Discussion of Macron's visit begins at 19:45. A month since the deadly explosion devasted Beirut's capital, Nizar and Ben analyse the second visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, his reform timetable, and the motives behind both France's actions in Lebanon and the seeming acquiescence of Lebanese politicians. Also discussed, the World Bank's assessment of the damages caused by the Beirut Port explosion, the cancelation of the Bisri Dam project, coronavirus capacities, and who exactly...

Ben and Nizar are joined by Ramez Dagher, an MD & psychiatry resident who also writes regularly on Lebanese politics on the Moulahazat blog, to discuss the latest post Beirut Port explosion, with political wrangling to shift blame, worrying spikes in coronavirus threatening an already overwhelmed hospital system, the muted reaction to the STL verdict, and a political class seemingly stalling for time as the country still reels in the aftermath of the blast. Music track: Zuhal by...

Nizar and Ben are joined by Timour Azhari, Al-Jazeera English's Beirut correspondent, to discuss the deadly explosion at the Beirut Port and its aftermath, including Saturday's violent clashes between protesters and security forces. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Ben and Nizar dive into two of the big news stories in Lebanon this past week: a new lockdown in response to record cases of coronavirus and the border incident between Hezbollah and Israel. Also discussed: lack of transparency on electricity, political squabbles over the Bisri Dam project, the upcoming STL verdict, and music censorship on Army Day. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Biography and discussion of Riad Salameh begins at 22:30. Ben and Nizar are back with the news of past week, including the concerning spike in coronavirus case numbers ahead of touted new measures to contain the virus, political chatter on Lebanon's neutrality, the lira's continuing volatility, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit, and a decision to conduct a forensic audit of Banque du Liban (BDL). Our main topic this week, on the back of an FT scoop that $6bn of "other...

Discussion of economic and political news starts at 05:57, analysis on the banks winning the narrative begins at 27:10. After managing to record the podcast between power cuts, Ben and Nizar analyze the political and economic news of the past week, including Alain Bifani's resignation, Wazni ruling out a forensic audit, the lira slide, a touted return of former PM Hariri, IMF talks on hold, and the deadly consequences of economic hardship, before taking a closer look at what all this means...

Nizar and Ben are back after a short break with updates and analysis on all the latest news in Lebanese politics including: coronavirus, the Caesar Act, the attempted gagging of US Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the US' anti-Hezbollah narrative, the ongoing lira collapse and alarming food price inflation, queues outside bakeries, and where the politicians are at, with appointments, the boycotted Baabda meeting, little progress on IMF talks, and calls to remove bread and fuel subsidies. Music...

Discussion of the 6/6 protest and counterrevolutionary rhetoric begins at 16.23. Ben and Nizar take a look at the protest and clashes over the weekend in Beirut and their context, including the build up of sectarian rhetoric, calls to disarm Hezbollah, why thawra organizations did or did not participate, and how securitization and sectarianization could reverse the achievements of October 17. Also covered, the news of the past week, including updates on coronavirus and the lira value,...

Back to the basics for this episode as Nizar and Ben take a look at the political news of the past two weeks, including South Liberation Day, coronavirus updates, Parliament's LL1.2 trillion emergency package, failures on the amnesty, banking secrecy, and capital control laws, a change to appointments, and Grand Mufti Ahmad Qabalon's call to end Taif and the National Pact. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion of Lebanon's industry begins at 17:00. Ben and Nizar are joined remotely this week by Paul Abi Nasr, member of the board of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and CEO of Polytextile, to discuss the Lebanese industrial sector over the past few decades, the impacts of the current economic crisis, how the government plan was lacking in vision and content, and what Lebanese industry actually needs to reach its full potential. Also discussed: the latest on the lira,...

Discussion of workers and labor unions begins at 22:22. Ben and Nizar are joined this week by Lea Bou Khater, a researcher in labor movements, lecturer in development at Lebanese American University, and development researcher at Consultation and Research Institute, to discuss the impacts of the recent economic and coronavirus crises on workers in Lebanon, how the ruling class has historically coopted the labor unions, and how the thawra has impacted the formation of new unions. Also...

Discussion of the government's economic and financial rescue plan starts at 23:35. Ben and Nizar are back for our fifth lockdown episode with all the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, the renewed protests, and the economy, including BDL Governor Riad Salameh's speech. Our main topic this week is the government's proposed economic and financial rescue plan, what it covers, what is missing, and our analysis on the good, the bad, and optimistic. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out...

The fourth of our remote lockdown episodes, Ben and Nizar are joined by Hicham Safieddine, lecturer in the history of the Modern Middle East at King’s College London and author of “Banking on the State: The Financial Foundations of Lebanon,” to talk about the depreciating lira, the role of the central bank and BDL Governor Riad Salameh, and who ultimately has responsbility for monetary policy in Lebanon. Also covered: the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, a disappointing parliamentary...

Discussion on the BDL circular begins at 20:50. Ben and Nizar are (remotely) joined this week by Mohamad Faour, a postdoctoral researcher in finance at the University College Dublin and one of the NERDS(https://finance4lebanon.com)to discuss the logic behind the Banque du Liban circular released this past week that would allow those with deposits less than or equal to $3,000 to withdraw their money in lira at the market rate. Also covered: the latest on coronavirus in Lebanon, politics as...

Ben and Nizar are back for our second remote lockdown episode with all the latest on the coronavirus in Lebanon, the dismantling of the downtown protest camps, and the economic situation. We ask the question on everyone's mind: Where is the Lebanese government's plans for social protections as the twin crises of coronavirus and Lebanon's economic meltdown set the stage for mass unemployment and poverty? Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Ben and Nizar are joined by journalist Timour Azhari for a special remotely recorded lockdown episode, with all the latest on coronavirus in Lebanon, updates on the economic situation, and the fallout from the controversial release of Amer Fakhoury. NB: The lockdown isn't getting to you, those are notification beeps in the first five minutes, our bad, internet recording teething troubles. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion on default begins at 19:45. Ben and Nizar are joined by economist Marwan Mikhael, former head of research for Blominvest, to discuss Lebanon's decision to default and where the country goes from here. Also covered: coronavirus, lira fluctuations, and the financial prosecutor's move against the banks. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Discussion on coronavirus in Lebanon begins at 19:12. Ben and Nizar are joined this week by Dr Abdul Rahman Bizri, professor of infectious diseases at AUBMC, member of National Communicable Diseases Committee, and a founding member/former president of Lebanese Society for Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, to discuss the recent cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Lebanon and how the Lebanese health system can handle the outbreak. Also discussed: Lebanon starts oil & gas...

Discussion of the financial situation begins at 18:49. Ben and Nizar are joined by economist and historian Joane Chaker to discuss the counter arguments to last week's deep dive topic - to pay or default - and why many believe that Lebanon defaulting on the eurobond payments is necessary. Also covered: the vote of confidence, the attack on economic journalist Mohammad Zbeeb, Lebanon asks the IMF for technical assistance, and Hariri blasts Bassil. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out...

Discussion of the financial situation begins at 20:51. Nizar and Ben are joined for the second time by former banker Dan Azzi to discuss the state of the lira, haircuts on deposits, and take a deep dive into whether or not Lebanon should pay its eurobonds due early March. Also covered: The people vs. Ziad Aswad, The Daily Star drops its print editon and Radio One goes off air, and a full breakdown of the new government's ministerial statement. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out...

Discussion of human rights violations in the protests begins at 20:55. Ben and Nizar analyze the news of the past week, including the so-called Deal of the Century, the 2020 budget, and the latest on the financial crisis, before diving in deep into human rights violations in the protests - including arbitary detention, unlawful use of force, and intimidation tactics - with the help of guest Aya Majzoub, the Lebanon and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. Music track: Zuhal by...

Ben and Nizar take a closer look at Lebanon's new government and how it is very much business as usual. Also covered: Bassil in Davos, Lebanon approaching a fiscal cliff, Parliment to meet on the 2020 budget, debt repayments on the horizon, and the uprising enters a new phase as Lebanese pause to see what this new government can achieve. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel

Ben and Nizar are back for season three! Episode 68 kicks off 2020 with analysis on the appointment of PM-designate Hassan Diab and the reasons behind the delay in forming a government, the assassination of Soleimani from a Lebanese perspective, and how Hezbollah used the situation to their advantage, the return of not so prodigal son Carlos Ghosn, the deteriorating financial situation, and renewed protests in Lebanon taking aim at the banks. NB: Recorded prior to the violence at the...

In the final episode of season two, Ben and Nizar reflect back on the main threads of 2019 - the deteriorating economic situation and lack of competence in the political class that led to the eruption of still ongoing protests in Lebanon - to analyze the main takeaways of this past year: the politicization of the economy, broken confidence in the financial system and rejection of politics as usual. Also covered: News of the past week, including Khatib's withdrawal, clashes in Verdun, and the...

Nizar and Ben are joined by Timour Azhari to discuss ongoing politicking over Lebanon's next prime minister, BDL's new circular and what it means for depositors, the human cost of the dire economic situation, and the latest with the protests. Music track: Zuhal by Elepheel, check out his other work @elepheel