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Chris Bennett, Dr Naomi Green, Michele Marken and Professor Duncan Morrow join Audrey Carville to reflect on some of the major ethical and faith themes of 2025, and offer their hopes for 2026. The panel discuss the alienation and dehumanisation of young men; changes and challenges in leadership of faith communities; as well as global conflict and politics.We revisit interviews with Niobe Way (professor of behavioural psychology), Father Carlos Ferrero (parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City), Andrey Kurkov (Ukrainian satirist and diarist), Bishop Mariann Budde (National Cathedral in Washington DC), and dip into Sunday Sequence's live broadcast from St Peter's Square after the election of Pope Leo XIV.
We’re looking back at 10 of the episodes that defined 2025 at The Take. This originally aired on September 3. None of the dates or references have been changed. Inside Gaza City, as the Israeli military escalates its takeover, Al Jazeera continues to report from the ground on the day-to-day reality for more than a million Palestinians still there. As top scholars declare that Israel is committing genocide and US plans for a "Gaza Riviera" continue to circulate, how are Palestinians bracing for what comes next? In this episode: Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters, Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el Khalili and Diana Ferrero, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Special thanks to Youmna ElSayed. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Mar-a-Lago promette soluzioni rapide. Gaza misura soltanto procedure e macerie. Nelle ultime ventiquattro ore il racconto ufficiale è salito di tono: ultimatum, fasi, disarmo evocato come scorciatoia. Sul terreno, invece, il tempo resta amministrativo e decide chi vive e chi aspetta. Trump minaccia “l'inferno” se Hamas non consegna le armi, Netanyahu costruisce la cornice politica della fase due. A Gaza ogni fase coincide con la precedente. A Shuja'iyya, a est di Gaza City, continuano le demolizioni di edifici residenziali. Quartieri ridotti a planimetrie, case sbriciolate come pratica ordinaria. La morsa passa dagli uffici. Israele avvia revoche e mancati rinnovi di licenze per organizzazioni internazionali attive fra Cisgiordania e Striscia, motivando con registri e presunti legami. Il lessico è quello delle carte, l'effetto è quello dell'assedio: aiuti più fragili, corridoi più stretti, civili più esposti al ricatto del timbro. Intanto l'inverno entra nelle tende. Pioggia e freddo aggravano la vita degli sfollati, ammassati in campi improvvisati dove la protezione è una plastica tesa. Le immagini raccontano un'emergenza che scorre parallela ai comunicati, senza mai incrociarli. Fuori dalla Striscia, l'assedio cambia forma e resta sostanza. In Cisgiordania e a Gerusalemme gli arresti continuano a crescere, diventano statistica, includono giornalisti. Stessa logica di saturazione: controllo e normalizzazione della forza. Altrove, in Europa, si prova a incidere sulla normalità quotidiana, persino sul turismo legato agli insediamenti. Qui si discute di fasi. Gaza resta un luogo senza fasi, dove ogni giorno ricomincia dall'inizio, fra macerie, carte e freddo. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.
Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. A woman holds a child as they stand in front of their tent in a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians set up in an area in Gaza City, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Gaza Families Wait as Ceasefire Talks Stall and Uncertainty Grows; Zohran Mamdani Announces New Members to Team and 2026 Agenda; Coastal Flood Advisories in Effect Across California; Remembering Betty Reid Soskin. The post Uncertainty Over Gaza Ceasefire Grow; Mamdani's 2026 Team – December 30, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Gaza si continua a morire anche per sottrazione. Di sguardi, di parole, di accessi. La Knesset ha deciso di prorogare fino al 2027 la legge che consente la chiusura delle redazioni straniere, a partire da Al Jazeera. Ufficialmente è una misura di sicurezza. Nei fatti è una dichiarazione: questa guerra deve restare senza testimoni. Mustafa Barghouti lo ha detto senza giri di parole: paura del racconto, paura che la narrazione dei crimini e della sofferenza palestinese circoli fuori dal perimetro controllato. La stretta sull'informazione ha una geografia precisa. A Gerusalemme Est giornalisti sono stati colpiti con i lacrimogeni mentre documentavano le operazioni delle forze israeliane. A Qalandiya e Kafr Aqab, a nord della città, sono proseguite demolizioni, arresti, confische di veicoli. Scene note, ripetute, sempre meno raccontate. Anche qui, prima ancora delle ruspe, passa la censura. Dentro la Striscia la cronaca delle ultime ore è fatta di colpi che arrivano mentre il mondo discute di “fasi”. Bombardamenti a est di Gaza City e nel governatorato di Rafah. A Tuffah, un attacco ha colpito una scuola usata come rifugio durante un matrimonio: sei morti, secondo le autorità locali, molti dei quali bambini. Un edificio pensato per proteggere, trasformato in bersaglio. Una festa diventata funerale. Numeri che restano tali solo se nessuno li guarda troppo a lungo. Hamas accusa Israele di impedire il passaggio alla seconda fase dell'intesa, Ankara parla di attacchi che rendono impraticabile qualsiasi avanzamento e di aiuti ancora insufficienti. La tregua continua a esistere come parola, non come condizione. Intanto il ministro della Difesa israeliano rivendica una presenza militare prolungata a Gaza, mentre sul fronte giuridico il Belgio deposita il suo intervento alla Corte internazionale di giustizia nel procedimento avviato dal Sudafrica. È tutto qui il punto della giornata: mentre i tribunali iniziano a scrivere e i governi votano per chiudere microfoni, sul terreno la guerra prosegue identica a se stessa. A Gaza non manca solo il cessate il fuoco. Manca l'aria, e manca chi possa raccontare che manca. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The total number of people killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire took place in October has reached 400, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Flooding, low temperatures and makeshift shelters have also presented issues for those in the region. We speak with a Gazan resident about what life is like now for her and her peers. Also in the programme: More children abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month look set to be released; CBS News faces criticism for delaying a '60 Minutes' special on the US deportation of migrants to an El Salvadoran megaprison; and Ukraine takes part in a morale-boosting Secret Santa scheme, offering gifts to soldiers on the frontline.(Photo: Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on Friday, according to medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Credit: Dabou Abu Alkas, Reuters)
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it was investigating a strike in Gaza City which reportedly killed at least five people, including civilians. According to the military, during operations on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line in the Strip’s north, troops spotted several suspects in “dominant structures” on the western side of the Yellow Line — meaning not in IDF-held territory. Fabian discusses the idea of "dominant structures" and reports on the uptick of Gazans attempting to cross the Yellow Line into Israeli-controlled Gaza. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said yesterday that his country is close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River. This comes after Israel struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Thursday morning, hitting weapons stores deep inside the country and a training camp used by the terror group. So which is it? Fabian weighs in. The Israel Defense Forces captured a suspected Islamic State jihadist in an overnight raid earlier this week in southern Syria, the military said in a Saturday statement. We learn how active ISIS is in southern Syria. Finally, an Israeli woman who reported having been kidnapped on Friday was extracted by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces from the West Bank city of Jericho, the military said. We hear about the oft-overlooked close coordination between Israeli and PA forces.Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: 5 said killed in Gaza City strike; IDF says it’s investigating, regrets any civilian harm Army says it killed two terror operatives who crossed Gaza’s Yellow Line Lebanese PM says country close to completing Hezbollah disarmament south of Litani River Widescale IDF strikes target Hezbollah training camp, terror sites across Lebanon IDF says it nabbed suspected ISIS jihadist in southern Syria operation PA forces extract Israeli from Jericho who reported being kidnapped Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: An Israeli woman who was extracted from the West Bank city of Jericho is seen next to an officer from the Civil Administration, December 19, 2025. (Courtesy)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this last episode before our two month break (save for an occasional special, check your feed!) Linda Gradstein and Noah Efron talk about (1) What to make about Bondi Beach and the many, many violent things around the world that maybe led up to it, and (2) What does Hanukkah mean in 2025? For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What do we look for in a Rabbi? All that and a Mufti and a Chief Rabbi studying the New Testament in Gaza City. Plus some really good music that sounds more or less how we feel these days.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Senior officials from the US, France and Saudi Arabia are set to meet in Paris today amid fears that Israel could embark on a new military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon after a December 31 deadline to disarm the Iran-backed terror group passes, a diplomatic official told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. We have seen an uptick in tensions over the past few weeks. Fabian takes us back to early October to give context for what is currently happening on the ground. In one of his first moves, new Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir decided today to close a criminal case against a senior reserves officer who was facing charges over his involvement in the circumstances that led to the deaths of a soldier and a civilian researcher in southern Lebanon in November 2024. Fabian was in the area when this occurred and fills us in. Israeli settlers torched a vehicle and sprayed graffiti in a West Bank village near Ramallah overnight, according to Palestinian media. The suspected crime took place in Ein Yabrud. The conflict in the West Bank, always at a low boil, but are appearances deceiving in that it seems to be on a higher flame in the past several weeks? After Palestinian media reported a series of Israeli airstrikes in eastern Gaza City, the IDF said it is conducting routine activity to demolish Hamas infrastructure in the Israeli-controlled area. In addition to the tunnel demolitions, there are almost daily incidents in which Gazans attempt to cross the Yellow Line from the Hamas-ruled side. Fabian gives several scenarios for the attempted crossings. Earlier in the month, Fabian visited Hamas’s “most complex” tunnel network in the Gaza Strip, where, eventually, the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin were recovered. He was killed and abducted by the terror group in 2014, and it transpires that he was held some two kilometers from the Israeli border. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US, French, Saudi officials to meet in Paris about preventing renewed war in Lebanon IDF postpones planned strike on alleged Hezbollah site as Lebanese army searches it IDF drops charges against reserve officer over deadly Lebanon incident last year Settlers said to torch vehicle, spray graffiti in attack on West Bank village Scouring massive labyrinth under Rafah, IDF just missed finding Hadar Goldin’s body Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: An officer with the elite Yahalom unit is seen inside a tunnel in the Rafah area of the southern Gaza Strip, where the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin was held, December 8, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
La pioggia arriva quando le bombe rallentano. A ovest di Gaza City le tende degli sfollati si allagano, diventano pozzanghere abitate. All'ospedale Al Shifa l'acqua filtra nei corridoi dell'accoglienza e del pronto soccorso, già ridotti al minimo dopo mesi di assedio. Il cessate il fuoco promette sollievo, il meteo lo smentisce. La guerra continua anche così: freddo, fango, infezioni. Le agenzie raccontano famiglie che scavano canali con le mani, bambini avvolti nella plastica perché le coperte non bastano. I convogli entrano a intermittenza: il novantaquattresimo dall'Egitto passa da Rafah, viene ispezionato a Kerem Abu Salem e poi avanza. Le tende arrivano, ma costano cifre proibitive. L'emergenza diventa mercato, il mercato seleziona chi può restare asciutto. La tregua resta fragile anche sul piano politico. Da Washington filtra irritazione verso Netanyahu per un raid nel fine settimana, l'uccisione di Raed Saad pesa come una violazione dell'accordo mediato dagli Stati Uniti mentre si discute la fase successiva. A Doha venticinque Paesi parlano di una forza internazionale di stabilizzazione, catene di comando, risoluzioni ONU. Sopra le teste dei civili si disegnano mappe. Sul piano giuridico, intanto, la Corte penale internazionale respinge il ricorso israeliano che chiedeva di bloccare l'indagine sui crimini commessi a Gaza. La giurisdizione resta confermata, il percorso giudiziario resta aperto. È una decisione che non ferma la pioggia, ma tiene accesa la questione delle responsabilità. In questo clima si inserisce anche l'annuncio della Hind Rajab Foundation, che deposita in Italia una denuncia contro un soldato israeliano, invocando le Convenzioni di Ginevra e lo Statuto di Roma. È un segnale, ancora da verificare nei suoi passaggi formali, di una giustizia cercata altrove mentre la politica prende tempo. A Gaza l'acqua sale. Nei palazzi si discute il futuro, sotto le tende si prova a sopravvivere al presente. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following the IDF strike that killed top Hamas commander Raad Saad in Gaza City, Berman reviews the obstacles for Israel and Hamas in moving toward the second phase of the broader ceasefire. He discusses how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump will need to find a way to agree on the thorny and fundamental issue of how to get Hamas to disarm. As the IDF postponed a planned airstrike on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, Berman reports on the ongoing issue of needing Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese Army's efforts to work to accomplish that, and Israel's dissatisfaction with Lebanon's progress. After the Water Authority began channeling desalinated water to the Sea of Galilee, the first ever attempt anywhere in the world to top up a freshwater lake with processed seawater, Surkes reports on hopes that it will raise the level of the sea by half a centimeter a year. Surkes also discusses the new facility for the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, featuring the world’s only sea turtle breeding program, helping protect and preserve these creatures that have existed on the planet for 330 million years. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US State Department said to ask 70 countries to contribute to Gaza stabilization force Report: Israel agrees to US demand to pay for massive Gaza rubble-clearing operation Beirut has been warned of possible Israeli offensive against Hezbollah — Lebanese FM Scientists tracking impact as desalinated water flows into Sea of Galilee for first time Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Palestinians inspect a car belonging to Hamas commander Raad Saad after it was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on December 13, 2025. (Fathi Ibrahim/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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We are approaching the shortest day of the year- it's next Sunday when the Winter Solstice will happen at three minutes past three on December 21st. So that, plus the fact that today is the start of the Festival of Hannukah- the Jewish festival of Lights, got us thinking about the part light plays in all our lives, and especially for those of faith. Audrey is joined by Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick, Dr Tina Beattie and Dr Leon Litvak. We also talk to Father Carlos Ferrero from the Holy Family Church in Gaza City about how they are planning to celebrate Christmas this year and also whether things have improved since the Ceasefire. And finally we talk to Paul Davies, a renowned physicist and professor at Arizona State University. His new book Quantum 2.0 finishes with the words 'to be aware of the quantum world is to glimpse something of the majesty and elegance of the physical universe and our place within it.'
For review:1. Joint US-Syrian Patrol Ambushed; Two US Soldiers Killed; President Trump Vows Serious Retaliation.2. WSJ Report: A US special operations team in the Indian Ocean raided a ship headed to Iran from China last month and seized military-related articles.3. The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday issued a warning to residents of the southern Lebanon town of Yanouh ahead of planned airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure, but postponed the strike after Lebanese troops went to search the site.4. On Friday, Lebanese Officials received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing for a wide-scale military operation against Hezbollah.5. Top Hamas commander Raad Saad was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces said.6. International troops could be deployed in the Gaza Strip as early as next month to form a UN-authorized stabilization force, two US officials told Reuters, but it remains unclear how the Palestinian terror group Hamas will be disarmed.7. US and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet for high-stakes peace talks in Berlin on December 14 as disagreements persist over territorial control and security guarantees.8. Switzerland has decided to cut an order of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets due to a price increase of roughly $610 million enforced by the US government.
According to the UN's humanitarian affairs agency, more than 800,000 displaced Gazans could be affected by flooding, as a winter storm surges along the coast. Most of them are living in tents. Also in the programme: we meet the man who smuggled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado out of Venezuela; and Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is the clear winner in the world's top gaming awards, so why has a French arthouse creation proved such a hit? (Photo: Displaced Palestinians ride a donkey-drawn cart on a flooded street in Gaza City, December 12, 2025. Credit: Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
As global powers double down on militarism and defense, Daniel Zoughbie argues that the most transformative force in the Middle East has always come from citizen diplomacy. A complex-systems scientist and diplomatic historian, Zoughbie joins Mark Labberton to explore how twelve U.S. presidents have "kicked the hornet's nest" of the modern Middle East. Drawing on his work in global health and his new book Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump, Zoughbie contrasts the view from refugee camps and microclinic networks with the view from the Oval Office, arguing that American security rests on a three-legged stool of defense, diplomacy, and development. He explains why Gerald Ford stands out as the lone president who truly leveraged diplomacy, how the Marshall Plan model of enlightened self-interest can guide policy now, and why nationalism, not mere economics, lies at the heart of Gaza's future. Throughout, he presses listeners toward "citizen diplomacy" that resists pride, militarism, and fatalism. Episode Highlights "We've constantly ignored diplomacy." " You don't have to be enemies with people to get them to do what is in their own self-interest." "You can build skyscrapers in Gaza. You can build the Four Seasons in Gaza and it's not going to work. You're just going to have another war until you address that core issue of nationalism." "These three Ds defense diplomacy development are the three legged stool of American security and we know how important diplomacy and development are." "From Truman to Trump, only one president, and that is Gerald Ford, surprisingly the only unelected president, gets this right." "Pride—national pride, the pride of any one individual—is toxic. It's toxic to the individual. It's toxic to the nation. It's toxic to the world." "Foreign policymaking is not just something for secretaries of state and those in power. All of us in a democracy have a role to play." Helpful Links and Resources Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Kicking-the-Hornets-Nest/Daniel-E-Zoughbie/9781668085226 American University of Beirut (founded as Syrian Protestant College), a key example of long-term educational diplomacy https://www.aub.edu.lb Al-Ahli Arab (Gaza Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ahli_Arab_Hospital Max Weber, "Politics as a Vocation" https://open.oregonstate.education/sociologicaltheory/chapter/politics-as-a-vocation About Daniel Zoughbie Daniel E. Zoughbie is a complex-systems scientist, historian, and expert on presidential decision-making. He is associate project scientist at UC Berkeley's Institute of International Studies, a faculty affiliate of the UCSF/UCB Center for Global Health Delivery, Diplomacy, and Economics, and principal investigator of the Middle East and North Africa Diplomacy, Development, and Defense Initiative. He is the author of Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump and of Indecision Points: George W. Bush and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. His award-winning research has appeared in journals such as PLOS Medicine, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and Social Science and Medicine. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Berkeley, he studied at Oxford on a Marshall Scholarship and completed his doctorate there as a Weidenfeld Scholar. Show Notes Middle East Background and Microclinic Origins Daniel Zoughbie recalls visiting the Middle East as a child—"frankly horrified" by what he saw UC Berkeley protests over the Iraq War and post-9/11 U.S. policy in the region Metabolic disease and type 2 diabetes as an overlooked "greatest killer in the region." Neighbors in the West Bank sharing food, medicine, and blood-pressure cuffs—leads to the "micro clinic" concept Good health behaviors, like bad ones and even violence, can be contagious through social networks Social Networks, Anthropology, and Security Social anthropology, political science, and international relations Medical problems as simultaneously biological and sociological problems Understanding Middle East security demands attention to decisions "at the very bottom" as well as "the view from above" October 7 and 9/11 illustrate how small groups of people can "change the world with their decisions." Complex Systems and Foreign Policy Complexity is always increasing, and diplomacy and development exist to slow it down. Definition of "complex system": as one where many inputs produce outcomes that cannot be reduced to single causes. "We almost have a new law here, which is that complexity is always increasing in the universe. And the role of diplomacy and development, as I see it in international relations, is to slow things down. It's to stop complexity from advancing so that people have time to cool their tempers and to solve major security crises." Type 2 diabetes as a model for thinking about how city planning, economics, relationships, and habits interact He applies that lens to international relations: nations, leaders, institutions, and history form a "cascade of complexity." From Refugee Camps to Presidential Palaces George Shultz and Tony Blair: decision-makers as "real human beings," not abstractions Theological and ideological forces—such as certain apocalyptic readings of scripture—that shape U.S. foreign policy Gnosticism and eschatology within American right-wing Christianity Painstaking global health work on the ground and sweeping decisions made in Washington, Brussels, or New York Twelve Presidents and One Exception Kicking the Hornet's Nest: analysis of twelve presidents from Truman to Trump through the lens of Middle East decision-making Core claim: Only Gerald Ford truly rebalanced the three Ds of defense, diplomacy, and development. U.S. policy in the Levant: heavy reliance on militarism, coups, and covert actions while underinvesting in diplomacy and development Claim: "Far better alternatives were on the table" for every administration, yet consistently passed over. Gerald Ford, Kissinger, and the Path to Peace Daniel contends that the 1967 and 1973 wars were both preventable and nearly became global nuclear catastrophes. Ford inherits the presidency amid Watergate and national division, but keeps Henry Kissinger at State. Ford presses Israel and Egypt toward serious negotiations, empowering Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy and personal ties. A sharply worded letter threatening to "reconsider" the U.S.–Israel relationship Ford's diplomacy and the development of Camp David and the enduring Egypt–Israel peace based on "land for peace." Pride, Personality, and Presidential Failure Did Ford's temperament keep him from making himself the center of the story? In contrast, many presidents and other leaders write themselves "thickly" into the narrative of the conflict. Pride—personal and national—as a toxic force that repeatedly undermines U.S. policy The Iraq War and democracy-promotion agenda and the self-defeating nature of moralistic, militarized crusades Marshall Plan and Enlightened Self-Interest George Marshall and harsh punishment after World War I helped produce Nazi Germany The Marshall Plan models an "enlightened way of viewing the American self-interest": rebuilding Europe and Japan to secure U.S. security. He contrasts that with the neglect of the Levant, where aid and institution-building never matched military activism. Marshall's genius lies in locating the intersection between others' deepest needs and American capabilities. Militarism, Iran, and Nuclear Risk Recent U.S.–Israel–Iran confrontation as an "extremely dangerous moment"—with 60 percent enriched uranium unaccounted for JCPOA as an imperfect but effective diplomatic achievement, but dismantled in favor of militarism Claim: Bombing Iran scattered nuclear material and increased complexity rather than reducing the threat. He warns that one nuclear device could be delivered by low-tech means—a boat or helicopter—endangering civilians and U.S. forces in the Gulf. The only realistic path forward: renewed multilateral diplomacy between U.S., Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, and regional actors Ethical Realism and Max Weber "Ethical realism"—Max Weber's distinction between the ethic of the gospel and the ethic of responsibility Statespeople bear responsibility for using force, yet the greatest can still say "here I stand and I can do no other." Claim: True leadership seeks a higher ethic where national interest aligns with genuine concern for others. Gaza, Nationalism, and Two States Welcoming the end of active war between Israel and Hamas and critiquing reconstruction plans that ignore politics Conflict is fundamentally nationalist: a struggle for self-determination by both Jewish and Palestinian peoples Claim: Economic development without a credible political horizon will not prevent "another October 7th and another terrible war." In his view, only partition of mandatory Palestine into two states can meet legitimate self-determination claims. For example, "You can build skyscrapers in Gaza… and it's not going to work" without addressing nationalism. Citizen Diplomacy and a Better Way Foreign policy is not only the work of secretaries of state; democratic citizens have responsibilities. American University of Beirut and the Gaza Baptist Hospital as fruits of citizen diplomacy Claim: Educational and medical institutions can change lives more profoundly and durably than military campaigns. Redirecting resources from bombs to universities and hospitals to reduce the need for future military interventions An invitation to citizen diplomacy: informed voting, sustained attention, and creative engagement for a more just peace Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.
Searches in Gaza City for body of last hostage Ran Gvili. Families Forum; No phase B until body returned. PM meets with German Chancellor Merz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fatma Hassona was a Palestinian photographer from Gaza City who was killed with her family by an Israeli airstrike in April 2025. A year earlier, the Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi began recording video conversations with Hassona about her life and work under Israeli bombardment, which became the film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. In this episode, Adam Shatz talks to Farsi about the process of making the film, the connection she formed with Hassona, and the practical and ethical challenges of documenting Israel's devastation of Gaza and its people. From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: https://lrb.me/crlrbpod LRB Audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: https://lrb.me/storelrbpod Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This summer, Alkhatib flew over Gaza as part of the last days of the United Arab Emirates's aid drop missions. It was the first time since he had seen his former home since leaving the enclave in 2005 for what was meant to have been a high school year abroad. To begin the program, Alkhatib relates how he felt viewing the swaths of destruction two years of war had left in its wake. An outspoken anti-Hamas voice, Alkhatib promotes what he calls “radical pragmatism” through his work with the Atlantic Council and his speaking engagements around the world. No short on considered criticism for Israel's prosecution of the war sparked by Hamas's murderous onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, we learn of concrete steps that could be taken to drive out the terrorist organization. We hear how Hamas is re-rooting itself into all aspects of the Strip's governance. Now that the terror regime has been reestablished, so has law and order, says Alkhatib, leaving Gazans stuck in a "safe-ish," but abusive relationship. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stand amid the destruction left by Israeli strikes north of Gaza City, November 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This summer, Alkhatib flew over Gaza as part of the last days of the United Arab Emirates's aid drop missions. It was the first time since he had seen his former home since leaving the enclave in 2005 for what was meant to have been a high school year abroad. To begin the program, Alkhatib relates how he felt viewing the swaths of destruction two years of war had left in its wake. An outspoken anti-Hamas voice, Alkhatib promotes what he calls “radical pragmatism” through his work with the Atlantic Council and his speaking engagements around the world. No short on considered criticism for Israel's prosecution of the war sparked by Hamas's murderous onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, we learn of concrete steps that could be taken to drive out the terrorist organization. We hear how Hamas is re-rooting itself into all aspects of the Strip's governance. Now that the terror regime has been reestablished, so has law and order, says Alkhatib, leaving Gazans stuck in a "safe-ish," but abusive relationship. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stand amid the destruction left by Israeli strikes north of Gaza City, November 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
IDF reservist moderately hurt by terrorist fire in Nablus area. Searches resume in Gaza City for deceased hostages. In Thailand, body recovered of Israeli tourist caught in strong currentsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last week, the US officially launched negotiations within the 15-member United Nations Security Council on a draft resolution that would follow up on Israel and Hamas’s October 9 ceasefire-hostage agreement. Tomorrow, the Security Council is set to vote on the resolution, which would deliver Gaza to an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and an apolitical Palestinian administration overseen by a Trump-chaired Board of Peace. In the first half of the program, Berman gives an analysis of some of the implications for Israel -- and questions the world's appetite for seeing through in the demilitarization of Hamas. US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he was considering agreeing to a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are made by Lockheed Martin. We hear whether a more robust Saudi air force could affect the Middle East and learn why the United Arab Emirates has not yet received its promised planes. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that the Israeli army had built walls on the Lebanese side of the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border. We learn about the Blue Line and discuss whether a complaint to the UN has any teeth. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US says its plan for postwar management of Gaza offers pathway to Palestinian statehood US: Failure to back UN resolution based on Trump’s Gaza plan is a vote for Hamas, war Indonesia says it has trained 20,000 troops for Gaza peacekeeping force First storm of the season pummels Gaza, flooding tent camps and makeshift shelters Trump says he’s weighing Saudi request to buy F-35s, hopes Riyadh will normalize Israel ties Lebanon to file UN complaint accusing Israel of building border wall beyond Blue Line Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Illustrative: An armed Palestinian Hamas gunman stand not far from an International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle, as a search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages takes place, in Gaza City on November 2, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Friday Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, the duo is joined by military expert John Spencer, chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute. As of recording time, some 100-200 Hamas terrorists are estimated to be holed up in tunnels in southern Gaza on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line. The US has pressured Israel to allow the terrorists safe passage back to Hamas-held areas of Gaza, though Israel has not agreed to such a solution as of yet. For the first part of our conversation, we plumb the depths of the extensive Hamas tunnel network, speaking about its scope and how the IDF is able to destroy or at least neutralize its many tentacles. In the second half, we speak about where the current ceasefire in Gaza may turn, as reports are circulated about a two-year mandate for an International Security Force that could be implemented to demilitarize Hamas. Spencer gives bad -- and better -- examples of international forces and discusses why UNIFIL, the force deployed in southern Lebanon, was destined to failure. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: John Spencer (courtesy) / Hamas militants search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, November 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As discussions continue about Jared Kushner's concept of 'new Gaza,' residential neighborhoods constructed for Gazans on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line, Magid discusses the lack of support for the plans from some of the Gulf donor countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Those countries have concerns that the plan maintains the status quo of Israeli control and leaves Hamas entrenched in Gaza. There are also questions as to which countries are ultimately willing to send troops to guard borders and help deliver aid, and whether those troops will be involved in peacekeeping missions or peace-enforcing missions, says Magid, noting that the US wants the missions to demilitarize Gaza. The US is pushing Israel on the matter of offering safe passage for a couple of hundred Hamas operatives still in Gaza tunnels, either letting them go back to the Hamas side of the yellow ceasefire line, says Magid, or offering them safe passage to another country, while forcing them to give up their weapons. The issue of allowing the press into Gaza now that there is a ceasefire in place is also being pushed by the US. Magid notes that Israel's High Court of Justice gave the government 30 days to update its position. US President Donald Trump is also weighing in, says Magid, who notes that it is more likely to be settled in Israel's High Court. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US looks to build ‘new Gaza’ on half of Strip under IDF control, but faces pushback US pressures Israel to allow safe passage for 100 to 200 Hamas operatives in Rafah With ceasefire in place, US renews request for Israel to allow foreign press into Gaza Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians seen along the Gaza City seafront, following the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, October 18, 2025 (Ali Hassan/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Breaking news update: Itay Chen's body was identified as the body handed over from Gaza City. He's the last American hostage. Tomer-Yerushalmi remains in custody as leak investigation expands; Trump administration drafts UN plan for international force to govern Gaza and disarm Hamas; Knesset advances death penalty bill for convicted terrorists & hear from Sudanese voices in Tel Aviv who are worried sick over the heinous violence unfolding in their country of origin.Israel Daily News website: https://israeldailynews.orgYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@israeldailynews?si=UFQjC_iuL13V7tyQIsrael Daily News Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannafuldSupport our Wartime News Coverage: https://www.gofundme.com/f/independent-journalist-covering-israels-warLinks to all things IDN: https://linktr.ee/israeldailynewsMusic: NO MUSIC! Spotify is taking us down
//The Wire//2300Z October 29, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: ANOTHER STABBING STRIKES BRITAIN AS TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH. WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST. HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL IN JAMAICA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: Another stabbing was reported this morning, which resulted in the murder of a woman at a residential address in Brixton. One male assailant was arrested for the murder at the McCormick House in Tulse Hill, after being tased by responding officers.Middle East: The war continues as before, with a large-scale bombing campaign being undertaken in Gaza. PM Netanyahu stated that he ordered "forceful strikes" to be carried out in the region, which mostly were carried out in Gaza City and Rafah. Approximately 82x casualties were reported as a result of the strikes.Analyst Comment: The reason for the airstrikes is not entirely clear, IDF officials cited some unnamed incident in Rafah, but did not go into any further detail. Either way, once the strikes were complete, the ceasefire was declared to be on again.Caribbean: Overnight Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the island of Jamaica, with widespread devastation being reported throughout the nation. Large-scale flooding was also reported in Cuba after the hurricane made landfall there a few hours later. So far, the scale of the disaster is not fully known in either nation, as it will take some time to understand where the hardest-hit areas are located.-HomeFront-Mississippi: This morning local authorities clarified the details of yesterday's escape of medical research monkeys; initial reports that one monkey remained at large were untrue. A re-count revealed that actually 3x monkeys remain at large in Jasper County.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the United Kingdom, the victim of yesterday's stabbing attack has been identified as Wayne Broadhurst, and a vigil was held in Uxbridge overnight. The two other victims have not been identified yet, however one was reportedly a 14-year-old and an older man who remains in critical condition. The suspect was also identified as Safi Dawood, from Afghanistan.This attack has once more inflamed already high tensions, and so far no high ranking official in government has even acknowledged that the brutal attack took place. The Migration Minister is so far the only one in government to acknowledge the attack, and he only did so to condemn any misinformation about the event (but notably not actually stating that any misinformation was occurring). In any case, ignoring the crime like this has dialed up anger to new heights, and the various "counter" movements gaining traction around the nation have been cause for concern as well. These "counter" movements have mostly spoken for themselves in terms of highlighting what's going on throughout British society.Concerning the Kebatu case from a few days ago, details continue to be released that make the situation worse. Kebatu was deported to Ethiopia immediately after his recapture, after which he recorded a video explaining what happened from his perspective. His testimony included the detail that he did become aware that he was wanted during his escapade throughout London, and that he tried to turn himself in to a uniformed police officer. According to Kebatu himself, the officer ignored him and drove off. Granted, this is the testimony of a rapist and illegal migrant, so the sourcing is not exactly the most reliable. Nevertheless, this testimony does align with the public details of the scandal as it unfolded and has caused a lot more focus on the response to this scandal.Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground//END REPORT//
Gaza City is determined to rebuild, but promises of aid and equipment are already being broken, says Asem Alnabih.
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last night Egyptian forces and heavy equipment entered the Gaza Strip to help search for the 13 bodies of hostages still not returned to Israel after US President Donald Trump issued fresh threats to Hamas on Saturday, saying the terror group would be to blame if the ceasefire collapsed. We learn about where the IDF is still deployed and how things stand on the ground. The United States has reportedly begun deploying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to ensure that Israel and Hamas are complying with the ceasefire, The New York Times reported Saturday. Fabian plays down the significance of these reports and reminds us that, among other nations, Britain has previously flown drones over Gaza during the war. The IDF confirmed carrying out a drone strike last night in the southern Lebanon town of Qlaileh, saying it killed a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. He is the third commander to be targeted in the past few days, leading Borschel-Dan to ask: Is there a step-up in Hezbollah forces near Israel? The Israeli Air Force plans to establish several new squadrons that would operate light aircraft on Israel’s borders with the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, under the Israel Defense Force’s various regional divisions. We learn how planes used for fighting fire or for crop dusting are meant to be adapted for military operations and may soon take to the skies. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump says Hamas withholding bodies of hostages, warns he’s watching ‘very closely’ Egyptian team enters Gaza with Israel’s approval to help locate hostages’ remains US said flying drones over Gaza as more nations join ceasefire-monitoring HQ Clearing Gaza’s ‘minefield’ surface of ordnance could take 20-30 years — aid group IDF: Hezbollah commander killed in drone strike targeting vehicle in south Lebanon IAI teams up with US contractor for new light aircraft for Israel’s border defense Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: This aerial picture shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City's Al-Rimal neighborhood on October 23, 2025. (AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Reporting on the war in Gaza has only been possible because of the work of Palestinian journalists, because the Israeli government will not let foreign broadcasters – including the BBC – inside the territory to report freely, even now a ceasefire is in place. One month ago, freelance journalist Ghada Al-Kurd began sharing voice notes with us, talking about her life, her hopes, her family, and her days reporting in Gaza City. Her job is dangerous – almost 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the past two years – and even with a ceasefire in place, safety is far from reach. Ghada has continued to report for us through her displacements, sharing her treasured memories of pre-war Gaza, and her fears and hopes for its future.Image: Ghada Al KurdWith Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC's international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.
As US tries to shore up the ceasefire in Gaza, humanitarian groups warn of continuing disruption in aid supplies.Prominent Israeli writer, David Grossman, gives us a rare interview - with a bleak assessment of the land his country has become.Also in the programme: Japan has its first female prime minister, but what does the change tell us about the place of women in Japan; and the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy begins a five year prison sentence.(Photo shows a member of the Palestinian Civil Defense walking next to a fire truck surrounded by destroyed buildings in Gaza City on 20 October 2025. Credit: Ebrahim Hajja/Reutersj
//The Wire//2300Z October 20, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: THIEVES MAKE OFF WITH PRICELESS CROWN JEWELS FOLLOWING HEIST AT THE LOUVRE. NO KINGS PROTESTS DEMONSTRATE HIGH-LEVEL ORGANIZATION. CEASEFIRE BROKEN IN MIDDLE EAST.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Global: This morning a large-scale outage of Amazon Web Services (AWS) was reported, which caused outages of millions of services and websites. The cause of the outage was not malign action, but rather improper management of network load balancing.Analyst Comment: A fix has been implemented, but it may take some time to restore services.France: Over the weekend a heist was reported at the Louvre as thieves broke in to the museum during broad daylight. The thieves posed as construction workers and used a truck mounted ladder in order to gain entry to a balcony housing the Gallery of Apollo. From there, they used cutting tools to breach a window which led to the exhibits displaying the historic crown jewels of France. The thieves broke into the glass cases housing several exhibits, making off with many major priceless pieces and artifacts.Analyst Comment: Despite their success, this heist was more or less an organized smash and grab which not even a big wooden door can protect from, it seems. In their haste to egress from their looting spree, the thieves left a wealth of evidence behind as the crown of Empress Eugénie was discovered cast into the gutter on the street after the raid.Middle East: The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was breached as Israeli forces conducted widespread bombings throughout Gaza. Israeli forces claim that Hamas violated the ceasefire first, though President Trump stated that the violation (which appears at the moment to be a small arms attack which killed two IDF soldiers), did not originate from Hamas leadership. Nevertheless the United States endorsed the targeting efforts, which PM Netanyahu stated took the form of 153 tons of bombs being dropped throughout Gaza City.Analyst Comment: Most international actors are pretending that the ceasefire is still in place. Turning the ceasefire on and off like a spigot is likely to continue; whenever either side wants to conduct targeting the ceasefire will be "off" for the precise amount of time required to conduct the strikes, then the ceasefire will be "on" again once complete, while everyone pretends like nothing happened.-HomeFront-North Carolina: Two arson attacks on Churches were reported over the weekend. The Calvary's Cross Baptist Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cleveland County were intentionally set on fire by arsonists. Local citizens who spotted the fires immediately were able to extinguish the fires quickly, saving both churches. The arsonists have not been apprehended and anyone with information is urged to call the Cleveland County Sheriff with any information that might be helpful in apprehending those responsible.Florida - Yesterday afternoon the US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand in a tree in a wooded area next to a US Army Reserve center directly adjacent to Palm Beach International Airport. The FBI is now investigating as the hunting stand had clear line of sight to the Customs and Border Patrol parking aprons, which are also frequently used by Air Force One to transport President Trump from Washington to Mar a Lago.Analyst Comment: For those who may think this was "just a hunting stand", there aren't a lot of whitetail on the parking aprons used by Customs and Border Patrol at Palm Beach International Airport. This stand was set up with a direct line of sight to this facility, in an extremely small wooded area right in the heart of a heavy urban area mere feet from a military installation. Right now there's not much to go on other than the discovery of the stand. However, it would be very foolish to just chalk this up to the
Reporting on the war in Gaza has only been possible because of the work of Palestinian journalists, because the Israeli government will not let foreign broadcasters – including the BBC – inside the territory to report freely, even now a ceasefire is in place. One month ago, freelance journalist Ghada Al-Kurd began sharing voice notes with us, talking about her life, her hopes, her family, and her days reporting in Gaza City. Her job is dangerous – almost 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the past two years – and even with a ceasefire in place, safety is far from reach. Ghada has continued to report for us through her displacements, sharing her treasured memories of pre-war Gaza, and her fears and hopes for its future.Image: Ghada Al Kurd
Israel has carried out an airstrike on the Gazan city of Rafah in response to what it said was Hamas breaking their ceasefire agreement. Hamas says it is committed to the ceasefire and alleges that Israel "continues to breach the agreement".Also on the programme: thieves have broken into the Louvre Museum in Paris and stolen jewellery that France's interior minister described as priceless; and Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to stop fighting so that talks can take place to end their cross-border dispute. (Photo: A drone view shows tents of displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on 18 October. Credit: Reuters)
US President Donald Trump has confirmed a report that he authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, provoking outrage from the South American nation's leader. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says 'no to regime change'Also in the programme: As more Palestinians return to what is left of their homes in Gaza City, we talk to one university student who's just taken his exams in the street; and the story of Oscar Wilde's library card -- it's now being returned, 130 years after it was cancelled when he was sent to prison. We speak to his grandson.(Photo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro speaks during an event commemorating Indigenous Resistance Day in Caracas, Venezuela, 12 October 2025. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez/ EPA/Shutterstock)
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TYT and use code TYT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Jennifer Welch Multiple Palestinians are killed in Gaza City for allegedly violating the ceasefire, according to the IDF. Drop Site News journalist Noa Avishag Schnall accuses Israeli guards of “extreme brutality.” Trump prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday. Hosts: Cenk Uygur & Ana Kasparian SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE ☞ https://www.youtube.com/@TheYoungTurks FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK ☞ https://www.facebook.com/theyoungturks TWITTER ☞ https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks INSTAGRAM ☞ https://www.instagram.com/theyoungturks TIKTOK ☞ https://www.tiktok.com/@theyoungturks
Hamas has reportedly executed people in Gaza City, as they work to reassert control of the enclave. The 1965 Voting Rights Act is being put to the test at a Supreme Court hearing today. Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire, after exchanging their deadliest gunfire in years. Two North American airports were hacked to broadcast pro-Hamas messages. Plus, if you're planning on buying a new car, prepare for a price shock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Israeli officials have said the government has decided to restrict aid into Gaza in response to Hamas being too slow in handing over the bodies of dead hostages.We'll hear from an Israeli whose relative's body is still in Gaza and who fears it may never be brought home. Also on the programme: we speak to the UN about the reconstruction in Gaza and how it will be paid for; and Harvard professor and philosopher Michael Sandel shares why he thinks meritocracy is overrated. (Photo: A Palestinian man looks on next to a tent amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City. Credit: Reuters)
There's uncertainty over the next steps in the Gaza peace process, a day after President Trump declared the war was over following the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. We also speak to a doctor treating Israeli hostages arrived from Gaza. Also on the programme, Madagascar's embattled president, Andry Rajoelina, says he is sheltering in a "safe place" after an attempt on his life, following weeks of protests calling for his resignation; and, one of the world's longest dinosaur trackways, dating back 166 million years, has been found in southern England. (Photo: Palestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed buildings, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, October 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ebrahim Hajjaj)
In this episode of Good Morning Liberty, hosts Nate Thurston and Charles "Chuck" Thompson discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, focusing on a potential peace agreement brokered by President Trump. Amid humorous banter and personal updates, the duo explores the complexities surrounding the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire, including the challenges of ensuring compliance and the ongoing human cost on both sides. They also delve into the historical context of the conflict, the controversial role of clickbait headlines, and the reactions to Trump's ambitious peace plan. Tune in for a mix of critical analysis and lighthearted commentary on one of the world's most enduring geopolitical issues. 00:00 Intro 01:44 Discussing Peace in the Middle East 03:42 Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange 06:27 Challenges and Skepticism 08:50 Trump's Role and International Reactions 23:58 Ceasefire Violations and Ongoing Conflict 28:42 Questioning the Use of Lethal Force 30:00 Mass Arson in Gaza City 31:21 The Value of Human Life in Conflict 34:06 Challenges of the Ceasefire Agreement 41:27 Public Executions by Hamas 49:56 Historical Context and Land Disputes
Large crowds of Palestinians have started walking back to their homes — or what's left of them — in Gaza City as the Israeli military pulls its forces back from parts of central Gaza. We look at what comes next, including the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and potential sticking points for the truce. Also, Australia signs major security deals with India and Papua New Guinea, raising concerns for China. And, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long fight to restore democracy in her country. Plus, a NASA satellite that dipped into Venus' upper atmosphere and recorded radio waves reveals some haunting sounds.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
How did British Army General Murray fail to take Gaza in 1917? Who was General Allenby and how did his tactics in the cavalry charge on Gaza City lead to transformation in the region? What are the connections between the Gallipoli campaign and the siege of Gaza? Anita Anand and William Dalrymple are joined once again by Eugene Rogan, author of The Fall of The Ottomans, and Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at The University of Oxford, to discuss Gaza during World War I. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A midwife describes assisting a growing number of women experiencing sexual violence at the hands of militias in the North Darfur region of Sudan. It comes a day after a Sudanese militia leader was convicted at the ICC on charges of mass murder and sexual violence going back to 2003. Also, FIFA suspends seven members of the Malaysian national soccer team over allegations of submitting fake birth certificates. And, a father of three recounts his agonizing decision to leave Gaza City amid Israeli strikes. Plus, the BBC's Shipping Forecast turns 100 years old.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
In this episode of The PDB Situation Report: The Trump administration is weighing whether to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia. Alongside new U.S. intelligence support, this move could escalate the conflict. We'll hear from George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War for more. Later, Israel's military continues its push through Gaza City as Hamas deliberates on a ceasefire proposal backed by President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and much of the international community. Bill Roggio from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins us to break it down. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief CBDistillery: Visit https://CBDistillery.com and use promo code PDB for 25% off your entire order! American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB. Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
President Trump's budget director is canceling billions in projects and threatening mass layoffs as the White House uses the government shutdown to push for deeper spending cuts. The shutdown's ripple effects are spreading nationwide, with key federal services slowing or stopping. And in Gaza, Israel has issued a final evacuation order, warning that anyone who remains in Gaza City will be treated as a militant as Hamas considers changes to Trump's ceasefire plan.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay TottyWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Tommy & Ben start with Gaza: the UN Human Rights Council's finding that Israel has committed genocide, and Israel's ground operation into Gaza City. They discuss how Marco Rubio signaled that Trump has given up on brokering a peace deal in Gaza, and why the Netanyahu government is telling the press that Trump is lying about his knowledge of the IDF airstrike in Qatar. Also covered: Kash Patel's combative Senate hearing about the rampant dysfunction at the FBI, the global reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk and the dark conspiracy theories that have emerged around it, the long-term harm to the US-South Korea relationship caused by the ICE raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, Nepal's democracy by Discord, Trump's UK state visit amid Jeffrey Epstein fallout and far-right protests, Trump's ultimatums to NATO, and Conor McGregor's aborted bid for the Irish presidency. Then, Tommy speaks to Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the humanitarian situations in Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza, the devastating effects of the gutting of USAID, and what's giving him hope right now. Check out Be Hope here.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
FBI Director Kash Patel spoke on Tuesday about a massive rise in the number of investigations into so-called NVEs, which stands for “nihilistic violent extremists.” He defined them as people who “engage in violent acts motivated by a deep hatred of society.” Some experts would use that term to describe the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting. Utah prosecutors said Tuesday that the suspect allegedly wrote video game references and online jokes on the bullet casings. We've chosen not to reference the name of the alleged shooter because we think it's important not to give people who commit acts of violence the infamy they crave. To talk more about the online spaces where Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter spent most of his time and the rise of NVEs, we spoke to David Gilbert, who covers disinformation and online extremism for Wired Magazine.And in headlines: President Donald Trump is suing the New York Times again, Israel officially launches its ground offensive in Gaza City, and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez testifies to a Senate panel about her ouster by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Show Notes:David's work — https://www.wired.com/author/david-gilbert/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For today's episode, Senior Editor Scott R. Anderson sits down with Dan Byman, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Joel Braunold, Managing Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace; and Natan Sachs, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, to discuss several recent developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the broader region.Together, they discuss Israel's latest offensive in Gaza, its decision to launch airstrikes against Hamas's leadership in Qatar, and Benjamin Netanyahu's recent meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio—and what it all says about his (and Donald Trump's) vision for a new regional order.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.