As the U.S. enters a new era of foreign policy in the Middle East, A Starting Point, the civic media organization created by Chris Evans, actor/filmmaker Mark Kassen and entrepreneur Joe Kiani, will explore America’s past, present and future in the region during a new six-part series, Influence and Power in the Middle East, guest hosted by former CIA Operative and Texas Congressman Will Hurd. Drawing on his unique insights and on-the-ground experience, Hurd will lead exclusive conversations with several of the most influential foreign policy makers of the past four administrations including Former UN Ambassador John Bolton, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Former Saudi Arabia Ambassador Joseph Westphal, Former Yemen Ambassador Barbara Bodine and others.

Airing on Aug. 30, the six-part series connects the major national players, history, culture, and influence that shapes America’s strategic relationships and military involvement in the Middle East. The series also highlights the generations of people who have been impacted by decades of war and instability.

Congressman Hurd is currently a managing director at Allen & Company. Prior to representing his home town of San Antonio, Texas in Congress, he was a cybersecurity executive and undercover officer in the CIA. He is growing the US transatlantic partnership with Europe as a trustee of the German Marshall Fund, helping OpenAI build safe artificial general intelligence that benefits humanity as a member of their board of directors, and publishing a book titled “American Reboot: An Idealist Guide to Getting Big Things Done” in February 2022.

The series will air exclusively on www.astartingpoint.com.

The full series schedule and lineup: 

August 31: Yemen, The Eye of the Storm
Featuring: Ambassador Barbara Bodine and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley

September 7: Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Influence
Featuring: General Keith Kellogg and Ambassador Joseph Westphal

September 14: Iran, From Persia to the Present
Featuring: Ambassador John Bolton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta

September 21: Syria, Road to Damascus
Featuring: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and General Wesley Clark

September 28: Palestine, A People Divided
Featuring: CSIS Vice President Dr. Jon Alterman and CFR President Dr. Richard Haass

October 5: Israel, The Holy Land
Featuring: Ambassador Gerald Feierstein and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

The trailer for the series can be viewed below: