Alhurra

Dear Colleagues, It’s a pleasure representing MBN to different audiences. Hearing from students is especially gratifying. I was at Belmont University in Nashville yesterday evening, hosted by a chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society (AHS). Students I met wanted to learn about MBN’s mission, our journalism, and how we function as a U.S-funded media organization.…

Dear Colleagues, Leila and I join Min today as she briefs the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Members of the Commission are interested in MBN’s work tracking Chinese influence in the Middle East and North Africa. That’s become an MBN niche. We’ve seen a pattern around the world: Chinese financing eroding national sovereignty; Chinese-funded…

Dear Colleagues, There’s much to discuss at tomorrow’s 11 am town hall meeting, including generous support from Congress, our budget and build-forward strategy, relocation — with additional cost savings for the American taxpayer — and editorial highlights. There’s plenty to report on marketing and outreach, too, thanks to Kristina, Alina, and Lesia. We keep telling…

Colleagues, We’re making important progress —all thanks to your tenacity, resilience, and hard work. On Tuesday, the House passed bills to end the government shutdown. The federal government faces another shutdown in ten days unless Democrats and Republicans can strike a deal on ICE. But MBN has passed a hurdle. House and Senate, both sides…

Dear Colleagues, MBN is on the Hill tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be joined by Leila, Matt, Min, and Andres in a discussion of our exciting new editorial strategy and 2026 opportunities. Our indispensable CFO Raji will attend, with deputy Michael minding the fort and pressing forward with our budget exercise in Springfield. Board member Tom Melia…

Dear Colleagues, The news out of Iran this week is horrific. The regime now acknowledges that at least 5,000 people were killed in recent protests. One haunting image — from Rasht in northwest Iran — shows a pile of abandoned shoes. Surrendering protesters in a historic bazaar were trapped and apparently burned alive by security…

Dear Colleagues, Predictions of the Iranian regime’s collapse go back decades. In one instance, an Egyptian scholar argued that the combination of economic deprivation and political repression spelled the end. Forag Foda was writing in 1985, a half dozen years after the Islamic Republic was established. Moderate views led to Foda’s demise. “Iran is a…

Dear Colleagues, Yesterday, we had another productive meeting with our board’s content committee. I’ll share details at our town hall next week. That’s January 15 at 11 am. MBN board member Ilan Berman will join us. We’re blessed with resources. We’ve invited board members Ryan Crocker and Susan Ziadeh for an interview. Susan served as…

Dear Colleagues, We’re grateful to Raji, Michael, and the finance team for leading us through an important budget exercise. Department leads have drafts due January 15. We’ll build forward in the new year — judiciously, strategically — with utmost attention to accountability, outcomes, and impact. We’re completing as we speak updated job descriptions with focus…

Dear Colleagues, On Monday, board chair Ryan Crocker briefed us and spoke about opportunities for MBN in 2026. We’re grateful. Ryan was recently in Syria and Lebanon, two of the six countries where he served as U.S. ambassador. Both are big tests for any new order in the Middle East. In Syria and Lebanon, stakes…