President Trump announced the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last Sunday, so Phil and Cooper give a long-overdue history of the Islamic State. Al-Monitor contributor Ali Hashem joins the podcast to give a look into the evolution of Baghdadi, from the days before he was radicalized, and how foreign wars and the Arab Spring shaped his strategy and ideology.
- The many names of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Ali Hashem)
- US set for risky IS mission with leader’s death in Syria (Jack Detsch)
- Witnesses describe night of Baghdadi's death (Mohammed al-Khatieb)
- Pentagon: Islamic State will survive leader’s death (Jack Detsch)