Why Israel's Enemies Are Better at Telling the Story

What can a single cartoon tell you about the Middle East? In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen sits down with Middle East researcher Noam Bannett, who has spent years studying a language most of us barely notice: political cartoons. Noam explains how he learned to read the symbols hidden inside them: from animals and traditional clothing to religious stories, shoes, olive trees and even familiar characters. Sometimes, understanding one small detail can reveal an entire story about how people across the region see Israel, Iran and each other. He also shares the story behind his own podcast, Uskut – Arabic for “be quiet” or “shut up” — and why the name ended up being unexpectedly appropriate.