Arabs in Media

In this very personal episode of Arabs in Media, I return to Iraq, the country of my heritage, from the home in Baghdad where my father grew up, to sit down with my cousin Ahmed for a conversation that is was as unplanned as it was inspiring. Together, we unpack a story that intertwines family, grief, and acts of service in the midst of bombing.

In 2003, on the cusp of the US-led invasion on Iraq, Ahmed’s life was forever chan...

In Part 2 of our conversation with comic and content creator Reem Edan, Arabs in Media unpacks some of Reem's upbringing, her temporary move to Iraq, and how to show up to help others when you feel your mental health won't allow you.

In probably the first-ever Iraqi-manned tri-lingual podcast of mostly English sprinkled with some Arabic words and a couple of entire phrases in Spanish, enjoy some of our topics:

- How a...

You know Reem Edan from her viral videos with her Iraqi baba (father), later her mother, but also a from her exceptional Stand-Up comedy career. In this episode of Arabs in Media, we meet one of the funny fresh voices in media, while we explore the nuances of Iraqi culture and identity, and the role of humor in bridging cultural gaps.

Reem and host Hazem Jamal delve into Iraqi heritage, exploring the cultural significance of...

The co-founder of the National Arab Institute and the author of the upcoming book “The History We Carry,” Mariam Sallam tells us the story of how one journalist in Gaza sat with Mona, a young girl who had just witnessed her mother being killed by the IDF. The journalist gave the child some crayons and paper, and the trauma and depiction of her mother's killing came out on the makeshift canvas.

From there, the Bul...

What can possibly go wrong when you tell Arab voters "Trump will be worse, so STFU"?

Arabs in Media interviews Abdelhalim Abdelrahman, a Palestinian political analyst and journalist who covers Palestinian affairs and the broader Middle East. Based in Dearborn, the epicenter of Arab politics, culture and Arab life in Michigan, the podcast discusses the polls and visceral mood of Arab voters in Michigan - pretty much the most ...

Arabs in Media explores the controversy surrounding acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates and his interview on CBS This Morning to discuss his new book The Messenger.
 The episode exposes the bias of institutional media outlets, which, in the past, often went unchallenged for their narratives, style, and side swipes on figures like Coates.

Coates, known for his thought-provoking books like Between the World and Me and Th...

"How can our electorate be informed if we are blocking - intentionally blocking access to information about such a crucial issue?" - Lesley Williams

Just north of Chicago, in Evanston Illinois, 20-year veteran librarian Lesley Williams became the center of a controversy that involved an invitation to Palestinian author and scholar Ali Abunimeh to speak at a series at the Evanston Public Library. Lesley was then told to "post...

In this episode of Arabs in Media, we connect with Palestinian activist Salah Said from Germany to shed light on the chaotic scenes unfolding on the ground. From media narratives to police brutality against protesters, to arms shipments and the rise of far-right extremism, we explore the political environment in Germany.

Even if you're not deeply engaged with the Palestine issue, it's crucial to understand the broader political impl...

Arabs in Media talks to Yasmin Elhady - an exceptionally funny human being!  How Yasmin arrived to the US as a refugee, and now does stand-up comedy in a badass hijab is a story with lots of plot twists you won't expect. Yasmin has the gift of storytelling, but has some crazy family stories that you didn't see coming.   

We met up with Yasmin before her set at a comedy tour benefit for the Palestine Children's...

Nima Akram, co-founder of NewsCord.org, discusses media bias and the role of AI in revealing it. 

As a data nerd, I have been fascinated by the unchallenged headlines that have minimized the atrocities in Gaza, perpetuated by Western media. Newscord has clearly and simply used AI to aggregate coverage on a topic.  At minimum you have a more comprehensive understanding of the news.

While the impetus started w...

Arabs in Media interviews Najwa, born in the US to parents who emigrated from Iraq, and who shares her experiences of growing during those wars and 9/11 being in the background of her development and adulthood.

Surprise, Najwa is my sister, and also just got back from a trip to the Arab world, and shares the joy and warmth that came from a full-circle experience of going from one extreme of xenophobia to cultural welcoming, ...

So much news has happened such a short period of time, that we've got a short and sweet Arabs in Media, with a Soap Opera-style recap of the news starting from the Biden Trump debate to today's foreign war criminal addressing the US Congress. Special surprise appearances from Nikki Haley, God and George Clooney.

The Arabs in Media Substack also had something to say about Biden dropping out of the race.

https://arabsi...

I was working on another episode when tonight's debate between Biden and Trump was set to air. I wasn't going to watch it, but then the texts started. "Just horrible."  "We are doomed."  "It hurts." "What an embarrassment." 

So I tuned in, and, yup. So we're going to break down some of the media headlines post-debate, and some analysis of the two or so minutes that Biden and Trump incoherently talked about Isr...

In our post-Oct 7th World, It's Not Cancel Culture; the Genocide in Gaza Has Created an Entirely New Category of Censorship and Pressure.

This week in Arabs in Media, we look at the idea of freedom of speech at the intersection of commercial media and tech, and why, even if it doesn't affect you personally, why it should matter to everyone.

We'll discuss Mehdi Hasan, who left MSNBC after criticisms of Israel, and just a few d...

Hazem Jamal breaks down the aftermath of the Israeli strike on the Rafah refugee camp that decapitated a baby, the mental health struggles we feel at the images. Have we lost our humanity, our minds, or both? 

Hear the story of Hesen Jabr, a nurse at NYU honored for her compassion in working with women who experience perinatal loss, who was then fired after accepting the award because she mentioned in her acceptance her...

Old Media is freaking out, and they're missing the real story of what's happening at campus protests.

Hazem Jamal reveals his motivation for doing this podcast and Substack content @ArabsinMedia, and shares his personal history with protests to create change.

Hear his take on what's different and similar to this generation's students. Hint: they are unbothered by Dr. Phil, Jimmy Fallon, Hillary Clinton and celebrities...

In the trailer/debut episode of Arabs in Media, Hazem Jamal explores the view of Arabs in news, entertainment, social media, and life in the West.  

In the wake of The New York Times' contentious editorial decisions surrounding Israel-Palestine coverage and the persistent stereotyping in Hollywood, we dissect how these portrayals shape public perception and the real-world consequences that follow. 

Through a...

In our debut episode of Arabs in Media, Hazem Jamal walks you through life as an Arab American and all the ways news and entertainment cover Arabs.  If you are also Arab American and identify with both stories of struggle and triumph, living at the intersections of culture, identity and expression, you might know the connection between media portrayals and dehumanization in the West.

If it's foreign to you; open a windo...