The Thinking Youth

The Middle East and the Muslim world is shifting, and most of the conversation around it still misses what actually matters.

In this episode, we sit down with Mahfuz Talukder, known as NewsBaba, a fast rising geopolitical analyst with nearly 500,000 followers on TikTok and hundreds of millions of views, to break down what is really going on behind the headlines.

We look at the Strait of Hormuz, US–Iran tensions, Israel’s position, and the idea of a “Muslim NATO,” but more importantly, we step back and ask a deeper question. How should we even be thinking about politics in the first place?

Too much of today’s political conversation is driven by emotion, reaction, and simple binaries. Who is right, who is wrong. Who we support, who we oppose. But geopolitics does not work like that. It is not about what we feel. It is about incentives, power, strategy, and decisions made by states acting in their own interests.

That is where the gap is.

Activism matters. Raising awareness matters. But it is not enough on its own. We have to go a step further into analysis. Into understanding why things happen, not just reacting to them after the fact.

How many Muslim analysts can we actually name?
How many Muslim strategic thinkers are shaping how we understand the world?

This is something we are missing, and it has real consequences. Because if we want to see meaningful change in the Muslim world, in the Middle East, and globally, then we need to be able to think clearly about the world as it is. Not how we want it to be.

This conversation is an attempt to move in that direction. To step away from noise, bias, and surface level takes, and to start thinking in a more grounded, structured way about geopolitics and power.

In this episode:
Strait of Hormuz and its global importance
US–Iran tensions and regional strategy
Israel’s role and strategic pressure
The idea of a Muslim NATO
Why political analysis is missing
Why emotion is not enough in geopolitics

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
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In this episode of The Thinking Muslim, renowned Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani joins us for a deep and unfiltered conversation on the escalating tensions surrounding Iran and the shifting global order.

The discussion opens by examining whether the recent ceasefire represents a genuine strategic win for Trump - or something far more fragile. It then turns to the intensifying bombing campaign in Lebanon, exposing the stark imbalance on the ground and what it reveals about the trajectory of the conflict.

Can the region return to the pre-February status quo, or has a permanent shift already taken place?

The conversation expands to the role of the Gulf States, evolving security arrangements, and who is ultimately emerging as the real loser in this confrontation. With global stakes rising, Rabbani also unpacks China’s strategic calculations - particularly its interest in the Strait of Hormuz - and whether US actions are inadvertently accelerating Beijing’s influence.

The episode also explores the ideological forces shaping Western policy, including the intersection of extreme Christianity, imperialism, and Zionism.

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
00:35 – Was the ceasefire a victory for Trump?
07:00 – Escalation of the bombing campaign in Lebanon: assessing the imbalance between sides
16:50 – Is a return to the pre-February status quo possible?
24:00 – The Gulf States, security agreements, and identifying the net losers of the conflict
30:00 – China’s strategic perspective: understanding the Strait of Hormuz
37:30 – The intersection of extreme Christianity, imperialism, and Zionism
41:44 – What might the emerging new world order look like?
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What do Kashmir, Iran, and the growing relationship between India and Israel actually have in common?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur about the deeper connections behind today’s biggest geopolitical flashpoints. From Kashmir to Iran, this is not a set of isolated conflicts. It is one system playing out across different regions.

We discuss the situation in Kashmir, rising tensions in Iran, and the strategic alignment between India and Israel.

This comes at a time when tensions are escalating fast. Israel has carried out strikes inside Iran, including near sensitive diplomatic areas. At the same time, indirect talks between the United States and Iran have reportedly taken place through Islamabad, with figures like Steve Witkoff involved in negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz has once again become a major pressure point, with global energy markets and military strategy tied directly to what happens there.

Within this wider context, we break down how Kashmir fits into the picture and why it cannot be understood in isolation.

This episode covers
Kashmir and why even worship can become a form of resistance
India and Israel’s military and political cooperation
Iran, deterrence, and the importance of hard power
The Strait of Hormuz and global leverage
Why the Ummah feels divided despite having real strength
The difference between reacting and actually thinking ahead

Dr. Thakur makes a strong point throughout the episode. The issue is not just power. It is how we understand power and whether we are willing to connect the dots fast enough.

Find Dr. Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur here:

IG: / dr.mayyubthakur

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Iran on the BRINK of a US Ground Invasion (Date of Recording: March 7th)

In this episode of Thinking Youth Podcast, we speak with Sharghzadeh about the escalating conflict surrounding Iran, the human cost of war, and the intense divisions within the Iranian diaspora.

While global media focuses on geopolitics, sanctions, and military strategy, ordinary people inside Iran are living through drone strikes, missile attacks, and uncertainty about what comes next. Sharghzadeh shares what life looks like in Tehran today, the messages he receives from people on the ground, and why the conversation about Iran is far more complex than the narratives dominating Western (or Eastern) media.

The discussion explores the moral dilemma facing many Iranians today: opposing their government while still rejecting foreign bombing and war against their country. It also examines why some diaspora voices appear to celebrate attacks on Iran, the political movement surrounding Reza Pahlavi, and the growing polarization shaping Iranian political discourse.

Beyond the headlines, the episode asks deeper questions about human dignity, propaganda, and the danger of reducing entire nations to abstract geopolitical conflicts. As Sharghzadeh puts it, “innocent people are people, and haqq is haqq.”

The conversation also touches on the possibility of a wider regional war, the rhetoric surrounding a potential US ground invasion, and what the world often misunderstands about Iranian society and its people. As Kharg Island get's attacked, who knows what happens next?

In this episode we discuss:
- What daily life looks like in Tehran during missile strikes
- Why some diaspora activists celebrate attacks on Iran
- The moral dilemma of opposing a government while opposing war
- Reza Pahlavi and the politics of regime change
- Islamophobia and polarization in diaspora political movements
- The risk of a broader regional war or ground invasion
- What the world often misunderstands about Iran and its people

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
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What is the connection between Sudan and Palestine?

In this episode, Ahmad Ibsais joins us to unpack the deeper links between the war in Sudan and the crisis in Gaza. Ahmad is a first generation Palestinian American, a law student, and a poet who writes the newsletter State of Siege, where he analyzes politics, identity, and power in the modern Middle East.

For years, many have treated Sudan and Palestine as separate conflicts. Different regions. Different wars. Different headlines. But the geopolitical realities suggest something more connected. From Israel’s national security doctrine to regional alliances, shifting public perception, and global power politics, the overlap is becoming harder to ignore.

We discuss the Sudan civil war, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Middle East geopolitics, economic boycotts, student activism on university campuses, and the measurable impact of targeted campaigns against companies linked to the Israeli military. We also examine the decline of campus protest movements, the role of institutions like the Norwegian pension fund, and the broader question of Muslim political responsibility. From Uyghurs facing repression in China, to Syrians in exile, to Sudanese families displaced by war, to Kashmiris denied the right to return, many continue to make duaa for Palestine despite carrying their own suffering. That solidarity forces a difficult question.

Are we doing enough for Sudan and Palestine?

This episode explores Muslim identity beyond symbolism, the ethics of political engagement, global Muslim solidarity, international law, and whether awareness of injustice creates a moral obligation to act.

If we can see the destruction in Gaza and Sudan, if we understand the regional strategy at play, and if we recognize the interconnected nature of these crises, then the next question is unavoidable.

What will we do now?

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Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.