Briefings

Background Briefing: September 15th, 2026

On By evan-s

Trump Hangs MbS Out to Dry After Jared “Peacemaker” Kushner Has Made Billions From Gulf Potentates Now at the Mercy of Iran

We begin with how Trump is abandoning the Saudi dictator MbS who is being hung out to dry after begging for U.S. help against the Houthis and assess the massive diplomatic failures of Jared Kushner who has gotten rich shaking down Gulf potentates who, due to Trump and Kushner’s ineptitude, now have to rely on Iran for their future security. Joining us is Robert Young Pelton, an author, filmmaker, journalist, and explorer. He is the publisher of Dangerous Magazine and has a first-hand perspective on the war on terror from direct contact with the world’s most infamous jihadi, rebel and insurgent groups. His books include: The World’s Most Dangerous Places, Come Back Alive, Three Worlds Gone Mad, Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror and his autobiography, The Adventurist.

The U.S. Has Joined An Arms Race in Space

Then we examine the announcement by the Secretary of the Air Force that the U.S. has deployed weapons in space and speak with Daryl Kimball, the Executive Director of the Arms Control Association and publisher and contributor for the organization’s monthly journal, Arms Control Today. For more than two decades, he has led the organization’s research and policy advocacy on a range of issues, including cancellation of new nuclear weapons programs, the conclusion of the 2015 P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran, and the negotiation and ratification of the 2010 New START agreement. Previously, he was the executive director of the Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers and the Director of Security Programs at Physicians for Social Responsibility.

 

Settlers Are Not Only Invading the West Bank, They’re Moving Into Captured Areas of Lebanon and Syria

Then finally, Background Briefing’s Anna Leah investigates how settlers are not only invading the West Bank but are moving into areas captured by the IDF in Southern Lebanon and Syria. She speaks with Peter Beinart, the editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, a liberal publication started in the wake of World War II. He also writes for the opinion section of the New York Times, is a non-resident fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace, and a professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark School of Journalism. His Substack, The Beinart Notebook, hosts some of our major thinkers and politicians to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and liberal ideas in American politics today. He has written four books, most recently – Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza – which won a PEN America award after its time on the New York Times bestseller list.