The Hormuz Implications for Energy Policymaking: Japan and South Korea
August 18, 2026 • 8:00 – 9:00 am EDT
Karl Sharro: Satire and Comedy in the Arab World
Subscribe and Listen
This week on Babel, Jon Alterman is joined by Karl Sharro, an architect, satirist, and commentator on the Middle East who blogs and tweets as @KarlreMarks. Karl talks about how he developed his style of comedy and the role satire has played in the Arab World. Then, Natasha, Will, and Jon talk about what satire can tell us about the Middle East.
- Karl Sharro, "Explaining Lebanon's Problems in One Minute," Karl Sharro Youtube, October 2, 2020.
- Ahmed Albasheer, "Muhasasa," Albasheer Show Youtube, November 20, 2019.
- Al-Rahel Al-Kabir, "Madad Baghdadi," Al-Rahel Al-Kabir Youtube, August 20, 2014.
- Karl Sharro, "Study confirms Lebanon is indeed the centre of the universe," Karl reMarks, April 5, 2013.
- Episode Transcript: "Satire and Comedy in the Arab World," CSIS, December 15, 2020.
Image
Chief of Staff, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; and Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Image
Natasha Hall
Former Senior Associate (Non-resident), Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department