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Background Briefing offers an educational approach to providing information in an era of “fake news.”
Will Strikes Against the Houthis Scuttle the Saudi Peace Deal to End a War in Yemen MbS Started in 2015? We begin with continued strikes by the US and UK against Houthi targets in Yemen and assess what impact they will have on the peace talks close to ending the civil war that was started … Continued
Will Christie’s Exit in New Hampshire Help Nikki Haley Who the Koch Network in Banking On? We begin with the shake-up in the Republican New Hampshire primary race with Chris Christie dropping out without endorsing any of his rivals left in the race, in particular Nikki Haley who is most likely to benefit from his … Continued
The Last Days Ahead of Monday’s Iowa Caucuses and Tonight’s CNN Debate Overshadowed by a Trump Town Hall on Fox We begin with the last days leading up to the Iowa caucuses on Monday with the final candidates’ debate tonight on CNN between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis that will pale in terms of ratings … Continued
Trump’s Immunity Claim is Met With Deep Skepticism From the DC Appeals Court Judges We begin with the hearing today before a three judge panel on the DC Appeals Court on Trump’s immunity claim that, if granted, would kill all the cases against him except the Florida documents case. With Trump in the courtroom today, … Continued
An Historian Who Had Lunch With the President on Wednesday Ahead of Biden’s Opening Campaign Speech of 2024 at Valley Forge We begin with President Biden’s opening campaign speech in the 2024 election on Friday at Valley Forge, the historic site of the Revolutionary war in 1777 that was preceded by a lunch with a … Continued
Trump Made $7.8 Million From Foreign Governments While in the White House, $5.5 Million From China We begin with a new report “White House For Sale” produced by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee that reveal Trump made $7.8 million from foreign governments while in the White House, $5.5 million from an adversary, China. Joining … Continued
Will the Bombings in Iran Following Yesterday’s Killing of an Hamas Official Spark a Wider War? We begin with bombings in Iran that killed over 100 and wounded over 200 observing the 4th anniversary of the US drone strike that killed the head of Iran’s Quds Force General Suleimani, this following an Israeli drone strike … Continued
Will Israel’s Killing of the Hamas Ambassador to Hezbollah Trigger a Wider War? We begin with the assassination by an Israeli drone of a top Hamas official in Beirut which is bound to inflame an already tinderbox situation that could lead to a war between Israel and Hezbollah, since the target, Saleh Arouri, was in … Continued
The Foreign Policy Landscape Ahead in 2024 and the Chance For Peace in a World at War We begin with an overview of the foreign policy landscape in 2023 and what might be in store in 2024 as wars rage and the search for peace seems daunting. Joining us is Stephen Walt, a columnist at Foreign … Continued
How to Save American Democracy From the Trump 2.0 Revenge Machine We begin as this year ends with selected programs from our archives. Following yesterday’s coverage of events from the middle of the year, today we cover stories from later in the year, before special programming on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. First, … Continued
