The Lede

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

An Arresting Drama: Israel, the ICC and the International Order — with Itamar Mann, Kareem Shaheen and Kwangu Liwewe

This week’s episode of Global Insights on The Lede looks at the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, with insight from Itamar Mann, a professor at the University of Haifa’s Faculty of Law, New Lines’ Middle East Editor Kareem Shaheen and Global Insights host Kwangu Liwewe.
Produced by Finbar Anderson

The Islamic Influence on Europe’s Medieval Masterpieces — with Diana Darke and Lydia Wilson

On this week’s episode of the podcast, Middle East cultural expert Diana Darke joins New Lines’ Lydia Wilson to discuss the unacknowledged influence of Islamic architecture on medieval buildings throughout Europe.
Further reading | A New Theory: European Cathedrals Show Traces of Ancient Egypt
Produced by Finbar Anderson

The American Experiment From Outside and Within — with Hari Kunzru and Faisal Al Yafai

One week after the American election, New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai is joined by the novelist and commentator Hari Kunzru for a discussion on the changing currents of American society and culture, the author’s recent novels, and Kunzru’s new introduction to the Edward Said classic “Culture and Imperialism.”
Produced by Finbar Anderson