Bill and Joe are back with an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza, starting with the release by Hamas of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel amidst the backdrop of a still-holding ceasefire.

They're also joined again by FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to unpack the latest regional aggression covered with Tehran's fingerprints, including more missiles fired at U.S. and Israeli assets in the region (and why one incident last week was actually a "game-changer") as well as the latest string of maritime hijackings off the coast of Yemen.

Bill and Joe discuss the ceasefire agreement and expected hostage exchange.

Bill and Joe are back for an update on the latest headlines stemming from Israel's war in Gaza. They check in on where things stand with Shifa, do a multi-front around the horn to catch up on Gaza, the West Bank, and the northern front with Lebanon and Syria. They also discuss the insanity that is media coverage of Gaza.

Bill is back with, plot twist, his long-lost cohost Caleb. They tell you how they really feel about Gen Zs lionizing Osama bin Laden on TikTok and then do an around the horn update on how jihadi groups around the world have (or have not) responded to the war in Gaza.

Bill and Joe are back for an update on Israel's ground incursion into Gaza, and they're again joined by their FDD colleague and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to provide a deeper, more nuanced analysis on Tehran's role as puppet master to the various terrorist groups in play.

Bill and Joe are back with an update on Israel's ground offensive inside Gaza. They're joined by FDD's David May to discuss international pressure on Israel, trajectories and timelines, rumors about reporters from western outlets receiving tips and then traveling into Israel alongside Hamas on October 7, and more.

Bill and Joe are back to discuss the latest from Israel's ground offensive in Gaza, including the established civilian corridor. They talk about Netanyahu's recent remarks — and Nasrallah's. They also debunk the latest "attempted Abbas assassination" rumors.

Bill and Joe provide a mid-week update on Israel and Gaza — including Joe’s key takeaway from today’s IDF conference call, IDF tactics on the ground inside Gaza (particularly related to the tunnels), Hezbollah propaganda ahead of Hassan Nasrallah’s Friday speech, and more. 

FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu is back on the show with Bill and Joe for an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza.

The war goes on; rockets are still raining down on central Israel (including Jerusalem) while Israel continues targeting Hamas leaders in Gaza. But...

Breaking today and over the weekend:

• Israeli boots are now on the ground inside Gaza. There was also some IDF activity in Jenin inside the West Bank.
• Iran's President Raisi said in a statement that "the Zionist regime's crimes have crossed the red lines which may force everyone to take action."
• While Lebanese Hezbollah is still keeping things at a simmer just below the threshold of all-out war, other Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria are very much in the game. Some are even firing at U.S. forces in the region.

Bill, Joe, and Behnam unpack these and related news.

Bill and Joe are back with an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza. Today they're also joined by their FDD colleague and Turkey expert, Sinan Ciddi, to unpack just how deep Turkey's relationship is with Hamas.

Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu to catch up on and unpack the latest from Israel and Gaza as of mid-afternoon (ET) on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Bill and Joe talk through the latest headlines surrounding Israel and Gaza as of late afternoon (ET) on Monday, October 23, 2023.

At almost two weeks (!) into the war, we remain on standby for Israel's anticipated ground invasion of Gaza and continue to watch Israel's northern border for more activity from Hezbollah.

And to complicate the already complicated: an incident yesterday on the Red Sea marked the first active engagement by the U.S. in this ongoing war, when the USS Carney shot down missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis.

So for today's briefing, Bill and Joe called in their FDD colleague and top expert on Iran, Behnam Ben Taleblu. 

Bill and Joe convene (plot twist: in-person) to discuss the latest from Israel at war — including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza.

(Episode material up to date as of late morning/early afternoon ET on Wednesday, October 18.)

Bill and Joe give an update on the latest from Israel as of later morning/early afternoon (ET) on October 15, 2023.

Bill and Joe give another update on the latest developments from Israel almost one week into the war.

Bill and Joe discuss the latest news surrounding the war against Israel on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Bill is joined again by LWJ's Joe Truzman to unpack the latest developments from Israel.

Bill is joined by LWJ/FDD's Joe Truzman to talk about the war (yes, it's officially a war) happening now in Israel.

Where in the world might the next state collapse into failure?

Hosts Bill and Caleb ultimately narrowed it down to two options: Somalia or Mali.

Shabaab in Somalia has aptly been dubbed "The Taliban of Africa," given how well-organized, well-armed and effective it is there as a jihadist group.

But Mali is actually the weaker state. To boot:

— The UN has undertaken an unprecedented withdrawal of its peacekeeping forces and will no longer have a presence in Mali by the end of this year;

— France, which was a major counterterrorism partner, has already completely withdrawn its troops from Mali;

— There is currently an Islamic Statelet in northern Mali, where the Islamic State controls the majority of an entire province;

— Al Qaeda controls huge swaths of territory in both northern and central Mali, and it increasingly threatens Bamako as it slowly encroaches on the capital;

— And also in the ring: Russia's Wagner Group.

Despite all of these excellent targets, the country's ruling military junta in Bamako is threatening open conflict with rebels in the north — a situation that could easily erupt into war.

Bill and Caleb agree: It's Mali on the brink.