Are our leaders evil, stupid... or both? Whatever the answer, the world of satire has its hands full like never before. The newest episode of our podcast series sees the Editor of The Mideast Beast in conversation with Professor Sophia A. McClennen, who’s literally written the book on satire. They discuss satire in the age of Trump, why you shouldn…

It’s hot in Saudi Arabia, but are there snowflakes this summer? The answer to that is of course not, and it won’t be snowing for a long time if ever, desipe the Fresh Prince of Riyadh and all his modern changes. On this week’s Mideast Beast Podcast host Molly Livingstone speaks with Perry Cammack, a fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie…

While the Mideast Beast Podcast is on summer hiatus, enjoy this classic episode from last year! (Don't worry, we'll be back soon with new stuff.) Rudy Rochman, Founder and President of the Columbia University chapter of Students Supporting Israel, shares the BS about BDS, while Molly and Alex explore President Trump's BDSM ketchup fetish that led h…

Getting your ass flogged may sound like the latest sex trend, but in the Middle East, it most likely means you were caught being gay, and lucky you weren't executed. So what is it like to be gay in Jerusalem, the epicenter of controversy and all that is holy (that's what he said)? On this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, Religious Gay Rights Activist,…

You work hard, buy your house, and get ready to settle down, so of course, all hell breaks loose. For Aboud Dandachi, life couldn't have been better, until Syrian's civil war stripped him of his new home in Homs, his promising future, and his hate for Israel. On this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, hear about his transition from successful to refugee…

Mark Zuckerberg might be Jewish, but Israel doesn't want his social media monster online. Yep, turns out the government tried to pass a bill to take down freedom of speech one post at a time, which would make Israel the first democracy to enforce censorship on social media. But it was just a big mistake (add laugh track here), caught by Times of Is…

If you faked your own death and survived, what would your real life look like after that? On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone gets in bed (literally) with Kay Wilson, survivor of a brutal terrorist attack. Clearly using humor to cope with reality, Wilson is, no joke, fighting against western monies funding te…

He’s a doctor of terrorism, but that’s not even the terrifying part. On this week’s episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast host Molly Livingstone gets in the mind of Dr. Matthew Levitt (his mom made us make sure we wrote DOCTOR), of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, to discuss terrorism, countering that terrorism, and if this podcast is …

Is Erasing Women just code for the ultra-Orthodox religious gay tinder app? On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone speaks with Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll about erasing women (dirty or not), religious women's battle for equality, and if you can say breast cancer on the radio. Jaskoll shares her insights as an advoca…

Look out - the unidentifiable white man is coming for you. He's armed with a camera, translator, and questions, and demands the naked truth (sounds creepy, and yet you want to know more). On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone speaks with Corey Gil-Shuster, creator of the Ask an Israeli/Ask a Palestinian Project…

In this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, Molly Livingstone sits down with Jerusalem City Council member and Head of the Yerushalmim (Jerusalemites) Party, Fleur Hassan Nahoum, to discuss the terrifying situation in Jerusalem. No, it has nothing to do with war or peace, it's worse... politics and the upcoming mayoral elections. Find out …

This week on the Mideast Beast podcast, host Alex Giles, a lightweight, sips his rosé wine, while Molly Livingstone could use something a bit harder (and that is what she said), and together the two discuss the football, the ladies, and the power. While it seems like Qatar Airlines doesn't think a woman could run the company, Saudi Arabia has final…

Image is everything, and this week on the Mideast Beast Podcast hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss just how true that is when it comes to looking good in the Middle East conflict. The issues are not the standard ones, but more about gay couples, getting your face on for Ramadan, and how to cover up, so to speak. Is the peace talking fin…

Reality is a lot like reality TV, the more fake it is, the more the truth sticks out. On this episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone has a deep conflicted conversation with Times of Israel Political Correspondent Haviv Rettig Gur. From his complicated name, to the complicated Middle East, to the complications of being a journa…

On this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone gives her firsthand account of the new US embassy, located in her remarkable neighborhood of Jerusalem (not unremarkable, as falsely reported by CNN). Host Alex Giles gets in a few words and speaks about the reaction to the embassy in Gaza, with the protest and death toll rising. Will it …

On this week's Mideast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone digs in and deep (that's what she said) with blogger and author of Jerusalem, Drawn and Quartered, Sarah Tuttle-Singer. Sarah shares her intimate moments, struggles, scotch and thoughts on the complicated Middle East, Israel and her time spent as an interloper in the Old City of Jerusalem. Girl…

There was a stabbing in Jerusalem, but don't worry, it was only criminal. Yep, this is apparently life nowadays for host Molly Livingstone as she and host Alex Giles discuss the recent attack and why, if it's not terrorism, it's not scary - at least in the Middle East. And if modern day Israel wasn't lame enough, listen in to find out how badass se…

On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and a slightly tipsy (one cup of rose after a long day) Alex Giles discuss the most important matters in the entire world: Uber drivers who act Israeli, creationist museums with humans riding dinosaurs, dictators who force people to vote - and then win, and fashion week wi…

This week's Mideast Beast Podcast is being broadcast from jail, as it is now a crime to broadcast fake news. Or is this fake news? It is... for now. Hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss the real news about fake news and how it is affecting the world, the media and the people. From Malaysia, where fake news legislation will make it a crime…

With Prince Mohammed of Saudi Arabia and host Molly Livingstone both in the US on tour, it's only a matter of time before their paths cross. Until then, the podcast covers the prince's visit to the White House, his weird mommy issues, and co-host Alex Giles's not-boy crush. The two also discuss the red tape around the red ribbon ceremony for the ne…

On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, we learn about host Alex Giles's new bromance with the Saudi prince (listen to find out exactly which one it is). While Alex plans his future, host Molly Livingstone brings us into the present with a live siren drill preparing Israel for war. Is it fake news, or a bit too real?…

On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles pack it in on AIPAC, that friendly Israel loving lobby. It's all about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's off-Broadway (way off Broadway) one man show. What will Bibi say, and will it be another chorus of Iran, bombs, and BDS? Well, if Alex can stop ranting…

If all the world's a stage, then all the world leaders are on a big reality show to see who plays the worst (meaning best) villain. On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone sits down and tears down Times of Israel journalist Raoul Wootliff, to find out what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did to become o…

Sanction, s'manction... Aren't rules just made to be broken, especially when it comes to the Olympics, the Middle East, and goodie bags? On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles gossip about the Iranian Olympic team, who, as it turns out, didn't get their Samsung goodie bags (that's what adult male…

On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles talk war games, as in, is Israel at war or is this just a politically savvy game to change the headlines? More importantly, is anyone actually watching the Olympics? Is there an Israeli team that could take home the gold in such sports as curling, or should …

On this week's edition of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles challenge the audience on what they really know about the headlines, terrorism, and Africa's being a country. And find out if you're a Goldielocks. Yep, a Goldielocks.저자 The Mideast Beast

In this week's Mideast Beast podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles break down Vice President Pence's recent visit to Israel, and almost have their own breakdown as they uncover the truth behind Evangelical Christians, peace plans, and streets named Penis. Alex tries to come up with his own plans, but is so fearful of what's to come (and h…

How's this for some good news in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia will allow women to take the front seat and become shared-ride drivers (never mind that they can't drive at night, can't take men, and make almost no money). In this week's episode, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss this whole new world, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (you need t…

On this week's edition of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone is joined by the Rebel Rabbi Chuck Davidson, who continues his controversial battle against the Israeli Chief Rabbinate dictating Jewish law when it comes to birth, marriage, divorce, and death. This Orthodox rabbi discusses his intent to destroy the rabbinical courts' mono…

With protests in Iran, fighting in Pakistan, and the usual failure of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, maybe Trump's bizarre tweets are the "simple solution." Hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss how tweets make headlines, headlines sound fake, and fake is now killing satire. After all, if the headlines sound like a joke, th…

When did beauty pageants become about checkmate, and chess tournaments become a fashion show? If a picture is worth a thousand words, the selfie of Miss Iraq and Miss Israel, would be death, fatwa die, repeat. With Miss Iraq's family fleeing their home after the controversial picture, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles ask if Miss Iraq is brave…

First came the Trump declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, then came war, bloodshed, and even a tsunami. At least that's what the headlines wanted us to believe. What's really happening in the city? On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone gives her first-hand account of life after declaration. You probabl…

On this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone speaks with a secular Jew living in Jerusalem about the recent outbreak of fights between the religious and nonreligious communities. Forget "two Jews, three opinions"; this is an all-out battle, with fighting in the streets, protests, and breaking the law. Listen in to hear a completely …

If there's no hashtag, then did it really happen? Hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss the recent terrorist attack in Egypt that killed over 300 worshipers, asking what the attack means for the region and what it means if no one is tweeting about it. Does the world care more about a royal wedding, or are Alex and Molly just being pessimis…

In this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles continue the discussion of sexual assault and rape, unfortunately, as more men are accused of doing just that. And while the Middle East is normally used to war, how is the explosion of #MeToo, unwanted advances, and general deviant behavior affecting the male population? …

Can we justify sexual misconduct and rape? In Hollywood, if you ask to whip it out, does it make it OK? And in the Middle East, does Sharia law give men the power to rape? They may be worlds apart (or at least different countries), but how similar are we when it comes to the treatment of women and harassment? On this week's episode of The Mideast B…

On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, host Molly Livingstone speaks with matchmaker Jessica Fass of Fass Pass To Love, to find out if the Middle East countries are really a match. Perhaps the politicians have it all wrong, and it's more about rules of dating, wooing, and even a little sexting that will give peace a chance. From first…

Does everyone really need a present to show appreciation? And does everyone really need to be present at a sports arena? On this week's Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles present (pun intended) you with the many dilemmas of the Middle East. Together they discuss the UNESCO swag snub, Saudi Arabia's latest liberal move to …

If you survived a vicious terrorist attack, would you befriend the enemy? Would you let him into your house, your thoughts, and your vision for the future? Survivor Kay Wilson is on a mission to bring together human beings, so yeah, she does that. Host Molly Livingstone has a very intimate interview with Kay and one of her frenemies, "Ali," a Pales…

With Trump dumping the "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" signed by Obama in 2015, hosts Alex Giles and Molly Livingstone try to figure out what exactly is comprehensive about it. Will Iran build a nuke? Are we watching the biggest reality show starring realist world leaders? Is it worth a Nobel Peace Prize, or is it nothing more than a deal with…

It's not a sitcom yet, but how's this for a podcast topic: a couple of Muslims build a sukkah (that's for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot) to welcome a bit of coexistence, food, and just plain old good conversation. Where will it lead? Well, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles have their own ideas and overshare them in this week's episode of The Mi…

With the continued violent attacks throughout the world, this week's mass shooting in Las Vegas finally forces host Alex Giles into a ranting rage (British style, still calm and polite). Will you agree with his claim that America should adopt Israeli gun laws? Host Molly Livingstone adds her two shekels on the matter, from the American crime she kn…

With the new law allowing women to drive in Saudi Arabia (set to take effect in June, 2018), will the Saudi Kingdom finally let women hold phallic fruits and vegetables (yep, that's not allowed, either)? On this week's episode of The Mideast Beast Podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles discuss the many no-nos in Saudi society, extreme reli…

On this episode of the Mideast Beast podcast, Molly Livingstone interviews producer of the iconic movie "Airplane," David Zucker, and finds out if he is on a secret mission to the Middle East. What was he doing in Beirut with the Lebanese army?What does he think about Israel's booming (no pun intended) entertainment industry? And can he bring about…

Conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro calls the new wave of anarchists, known as Antifa, just a bunch of #snowflakes. And while it may not be a natural disaster, it will naturally be a disaster when the commentator comes to UC Berkeley's campus to speak on September 14th. The school is offering free counseling, but will that be enough when…

From an online raging twitter battle to the red carpets of Hollywood, check out this week's Mideast Beast Podcast with David Abitbol, a Jewish blogger whose tweets went from fighting with Megan Phelps-Roper, the granddaughter of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, to real life friendship and now the big screen. How did Abitbol change her mind 140…

On this week’s The Mideast Beast podcast, hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles take on the Nazis. It’s not a question of win or lose, but rather the battle of 'fake news'. Together, the two discuss the role of 'fake news' when it comes to Trump, the Middle East, and new Neo-Nazis, that seem to be everywhere. So are they, what’s the lie, and will …

We provide the satirical news, but are the real journalists giving you fake news? Host Molly Livingstone gets to the bottom of this burning question with Times of Israel Knesset Correspondent Raoul Wootliff. Find out why he was called a "fake journalist homo" while covering a recent right wing rally. Is it true? Fake? Satire? Or are we living in a …

Hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles aren't just playing mind games with satirical news stories, but actual fun guessing games, too. Join the fun, and even learn some random trivia, in this week's podcast. Listen in and find out if Alex wins his pride back, if Trump hates generals or just generally everything, and the plea for a 2.0 on the Ten Co…

What's actually offensive these days? Burkinis, speedos, terrorism, or Trump's White House roulette? From sexy to sweary, and of course a little bit of gay in Jerusalem (that's inclusion for you), hosts Molly Livingstone and Alex Giles are beasting it up when it comes to the Middle East in all her glory.…