Happy birthday to Recap radio! To mark our first year of podcasting, Turkey recap editors Emily Rice Johnson and Diego Cupolo opened our mail bag and responded to a wide range of listener questions.Covered in this episode are election forecasts, candidacy prospects for Hakan Fidan, Bilal Erdoğan and Mansur Yavaş as well as the implications of the Iran war and ongoing PKK peace process for Turkey.We also discuss Turkey recap-specific questions about freedom of speech, journalism under pressure how to write puns on the run — which is a pun about a nun movie that we do not recommend.Your questions are always welcome. Email us at [email protected] or fill out the anonymous Google form below. Referenced in this talk:Submit a question with this formIn Turkey, is Bilal Erdogan preparing to replace his father? (Al-Monitor)What Turkey’s Election Observers Saw (The Atlantic)Ankara Mayor Yavaş says will consider presidential candidacy ‘if there is demand’ (Duvar)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Lahib Higel, interim deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa program at the International Crisis Group, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss the Iran war.Higel recently co-authored a report on Turkey-Iraq rapprochement titled “Strengthening Iraq-Türkiye Ties amid Regional Tensions.” In this podcast, she juxtaposes the main trend lines from the report against the ongoing regional conflict, highlighting areas to watch in the coming weeks and months.Also covered are discussions about the possible reopening of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to export Iraqi oil through Turkey—a move that would circumvent the Strait of Hormuz.Additionally, the pair take deep dives into Iran-Turkey power competition in Iraq, the prospects of a Kurdish ground incursion into Iran and how the war might impact the Turkey-PKK peace process.Referenced in this talk:Submit a question for our Q&A with this formA Sprawling Middle East War Explodes (Crisis Group)Rivals within: How Iran and Turkey compete inside Iraq’s fractured politics (Chatham House)Iraq plans pipeline revamp for direct Kirkuk oil exports to Turkey, minister says (Reuters)How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran? (Atlantic Council)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is Ezgi Başaran, a political scientist and author of the books Frontline Turkey: The Conflict at the Heart of the Middle East and The New Spirit of Islamism: Interactions Between the AKP, Ennahda and the Muslim Brotherhood. She is also the author of the weekly Substack called Angle, Anchor, and Voice.Together with Diego Cupolo, editor-in-chief at Turkey recap, Ezgi discussed US proposals to arm Kurdish militias against the Iranian regime and the potential implications for both Turkey and the PKK peace talks.Also covered are updates on the Syria transition government and its integration process with the Kurdish-led SDF.Referenced in this talk:Submit a question for our Q&A with this formVague and contradictory Trump says Iran war ‘won’, but not ‘won enough’ (Guardian)Israel backing Iranian Kurdish plans to seize Iran border areas, sources say (Reuters)Integration or conflict in northeastern Syria? Ten key points to consider (MEI)Syria’s Kurds caution Iran’s Kurds against aligning with US against Tehran (Reuters)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Two days after the US and Israel launched new airstrikes on Iran, Hürcan Aslı Aksoy, a senior fellow at the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, discussed what this means for Ankara with Diego Cupolo, editor-in-chief at Turkey recap.Aksoy is the author of a recent report on Israel-Turkey regional competition and, after laying out the implications of war in Iran for both nations, she detailed its potential impacts on Israel-Turkey power dynamics across the region.Covered in this podcast are the competing interests and escalation risks between Turkey and Israel in Syria, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Horn of Africa and beyond.Referenced in this talk:US-Israeli strikes kill Khamenei and Iranian retaliation shakes Gulf (Reuters)Türkei–Israel: Riskante Eskalation in einer fragmentierten Regionalordnung (SWP)Israel’s actions affecting SDF–Damascus integration talks: FM Fidan (DS)New alignments and old rivalries are heating up the Eastern Mediterranean (WPR)Israel becomes first country to recognize Somaliland (AJ)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Our guest today is Amy Austin Holmes, a professor at Texas A&M University's Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington DC, and author of the book, “Statelet of Survivors: The Making of a Semi-Autonomous Region in Northeast Syria.”Together with Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo, she outlined developments before and after Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached a ceasefire deal on Jan. 30 to integrate their forces.Also covered are the security concerns regarding Islamic State-affiliated detainees that escaped prison camps during and after the January offensive as well as the changing US military role in Syria and also women’s changing role in the Syria transition.Referenced in this talk:Syria, Kurdish-led SDF reach integration deal after weeks of clashes (AFP)Syria’s New Order: Centralization by External Consent (Arab Center)US Intelligence Says at Least 15,000 at Large After ISIS Detention Camp Collapses in Syria (WSJ)Disarmament Without Safeguards Is a Death Sentence for Syria’s Minorities (Defense Post)Introduction to Leahy Vetting Policy (US State Dept)Syria’s Minorities Need American Help — by Sam Brownback (WSJ)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Ioannis Grigoriadis, an associate professor of political science at Bilkent University and head of the Turkey program at the Hellenic Foundation of European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Turkey-Greece relations.On Feb. 11, Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ankara, where the pair signed various cooperation and trade agreements while voicing interest in resolving territorial disputes that have plagued ties for decades.This podcast covers the meeting and its implications for EU security as the bloc mulls closer defense cooperation with Turkish defense companies to bolster security amid the Russia-Ukraine war. We also touch on the Cyprus issue towards the end.Referenced in this talk:Turkish, Greek leaders voice desire to resolve issues after talks (Reuters)Türkiye, Greece sign wide-ranging cooperation agreements (AA)Israel will aid Greece in countering military drone swarms (AP)Disputes with EU states complicate Turkey’s role in defense loan program (Tr)Landslide win for pro-EU Turkish Cypriot candidate raises hopes for peace (Guardian)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

The European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, Nacho Sánchez Amor, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Ankara’s stalled EU accession process and recent developments in the region.Amor shares his views on humanitarian needs in northern Syria following clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He also covers migration coordination between European states and Turkey along with defense partnerships and security concerns regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.Towards the end, Amor addresses roadblocks posed by Turkey, Greece and Republic of Cyprus relations as well as opportunities for greater cooperation in light of the current Cypriot Council of the EU presidency and recent North Cyprus election victory of Tufan Erhürman, who campaigned on reviving stalled UN-brokered talks.Referenced in this talk:Amor Nuanced Approach (Turkey recap)Nacho Sánchez Amor visits Osman Kavala in prison (Bianet)EU’s Türkiye Rapporteur Amor: Türkiye has fallen to ‘an unprecedented low’ in democratic standards (AnkaHaber)Türkiye Report 2025 (European Commission)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Bilge Yeşil, a professor of media culture at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York and an affiliate faculty of Middle Eastern Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss media and communication strategies in Turkey.Yeşil lays out how Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration presents itself as a benevolent global actor and “voice of the voiceless” that pushes back on Western hypocrisy through a network of state-funded media institutions and pro-government news channels.The talk deconstructs the way Ankara seeks to frame narratives with the use of “strategic obfuscation”, which presents Erdoğan’s administration in a positive light for domestic and global audiences. Also included are leadership changes at the Directorate of Communications, new digital media trends and how both impact government communication strategies.Referenced in this talk:Talking Back to the West: How Turkey Uses Counter-Hegemony to Reshape the Global Communication Order (University of Illinois)Turkey enters the global media stage with TRT World (TRT World)Türkiye leads Muslim nations in addressing Islamophobia (TRT World)Fahrettin Altun sacked as Türkiye’s comms director in major overhaul (Türkiye Today)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Henri J. Barkey, adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss the SDF’s territorial losses this weekend and the possible implications for Turkey’s PKK peace talks.The podcast covers security concerns for the US and Israel, the potential fate of Islamic State prisoners in Syria plus future prospects for the Kurdish rights movement, both armed and unarmed.Barkey is also the author of the book, Turkey’s Kurdish Question, and the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University.Referenced in this talk:Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Force Agree to Merge After Clashes (NYT - gift)Terms of the Ceasefire and Integration Agreement between Syria and SDF (SANA)Syria tightens grip after Kurdish pullback, says IS prisoners escape (Reuters)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Author and journalist Kaya Genç joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to talk about what it means to report and write about Turkey in 2026 amid the latest wave of repression on government opponents, cultural figures and free speech, in general.The discussion covers censorship and the ethical quandaries reporters must navigate to perform their jobs. Genç also reflects on the responsibility of intellectuals in periods of democratic backsliding and what drives him to continue documenting the people and spaces that exist despite it all.Genç has been a professional journalist for about 20 years. His recent books include Şehir and The Lion and the Nightingale: A Journey Through Modern Turkey.Referenced in this talk:The Turkish government’s grip on journalism is tightening (Index on Censorship)Under the Shadow: Rage and Revolution in Modern Turkey (Bloomsbury)Peace be the promise (Eurozine)The people who clean up your TikTok feed are starting to fight back (Rest of World)Istanbul Biennial ends early following curator departure (The Art Newspaper)Other ways to watch & listen:Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected] here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to produce balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chiefEmily Rice Johnson, Deputy editorCeren Bayar, Parliament correspondentYıldız Yazıcıoğlu, Parliament correspondentGünsu Durak, Stüdyo recap editorDemet Şöhret, Social media and content manager This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe