Real Talk

"Mom, I'm at our house."Yousra Elbagir is Sky News UK's Africa correspondent. She has been highly praised for her reporting on a war that's been largely absent from mainstream news coverage: Sudan.As the fighting enters its fourth year, Sudan has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Millions have been displaced as cities are destroyed by a brutal power struggle and foreign interference. But for Yousra, this isn't just work, or a news story. Sudan is also her home.In this conversation on Real Talk, she speaks with Mohamed Hashem about her reporting from inside the country, the siege of cities like el-Fasher, the UAE's role in giving the Rapid Support Forces global cover, and Europe’s inaction on the war.Yousra also reflects on returning to her family home of 25 years in Khartoum, ransacked by the RSF, and what it means to report a war that is also your own.

"My commanders liked the fact I was a Nazi. They saw it as making me a better warrior."Matt Kennard is a British investigative journalist who co-founded Declassified UK, and is also the author of Irregular Army. It’s a book that uncovers how the US military, desperate to fill its ranks during the War on Terror, began looking the other way on things that would once have disqualified soldiers from serving, such as neo-Nazi tattoos, gang affiliations, and mental illness.In this conversation on Real Talk, Kennard speaks with Mohamed Hashem about the openly neo-Nazi veterans he met and interviewed, the moral waiver programme that opened the door to convicted felons, and the Rumsfeld Doctrine that was the catalyst.

Peter Oborne spent decades at the heart of the British establishment. The award-winning journalist and author of ‘Complicit’ sits down with Mohamed Hashem on Real Talk to break down how the Iraq war set the template for Gaza, and why there is a direct path between the two.Oborne also calls out Keir Starmer for not condemning Israeli war crimes, and what it means that Margaret Thatcher was more willing to stand up to Israel than the UK's current prime minister.He also opens up on why he walked away from mainstream British media, and never looked back.

"I don't feel safe with my own people."Ariana Jasmine is one of the biggest Iranian-American political content creators, whose videos on Iran's history, the US-Israeli war on the country, and US politics have been widely shared online. In this conversation on Real Talk, she speaks with Mohamed Hashem to discuss the Iranian diaspora's split over western intervention, the Pahlavi monarchist movement and its "cult-like" following, and why she believes opposing the US-Israeli war on Iran made her a target within her own community.Ariana also reflects on the personal cost of speaking out, the threats, the harassment, and why she refuses to stay silent in spite of it all.

“Can I curse on this?”Hasan Piker is one of the most influential political streamers in the world, followed by millions across platforms who tune in daily to watch him dissect news, culture and global politics in real time.In this wide-ranging conversation on Real Talk, he sits down with Mohamed Hashem to discuss the Epstein files, Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the state of the Democratic Party, and the backlash over his anti-Zionist stance.The left-wing commentator reflects on the personal and professional cost of speaking out, the limits of platform censorship, and what shaped his understanding of US power and hegemony.

What was Jeffrey Epstein doing for Israeli intelligence?A new series of reports by Drop Site News has been examining this very question.Drop Site journalist Murtaza Hussain joined Mohamed Hashem on Real Talk to examine Epstein’s lesser-known ties to powerful figures inside Israeli political and intelligence circles. Hussain explains how Epstein formed a relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and how a senior Israeli intelligence officer stayed on his estate for weeks at a time. This conversation delves into the reports and email leaks about the wider network surrounding Epstein, and explores how his activities reached other countries, like Russia, Syria and India.

If AI is an empire, Karen Hao is saying you can resist it. “We don’t need empires to benefit from AI.”Hao is an investigative journalist and author of Empire of AI, she joined Mohamed Hashem to share what she saw while embedded inside OpenAI. In this conversation, she reveals the inner workings of Silicon Valley, such as how CEOs like Sam Altman shape the story of AI, and what all that means for society, labour and the global economy.Hao explains why AI is not inevitable, how ordinary people can reclaim agency over the technology shaping our future, and why resistance is already forming around the world as we grapple with the questions surrounding this new technology.

Does the UK need its own Zohran Mamdani?“It’s not The Office,” says British comedian Nish Kumar. “You can’t remake it from one country to another.”The acclaimed stand-up comedian sat down with Mohamed Hashem on Real Talk for a conversation that ranged from Mamdani’s win to the UK’s Nando’s obsession. They also unpacked the state of progressive politics in the UK, and what it means to do comedy at a time when Britain’s far right is seen as becoming increasingly emboldened.

“Ben Gvir came to me and said, ‘You are a terrorist, and you will be treated as a terrorist’.”In her first media testimony since leaving Israel, Yasemin Acar recounts what she endured after being on the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian mission that set sail in international waters to break Israel’s siege on Gaza.Yasemin, a leading activist from Germany, describes the moment she was dragged, beaten, stripped, and humiliated after the flotilla was intercepted in September and the volunteers were taken to an Israeli prison. She also recounts her direct confrontation with Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who personally called her a “terrorist”.

“I hear her voice in my dreams.”Israel’s killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab in 2024 sent shockwaves around the world, sparking global outrage and condemnation.Hind was fleeing Gaza City with her relatives when their car was targeted by Israeli forces. She survived the initial attack and, trapped among her family’s bodies, pleaded for help in desperate phone calls with Palestine Red Crescent responders.Hind was killed before rescuers could reach her. Her body, and those of her relatives, were recovered twelve days later.A new film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania and executive produced by Brad Pitt and Joaquin Phoenix, brings Hind’s final moments to the screen.One of the film’s main stars is Motaz Malhees, widely regarded as one of the most talented Palestinian actors of his generation. In this emotional conversation on Real Talk, Motaz opens up to Mohamed Hashem about the toll of portraying this story, the moments he broke down on set, and why he says, “I really believed I could save her.”The film has already won multiple awards, sparked Oscar buzz, and received a 23-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

On this week’s Real Talk, MSNBC host and veteran reporter Ayman Mohyeldin joined Mohamed Hashem to discuss the US political rhetoric on Gaza. For over two decades, Ayman has reported on the front lines of the world’s biggest stories - from the wars in Iraq and Gaza to the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. Today, he co-hosts MSNBC’s “The Weekend: Primetime”. In this conversation, Ayman reflects on the political rhetoric in Washington as Israel’s war on Gaza nears its two-year mark. He says that it is “absolutely shameful that any Democratic Party leader… is unable to come out and condemn what Israel is doing and explicitly call it a genocide”.He also chimed in on the debate over Democrats ceding ground on Gaza to Maga Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene. The two also discuss Israel’s targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists with impunity, the debate in the US around boycotting Israel, and the broader failures of western media coverage. “It’s extremely painful seeing how Muslims and Arabs are dehumanised in American media,” Ayman says.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

“One voice message I got from a journalist in Gaza… that’s worth more to me than anything I did with Reuters.”For eight years, Valerie Zink worked as a photojournalist for Reuters. But after Israel killed her colleagues in Gaza, and western media coverage led to accusations of complicity in Israel’s genocide, she could no longer stay silent.Valerie publicly resigned and cut up her Reuters press card, speaking out against the double standards in western media’s treatment of Palestinian journalists. She shares the breaking point she reached after reading Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif’s final words, the silence she faced from Canadian outlets for supporting Palestine, and what her time in Gaza taught her years ago, a journey that she says still fuels her rage today.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

"The overwhelming will of the world is for a state of Palestine now… I want it to be imposed on Israel, pure and simple."Jeffrey Sachs joins Real Talk to discuss Israel’s genocide in Gaza, America’s complicity, and why he believes the UN still offers a hope for peace. The renowned economist and public policy analyst explains why Israel “does not speak for me” as a Jew, the danger of conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, and why he’s pushing for Palestinian statehood to be imposed through international law.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

“The existence of a Palestinian student or pro-Palestine students on campus is an issue for [Columbia].” Mahmoud Khalil became the face of the US government’s crackdown on pro-Palestine protests across American campuses. A Columbia University graduate, he was one of the lead negotiators during Columbia’s Gaza solidarity encampments — a movement that quickly spread across universities worldwide.When the US government arrested and detained him earlier this year, it drew national and international attention, as well as widespread condemnation. Mahmoud spent more than 100 days in an ICE detention centre in Louisiana, even missing the birth of his first son after authorities denied him temporary release.Now, after being freed on bail by a federal judge in June, Mahmoud has reunited with his wife and newborn. In this Real Talk conversation, we reflect on what Mahmoud saw, experienced and endured, and what it all reveals about America.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

“What I experienced is a glimpse of what Palestinians have to go through.”Prominent labour activist Chris Smalls speaks out after returning to his home in the United States following his detention in an Israeli prison. Weeks ago, Smalls decided to join the Handala flotilla, which sailed towards Gaza in an attempt to break Israel’s siege. Now, after Israeli forces intercepted the ship in international waters, Smalls says he was singled out, violently assaulted and racially abused by Israeli forces. Following his return home, Smalls joined us on Real Talk to open up about what really happened. Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

“I haven’t worked in a very long time.” What are the repercussions of speaking out for Gaza in Hollywood?In this Real Talk interview, US model and actor Indya Moore opens up about the cost of speaking out for Gaza, describing the “devastating” fallout with her former agents at CAA over her use of the word “genocide” and for her support for Palestine.Indya, who in 2019 was named as one of Time’s 100 most influential people, is now highlighting the hypocrisy in how Gaza advocacy is punished and reveals that she herself has lost job opportunities in the entertainment industry because of it. We also talk about her upcoming satirical documentary ‘Stealing Sunset’, which confronts illegal Israeli settlements, and the emotional contradictions of filming in the occupied West Bank.

‘These journalistic institutions have done far more to support the genocide than… Starbucks or McDonald’s’Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mona Chalabi joins Real Talk to unpack how mainstream media coverage has enabled Israel’s war on Gaza, and why she’s calling to boycott outlets aiding that effort. She also reflects on how many of these same patterns were present in the run-up to the Iraq War and its aftermath.Mona shares personal experiences from inside different newsrooms, including moments of racism and Islamophobia, and reflects on what it meant to be asked about her "relation" to Ahmed Chalabi, a controversial Iraqi politician who championed the US invasion of Iraq. We also talk about the political backlash to Zohran Mamdani’s primary win in New York, and Mona’s work as creative director of #1 Happy Family USA, an animated series exploring the Muslim American experience through humour.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem

“I was sold a lie.”One of Britain’s most acclaimed historians slams the country’s education system - which he feels has distorted the history of Palestine, portraying it as an “empty desert” before 1948.In this Real Talk interview, William Dalrymple shares his views on Britain’s historical responsibility towards Palestine, and calls out the UK government’s ongoing cooperation with Israel, including supplying weapons, amid its war on Gaza. He reflects on what he witnessed in the West Bank while writing his book ‘From the Holy Mountain’, from settler violence to a “concerted drive to Judaise Jerusalem”, and explains why he sees the current crisis in Gaza as “one of the supreme human rights horrors of our time”.Real Talk is hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

“I have no business with genocidaires.”That’s how artist, poet and activist Saul Williams describes his refusal to stay silent on Israel’s war on Gaza. In this Real Talk interview, Williams opens up about witnessing apartheid in Israel-Palestine, losing friends and work for speaking out, and the responsibility artists have in the face of propaganda and empire.We also explore his critique of US politics as a ‘duopoly’ invested in war, his challenge to mainstream liberalism, and how hip hop has moved from resistance to commercialisation.Williams also reflects on his powerful role in ‘Sinners’, the blockbuster film directed by Ryan Coogler.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview series hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Bilal Hassan is a Pakistani doctor who also happens to be one of the most popular travel storytellers from his country. He is a content creator whose work captures the people, the cultures, the food and the human connections across Pakistan. But then, conflict erupts and fighting escalates. Nearly 70 people are killed in a matter of days in India and Pakistan, including civilians in Kashmir on both sides. The language of dehumanisation and jingoism fills the local newscasts. In moments like these, what is the role of a content creator? Do you speak or do you stay silent in an effort to preserve your brand? So, on Real Talk today, we are speaking with Bilal Hassan about war, memory, partition and the role of content creators in times of conflict.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview series hosted by Mohamed HashemCatch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“The point was to make people aware… The world knows now who [Microsoft] truly are, and what they’re doing.”As Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary with a panel featuring Bill Gates, one employee stood up and disrupted the event. Her message: Microsoft is complicit in Israel’s war on Gaza. The young software engineer, Vaniya Agrawal, was then fired by Microsoft. Now, she’s speaking out. In this Real Talk interview, Vaniya is opening up about why she risked her job to protest, what happened behind the scenes, and the harassment she’s received from Hindu nationalists. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

‘The crimes [in Gaza] are so egregious that are being carried out... The attempt to cover them up and whitewash them is failing’ Since 7 October, western media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza has come under intense scrutiny, particularly for the language and terminology used by many outlets.As a result, the coverage has been accused of bias against Palestinians effectively providing cover for Israel’s war on Gaza.To delve into this, we’re speaking to Assal Rad, an Iranian-American scholar of the modern Middle East and fellow at DAWN, who’s also made it her mission to call out and ‘fix’ misleading headlines. Her widely shared posts earned her the title of ‘headline fixer’,  turning this into a trend of its own online.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview series hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

"You can’t be a filmmaker. You’re Palestinian - no one will care."Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian-American filmmaker and actress constantly working to break new ground for Palestinian representation in Hollywood. In 2022, she made TV history as the first Palestinian ever nominated for an Emmy, for her work on “Only Murders in the Building”. Throughout her career, Cherien has pushed back against one-dimensional portrayals of Arabs and Palestinians - often stereotyped, cast as villains, or erased entirely.Most recently, you may have seen her as Nadia in Netflix’s “Mo”, the hit series widely celebrated for its portrayal of the Palestinian experience. In this episode of Real Talk, Cherien opens up about growing up Palestinian in Ohio, the challenges of telling her own story, and the fears that keep many from supporting Palestinian voices in Hollywood.From the emotional weight of misrepresentation to the joy of creating authentic characters, she shares what it takes to be a Palestinian storyteller in American film and television.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

In The World After Gaza, acclaimed Indian author Pankaj Mishra reckons with Israel’s war on Gaza and its far-reaching moral and geopolitical consequences.He situates the onslaught within the broader context of western colonialism while grappling with a critical question: What does the world look like after Gaza?Mishra joined us on Real Talk to discuss the book’s key themes, including the Holocaust and its weaponisation, as well as the world’s response to Gaza - touching on complicity, decolonisation, and white supremacy.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

"The more they offer the Trump administration, the more the Trump administration is going to ask - and the demands in that letter [sent to Columbia] are absolutely unacceptable."In this Real Talk interview, Columbia humanities professor Bruce Robbins reveals why he’s concerned he could be "thrown to the lions" over steps he took during last year's campus protests.Robbins speaks about how in April last year he took his class to one of the encampments, a decision that resulted in two students making complaints to the university, which have since resulted in a formal investigation.Speaking to Mohamed Hashem, he condemns the ongoing witch-hunt against pro-Palestine activists by Columbia administrators and the Trump administration, especially in the wake of Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest.He urges the university not to capitulate to the Trump administration’s demands given to the university to reinstate $400 million in federal funding. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Over a year ago in January 2024, Jewish-American academic Maura Finkelstein found herself placed on administrative leave by her institution at the time: Muhlenberg College. A few months later she was fired, despite having tenure.  The reason? She was told it was because of a post she shared on her Instagram story which heavily condemned Zionism. Finkelstein joined us on Real Talk to reflect on this experience, what it taught her, and the state of crackdowns by US universities on pro-Palestinian activism. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“From the moment Israel was created, there’s this idea that it is unimaginable that it can perpetrate any crime under international law, let alone genocide.” US-Israeli genocide scholar Raz Segal was the first academic to label Israel’s war on Gaza a ‘textbook case of genocide’ in 2023. But that also came with a price. The prominent Israeli-American historian delves into the context, the intense backlash faced by Jewish scholars who speak out, and the implications for international law and human rights.Segal is currently the associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Will Brics nations pose a real challenge to Donald Trump’s second term in office? And how do Trump’s tariffs stack up against this rising bloc? US economist Richard D Wolff joined us for an extended conversation on Trump, tariffs, Brics, as well as the US plan to ‘take over’ Gaza. “This is difficult here in the US for people to hear, but it’s the truth. The American empire is declining,” argues Wolff who claims that the Brics coalition (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will have an economic edge over the US. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

"Elon Musk has been given by Trump… almost dictatorial power” Today we’re taking on the MAGA ‘civil war’ that’s publicly erupted within Donald Trump’s own ranks. Did Elon Musk and the tech billionaires already win the battle for Trump’s ear against Steve Bannon’s nationalist right? US historian Rick Perlstein is one of the leading voices on America’s conservative movement. He joins us to explain how the power and influence Musk currently holds over the federal government, and why “no one’s talking about Steve Bannon anymore”. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“I don’t believe this is about Israel’s security.”What’s it like to be a medic inside Gaza’s shattered healthcare system?British plastic surgeon Dr Victoria Rose joins us on Real Talk to share her first-hand account of the harrowing scenes she witnessed in Gaza. She opens up about why she believes Israel is “definitely” targeting medics, how this has become a “war on children”, and her experience operating on Palestinian patients at Gaza’s hospitals.Rose worked in Gaza twice in 2024 - at the European Gaza Hospital in March and the Nasser Hospital in August - and spoke with us ahead of her planned return to the besieged enclave in February 2025.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“If you’re an Arab, specifically a Palestinian journalist…you are political. Your identity is political.”We recently sat down with award-winning journalist and filmmaker Hind Hassan for a reflective conversation that delves into Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Russia-Ukraine.  We also discussed Western media’s coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, with Hind reflecting on the challenges faced by many journalists in the field, including those of Arab heritage: “Many of us looked at our places in the industry.”The British-Iraqi journalist also shared insights from some of her acclaimed work in the field, which included reporting from Gaza in 2021, the last English-language interview with Yahya Sinwar (the former Hamas leader who was killed in 2024), as well as her reports on Sheikh Jarrah, the Russia-Ukraine war and an upcoming MEE documentary on Lebanon.Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed HashemCatch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Nearly 12 years after her father was arrested in 2013, and days after Bashar al-Assad was toppled, Wafa Mustafa is now going back to Syria driven by a determination to find him. Wafa has not returned to her home country since escaping over a decade ago, shortly after her father, Ali, was forcibly disappeared by Bashar al-Assad’s government forces during the Syrian uprising.  Speaking just before embarking on her journey back to Syria, Wafa joined us for a personal conversation, reflecting on the fall of Assad, her life in Germany and her relentless fight to find her father. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

How did Hafez al-Assad rise from an army officer to establish a dynasty that brutally ruled Syria for 54 years?From seizing power in 1970 to the Hama massacre, and Bashar inheriting power, Professor Joshua Landis joined us for an in-depth conversation on the Assad family’s rise to power.Landis, chair and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, has spent nearly 15 years living in the Middle East, including Syria, up until the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. He’s also the author of a forthcoming book on Syria. Today on Real Talk, we take a look at Syria’s history under Hafez al-Assad and unpack how Bashar continued his father’s authoritarian rule after his death in 2000. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“AIPAC is a pro-Israel lobby and they need to be defeated for that reason. But they also represent white supremacy and everything that comes with that.”US congressman Jamaal Bowman reflects on losing his seat after AIPAC poured millions into his Democratic primary to unseat him, reportedly making it the most expensive House primary race in US history.The progressive member of ‘The Squad’, who called Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide, spoke to us about his views on Israel-Palestine and the role of the pro-Israel lobby in American politics. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“I can’t watch a guy plugged up to an IV burned alive.” Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of America’s most celebrated writers. His latest book, The Message, took him to Senegal, South Carolina and Israel-Palestine. The book has been both praised and slammed for calling out Israeli apartheid. Coates joined us to reflect on the backlash, but also takes his time to offer a deeper perspective on the Gaza genocide, the US elections, and his journey as a writer. This follows the extensive media coverage the book received following a CBS interview where Coates was accused by programme host Tony Dokoupil of "extremist" views in his writing about Palestinians. Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“The relationship with Israel is in a different league entirely” In light of Israel’s multi-front war in the region, including Gaza, Lebanon, and the escalation with Iran, how can we understand the US-Israel ‘special relationship’? And where does the pro-Israel lobby in the US fit inside this framework? That’s what we’re asking Harvard professor Stephen Walt, who joined us for an extended conversation on Real Talk. Walt is considered one of the most influential US foreign policy experts. In 2007, he famously co-authored a book with John Mearsheimer titled ‘The Israel Lobby and US foreign policy’ which generated a lot of attention and controversy for challenging what has been a taboo topic in the US for decades.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“It happens because of years of anti-Muslim, anti-migrant hatred.” It’s been several months since Humza Yousaf stepped down in May 2024. Now, the Scottish former First Minister, who in 2023 became the first Muslim leader of a western democracy, is sounding the alarm. In one of the longest interviews he’s given since resigning, Yousaf warns of rising Islamophobia in UK politics, the far right threat, and he delves into his online feud with Elon Musk. So we sat down in his family home in Dundee, Scotland to talk about it. Recorded: 17 September 2024 Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“I now rage that my government is behaving the way it’s behaving.” As Israel’s war on Gaza, and now Lebanon, continues with no end in sight, we’re delving into why America’s Gaza policy failed. Today on Real Talk, we’re joined by Matt Duss, former foreign policy adviser to Bernie Sanders and the executive vice president at the Center for International Policy. We discuss how President Joe Biden’s red lines in Gaza were repeatedly crossed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, rising voter anger toward Democrats and what all this means for Kamala Harris in the upcoming US elections.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

‘They're not ready for the storm that's happening... The average Joe has Twitter and is seeing what's going on [in Gaza].’On Real Talk, we sat down with investigative journalist Matt Kennard to discuss his latest book, The Racket.In this conversation, Kennard dives deep into US hegemony and foreign policy, especially in light of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. He also unpacks the broader implications of US imperialism, the upcoming US elections, and why he believes Gaza has "exposed the US empire like never before".Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Today on Real Talk, we speak to Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and author, about the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in the US elections.We delve into why he believes we are “at the end of empire”, whether Trump or Harris would have different Gaza policies, the rise of Christian nationalism in the US, and his thoughts on Joe Biden’s presidential legacy.Recorded: 29 July 2024Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Recorded: 24 April 2024 ‘The solidarity with Israel has never been stronger’ Voting has begun in the world’s biggest election in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third five-year term. Indian journalist and author Rana Ayyub joined us on Real Talk to speak on Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric, India’s elections, and its current relationship with Israel.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

“Israel should be treated as a pariah state,” argues Francesca Albanese.In this Real Talk interview, we speak with Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, about the reported abuses inside Israel’s Sde Teiman prison and delve into whether the UN is doing enough to ensure Israel’s compliance with international law. We also asked her about the personal attacks levelled against her and whether they could impact her standing within the UN.Recorded: 7 August 2024 Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Recorded: 28 January 2024 Alana Hadid belongs to one of the most recognisable Palestinian families in the world. So when she sat down with us on Real Talk, we tried to unpack the pressures that come with that. In our conversation with Hadid, we spoke about Gaza and how she was impacted by the last few months. We also spoke about her activism, her views on how Gaza may influence the upcoming US elections, and a closer look at the forced expulsion of her Palestinian father and grandparents from their home during the Nakba of 1948. Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm

Recorded: 12 March 2024Our guest in this episode is US independent presidential candidate Cornel West, and we ask him why he called Joe Biden a “war criminal”. He also explains why he feels Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “gangster”, why Biden’s Gaza policy makes him a “hypocrite” and how Arab-American voters will turn their backs on him.Catch all our Real Talk episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMyaP73Ho1yRh7NMaNqOTpWkGSJPC8kIm