Omar Baddar: Win the Argument Without Losing the Cause | Sumud Podcast w/ Dr. Ed Hasan

In this episode of the Sumud Podcast, we sit down with Omar Baddar for a wide-ranging conversation on Palestine advocacy, American politics, media strategy, and the art of public debate. Omar shares his thoughts on electoral politics, the challenges facing the Palestinian movement, lessons from debating some of the most prominent pro-Israel voices in the media, and why effective advocacy requires discipline, strategy, and a deep understanding of your audience. He also reflects on movement-building, public opinion shifts on Palestine, and the responsibility of activists navigating a rapidly changing political landscape.

Omar Baddar is a Palestinian American Middle East analyst and a member of the National Policy Council of the DC-based Arab American Institute. He previously served as Communications Director at the Institute for Middle East Understanding, Deputy Director at the Arab American Institute, and Executive Director at the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Massachusetts. He wrote his Master's thesis on US policy towards Israel and Palestine. His media appearances include CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Al-Jazeera, Democracy Now, Uncensored with Piers Morgan, and many other outlets, and his writings have appeared in Salon, Newsweek, Huffpost, the Daily Beast, and Jadaliyya, among other platforms.

In this conversation, we explore
- Omar Baddar’s journey into advocacy and public debate
- Strategy, communication, and effective Palestine advocacy
- Debates, media narratives, and engaging diverse audiences
- Palestine’s impact on U.S. politics and voting
- Shifting U.S. opinion on Israel–Palestine
- Building a movement and driving policy change
- Lessons and advice for the next generation of advocates

Director: Dr. Ed Hasan | 2026