The Lede

America’s Era of the Entrepreneur — with Erik Baker and Faisal Al Yafai

On this episode, Erik Baker, author of “Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America,” tells New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai how the culture of entrepreneurialism came to dominate modern America.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

Alliances, Antagonism and Ambitions: Inside the BRICS Group — with Gustavo de Carvalho and Kwangu Liwewe

On this episode of the podcast, New Lines’ Kwangu Liwewe discusses the poorly understood BRICS group with Gustavo de Carvalho, a senior researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs, against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of heavy sanctions against the group should they pursue a rumored policy of moving away from the U.S. dollar.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

House and Home in Syria and in Exile — with Ammar Azzouz, Wendy Pearlman and Lydia Wilson

Following the dramatic recent political developments in Syria, Ammar Azzouz, author of “Domicide: Architecture, War and the Destruction of Home in Syria,” and Wendy Pearlman, author of “The Home I Worked To Make: Voices From the New Syrian Diaspora,” join New Lines’ Lydia Wilson on The Lede to discuss how conflict and exile have shaped Syrians’ idea of home, and how that might change in an uncertain future.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

The Decline of the American Empire — with Robert Kaplan and Faisal Al Yafai

On this week’s episode, acclaimed journalist and author Robert Kaplan joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede for a discussion on Donald Trump, the Iraq War and his new book “Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis.”
Further listening: The American Experiment From Outside and Within — with Hari Kunzru and Faisal Al Yafai
Produced by Finbar Anderson

Looking Ahead in 2025 — with Kareem Shaheen, Lisa Goldman, Danny Postel and Faisal Al Yafai

Will 2025 bring resolutions to the many news stories of the previous year? Four of New Lines’ editors consider the upcoming second Donald Trump presidency, the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, possible turbulence in Europe and the future for Syria.
Further listening:Survival and Statehood in Ukraine — with Yaroslav Trofimov
Produced by Finbar Anderson

How To End the Forever Wars — with Mary Kaldor and Lydia Wilson

Returning to the podcast, Mary Kaldor, professor emeritus of global governance at the London School of Economics, joins New Lines’ Lydia Wilson for a discussion on how to end the various intractable wars still raging in 2025, from Gaza to Ukraine.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

Listen Again: Soccer’s Rising Stars of African Origin — with Ponga Liwewe, Segun Odegbami and Kwangu Liwewe

On this rerun episode of Global Insights on The Lede, originally aired in July, host Kwangu Liwewe discusses the inexorable rise of soccer stars of African origin with former Nigeria star player Segun “The Mathematical” Odegbami and soccer journalist Ponga Liwewe.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

From Deadly Desserts to Hawaiian Pizza: Culinary Origin Stories and the 2024 Christmas Quiz — with Erin Brown, Ola Salem, Surbhi Gupta and Kareem Shaheen

In this special Christmas episode of The Lede, New Lines’ most culinary-minded discuss the mysterious, thrilling and sometimes bloody origin stories of their favorite dishes, and go head-to-head in the annual Christmas quiz.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

The End of Assad and a New Era for Syria — with Kareem Shaheen, Rasha Elass and Faisal Al Yafai

In a momentous week in the history of Syria, New Lines’ Middle East Editor Kareem Shaheen and Editorial Director Rasha Elass join Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede to discuss how the Assad regime’s collapse happened so quickly, the terrible symbolism of the Sednaya prison complex and what’s next for Syria’s future.
Further reading:
The Backstory Behind the Fall of Aleppo by Hassan Hassan and Michael WeissAssad Was Disengaging From Iran, but His Next Steps Are Unclear by Rasha ElassSyrians Ponder a Future After Aleppo by Kamal ShahinDawn in Damascus by Kareem ShaheenLiberation in Syria Is a Victory Worth Embracing by Layla MaghribiWith Assad in Moscow, Putin Scrambles To Save Face — and his Syrian Bases by Amie Ferris-RotmanHope and Despair at Assad’s ‘Human Slaughterhouse’ by Aubin Eymard and Cian Ward
Produced by Finbar Anderson

Merkel and Memory in Modern Germany — with Katja Hoyer and Faisal Al Yafai

Bestselling historian Katja Hoyer joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai on The Lede to discuss her history of East Germany, reunification and the former state’s most famous living politician, Angela Merkel, who has just published a major new memoir.
Produced by Finbar Anderson