From the West Wing to the West Bank, Israel, and Gaza with Bill Clinton
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Release Date: 11/04/2025
The Islamic Republic’s War on the Iranian People
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Against the backdrop of the Iranian government's brutal crackdown on protestors, Brian is joined by Emad Shargi, an Iranian-American businessman who was unjustly detained by the regime in 2018 until his release in 2023. Shargi recounts his firsthand experience in the notorious Evin Prison and offers rare insights into the mentality and tactics of the Islamic Republic. He and Brian also discuss his recommendations for US engagement in Iran and his hopes for the country’s future. Listen to Taking the Edge Off the Middle East on Apple Music, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Brian and Behnam Shake the Magic 8 Ball on Iran
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Brian sits down with Behnam Taleblu, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to unpack the ongoing protests in Iran and what this moment reveals about the long struggle between the state and the street. They discuss the regime’s brutal crackdown, the prospect of US intervention, and what both could mean for the future of the Islamic Republic. The episode centers on agency, imagination, and the possibilities facing Iranians at a critical juncture in the country’s history.
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Rob Malley Argues Two States is an Illusion
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Brian sits down with Robert Malley, a former US official best known for his role as the lead negotiator of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Malley discusses the motivations behind his new book, Tomorrow Is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine, and offers his assessment of American perspectives on the war in Gaza. The conversation also explores his personal background as the son of an Egyptian Jewish father and an American Jewish mother—both outspoken on the political left—and how that upbringing shaped his worldview, alongside a career...
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How Palestinian Roots Shaped an American Ambassador
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Brian welcomes Ambassador (ret.) Theodore “Ted” Kattouf, who previously served as US Ambassador to Syria and the United Arab Emirates, as well as President and CEO of the leading nonprofit organization Amideast. Kattouf reflects on how his Palestinian-American background shaped his diplomatic career and worldview. The two also take time to honor the life and legacy of Paul Kattouf, Ted’s son and Brian’s high school classmate, who was murdered in 2024.
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Special Feature: A Front-Row Seat to Saudi Arabia's Transformation
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
In this episode, Brian sits down with Faisal Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News. Abbas, who reported on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's November 18 visit to the White House, unpacks his impressions from the visit and the opportunities it presents for US-Saudi relations. The conversation also explores the Kingdom's transformation over the past decade, its relationships with key partners including the United States, and Abbas's recommendations for deepening the US-Saudi partnership going forward.
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Saudi Arabia's Role as a Global Swing State
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's November 2025 visit to the United States is his first in more than seven years, and during the past few years Saudi Arabia has assumed an increasingly prominent role in regional and global affairs. In this episode, Brian Katulis sits down with Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, for a discussion focused on Saudi Arabia's emergence as a key "swing state" in regional and global dynamics. The two discuss "," a report that Fontaine published earlier this year with Gibbs McKinley. Richard also discusses his many travels around...
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From the West Wing to the West Bank, Israel, and Gaza with Bill Clinton
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
In this episode of Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, host Brian Katulis is joined by Mara Rudman, MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow and veteran of the Obama and Clinton administrations. Together, they discuss political processes, peacemaking, and the human side of diplomacy. From accompanying President Bill Clinton to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to navigating today’s complex foreign policy landscape, Rudman reflects on what can make or break US engagement abroad.
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A Passion for Policy: Marvin Weinbaum on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and U.S. Engagement Abroad
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Brian Katulis speaks with Dr. Marvin Weinbaum—senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and former Department of State analyst—about his remarkable career spanning more than five decades in academia, government, and policy analysis. Drawing on his deep expertise in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Weinbaum reflects on the evolution of U.S. foreign policy, the lessons learned from state-building efforts, and how personal conviction and intellectual curiosity have shaped his life’s work. He offers a...
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Elliott Abrams Tells All
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
Veteran US foreign policy official Elliott Abrams joins Brian for a sweeping conversation on America’s role in the world amid global upheaval. With nearly 50 years of experience under Presidents Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, Abrams offers lessons from past crises— from Ukraine to Gaza. Abrams makes his case for why he doesn’t see a two-state solution as realistic and what his alternative vision is. The discussion explores the chaotic uncertainty of Trump’s second term, Israel’s security two years after October 7, and the future of Palestinian governance and regional...
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War and Peace in the Middle East: A View from Qatar
Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis
In this special bonus episode of Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, host Brian Katulis sits down with Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, adviser to the Prime Minister of Qatar and spokesman for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Al-Ansari offers insights into the small country's unique role in mediating conflicts worldwide. The conversation dives into Qatar’s complex relationships across the region and the world, including who asked Qatar to host Hamas, why Israel arranged for Qatar to deliver financial support to Gaza, its mediation efforts in the Gaza War, and the fallout from Israel's strike in...
info_outlineIn this episode of Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, host Brian Katulis is joined by Mara Rudman, MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow and veteran of the Obama and Clinton administrations. Together, they discuss political processes, peacemaking, and the human side of diplomacy. From accompanying President Bill Clinton to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to navigating today’s complex foreign policy landscape, Rudman reflects on what can make or break US engagement abroad.