Chama Mechtaly is a Moroccan-American artist, activist, and policy advisor whose work sits at the intersection of cultural preservation, deradicalisation, and Middle Eastern diplomacy. Born in Casablanca in 1992 to a Muslim mother and a Jewish father of Amazigh heritage, she draws on her complex identity to promote dialogue and coexistence between Muslim and Jewish communities throughout North Africa and the Gulf. She recently organised the first-ever Abraham Accords Deradicalisation Summit, where she contributed to shaping cultural frameworks for regional integration in the wake of normalisation agreements. In today’s conversation, we discuss her recent Quillette essay examining Qatar’s ideological reach into Western institutions, the suppression of critical voices, and the broader ambitions of Islamist movements on the global stage.Qatar’s Weaponised Mediation: Bankrolling Hamas as Broker Doha can change when it is forced to, and it must be forced to choose moderation. Drawing from her lived experience across Morocco, the Gulf, and the United States, Chama reflects on how Islamist actors have appropriated the language of democracy to undermine liberal values from within. What emerges is a sobering analysis of the soft power networks quietly reshaping our political and cultural institutions—and the steep cost of looking the other way. We also explore how culture is weaponised, how the West has failed to confront these forces, and what a path toward genuine peace and pluralism in the Middle East might look like. Chama's piece here: https://quillette.com/2025/10/31/the-qatar-problem-hamas-israel-saudi-arabia/ 00:00 Introduction 00:14 Opening remarks 02:41 Main conversation begins 03:36 Discussing the essay and frustrations 11:55 TED Talk and the Qatar Foundation 15:15 Qatar’s influence and strategic goals 18:07 Economic boycotts and media manipulation 22:38 Social dynamics and cultural context in Qatar 29:59 Predictions about Qatar’s future 34:38 Qatar’s influence operations in London 37:48 Personal experiences during the Arab Spring 42:35 The long game: Islamist strategy 49:35 Education and reform challenges in North Africa 52:21 Islam vs. Islamism: key distinctions 1:02:49 The Abraham Accords and regional change 1:09:46 Accountability and recent developments ------ Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

How Qatar's ideological reach—from think tanks to media—has stifled dissent and enabled Islamism in the West.

The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.

A former BBC journalist explains how the corporation discarded impartial journalism and why we need a news revolution.

History and the constraints of American federalism suggest the euphoria and catastrophism that have followed Zohran Mamdani’s election victory are misplaced.

History and the constraints of American federalism suggest the euphoria and catastrophism that have followed Zohran Mamdani’s election victory are misplaced.

A month after the lethal Manchester synagogue attack, the UK still refuses to take its number one terror threat seriously.

Jonathan Kay speaks with comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, and crime.

Just as the Dutch reclaimed physical land to build the Netherlands, Australia should reclaim political land by creating new states to ease the country's housing crisis.

From Achilles to Anakin Skywalker, the messiah myth has evolved from religious prophecy to cautionary tale.

Quillette podcast host speaks with Healing Roar founder and comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood sexual abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, crime, and incarceration. --- Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

Shadi Hamid has an uneasy conscience, and he doesn’t yet know what to do with it.

As the nationalist parties of the New Right gain ever greater influence in Europe, the future of the European Union is looking increasingly precarious.

Why did this particular crime cut through the daily background noise of American violence? In this video essay, Zoe Booth reads The Murder of Iryna Zarutska by Jukka Savolainen—former Director of the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data and now a professor of sociology and criminology at Wayne State University. Published by Quillette, the essay examines the disturbing silence surrounding the brutal murder of a Ukrainian refugee in Ireland—and what that silence might reveal about shifting media priorities, ideological bias, and cultural taboos. Was this case overlooked because it didn’t fit the dominant narrative? Are journalists making editorial choices based on ideology rather than truth? And what does this say about how we collectively process injustice? 🔔 Subscribe to Quillette for more fearless conversations and principled dissent. 📚 Read the full essay here: https://quillette.com/2025/09/13/the-murder-of-iryna-zarutska-media-bias-urban-crime-disorder/ 💬 Join the conversation in the comments below. 👍 Like, share, and support independent journalism. [00:00] Introduction to the crime of Iryna Zarutska and initial media reactions. [00:27] Abby Phillip's commentary and media reaction. [00:54] Examination of why this case resonated so strongly. [01:19] Discussion on identitarian media bias. [02:15] Analysis of media coverage disparities based on race. [03:10] Coverage of Iryna Zarutska's case in media. [03:38] Discussion on CNN panel and conservative activism. [04:34] Commentary on urban disorder and post-Floyd political climate. [05:14] Effects of urban disorder and crime rates. [06:11] "Broken windows" policy and systematic failures. [07:08] Suspect's history and systemic failures in justice. [08:05] Characterization of Iryna Zarutska and contrasting victim narratives. [09:29] Commentary on ideological divides in victim narratives. [10:44] Analysis of sacred versus non-sacred victim response. [11:13] Concluding thoughts on media bias and conservative reaction. [11:40] Narration credits and platform promotion. [12:07] Final thoughts and viewer engagement. #MediaBias #TrueCrime #Quillette #CulturalTrends #IrynaZarutska #JournalismEthics #IdeologicalBias #FreeSpeech #ZoeBooth #VideoEssay ---- Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

During COVID, hospitals faced impossible choices about who to save first — ventilators, vaccines, and critical care. You’d think the priority would be the elderly, the most vulnerable. But some policymakers argued that since there were more elderly white people, care should instead prioritize “marginalized” groups.⁠ ⁠ 🔗 More by #LawrenceKrauss here: https://quillette.com/2025/11/02/podcast-309-is-there-a-war-on-science-and-if-so-whos-waging-it-lawrence-krauss/

Susan Sontag’s 1974 essay about Leni Riefenstahl and fascist aesthetics displayed the critic at her most stiflingly moralistic and aristocratic.

How the media perpetuates Gaza’s suffering. 

Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

In a country struggling to come to terms with violent acts by recent immigrants, the dark mistruths of bigots have been replaced with the cheerful mistruths of multiculturalists.

Managing Editor Iona Italia talks to Harry Saul Markham about the increasingly acute threat of Islamism in the UK and the normalisation of virulent antisemitism among British Muslims.

In this wide-ranging and urgent conversation, Harry Saul Markham speaks with Iona Italia about the deep cultural and political challenges facing Britain today. Drawing on personal experiences and public advocacy, Harry addresses the erosion of secular liberal democracy, the pathology of denial around extremism, and the normalisation of Islamist thinking within segments of British society. The discussion explores the fear that stifles open discourse, the double standards in how speech is policed, and the failure of liberal institutions to defend the very values they claim to uphold. Harry makes the case for muscular liberalism—a confident and assertive defence of shared civic values—and reflects on his involvement with the Association of British Muslims, which seeks to build a positive, liberal Muslim identity amid rising communal tensions. This is a vital conversation for anyone concerned about freedom of speech, cultural resilience, and the future of liberal democratic societies. 🔑 Key Takeaways Solidarity across communities is essential for defending democratic values. Britain’s political crisis is rooted in cultural and philosophical confusion. Fear—of both reputational harm and physical reprisal—prevents honest discussion. Extremist ideas have become mainstream in some communities. Liberalism must reclaim its confidence and assert a shared national framework. There is a dangerous double standard in how free speech is policed. Reformist Muslim voices need support—but are often abandoned by the state. Government inaction threatens long-term social cohesion. The UK’s experience offers a clear warning to other Western democracies. 📍 Chapters 00:00 – Addressing Secular Liberal Democracy 04:47 – Cultural Reform and the Pathology of Denial 11:07 – Fear and the Consequences of Speaking Out 15:10 – Normalisation of Extremist Thinking 20:31 – The Role of Liberals in Cultural Crisis 29:50 – Personal Background and Multicultural Education 36:28 – The Association of British Muslims and Future Prospects 🔗 Subscribe to Quillette for thoughtful conversations on politics, culture, and free thought. 📚 Read more at www.quillette.com #Quillette #HarrySaulMarkham #FreeSpeech #Liberalism #Extremism #Multiculturalism #SecularDemocracy #BritishPolitics #MuscularLiberalism ----- Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91

Israelis repeatedly warned the Bush administration that invading Iraq would be a disaster.

Israelis repeatedly warned the Bush administration that invading Iraq would be a disaster.

Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91