The Threat Podcast Fri, 22 May 2026 12:02:59 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2609219 en-us © 2026 The Threat Podcast yes 5d49329a-a993-5812-8fb6-87a153814887 Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali episodic false The Threat podcast will analyze and discuss the most pressing, yet not always so visible, threats to global security and the movements and ideologies that fuel extremism and terrorism. We’ll take listeners to the frontlines of these battles, both at home and abroad, and we’ll talk with the key players in law enforcement, intelligence, diplomacy, and academia who are working to counter these threats.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali https://storage.buzzsprout.com/92p7zj3e5z18hkvxkmj6s7o59go1?.jpg The Threat Podcast Inside the Mind of a Lone Wolf Assassin Inside the Mind of a Lone Wolf Assassin On April 26th, 31-year-old software engineer Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. Despite having no known history of violence and recently being named “Teacher of the Year” by his tutoring program, Allen reportedly charged toward Secret Service agents armed with multiple weapons before being stopped.

In this episode of The Threat, we examine the psychology, history, and evolution of the lone wolf assassin in America. From John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of President Lincoln to John Hinckley Jr.’s attempt on Ronald Reagan, what drives seemingly isolated individuals to commit acts of political violence? Are these attacks ideological, personal, or fueled by a deeper obsession with fame, power, and notoriety?

Host Jonathan Schanzer is joined by Program on Extremism colleague Jeffrey Parsons, a former federal prosecutor and counterterrorism expert who spent two decades investigating terrorism and political violence in the United States and abroad, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Together, they discuss the warning signs of lone wolf terrorism, the rise in domestic political violence, possible foreign influence operations, and how law enforcement distinguishes between dangerous rhetoric and credible threats. They also explore what more can be done to prevent political violence before it turns deadly.

]]> On April 26th, 31-year-old software engineer Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. Despite having no known history of violence and recently being named “Teacher of the Year” by his tutoring program, Allen reportedly charged toward Secret Service agents armed with multiple weapons before being stopped.

In this episode of The Threat, we examine the psychology, history, and evolution of the lone wolf assassin in America. From John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of President Lincoln to John Hinckley Jr.’s attempt on Ronald Reagan, what drives seemingly isolated individuals to commit acts of political violence? Are these attacks ideological, personal, or fueled by a deeper obsession with fame, power, and notoriety?

Host Jonathan Schanzer is joined by Program on Extremism colleague Jeffrey Parsons, a former federal prosecutor and counterterrorism expert who spent two decades investigating terrorism and political violence in the United States and abroad, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Together, they discuss the warning signs of lone wolf terrorism, the rise in domestic political violence, possible foreign influence operations, and how law enforcement distinguishes between dangerous rhetoric and credible threats. They also explore what more can be done to prevent political violence before it turns deadly.

]]> Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali Buzzsprout-19222877 Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400 2574 1 4 full false A “Pop Up” Terrorism Network Has Ensnarled Europe A “Pop Up” Terrorism Network Has Ensnarled Europe Since the U.S. war on Iran broke out in late February, a rash of terrorist attacks have struck Europe and primarily targeted Jewish communities. Western intelligence agencies believe Iran is likely behind these operations. But London-based counter-terrorism expert, Roger Macmillan, tells The Threat that this network is nearly impossible to track. It’s recruitment and propagandizing takes place through social media channels. and most of its operatives are simply paid teenagers. This is the story of the HAYI terrorist network.

]]> Since the U.S. war on Iran broke out in late February, a rash of terrorist attacks have struck Europe and primarily targeted Jewish communities. Western intelligence agencies believe Iran is likely behind these operations. But London-based counter-terrorism expert, Roger Macmillan, tells The Threat that this network is nearly impossible to track. It’s recruitment and propagandizing takes place through social media channels. and most of its operatives are simply paid teenagers. This is the story of the HAYI terrorist network.

]]> Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali Buzzsprout-19139500 Thu, 07 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2321 1 3 full false Inside Hezbollah: A Voice They Tried to Silence Inside Hezbollah: A Voice They Tried to Silence In this episode, we discuss with expert and journalist Hanin Ghaddar the threats posed by Hezbollah - a terrorist group, Iranian proxy, and organized crime syndicate based in Lebanon.

Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Her work primarily addresses Shia politics throughout the Levant . and she works closely on Hezbollah. She is the author of the book, "Hezbollahland - Mapping Dahiya and Lebanon's Shia Community," which explores the intricacies of Lebanon's Shia community. And before arriving at the Washington Institute, Hanin had a long history as a journalist based in Beirut.

What Hanin’s bio does not reveal, however, is that she herself is a Shia Lebanese woman from the South of Lebanon. And because of her work to expose Hezbollah’s nefarious behavior and criminal activity, Lebanon’s military court, which is influenced and controlled by Hezbollah, sentenced her in absentia, but was then forced to drop the sentence due to U.S. pressure. So, her case is now sitting somewhere in a civil court. And so, she has a unique and intimate understanding of this terror organization and the threats it poses - both within Lebanon and globally.

Read her book for free here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PolicyFocus172Ghaddar_1.pdf

Read her testimony on Hezbollah here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/targeting-hezbollahs-broader-ecosystem-power

]]> In this episode, we discuss with expert and journalist Hanin Ghaddar the threats posed by Hezbollah - a terrorist group, Iranian proxy, and organized crime syndicate based in Lebanon.

Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Her work primarily addresses Shia politics throughout the Levant . and she works closely on Hezbollah. She is the author of the book, "Hezbollahland - Mapping Dahiya and Lebanon's Shia Community," which explores the intricacies of Lebanon's Shia community. And before arriving at the Washington Institute, Hanin had a long history as a journalist based in Beirut.

What Hanin’s bio does not reveal, however, is that she herself is a Shia Lebanese woman from the South of Lebanon. And because of her work to expose Hezbollah’s nefarious behavior and criminal activity, Lebanon’s military court, which is influenced and controlled by Hezbollah, sentenced her in absentia, but was then forced to drop the sentence due to U.S. pressure. So, her case is now sitting somewhere in a civil court. And so, she has a unique and intimate understanding of this terror organization and the threats it poses - both within Lebanon and globally.

Read her book for free here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PolicyFocus172Ghaddar_1.pdf

Read her testimony on Hezbollah here: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/targeting-hezbollahs-broader-ecosystem-power

]]> Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali Buzzsprout-19099860 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:00:00 -0400 2733 national security, terrorism, extremism, global security, geopolitics, intelligence, law enforcement, radicalization, counterterrorism, foreign policy, investigative journalism, world affairs 2 full false I Built the IRGC: Inside Iran’s ‘Monster’ Machine I Built the IRGC: Inside Iran’s ‘Monster’ Machine This week on The Threat, Jay and Hagar sit down with Mohsen Sazegara, an Iranian dissident who, in his earlier life, helped create Iran’s most lethal military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a top aid to the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Sazegara described to us how the IRGC grew into a multi-headed “monster”; how Tehran oversees its terror cells in the West, and what he sees as the most effective way for the U.S. to help promote regime change in Tehran. Have a listen.

]]> This week on The Threat, Jay and Hagar sit down with Mohsen Sazegara, an Iranian dissident who, in his earlier life, helped create Iran’s most lethal military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a top aid to the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Sazegara described to us how the IRGC grew into a multi-headed “monster”; how Tehran oversees its terror cells in the West, and what he sees as the most effective way for the U.S. to help promote regime change in Tehran. Have a listen.

]]> Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali Buzzsprout-19071893 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400 2809 national security, terrorism, extremism, global security, geopolitics, intelligence, law enforcement, radicalization, counterterrorism, foreign policy, investigative journalism, world affairs 1 1 full false The Threat — Official Trailer The Threat — Official Trailer The Threat podcast will analyze and discuss the most pressing, yet not
always so visible, threats to global security and the movements and
ideologies that fuel extremism and terrorism.

]]> The Threat podcast will analyze and discuss the most pressing, yet not
always so visible, threats to global security and the movements and
ideologies that fuel extremism and terrorism.

]]> Jay Solomon and Hagar Chemali Buzzsprout-19010467 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0400 32 national security, terrorism, extremism, global security, geopolitics, intelligence, law enforcement, radicalization, counterterrorism, foreign policy, investigative journalism, world affairs full false