Brian Katulis
@briankatulis.bsky.social
Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, Host of “Taking the Edge Off the Middle East,” and Author of “Making Sense: A Regular Take on US Foreign Policy” https://open.spotify.com/show/5U61LmZnEAdqI7s9chd9lb
1- Tune in to the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East," where Kim Ghattas talks with me about her new book, "The Best Kind of American." @middleeastinst.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/k...
Kim Ghattas on a Murder That Explains the Middle East
Podcast Episode · Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis · October 14 · 57m
podcasts.apple.com
Kim dropped by to record an episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis" at the Middle East Institute yesterday, and that episode will be out next week. Aziza loved meeting Kim! Check out the podcast series here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Out this coming week! "The Best Kind of American" by Kim Ghattas, a riveting work of true crime about the murder of Malcolm Kerr, Middle East scholar and president of the American University of Beirut in 1984. Pre-order her book here: us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
The Best Kind of American
A work of true crime following one American family’s search for answers after a 1984 murder in war-torn Beirut, where the Iranian revolution collided with ...
us.macmillan.com
U.S. foreign policy: architects vs. engineers Tune in to Andrew Tabler talking with me on “Taking the Edge Off the Middle East” Middle East Institute www.youtube.com/shorts/r-DE4... Full episode here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Architects and engineers of US foreign policy
YouTube video by Middle East Institute
youtube.com
Tune in to "From the Middle East to Middle America: Engineering Better Policy" - Andrew Tabler of the Washington Institute talks with me on the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" @middleeastinst.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
What's it like to interview the President of the United States & how do you break the ice? Hisham Melhem tells me on the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis" @middleeastinst.bsky.social st Check out the full episode here: youtu.be/xGf125-pqAs?...
Hisham Melhem's American Crossroads
YouTube video by Middle East Institute
youtu.be
My dear friend Hisham Melhem tells us stories from key episodes of his life and career covering the Middle East. Recorded in the beautiful Oman library at @middleeastinst.bsky.social Tune in to the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGf1...
Don’t miss this. “My infatuation with American popular culture helped me. ... I was very critical of US policy vis-a-vis Palestine and of the war in Vietnam, but I never fell into the trap of becoming anti-American," Hisham Melhem tells @briankatulis.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Hisham Melhem's American Crossroads
Podcast Episode · Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis · September 16 · 1h 17m
podcasts.apple.com
Check out the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis," where I talk with my Middle East Institute colleague Yael Lempert about her distinguished career representing America for years across key parts of the Middle East. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
1 - Many thanks to my @MiddleEastInst colleague Yael Lempert for telling the story of her amazing career of more than a quarter century as a U.S. diplomat Latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" is out! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...
Reflections on a Diplomatic Career in the Middle East: A Conversation With Ambassador Yael Lempert
Podcast Episode · Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis · September 3 · 1h 14m
podcasts.apple.com
Coming this week- the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East," my podcast with the Middle East Institute. I speak with Yael Lempert, a seasoned former U.S. diplomat who served in places like #Jordan (where she was U.S. ambassador),#Egypt, #Iraq, #Libya, #Israel & #Palestine.
1. Endless wars don’t happen by accident – they are often the result of appeasement of adversaries and self-delusion. #IranWar
The 2026 #Iran war has accelerated production & sales of electric vehicles worldwide #China dominates the global EV market just as America steps back www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Gulf Oil Shock Is Pushing E.V. Sales to New Heights Globally
As global fuel prices surge, electric vehicle adoption is breaking records around the world. These charts tell the story.
nytimes.com
Have you noticed how President Trump repeatedly uses amped up rhetoric in attempts to mask and hide the weaknesses in his foreign policy approach? The latest example: www.wsj.com/world/middle... Why have a coherent, effective policy when you can just have ever shifting rhetorical flourishes?
Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Economic D-Day’
As the war nears its six-month point, the president says he would unleash the “most crushing economic operation ever taken.”
wsj.com
Jared Kushner on Hamas: “…it's very, very hard to trust, you know, a terrorist organization that committed these terrible atrocities.” YA THINK??
The populist backlash against AI is the sleeper political issue neither political party in America is prepared to address. www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-d...
The ‘Country Hicks’ Who Refused $26 Million from an AI Data Center
A Kentucky mother and daughter turned down a life-changing offer for their farmland. The ensuing drama has left the town divided.
wsj.com
1 - A few thoughts on where U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East stands as a long, hot, complicated summer draws to a close
By me @foreignpolicy.com ... "Why are the Saudis Sitting Out the Iran War?" A more active approach would help cement Riyadh’s regional clout. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/24/s...
Why Are the Saudis Sitting Out the War With Iran?
A more active approach would help cement Riyadh’s regional clout.
foreignpolicy.com
HUGE challenge for analysts & journalists trying to clinically assess the US-#Iran talks: Both Iran’s leaders & the Trump Administration lie & deliberately spread untruths on a daily basis, publicly & privately. Both side also have aggressive echo chambers in the open media.
"This regime is not Persian. This regime is an invasive species..." says Emad Shargi, a former American hostage held in Iran. "Since the inception of the 1979 revolution, this regime has done everything to demean and belittle Persian culture." Listen to the latest episode of Taking the Edge Off:
The Islamic Republic's War on the Iranian People
Podcast Episode · Taking the Edge Off the Middle East with Brian Katulis · 03/02/2026 · 1h 9m
podcasts.apple.com
The missing factor in Trump's Middle East equation is a big one: The Palestinians. My latest analysis in Al Majalla
Will the Gaza ceasefire make it to phase two?
Israel's ongoing violations of the truce and Trump's apathy over Palestinian grievances give little room for optimism
en.majalla.com
How Donald Trump leads like the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat: Rob Malley shares how his co-author Hussein Agha saw similarities in the erratic improv styles of both. Latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Imagine living in a world where a trove of files is released depicting powerful political & economic figures doing things to lift up & empower the least fortunate people & advancing the common good.
Tune in to the latest episode of "Taking the Edge Off the Middle East" where Theodore Kattouf reflects on how his Palestinian-American background shaped his diplomatic career and worldview. Ted also discusses the difficult loss of his son Paul who was tragically murdered last year.
How Palestinian Roots Shaped an American Ambassador
mei.edu
While there is great potential for the two countries to elevate their relationship across many key issues, much work remains to fill in the details of the proposed frameworks. My latest analysis for Al Majalla
The promise of expanded US-Saudi ties
There is great potential for the two countries to expand their relationship across many key areas, but much work remains to flesh out the details of proposed frameworks
en.majalla.com
It was a pleasure hosting Faisal J. Abbas on my podcast! We discussed his impressions of MBS's visit to Washington and the opportunities it presents for US-Saudi relations, the Kingdom's transformation over the past decade, and its relationships with key partners. www.mei.edu/multimedia/p...
Intissar Fakir and I had a great time hosting a class from the University of North Florida, taught by my friend and former co-author Amb. Nancy Soderberg, at the Middle East Institute yesterday!
Richard Fontaine and I discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's November 2025 visit to Washington, Saudi Arabia's emergence as a key "swing state," and what this means for the US-Saudi relationship. Watch the full podcast episode here: www.mei.edu/multimedia/p...
