In this episode of The Middle East Breakdown, Hayvi Bouzo and Dan Feferman sit down with Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for an in-depth conversation about the Muslim Brotherhood, the US executive order launching investigations into its branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, and what these moves could mean for US policy and global security.

Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Egypt, Arab politics, and Middle East minorities. Previously she worked in FDD’s communications team and served as associate director of advocacy with the Philos Project. Mariam holds a BA in Middle East studies, Arabic, and Jewish studies from Fordham University and is a vocal commentator on Middle East affairs.

Follow her on X: https://x.com/themariamwahba

They discuss:
🕌 What the Muslim Brotherhood is and why it is not a single centralized organization
📜 The new US executive order and why it directs investigations rather than immediate designations
🇪🇬 🇯🇴 🇱🇧 Why Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon were named first
💣 Links between Brotherhood branches, Hamas, and regional militant activity
🧠 Patient extremism and how the Brotherhood’s long game works
📺 How Brotherhood aligned media narratives spread influence
🌍 Why the West should pay attention to these developments
🧾 What FTO and SDGT designations mean in practice
🔍 What could come next if investigations meet legal standards

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