MBN Quick Notes

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 the MBN story. And MBN’s network keeps growing.

Today, Foundation for the Defense of Democracy CEO Mark Dubowitz hosts Leila, Matt, Andres, Min, and me at FDD for a briefing and exchange on MBN’s new editorial strategy.

With the same aim, we’ll be at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy soon (we’re working on dates). Washington Institute Executive Director Rob Satloff continues to be a source of critical advice and invaluable support. We’re looking forward to sitting down with Rob and his team to discuss next steps in MBN’s editorial strategy.

Meanwhile, tomorrow morning we’ll be at the National Press Club with Ken Pollack (no MBN expense involved). Formerly at Brookings and AEI, Ken is currently vice president for policy at the Middle East Institute. He’s an experienced and exceptionally insightful analyst on our issues. We’ve asked Ken to speak about MEI plans, regional developments — and MBN opportunities. I’m delighted that Tom Melia from our board and colleagues Randa, Aya, Joe, and Rami are joining this one as well.

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Congressional correspondent for Jewish Insider Marc Rod will brief us on his work in a virtual session this Friday at 12 noon. JI’s issues on the Hill overlap with ours, and Marc is another sharp analyst with a great sense for news.

Rob Satloff has agreed to talk with us on Tuesday, February 17 at 4 pm on his new graduate school with Pepperdine University.

On Wednesday, February 18, we’ll be with Min in a briefing for Randall Shriver and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The Commission is interested in MBN’s China Tracker.

We’re unveiling our final installment of Min’s China Tracker tomorrow. It’s an important one — on technology. China’s involvement across our region keeps attracting considerable interest from lawmakers and the policy community.

The same applies very much to out Iran work. It’s not hard to understand why. MBN is distinct. We’re not working in Farsi for the Iranian population. Rather, MBN has a unique and important niche in reporting in Arabic language for our audiences on Iranian activity in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, and elsewhere. There’s audience demand. There’s pitch perfect mission-alignment.

On Iran, here’s Randa’s interview with Tom Gross (with Tom’s kind shoutout to MBN at minute 39). Keep in mind the March 4 salon on Iran in our region with Roya Hakakian and Elliott Abrams.

And this just in. Stephen Schneider is inviting us to brief his AIPAC team on MBN editorial strategy and programming. MBN Iran’s work led by our colleague Andres keeps getting traction around town.

For now: Let’s meet tomorrow at 11 am for a town hall on key issues followed by our customary Wednesday’s potluck lunch. There’s a special addition this time. Thanks to Min we’ll have delicious food to celebrate the Chinese New Year!

My best, Jeff