Ep.225 (Video): Biden & The Middle East with Firas Maksad

0:00 Intro 2:10 The Broad Story 10:09 Anxiety 15:45 Personality 23:20 Vacuum 33:26 US Policy Towards Lebanon 39:30 Memories of My Father We're with Firas Maksad for Ep.225 of The Beirut Banyan. Click to watch: https://youtu.be/kHLwHcH-WZc We discuss the incoming Biden administration and general trends in US foreign policy over the past twelve years. We compare Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Iran with Obama's JCPOA / Iran nuclear deal, and how a Biden administration may approach American interests in the region. Our conversation includes looking at policy vs personality, and areas of consistency and divergence between the outgoing Trump administration and incoming Biden White House. We also examine potential policy changes towards Lebanon. Firas Maksad is an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. The articles referenced in this episode include: 'For the Middle East, Biden is no Obama': https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/for-the-middle-east-biden-is-no-obama-1.1108646 'The Arab World Needs American Support' https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-arab-world-needs-american-support-11595193812 Help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our podcast from your preferred platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Music by Marc Codsi. Graphics by Sara Tarhini.