The Aporia · The Tumultuous, Remarkable Middle East | Interview: Simon Sebag Montefiore

The Remnant podcast features an interview with historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discussing his new book "The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East." Hosted by Jonah Goldberg, the episode covers a range of topics including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the impact of colonialism on the region. Montefiore shares insights into contemporary issues like antisemitism and moral hysteria while also delving into historical context such as the 1979 revolution in Iran and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Written by AI on 2026-10-12, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

In an interview with The Dispatch's Jonah Goldberg, historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses a wide range of topics related to the Middle East. They cover Iran, Saudi Arabia, the 1979 revolution, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, antisemitism, and Western obsession with Jerusalem. Additionally, they delve into colonialism, nationalism, ethnicity, modernization, and Islam's role in shaping the region's history. The Dispatch highlights Montefiore’s expertise by bestowing on him a newly created honorary title for Middle Eastern history. The interview aims to provide historical context and insight into current geopolitical issues affecting the area.

Written for “Middle East Politics History Interviews” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Middle East Politics History Interviews

Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

The Future of Israel May Belong to This Man Different event

The Free Press

Hedges 3 of 18 claims Outlet record 96/100

“The articles discuss different topics related to Middle Eastern history and politics but do not describe the same specific incident or occurrence.”

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

The Dispatch · 397 article(s) · 1 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 1 correction(s)

2026-10-06

What We Got Wrong in September

Jonah Goldberg

58 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 Jonah Goldberg convenes with Thomas Chatterton Williams to dissect and diagnose the problems plaguing America’s oldest ally, France.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · What’s Wrong with France? | Interview: Thomas Chatterton Williams

🔮 “A pardon for all junior administration personnel is viewed as unlikely,” one source told the Washington Sun, “but the president could issue blanket pardons for all employees involved in particular policy areas, such as deportations, war or trade.”

2026-10-28 · mixed framing · How to Rein In Trump Without Impeaching Him

🔮 Will the Democrats maintain their momentum, or could Republicans defy expectations?

2026-10-27 · mixed framing · Can Democrats Maintain Their Momentum?

🔮 Will the Democrats maintain their momentum, or could Republicans defy expectations?

2026-10-26 · mixed framing · A Leader Doth Not a Statesman Make | Interview: Steven B. Smith

🔮 Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Kevin Williamson to discuss Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Amy Acton and Williamson's reporting from Texas.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Vivek Ramaswamy’s Vicious Attack Ad May Backfire

🔮 Conventional wisdom will tell you to be well rested and sober before an interview to ensure peak performance.

2026-10-19 · assertive framing · A Modest Defense of Lulu Lenin | Interview: Tyler Austin Harper

🔮 On today's roundtable, we'll discuss a large number of Americans who say they want substantial change or complete and total upheaval in these midterm elections, and whether the prevailing anti-incumbent and anti-Trump sentiment will lead to a blue wave, a rogue wave, or something else entirely.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · A Blue Wave or an Anti-Incumbent Wave?

🔮 Ladies and gentlemen, could I please have your attention?

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · What’s Wrong With Kids These Days? | Interview: Daniel A. Cox

🔮 For reasons that will baffle my many detractors, I am often asked for advice about being an opinion journalist.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · When Politicians Are Entirely Too Online

🔮 And I figure if it's really important, Steve or Declan or somebody will send it to me, or I'll hear about it or whatever.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Modernity’s Big Bang | Ruminant

Also by Jonah Goldberg

Democrats Play Dirty in Alaska

2026-10-30 · The Dispatch

You’re Allowed to Laugh at Obama’s Cheesecake Factory Joke

2026-10-28 · The Dispatch

What’s Wrong with France? | Interview: Thomas Chatterton Williams

2026-10-28 · The Dispatch

How to Rein In Trump Without Impeaching Him

2026-10-28 · The Dispatch

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 58 articles by Jonah Goldberg →

While The Remnant has played host to many remarkable historians over the years, few have taken us on a more incredible ride than Simon Sebag Montefiore. asserted

few → play → Montefiore

As such, we’re proud to bestow on Simon our newly formed, not-really-endowed chair of Middle Eastern history. asserted

we → ’re → history

Tune in to hear Simon and Jonah Goldberg rove across time and space, covering Iran, Saudi Arabia, the 1979 revolution, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Israel, antisemitism, moral hysteria, Western obsession with Jerusalem, colonialism, nationalism, ethnicity, modernization, Islam, historical perspective, and, most importantly of all, the proper pronunciation of Turkey. asserted

Simon → tune → Turkey

The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. asserted

Remnant → cover → perspective

To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including the Saturday Ruminant, audio versions of all our articles and newsletters, and Jonah’s twice-weekly G-File—click here. asserted

access → access → articles

Instructions on how to set up your members-only feed can be found here, and if you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. asserted

you → set → experience

Can you dig it? asserted

you → dig → it

This is Jonah Goldberg, host of the Remnant Podcast, brought to you by The Dispatch and Dispatch Media. asserted

This → bring → Dispatch

I cannot tell you how excited I am about today's guest. asserted

I → tell → guest

Sadly, it's somewhat, you know, like, normally when I have historians on, I like to talk about how it has nothing to do with what's going on on the news. asserted

what → know → news

And so I'm, I'm thrilled to have one of the foremost living historians in the English language, Simon Sebag Montefiore. asserted

I → have → language

He's a historian who's written many books. asserted

who → write → books

The ones I know well are about Stalin and, and, and Eastern Europe, but he's written histories of Jerusalem, which this is sort of a companion to. asserted

this → know → which

He's written more books than most people have read, and he went to all those fancy schools where kids make fun of you in the cafeteria. asserted

kids → write → cafeteria

He is here today to talk about his book and, and other things. asserted

He → talk → book

So I'm gonna call you Simon, whether you like it or not. asserted

you → go → it

The Tumultuous, Remarkable Middle East | Interview: Simon Sebag Montefiore

Quick Summary

AI analysis

Story

Compared with similar articles

Signals How these are calculated →

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Publisher

Who wrote this

Topics

Subjects

Narrative

Claims (16 extracted, 0 hedged)