderson
53 min
Following the National Guard shootings in Washington, D.C., and recent revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and, separately, a Syrian charity, investigative journalists Murtaza Hussain and Lynzy Billing join Faisal Al Yafai to consider why and how powerful institutions and people cover their own tracks. Produced by Finbar Anderson
1 hr 6 min
On this week’s episode, the historian and writer Mark Galeotti joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss his new book about the global criminal underworld, “Homo Criminalis,” and why he thinks Donald Trump’s controversial peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict could be a useful starting point. Produced by Finbar Anderson
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