Off The Hookah With Phil And Cooper

As the coronavirus crisis continues to grip the world, the markets have been on the shakiest ground yet since the 2008 economic recession - especially with regards to the price of oil. In the last few years, Saudi Arabia and Russia have developed a special relationship to stabilize oil prices in the face of growing competition from the Americans, who for the first time has begun to outpace both countries in terms of production. But when demand for oil began to fall precipitously in the face of COVID-19, the relationship ended in a messy way. Phil and Cooper break down the bad breakup and how it’s affected economies worldwide. Russia might not be ready for long-term OPEC commitment (Nikolay Kozhanov) Russia hoping to outdo Saudis over time in coronavirus-hit oil market (Max Suchkov) Does Moscow's withdrawal from OPEC-plus deal end Russia-Saudi honeymoon? (Nikolay Kozhanov) Intel: How the US is relying on Riyadh to reassure global markets (Elizabeth Hagedorn) Extra Listening Episode #114, Double

Phil and Cooper record their first remote podcast due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on recent political intrigue in Israel. After three rounds of elections, there may finally be a successful attempt at forming a new Israeli government, with opposition leader Benny Gantz having been tasked with building a coalition. But sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his own ideas, and he’s using the coronavirus outbreak as a political cudgel. Al-Monitor contributor Ben Caspit joins us remotely from Israel to discuss this and more. Netanyahu's target: to isolate coronavirus, Benny Gantz (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu, Gantz get closer to reaching unity government (Mazal Mualem) Netanyahu's coronavirus strategy erodes Israel's democracy (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu wants an emergency government of Jews only (Afif Abu Much) Netanyahu's chief rival promises 'broad' government 'within a few days' (Elizabeth Hagedorn) Extra Listening: Episode #78,  Honey I Shrunk My Coalition (11/29/2018): Phil, Co

Iran held parliamentary elections at the end of February, resulting in a serious swing to the right, with conservative Principlist politicians sweeping the majority of seats from the sitting Reformists. How did this happen, and why are the results unsurprising? Also, the dreaded coronavirus has made Iran the third largest epicenter of the outbreak - how has the Iranian government been responding to the crisis, and how has it spread so quickly? Phil and Cooper discuss this and more with Ali Ahmadi, a geopolitical analyst based in Tehran. How Iranian hard-liners helped Reformists ahead of elections (Rohollah Faghihi) Khamenei calls on Iranians to participate in parliamentary vote Coronavirus puts more pressure on Iran's already strained economy (Bijan Khajehpour) Intel: Trump administration eases humanitarian trade restrictions on Iran amid coronavirus fears (Bryant Harris) Extra Listening: Episode #123,  Off the Brink (1/10/20): The Trump administration pulls off a targeted killing of

An update on Syria this week; Turkey is lashing out at a Syrian government offensive across the border in the Idlib province, a key Syrian territory of which Turkey has controlled parts of for several years - territory that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is looking to now regain. Why is Turkey so interested in this land, and what’s been the humanitarian cost of these battles over it? Phil and Cooper speak with Turkey Pulse contributor Diego Cupolo from Istanbul, and receive first-hand accounts from Syria Pulse contributor Mohammad al-Khateib from Idlib. Waves of displacement continue amid Idlib escalation (Mohammed al-Khatieb) Turkey, Syrian regime at last exit before all-out confrontation (Metin Gurcan) Turkey's hands tied as Syrian army makes gains in Idlib (Fehim Tastekin) Erdogan vies for leverage in Syria's Idlib as Turkish troops reinforce positions (Diego Cupolo) Extra Listening: Episode #67,   Deep Cuts (8/30/2018): Tensions rise in the Idlib province of Syria due to T

So Trump released the final installment of his Israel-Palestine peace plan. But we’ve heard this song before - last year in Bahrain, when his son-in-law Jared Kushner announced an underwhelming “economic peace plan” for propping up Palestine. Those plans fell on deaf ears - so what’s in this new proposal, and what’s in it for both sides of the conflict? Phil and Cooper speak with Al-Monitor columnist and former Israeli peace negotiator Yossi Beilin and Al-Monitor Palestine Pulse columnist Daoud Kuttab to understand the effects of these political gestures from the Trump Administration. Trump’s Israeli-US deal is not a peace plan (Yossi Beilin) Trump's plan unveiled: Netanyahu's best and worst day ever (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu's land of the settlers (Shlomi Eldar) US peace plan may unwittingly unite Palestinians against it (Adnan Abu Amer) Rival Palestinian factions unite against US 'deal of century' (Adnan Abu Amer) Extra Listening: Episode #105,  Bahrain Drain (7/12/2019): Jared Kushner releases the fi

Protests in Iraq and Lebanon. Censorship in Egypt and Iran. Growing conservatism in Turkey. All of these events are catalysts - both good and bad - for artists in the Middle East. In a change of pace, Phil and Cooper speak with Nazlan Ertan, Al-Monitor’s Culture Editor, to talk about how recent uprisings have provided a special opportunity for protest art, and how governments utilize art and culture to transform their image or instill national pride. How artistic freedom of expression shrinks in 'new' Egypt (Shahira Amin) Artists splash Iraqi protests with vivid imagery (Gilgamesh Nabeel) 'Eggupation' breeds revolutionary thinking in Beirut (Euan Ward)  Lebanon's revolutionary art flourishes despite culture sector strike (Nicholas Frakes) Joker jumps from screen to streets of global revolutions (Nicholas Frakes) Iran's top cultural event jeopardized by artist boycotts (Saeid Jafari) The Istanbul Archaeological Museums return, piece by piece (Giuseppe Mancini) Istanbul's Arte

Oman’s leader, Sultan Qaboos, died last week after ruling the country for 50 years. Qaboos is considered the father of modern Oman, so Phil and Cooper explore his life, the coup d’etat that changed his destiny, and the social and economic realities for Omanis under his rule. And what do we know about his successor? Al-Monitor Gulf Pulse contributor Karen Young joins the podcast to lend her expertise on the overlooked Gulf nation and more. What’s next for Oman following Sultan Qaboos’ death? (Kristian Ulrichsen) Sell-off in Oman reveals privatization with regional characteristics (Karen Young) Russia eyes Oman as mediator for regional crises (Kirill Semenov) Oman minister describes role as 'facilitator' of diplomacy in turbulent region Oman’s humanitarian aid to Yemen also pragmatic (Sebastian Castelier) Extra Listening: Episode #9,  Qatar? I Hardly Know Her (6/7/2017): A group of Gulf countries and Egypt place a controversial embargo on Qatar for supporting terrorism and hav

We’re back from holiday break and you probably have a lot of questions: Who was Qasem Soleimani? Why was he assassinated? Will the US and Iran de-escalate these tensions, and what can we expect to happen next? Phil and Cooper deep dive into the last several days of serious escalations between the two countries, answering these questions and more. What Iran lost with Soleimani’s killing (Ali Hashem) Soleimani’s assassination unites Iranians (Rohollah Faghihi) US position in Iraq in jeopardy after strikes (Jack Detsch) Pro-Iranian militias behind US Embassy attack in Baghdad (Ali Mamouri) US allies, Democrats express concerns after assassination of Iran’s Soleimani (Laura Rozen)  Iranian missiles strike coalition installations in Iraq (Jack Detsch) Extra Listening: Episode #52,  JCP-No-Way (5/10/2018): Trump withdraws from the Iran Nuclear Deal. Episode #64,  The Sound of Sanctions (8/10/2018): Phil and Cooper discuss the first round of Trump’s new sanctions on Iran.

It’s that time of year, folks, whether you’re trying to find the cheapest apple pie in the grocery store or battling parents for the last Turboman doll at a toy store, Phil and Cooper have a show for you! What’s on the horizon for the Middle East in the new year? What about Congress, and the presidential elections? And how about some year-end predictions from some of Al-Monitor’s columnists and contributors? Also, John McLaughlin rises again, and more surprises! Be sure to check out  Al-Monitor’s Election 2020 Coverage by Bryant Harris! Music: Jean-Marie Riachi - “Jingle Bells” ( Spotify |  Apple Music)

We’ve recently covered the protests in Lebanon and Iraq - two countries where Iran remains highly influential. But Iran has been dealing with demonstrations of their own, triggered by a series of austerity measures to try and take pressure off their already-strained economy. What were these measures? What demands have the protesters called for? And will these events have any effect on the political career of their president, Hassan Rouhani? Phil and Cooper discuss this and more, along with Al-Monitor Iran Pulse contributor Sarbas Nazari. Reduction in Iran's gasoline subsidy sparks anti-government protests Tehran says protests subsiding as internet blackout drags on Will Iran’s 50% gas price hike pay off for the economy? (Bijan Khajehpour) How Iran's protests could impact foreign policy (Hamidreza Azizi) How Iran's hard-liners tried to ride wave of protests (Rohollah Faghihi) Extra Listening: Episode #52,  JCP-No-Way (5/10/2018): Trump withdraws from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Back from Thanksgiving break, Phil and Cooper give a thorough rundown of everything that’s been happening in Israel lately. In the span of a month, Israel’s two leading politicians have failed to form a new government, there’s been violence at the Gaza-Israel border, and Prime Minister Netanyahu not only got a political victory from the Trump Administration, but got indicted as well. And to top it all off, Israel looks like it’s headed for an unprecedented third do-over election. Al-Monitor contributor and former Knesset member Ksenia Svetlova joins the podcast to discuss. What's next for Netanyahu? (Mazal Mualem) Pompeo reinforces Netanyahu’s occupation policies (Akiva Eldar) US says Israeli settlements not necessarily illegal (Laura Rozen) Indicted for bribery, Netanyahu ramps up his victimization campaign (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu at war with legal system (Mazal Mualem) Killing of Islamic Jihad senior: Gantz falls into Netanyahu's trap (Yossi Beilin) Extra Listening: Episode

In light of the last episode’s updates on protests in Lebanon, Phil and Cooper talk about the demonstrations that have been accelerating in Iraq over the past several weeks. Iraqis are angry as the government’s been dragging its feet on providing basic social services, corruption is rampant, and unemployment and poverty are staggering. But Iraq’s leaders are digging in their heels while security forces use violence against the protesters. What makes these protests unique? And what role is Iran playing in all of this? Dr. Renad Mansour, who serves the project director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, joins the podcast to give his analysis and first-hand accounts of the protests. Iraq protests continue despite calls for calm (Ali Mamouri) Abdul Mahdi pressured into staying in office (Mustafa Saadoun) How to think about Iraq’s demonstrations (Doug Ollivant) Intel: What’s fueling Iraqi anger at the government (Ali Mamouri) Is Iran’s honeymoon in Iraq over? (Gilgamesh Nabeel) Can Iraqi

Massive demonstrations have broken out in Lebanon’s major cities for the past few weeks, where protesters’ frustrations with economic woes and government corruption have boiled over into the streets. Lebanon’s seen protests before, so what makes these so unique? What are the protesters demanding, and what’s been conceded so far? Phil and Cooper answer these questions and more, along with insight from Al-Monitor contributor Ghalia al-Alwani, who’s covering the protests from Beirut. Lebanon’s protests continue to gain momentum (Nicholas Frakes) Lebanon protests also bring Syrians, Palestinians out onto the streets (Ghalia al-Alwani) Will Hezbollah ride or face Lebanon’s uprising? (Joe Macaron) Amid Lebanon’s ongoing protests, army finds itself caught in the middle (Michal Kranz) After unprecedented shutdown, Lebanon’s banks reopen, mitigate nationwide panic (Victoria Yan) As Lebanese PM lays out reform package, protesters demand more (Michal Kranz) Extra Listening: Episode #30,  Saad, Blink

President Trump announced the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last Sunday, so Phil and Cooper give a long-overdue history of the Islamic State. Al-Monitor contributor Ali Hashem joins the podcast to give a look into the evolution of al-Baghdadi, from the days before he was radicalized, and how foreign wars and the Arab Spring shaped his strategy and ideology. The many names of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Ali Hashem) US set for risky IS mission with leader’s death in Syria (Jack Detsch) Witnesses describe night of Baghdadi's death (Mohammed al-Khatieb) Pentagon: Islamic State will survive leader’s death (Jack Detsch) Music: Talia - “Bladi” (Spotify | Youtube)  

Following up on Episode #115, Phil and Cooper discuss what’s happened in Syria since President Trump decided to withdraw US troops from the northeastern territories, leaving Syrian Kurdish allies to fend for themselves against the Turkish military operation. But are the troops really “coming home,” and if so, when? Are there still plans for troops in Syria? And if the US is leaving, who’s going to fill that void? We answer these questions and speak with senior correspondent Amberin Zaman to learn more about how the Syrian Kurds are processing events of the last few weeks. US announces full withdrawal from northern Syria as Turkish forces advance (Jack Detsch/Amberin Zaman) 'Majority' of US troops depart Syria (Jack Detsch) Who betrayed Syria’s Kurds? (Amberin Zaman) Turkey, Russia both claim win in Syria agreement (Amberin Zaman) Trump administration scrambles to salvage US troop presence in Syria (Jack Detsch) Extra Listening: Episode #82,   Walk (Back) This Way (1/10/2019): T

This week, President Trump made a controversial decision to pull the US military out of northern Syria, allowing Turkey to proceed with a military operation against one of America’s staunchest allies in the region, the Syrian Kurds, the same coalition who did the lion’s share of destroying the Islamic State. Is there any rhyme or reason to Trump’s decision? What are Erdogan’s goals for northern Syria? And what has the reaction been from Washington? Dr. Bulent Aliriza, the Director of the Turkey Project at CSIS joins the podcast, as well as Al-Monitor’s Pentagon correspondent, Jack Detsch. Turkey launches Syria invasion hours after informing US of plans (Jack Detsch) Turkey launches attack on Syrian Kurdish forces as US steps aside (Amberin Zaman) Trump allies in Congress assail decision to let Turkey attack Syrian Kurds (Bryant Harris) Islamic State fight paused as Turkey invades northern Syria (Jack Detsch) Turkey's route into Syria full of pitfalls, uncertainties (Semih Idiz) Extra Listen

Phil and Cooper play catch-up on this month’s news, including the attacks on oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. These drone and missile operations took out nearly 5% of the world’s daily oil supply and shook world markets. Although a rebel group in Yemen took responsibility for the attacks, the US and its allies have put the blame on Iran. What do we know so far? What would have been Iran’s rationale if they are responsible? And what comes next? Henry Rome from the Eurasia Group joins the podcast to share his insight. Iran denies involvement in Saudi attacks Zarif: Attack on Iran would mean 'all-out war' Iran defends strikes on Saudi oil facility but denies role Saudi oil facility attack challenges Washington's regional commitment (Karen Young) Lost opportunity? Rouhani departs NY without meeting Trump (Laura Rozen) Extra Listening: Episode #103,   How to Lose the Iran Deal in 10 Days (6/21/19): A breakdown of the recent tensions between Iran and the US. Episode #107,  Ship Out o

Israel held another election this week after a first round in April led to a stalemate, when Prime Minister Netanyahu was unable to form a majority government. Though the results from this week are equally confusing, there’s a likelihood that Netanyahu’s grip on power is weakening. Phil and Cooper parse through the numbers: what led to this, what parties are in play, and what comes next? Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse columnist Akiva Eldar joins the podcast, along with Lara Friedman, President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Intel: How Netanyahu's push for redo elections backfired (Danny Zaken) The surprising political tactics of Israel’s Arab party (Shlomi Eldar) Netanyahu down but not out (Mazal Mualem) No talks about peace for Israel in its electoral agenda (Akiva Eldar) Netanyahu's plan to annex Jordan Valley kills all chances for Palestinian state (Daoud Kuttab) Extra Listening: Episode #78, Honey I Shrunk My Coalition (11/29/2018): Phil, Cooper, and Danny Zaken discuss N

President Trump’s foreign policy circle shrunk a little more this week, with National Security Advisor John Bolton getting the boot. But the other less-talked-about announcement was the resignation of Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s appointed envoy for the “deal of the century” - the long-awaited Israel-Palestine peace deal. Who is Greenblatt, what were his accomplishments, and what does it say about Trump’s foreign policy? And will it make a difference in crafting any sort of workable peace plan? Phil and Cooper discuss this and also get some perspectives from Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights and Israel Pulse contributor Danny Zaken (@danizaken). Palestinians see Greenblatt resignation as sign of failure for US Mideast vision (Daoud Kuttab) Will Greenblatt’s resignation hurt Netanyahu? (Danny Zaken) Extra Listening: Episode #105, Bahrain Drain (7/12/2019): Jared Kushner releases the first portion of the Israeli-Palestinian “deal of the century” - an eco

Phil and Cooper do a deep dive into the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has become one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. We look into how a unified Yemen was first formed, and how today, nascent movements in southern Yemen are looking into splitting the country once again. Two Al-Monitor contributors and Yemeni journalists, Naseh Shaker and Afrah Nasser, join the podcast to lend valuable insight into a civil war where conflicting reports are rampant. Also, Gulf Pulse columnist Bruce Riedel talks about the role Saudi Arabia and the UAE have played in the conflict, and Washington correspondent Bryant Harris speaks about the increased lobbying from Yemeni separatists in DC. Aden standoff puts Hadi's legitimacy at stake (Naseh Shaker) Yemen’s southern separatists take case to Congress (Bryant Harris) UAE shifts course in Yemen (Amar al-Ashwal) Riyadh faces new setback in south Yemen (Bruce Riedel) Southern Yemeni women enter storm of politics, war (Afrah Nasser) Extra Listening: