Middle East Forum

01/12/2026

LIVE IN 30 MINUTES: the MEF Podcast takes on one of Washington’s most persistent misconceptions.

The Muslim Brotherhood is still treated as the center of global Islamism. But as Sam Westrop explains, that framework is outdated — and dangerously misleading.

At 1:00 PM ET, hear why U.S. policymakers should stop chasing labels and start confronting the real Islamist networks shaping the threat landscape.

Register now to watch live:

https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/january-12-2026-the-irrelevance-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-with-sam-westrop

The proposed U.S. designation of the ill-defined collection of groups and networks known as the “Muslim Brotherhood” risks achieving little and distracts from more important counter-Islamist measures that government must implement. If a designation is to be useful, policymakers in Washington mus...

01/12/2026

As protests continue across Iran, President Trump has issued a warning to Tehran. Speaking on Fox News, MEF chief strategist Jim Hanson outlines what that message signals — and how pressure on the regime differs from a change imposed from outside.

01/09/2026

Save the date: MEF 2026 Policy Conference
May 19–21, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

The Middle East Forum will examine America the Unpredictable and what a shifting U.S. role means for the Middle East.

War games, strategic analysis, and high-level policy discussions.

➡️ Sign up for updates and registration info in the first comment.

01/07/2026

As protests enter their eleventh day, Iran is under pressure it hasn’t faced in decades.

On Monday, Middle East Forum experts convened for an urgent briefing to assess what’s unfolding inside Iran — from emerging cracks within the IRGC to the economic and political forces shaping what may come next.

The briefing features analysis from Gregg Roman, Michael Rubin, Daniel Pipes, Jonathan Spyer, Mardo Soghom, Shay Khatiri, and Ben Baird.

Watch now:
https://youtu.be/aDePUMhUFBU

Iran is closer to regime collapse than at any point since 1979.In this urgent Middle East Forum briefing, Gregg Roman convenes Middle East Forum experts to a...

01/06/2026

In case you missed it, Joe Adam George, research lead for Islamist threats in Canada at the Middle East Forum, explains how decades of immigration policy, identity politics, and institutional inaction have created fertile ground for Islamist activism and radicalization in Canada — and why this trend should concern American and Western policymakers.

Watch the full conversation here:

In this week’s Middle East Forum podcast, Lauri Regan speaks with Joe Adam George, a senior analyst on Islamist extremism and Canada lead researcher at MES, ...

01/05/2026

Today at 4:00 p.m. ET, the Middle East Forum hosts a timely briefing examining whether the Islamic Republic is entering its final phase.

A panel of MEF Iran experts — including Gregg Roman, Jonathan Spyer, Mardo Soghom, Daniel Pipes, Shay Khatiri, Ben Baird, and Jim Hanson — will assess recent developments, internal pressures, and what a potential collapse could mean for the region and beyond.

This is a live conversation you won’t want to miss.

Register now:
https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/january-5-2026-is-this-the-end-of-the-islamic-republic-mef-briefing

On December 28, the Islamic Republic erupted into its most widespread and violent protests in its 46-year-history. Join with Middle East Forum’s Iran experts to discuss what is happening, what to look for, and where these protests might lead. Most importantly, what might come next?

01/05/2026

Today at 1:00 PM ET, the Middle East Forum hosts a timely podcast examining how Canada became a case study in Islamist influence many preferred to ignore.

Joe Adam George explains how ideology, institutions, and political complacency combined to create a warning not just for Canada, but for every Western democracy that assumes it is immune.

This conversation is less about one country than about patterns repeating across the West — and what happens when early warning signs are dismissed until the costs are unavoidable.

Register now:

https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/january-5-2026-canada-and-islamism-a-warning-with-joe-adam-george

Canada has in recent years become an increasingly permissive environment for Islamist activism. A number of political and demographic factors have enabled this trend. In this talk, Ottawa based journalist and analyst Joe Adam George will detail how flawed immigration policy, identity-based politics,...

01/04/2026

Tomorrow at 4:00 PM ET, a rapidly unfolding crisis in Iran will be examined by a panel of MEF Iran experts, including Gregg Roman, Jonathan Spyer, Mardo Soghom, Daniel Pipes, Shay Khatiri, Ben Baird, and Jim Hanson.

Is the Islamic Republic approaching a point of no return? This special briefing will assess what’s happening inside Iran — and what comes next for the region.

Register now:

https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/january-5-2026-is-this-the-end-of-the-islamic-republic-mef-briefing

On December 28, the Islamic Republic erupted into its most widespread and violent protests in its 46-year-history. Join with Middle East Forum’s Iran experts to discuss what is happening, what to look for, and where these protests might lead. Most importantly, what might come next?

01/02/2026

🔥 LIVE @ 1 PM ET: Somaliland has moved from the margins to the center of global geopolitics.

Israel’s recognition didn’t just break a diplomatic taboo — it triggered backlash, realignment, and new stakes across the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.

At 1:00 PM ET today, Bashir Goth, Somaliland’s U.S. Representative, explains what recognition means, who’s pushing back, and what comes next.

Register now:

https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/january-2-2026-somaliland-key-player-in-a-key-location-with-bashir-goth

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland’s independence on December 26,2025has brought attention to the contest in the strategically vital Horn of Africa area.  Somaliland has functioned as a de facto independent state since 1991.  During that time, it hasemergedas an important pro-stability and a...

12/30/2025

The past year didn’t just challenge Israel militarily — it challenged its strategic worldview.

From October 7 onward, old frameworks collapsed under pressure, revealing a harsher regional reality and narrower room for error.

Alex Selsky breaks down what changed, what didn’t, and why Israel now stands at a decisive turning point.

Read more:

https://www.meforum.org/mef-observer/the-year-in-review-israel-at-a-turning-point

The Political Impact of the October 7, 2023, Attacks Continued to Shape Israeli Society as Public Opinion Shifted Further to the Right

12/29/2025

If you missed today’s Middle East Forum podcast, this one is worth your time.

Guest moderator Michael Rubin sits down with Peter Kurti (Center for Independent Studies; University of Notre Dame Australia) to unpack what the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre revealed about antisemitism in Australia — and what it signals for other Western democracies.

Kurti argues antisemitism functions as a “stress test” for liberal society: when institutions can’t name ideological threats, they default to euphemisms, delayed action, and policies that target speech instead of the drivers of violence. The conversation digs into Australia’s political response, the pressure points around immigration and vetting, and the growing tension between free expression and “social cohesion” as governments try to manage imported conflicts at home.

It’s direct, policy-minded, and uncomfortably relevant beyond Australia.

Watch the full episode now:
https://youtu.be/yQtT9TyGWt8

In this week’s Middle East Forum podcast, guest moderator Michael Rubin speaks with Peter Kurti, director of the Culture, Prosperity, and Civil Society Progr...