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We start with Spike Lee's confrontation in the Legends Suites over Palestine and discuss his take on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Next, Jerry returns with sounds from the Yankees beating the Red Sox, postgame audio from Ben Rice as champagne flowed, and celebrations from the White Sox. Finally, we cover Phil Mickelson entering therapy for family trauma and addiction, leaving Gio to wonder how the two best golfers, Phil and Tiger, ended up with such similar issues.
Seth Mandel, Senior Editor of Commentary Magazine, on his recent piece "As the Hamas Narrative Disintegrates, Can Its Devotees Rejoin Reality?" and the role of language in shaping public opinion and the ways in which certain words, like "genocide" and "massacre," are used to create a particular narrative around the Israel-Palestine conflict. They also touch on the idea that the use of these words can be a form of intellectual dishonesty, used to avoid engaging with the complexities of the issue and to create a sense of moral certainty. They also talk about the attempted terrorist attack that was thwarted earlier today involving FlyDubai flight 737. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when a political philosopher stops asking, "What would the perfect society look like?" and starts asking, "How did we get here?" Dr Raef Zreik takes a close look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of political theory—and argues that one of the most important tasks of philosophy is self-clarification: figuring out exactly what we mean when we disagree, what assumptions we're making, and where our arguments actually lead. As a Palestinian citizen of Israel, Zreik describes himself as a kind of translator, trying to articulate Palestinian demands in language Jewish Israelis can understand—and Jewish fears in ways Palestinians can engage with. The conversation ranges from the meaning of citizenship and Palestinian political agency to organized crime in Palestinian society inside Israel, the relationship between history and political rights, and the devastating events in Gaza. It's a conversation about what happens when philosophy leaves the classroom and confronts a conflict in which both sides have their own history, fears, and claims to justice. The episode is sponsored by the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Chair in Jewish History at UCLA and co-hosted by Prof David N. Myers.
The conversation focused on the current economic turbulence, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, and the high-stakes power dynamics shaping the world today. A key theme that emerged was the precarious state of global markets, with rising bond yields reaching levels not seen in decades and the resulting impacts on mortgages, inflation, and overall economic growth. The discussion explored the AI arms race between the US and China, the explosive investment in AI infrastructure, and potential bottlenecks such as energy shortages threatening to stall progress. Several points were raised, including AI's transformative potential in medicine and the challenges of regulation and public perception. The episode also delved into the geopolitical landscape, examining the realities of superpower competition, the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and the unvarnished truths of power, influence, and the human cost behind the headlines.ITU: Ready to break through your biggest business bottleneck? Apply to work with me 1:1 - https://impacttheory.co/SCALESign up for my AI Masterclass: https://tombilyeu.com/ai-masterclass?utm_campaign=TBS-Livestream&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=socialThank you to our sponsors:Tailor Brands: Check out Tailor Brands to get started with your business today: https://bit.ly/TailorBrandsSeptQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodElevenLabs: Book your demo at https://elevenlabs.io/impactpodCash App: Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/v6nymgjl #CashAppPod*Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosure.Ketone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription order.ATT Business: Switch to AT&T Business at https://business.att.comIncogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code IMPACT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/impact Quo: Try for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://quo.com/impactPipedrive: Get more leads and grow your business. Go to https://www.pipedrive.com/impact and get started with a 30-day free trial.Netsuite: For the first time ever you can try NetSuite Next for free. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, go to https://NetSuite.ai/Theory.Butcherbox: Go to https://ButcherBox.com/IMPACT to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, new york strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year — with free shipping alwaysSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ed Sheeran's cousin Jethro Sheeran launches an astonishing attack on the Shape of You singer, branding him a “snake” and “coward” following the backlash over Macklemore being booted from his tour. In this exclusive interview with Piers Morgan, Jethro claims his megastar relative instructed his lawyers to remove a back catalogue of music they'd written together and says “80%” of the family stands by the blistering attacks he's put against Ed on social media and in this very show. Piers Morgan asks the questions everyone's thinking, including whether Jethro is jealous of his cousin's success in the music industry... watch to see how it unfolded! (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:45) Macklemore controversy (00:04:00) ‘Ed's a coward' (00:05:20) Is Jethro jealous of Ed's success? (00:14:00) Jethro's views on Israel/Palestine (00:14:55) Would Jethro have dropped Macklemore if he was Ed? (00:17:15) Jethro Sheeran RAPS (00:20:55) Jethro accuses Piers of being ‘bitter' (00:21:34) Piers asks Jethro how he thinks the interview went Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dominic Carter examines political and cultural debates surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, focusing on criticism of celebrities such as Macklemore, New York political figures, and media narratives. The episode features commentary on Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's military campaign, antisemitism, and concerns about public safety and political leadership inNew York.
The boys weigh in on comedian Theo Von giving his 2 cents on the genocide in Gaza....PLUS: Highway Patrol is out of control and we are starting to put together why the Paul brothers are getting involved in DC... Join the 99% App!! https://www.theantiheroapp.com/signin Join us on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAntiheroBroadcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Check out our sponsors!! Venjenz (promo code "ANTIHERO" for 15% off!) https://venjenz.com/ Crave Creatine Gummies (promo code ANTIHERO15 for 15% off!!) https://trycrave.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Middle East expert Rabbi Pesach answers the hardest questions on Israel, Palestine, Iran and America's role in the region, from the origins of the conflict to what a realistic settlement actually looks like. A direct, unflinching conversation about the questions most interviews avoid.
Can you think of a time when there wasn't significant tension between Israel & the Arabs? Why all the conflict and what's coming next? Tune-in and find out!In this episode, Jay Seegert interviews Olivier Melnick to explore the biblical and historical background of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the importance of biblical literacy in understanding current events. They discuss how biblical prophecy relates to today's geopolitical issues and the need for Christians to be informed and engaged.
Boortz discusses reports that Iran is restarting parts of its nuclear program and criticism from United Nations experts concerning U.S. actions against Iran. He also turns to domestic political controversies, including the Kennedy Center renovation, gasoline prices, and protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WBUR's Tiziana Dearing takes us through this week's top headlines. The City of Boston released a report saying Flock Safety failed to keep its data secure during a 2025 pilot. Rep. Lori Trahan, along with other Democrats, urged congress to quickly work on guardrails for artificial intelligence. And Ed Sheeran's upcoming at Gillette stadium is at the center of a fiery debate about censorship - specifically about Israel-Palestine. We also spoke to Dr. Ashish Jha, who's the former COVID-19 response coordinator for the Biden administration. He shared the advice he gives his own family members on vaccines.
Boortz discusses reports that Iran is restarting parts of its nuclear program and criticism from United Nations experts concerning U.S. actions against Iran. He also turns to domestic political controversies, including the Kennedy Center renovation, gasoline prices, and protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict.Atlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us Fan MailIn this updated rebroadcast of a program from November, 2025, Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director of Israel-Palestine at DAWN (Democracy in the Arab World Now) discusses the accelerating pace of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, the history of settler violence, the U.S. role in enabling Israeli occupation, apartheid and genocide, and measures that could prompt Israel to chart a different path. A co- author, with Sarah Leah Whitson, of "From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel-Palestine," Omer-Man says international allegiance to the Oslo two-state solution has entrenched Israeli occupation and prevented other countries from challenging it o
A2 THE SHOW #631 Our next guest on A2 THE SHOW is Qasim Rashid, a human rights attorney, author, and civil rights activist focused on justice, religious freedom, anti-racism, and protecting vulnerable communities. In this episode, we talk about bigotry and Muslim creators, masculinity and empathy, AI deepfakes and war, power and politics, the Israel-Palestine conflict, civilian casualties, historical persecution, religion and modern statehood, and justice for both Palestinian and Jewish refugees.IG: @qasimrashidWEBSITE: https://www.qasimrashid.com/Please visit our website to get more information: https://a2theshow.com/a2-the-show/⏰Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction05:07 — Turning Bigotry Into Learning10:18 — Rise of Muslim Creators15:03 — Why People Flex Success20:12 — Why Empathy Is Strength25:53 — AI Deepfakes & War30:06 — Psychopathy & Power35:22 — Israel, Gaza & West Bank40:16 — Gaza Death Toll Debate45:26 — Persecution & Jewish Statehood50:08 — Religion & Statehood57:54 — Civilian Casualties in War1:07:26 — Justice for Palestinian & Jewish Refugees
Brian is joined by Nicole Boxer, Bill Jubran, and Greg Proops for a wide-ranging discussion covering the upcoming midterm elections, AI regulation, and free speech in entertainment. Election & Politics — With 50 days until the midterms, the panel expressed optimism about Democratic prospects, with Nicole predicting wins in both the House and Senate. 1 The group debated whether Democrats risk overreaching if they gain full control of Congress, and discussed challenges engaging younger voters who view both parties as equally corrupt. AI & Technology — Brian reported on rogue AI agents from OpenAI systems that hacked user accounts and probed French startup Hugging Face for security weaknesses months before a major public breach. 1 The panel debated regulation, with Greg opposing a proposed bill that would ban AI regulation discussions for 10 years, and Nicole proposing a regulatory board modeled on nuclear energy or pharmaceutical oversight. Macklemore & Free Speech — The group discussed Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's tour after making pro-Palestinian statements on stage, with venue owner Robert Kraft leading an ultimatum that resulted in four other opening acts walking off in solidarity. The panel examined who controls what artists say on stage, the limits of free speech versus venue owner rights, and the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict.Supreme Court — Nicole highlighted the Court's recent decision blocking Trump's restrictions on mail-in ballots, and the panel discussed expanding the Court from nine to thirteen justices to align with the thirteen circuit courts. --Connect with our Guests...#GregProops - @ProopDog on Instagram#BillJubran - YouTube Channel or @BillJubran23 on Instagram#NicoleBoxer - @NicBoxer on Instagram--#ElectionOutlook #MidtermElections #Macklemore #FreeSpeech #EdSheeran #EdSheeranAndMacklemore#AI #AITechnology #PalestineConflict #IsraelPalestine #SupremeCourt #MailInBallots #BrianCopeland #CopelandsCorner #HeadlinersOnTheHeadlines#CopelandUnfiltered #ComedyCommentary #PodcastersOfYouTube #ComicsOnAir #TalkPodcast#PoliticalHumor #PoliticalPodcast #HotTalkTopicsPodcast#ComedyNewsShow #CurrentEventsComedy #NewsCommentaryShow#WeeklyComedyTalk #BayAreaTalkShow #ComedyPodcastInterviews #ComedyPodcastHost Hosted by the Bay Area's own Brian Copeland, a longtime Actor, Comedian, Author, Playwright, Television and Radio Personality. Brian and The Copeland's Corner Network of content creators provide a weekly mashup of news, interviews and comedy.--For more from Brian...Visit his website: www.BrianCopeland.comFollow on Social Media: Instagram - @CopelandsCorner & @BrianCopieEmail: BrianCopelandShow@Gmail.com --Copeland's Corner is Created, Hosted, & Executive Produced by Brian Copeland. This Show is Recorded & Mixed by Charlene Goto with Go-To Productions. Visit Go-To Productions for all your Podcast & Media needs.Our Booking Producer is Tom Sawyer. For any show inquiries, please email CopelandsCornerPodcast@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Rob and Kelvin take Justin Herbert to task for not delivering the kind of results his talents would suggest, and tell us why New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft banning rapper Macklemore from Gillette Stadium for his comments about the Israel-Palestine conflict is a slippery slope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, I'm clarifying something about where this show is headed and what I am, and am not, here to do.Over time, people have tried to attach my voice to all kinds of movements, causes, and political factions. I'm not a mouthpiece for anybody's movement. My focus is moving back to the two subjects that have always been at the center of my work: Christianity and America.I'm again addressing my position on Palestine and the Middle East. I still support the Palestinian people, while also believing that Palestinians have to take responsibility for supporting and building their own society. Being opposed to the actions or policies of the Israeli government does not mean that I have adopted every belief, political position, or religious identity associated with the Palestinian cause.The Middle East has experienced conflict for generations, and my audience should not expect me to become a Muslim or pretend to be a Palestinian simply because I oppose particular actions of the Israeli government. My Christian faith and my commitment to America remain central to how I understand the world.We'll also discuss updates on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Ed Sheeran vs Macklemore drama.--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app
Ed Sheeran has found himself embroiled in a huge row after the rapper Macklemore was dropped as a support act from his tour, after he made comments in support of Palestine. The Suffolk singer has said he is "not complicit" and that the decision to drop Macklemore was not his. Since then, all the other support acts have pulled out of the tour in support of the rapper. On this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks with singer Paloma Faith who has publicly supported Macklemore, calling him ‘my hero' on social media. They discuss the pressure put on if musicians by business interests, whether music can ever stay out of politics and if musicians can ever truly sit on the fence when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In this podcast excerpt, Colin Kelly analyzes the public relations fallout surrounding Ed Sheeranafter his opening act, Macklemore, was removed from several tour dates. Kelly argues that Sheeran's public statement backfired by appearing defensive rather than clarifying his position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. While Sheeran claims his concerts should remain free from politics, the host contends that performing in venues owned by American billionaires is an inherently political act. The primary criticism leveled against the singer is his failure to stand up for his friends against the demands of powerful concert promoters. Ultimately, Kelly suggests that Sheeran's global influence should have been used to protect his artistic collaborators rather than allowing outside interests to dictate the lineup.
Why has Ed Miliband gone further than any previous foreign secretary in announcing the occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal and placing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank? Can these limited sanctions really achieve their stated aim of “salvaging” the two-state solution? Will Britain now follow Mark Carney in building a new alliance of middle powers independent of the US and China? Alastair and Rory are joined by Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair's interview with Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, by searching ‘Leading' on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.
Do Award Shows Even Matter Anymore? Plus: Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran's Tour Over Palestine The Emmys just happened. Did anyone outside Hollywood actually care? Award shows have always caught flak for being elitist, out-of-touch spectacles — but they still move the needle: box office bumps, viewership spikes, higher asking prices for the winners. The real question is whether any of that still matters to the average viewer in a world of disposable content, where shows blow up and vanish in a news cycle and movies trend for five minutes before disappearing completely. We're breaking down whether awards shows still hold cultural weight, or if they're just industry theater at this point. Also this week: Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour after his pro-Palestinian comments and use of “Free Palestine” imagery onstage. According to reporting, multiple stadium venues told the tour's promoter they wouldn't host the show if Macklemore stayed on the bill — and Sheeran ultimately caved to the pressure. We're talking about what this says about free speech in America right now, especially when it comes to Israel and Palestine, and why we think this kind of pressure campaign does nothing to help Israel's image or the standing of American Jewish leaders who back it. Join the conversation in the comments, LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to The Karel Cast, and SHARE it with someone who has an opinion. Support independent media and The Karel Cast on Patreon: patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and other major platforms, and on TikTok and Instagram. LIVE Monday–Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer, and commentator based in Las Vegas, joined by his little service dog, Ember. #EmmyAwards, #AwardShows, #Emmys2026, #HollywoodNews, #EntertainmentNews, #PopCulture, #Macklemore, #EdSheeran, #FreePalestine, #MacklemoreDropped, #LoopTour, #MusicNews, #CelebrityNews, #FreeSpeechDebate, #IsraelPalestine, #PoliticalCommentary, #CensorshipInAmerica, #MusicIndustry, #EntertainmentIndustry, #CultureWar, #MediaCriticism, #TheKarelCast, #KarelCast, #NewsCommentary, #TalkShow, #IndependentMedia, #DailyNews, #CurrentEvents, #HotTakes, #EmberTheDog https://youtube.com/live/lqKRE7z06xw
Stories from Israel-Palestine, Nigeria, Germany, and elsewhereSubscribe to Foreign Exchanges today and get 40% off your first year! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe
Happy New Year! אַ גוט געבענטשט יאָר Highlights: Rabbi Nasan Maimon discusses Rosh Hashona generally and with the Breslever Chassidim in particular. We reached him on Tues., Sept. 8, via WhatsApp in Bucharest, Romania, which he was passing through on his way Uman, Ukraine. Maimon’s website, Breslov Torah, features his and others’ teachings on Breslov Chassidus. Sholem Beinfeld gives his historian’s perspective on Rosh Hashona, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as well as more recent events. Sholem is a regular contributor to the Yiddish Voice, co-Editor in Chief of the Comprehensive Yiddish-English Dictionary and Professor of History, Emeritus, Washington University, St. Louis. Sholem spoke to us by phone from his home in Cambridge on Weds, Sept. 9. Adi Mahalel talks about his new post teaching Yiddish studies at Harvard, and also about his recent books, including Boom and Chains: A Yiddish Novel Set in Israel/Palestine, for which he wrote the introduction and translated from the original written in Yiddish by Hanan Ayalti. STUDENTS: it’s not too late to register! Contact the teacher: amahalel at fas.harvard.edu We spoke to Adi at his home in Cambridge via Zoom on Tues., Sept. 8. Emma Breslow talks about her new post teaching Yiddish at Brandeis, and also about her academic research on Yiddish as a minority language, which you can find on her website www.emmabreslow.com. STUDENTS: it’s not too late to register! Contact the teacher: ebreslow at brandeis.edu We spoke to Emma at her home in the Boston area via Zoom on Weds., Sept. 9. Dovid Braun gives a warm greeting for the new year, while also marking the sad passing of Motl Murstein, a friend of the show and frequent guest, whose funeral was yesterday. Dovid also talks about Yiddish at Yivo, where he teaches Yiddish and serves as Academic Advisor in Yiddish Language, Pedagogy and Linguistics. We spoke to Dovid in person during his visit to the Boston area on Weds., Sept. 9. Rosh Hashona Announcements and well-wishes for the new year from sponsors and friends: Mary Erlich and Tania Lefman, Holocaust survivors, for the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, announcing the annual Yizkor Memorial Service, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, 10:30 AM, at Brandeis University, Statue of Job, near Berlin Chapel. Eli Dovek, late proprietor of Israel Book Shop (from 2009) Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, chair of the board of the The League for Yiddish/די ייִדיש-ליגע Libe Gritz for Bostoner Arbeter-Ring Music Instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air date: September 9, 2026
Given the last few years of the occupation of Palestine, it seemed a good time to review. Homeless advocate and activist, Raúl Fernández-Berriozábal discusses the current state of the Israel/Palestine conflict. We get into how it started and how we're here. AUDIO ONLY
BURNHAM: "WE STAND WITH THE UNDERDOG!" — BUT WHAT ABOUT US BRITS? #AndyBurnham #PMQs #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #UKPolitics #Israel #Palestine #BritishPeople #Underdog Andy Burnham stood at the despatch box at PMQs today and proudly declared that Britain will "always stand with the underdog." Really, Andy? Then here's my question: WHAT ABOUT US BRITS?! What about ordinary British people struggling with the cost of living? What about communities demanding action on crime, antisocial behaviour and illegal immigration? What about people who feel increasingly ignored by the political establishment in their own country? Burnham says Britain must stand against injustice and has defended his Government's action against Israeli settlements in the West Bank as an example of British leadership. But I want to know: WHEN DOES THAT SAME PASSION GET DIRECTED AT THE PROBLEMS HERE AT HOME? This isn't a debate about whether Palestinians or Israelis deserve peace, security and justice — of course they do. It's about the priorities of the BRITISH Prime Minister. Burnham says he wants to fight for the underdog. Well Andy, millions of ordinary British people feel like THEY'RE THE UNDERDOGS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. I'm asking whether Burnham and his Government are more interested in making grand gestures on the world stage than sorting out Britain.
Twelve countries ban goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; Britain's Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, says plans to build thousands of new homes there are unacceptable. Also: Canada's imposes retaliatory tariffs on various American goods; fighting escalates between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group; the medical charity, Medecins sans Frontieres, warns that international funding cuts have closed healthcare facilities across Sudan; the boss of one of the world's leading computer chip makers, ARM Holdings, predicts artificial intelligence will cure cancer; masterpieces by the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, are stolen in France; and we speak to the writer of a new documentary on the English rock band, Oasis.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband making a statement on Israel-Palestine in the House of Commons. Credit: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told parliament that there will be an import ban on goods from Jewish settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank, as well as further sanctions. He also told MPs that the UK agrees there is ethnic cleansing in areas of the West Bank. We will get reaction from the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Also on the programme: Jamaican culture minister Olivia Grange on the quest for reparations for slavery; and a test that can identify brain tumour from teardrops. (Picture: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband making a statement on Israel-Palestine in the House of Commons. Credit: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire.)
In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with journalist Alex Kane (Jewish Currents) about the role that Palestine/Israel is playing in different elections around the country, the Jewish vote in Michigan and Florida, and how to think about the differences, similarities, and impacts of AIPAC versus J Street. See this new article by (Mari Cohen, Alex Kane, and Josh Nathan-Kazis in Jewish Currents (9/1/26): Could Jewish Democrats Actually Cost Abdul El-Sayed a Senate Seat? Alex Kane is a senior reporter at Jewish Currents, where he writes about the politics of Israel/Palestine in the United States. My work has also appeared in The Guardian, The Nation, In These Times, Ha'aretz, The Intercept, VICE, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Al Jazeera, The Forward and more. Ahmed Moor is a Palestinian-American writer born in Gaza and a Fellow at FMEP. He is an advisory board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights, co-editor of After Zionism (Saqi Books) and is currently writing a book about Palestine. He also currently serves on the board of the Independence Media Foundation. His work has been published in The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Nation, and elsewhere. He earned a BA at the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP at Harvard University. You can follow Ahmed on Substack at: https://ahmedmoor.substack.com and on X at @AhmedMoor. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.
Dr. Rod Berger talks with Dr. Stephen Zunes on activism, civil resistance, and Western Sahara storylines. This conversation explores how Dr. Stephen Zunes' upbringing in a Christian pacifist, politically engaged household shaped his lifelong focus on human rights, international law, and nonviolent resistance. Host Dr. Rod Berger, editor at large at Fair Observer, and Zunes also discuss Western Sahara, Israel-Palestine, democracy, polarization, and why Zunes still believes large-scale civic action can change history. Guest Dr. Stephen Zunes — Professor of politics and director of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco, speaking about his background, scholarship, activism, and views on civil resistance Key topics In this episode: Zunes traces his worldview to a Christian pacifist household shaped by civil rights activism, anti-Vietnam War protests, environmental concern, and early Palestinian solidarity. We discuss: How his parents' backgrounds—one from a Greek immigrant line and one from a conservative Southern family—led to an unusual but deeply consistent social justice ethic. Zunes shares: How growing up in Chapel Hill and reading the newspaper as a child helped make political curiosity and international affairs feel natural. In this episode: His decision to move from organizing into academia came from realizing he was better as an intellectual than a movement organizer. We discuss: Why Western Sahara became a central focus for him as a test case for international law, self-determination, and opposition to territorial conquest. Zunes shares: His view that Western Sahara and Palestine are two important examples of foreign belligerent occupation that are often treated very differently in public discourse. We discuss: How he sees support for Western Sahara as potentially strengthening the pro-Palestinian movement by centering international law rather than sectarian argument. Zunes shares: His experience debating John Bolton at the Oxford Union on whether military force is an effective way to promote democracy, and why he argues that civil society and nonviolent action are usually more effective. We discuss: Why the United States and Britain should examine their own support for authoritarian regimes before advocating military intervention abroad. Zunes shares: His optimism rooted in historical examples, including civil rights, Vietnam, South Africa, and East Timor, where sustained pressure changed policy. We discuss: The role of polarization, which he sees as dangerous but also potentially transformative, depending on how people shape it. Zunes shares: Why he remains hopeful about younger generations, whom he sees as more open to socialism, social democracy, and critiques of militarism. Timestamps 02:16 — Rod introduces the show and Stephen Zunes 03:37 — Zunes' academic background and family roots 04:20 — A Christian pacifist household shaped by civil rights and anti-war politics 07:16 — Parents' unusual pro-Palestinian stance in the Deep South 08:53 — Learning politics at the dinner table and from newspapers 11:26 — Chapel Hill, Oberlin, and becoming a political science scholar 13:35 — Why Western Sahara became a defining issue 14:34 — Civil rights, Namibia, East Timor, and the logic of solidarity 15:31 — Why Western Sahara matters for international law 16:55 — Comparing Western Sahara, Palestine, and U. S. double standards 19:17 — Why obscurity made Western Sahara a compelling cause 21:47 — Activism, voice, and how scholarship enters public debate 22:30 — The Oxford debate with John Bolton 24:44 — Why civil society beats foreign military intervention 26:33 — Why cynicism is hard to avoid in a militarized world 28:15 — Movements that changed history from Vietnam to South Africa 30:40 — Why these perspectives are becoming more mainstream 31:25 — Concern about U. S. civic fragility and democratic decline 33:25 — Why authoritarian systems can also produce skepticism and resistance 35:20 — Polarization as a force that can produce reform or reaction 39:07 — Grassroots voter mobilization and the importance of turnout 40:12 — Final reflection on whether nonviolent struggle still wins 41:20 — Why Zunes remains optimistic about the long term 43:13 — Younger generations, social democracy, and anti-militarism 44:10 — Closing thoughts on the value of debate and informed disagreement TOP INSIGHTS Universal principles are stronger than issue-by-issue loyalty Judge every occupation, annexation, or intervention by the same standard: international law. A consistent, principle-based approach is harder to dismiss as selective outrage and creates stronger coalitions across conflicts. Overlooked issues can offer meaningful opportunities for advocacy Western Sahara's relative obscurity allowed focused expertise and advocacy to develop. Importance is not always reflected by the amount of public attention an issue receives. Nonviolent movements create sustainable political change Civil resistance is not merely symbolic. Organized citizens, durable networks, and sustained pressure can produce legitimacy and lasting policy change more effectively than military intervention. Polarization can lead to authoritarianism or reform Polarization is not inherently destructive. Its consequences depend on how social energy is organized and whether democratic institutions can channel conflict toward constructive change. Democracy depends on local participation Democratic decline often begins with disengagement from local institutions such as school boards, city councils, and community organizations. Participation is a form of democratic maintenance. Historical memory can produce realistic hope Optimism does not have to mean ignoring present challenges. Past movements—including civil rights, anti-war, anti-apartheid, and labor movements—show that organized pressure can change systems that once appeared permanent. Younger generations are questioning inherited political assumptions Younger people are increasingly willing to challenge conventional ideas about capitalism, militarism, socialism, and foreign policy. Their skepticism may represent a broader shift in political expectations.
In this episode, Dru Johnson continues a challenging conversation about Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, Zionism, and Christian Zionism with Bruce N. Fisk and Daniel Bannoura. The discussion examines competing narratives about the history of Israel and Palestine and asks how Christians should think about the ongoing conflict.Fisk and Bannoura critique what they describe as the dominant Israeli and Christian Zionist narratives, particularly their treatment of Palestinian history, the Nakba, the occupation, and Palestinian claims to national identity and self-determination. They also explore how Zionism has developed historically and discuss different forms of Jewish nationalism, including political, cultural, and binational approaches.The conversation then turns to Gaza and Hamas, including questions surrounding violence, collective punishment, international law, and the use of terms such as genocide and apartheid. Bannoura offers a theological and historical analysis of Hamas, acknowledging the problems with its early rhetoric while emphasizing the importance of understanding the political conditions and experiences that contributed to its rise.Finally, Fisk discusses the book Being Christian After the Desolation of Gaza and its call for Christians to move beyond simplistic binaries and engage more seriously with questions of peace, justice, Palestinian rights, Israel, and Christian theology.Dr Bannoura and Dr. Fisk are responding to this episode: https://thebiblicalmind.org/podcast/israel-palestine-conflict-more-complicated-than-you-think/Buy the book here:https://wipfandstock.com/9798385254859/being-christian-after-the-desolation-of-gaza/ We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/giveFor more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.orgChapters:00:00 Introduction and episode overview01:12 Bruce Fisk summarizes the Israeli narrative03:36 Discussion of Gaza and international law05:01 Reflections on narratives and historical perspectives07:16 Orientalist discourse and Palestinian history09:38 The Nakba and Palestinian identity11:00 Zionism, land, and international law12:28 Critique of Zionist narratives and bias15:10 Zionism, transfer, and ethnic cleansing17:45 International law, UN resolutions, and legal issues19:02 Netanyahu's Zionism and security focus20:53 Israeli security fears and victimhood22:21 The book project and its goals37:26 Hamas, resistance, and evolution50:36 The development of Hamas and its political stance55:42 Militancy, resistance, and historical parallels01:00:23 The Christian critique of Israel and Palestine01:02:10 The future of a Jewish state and democratic solutionsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
America hasn't just lost ground in Iran, says economist Iraj Abedian, it's lost the myth of being unbeatable. Speaking at BNC#9, Abedian lays out the binary choice facing Washington and Tehran, the alliances quietly reshuffling around Israel, and the human cost hidden behind the headlines. Then comes the question every South African investor needs answered: which side should we be on? His answer will not please everyone in Pretoria.
Jeff is back after a long absence, and he explains why: the bipartisan insanity in America left him too disgusted to record, even for the nation's 250th birthday. He remembers the 1976 bicentennial, when kids collected special quarters, flags flew everywhere, and Americans actually liked their country. Compare that to now. What changed? Muslim terror supporters are winning elections coast to coast: Mamdani's New York, where tax dollars fund Israel-bashing puppet shows for four-year-olds, and Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed will cruise into the Senate after answering a synagogue terror attack with "hurt people, hurt people." Jew hate is now the one issue uniting the far left and the Nazi right — and it wins. And Jeff is officially done defending Trump. Iran "unconditionally surrendered"? They're still firing missiles, rebuilding nuclear sites, and executing protesters while Trump begs for a deal and dangles F-35s in front of Turkey's fanatical dictator Erdogan. Compromised by Qatari billions or just a moron — either way, America's last chance is gone. Next week: Jeff finally takes on the Lindsay Clancy case.
Today's Headlines: Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America — yes, really — musing that maybe he'll rename the Atlantic and Pacific next, while Canadian PM Mark Carney responded that "Ontario" is a 400-year-old Wendat word meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big," which is a more dignified response than the moment deserved. Back to actual issues, Iran has been running an AI-powered disinformation operation on Instagram and Facebook, posing as average Americans to spread political misinformation about immigration and the Israel-Palestine war, with Meta taking down 35 accounts — which is a lot of effort from a country we're supposedly defeating militarily. The military situation is genuinely alarming across every front: a sailor who jumped off the USS Abraham Lincoln in what his wife describes as a suicide attempt — after his paternity leave requests were repeatedly denied while his wife gave birth — is now facing disciplinary action for "malingering" and AWOL charges for being medically evacuated. Pete Hegseth fired the Army's top general days after the general was advised to drop an investigation into how Kid Rock got a military helicopter fly by so he could wave at it on social media. Oh but there's more, Jennifer Hegseth, Pete's wife and former Fox News producer, has been attending classified intelligence meetings with foreign officials with no confirmed security clearance — she was in the Houthi PC small group chat. Five service members told MSNBC they're being asked to violate international law by targeting civilian infrastructure, and applications to leave as conscientious objectors have surged since the Iran war started. The US is also "beyond critically low" on Patriot missile interceptors in Europe — because of the Iran war — right as the CIA director had to fly to Moscow in person to tell Russia not to attack NATO. A Navy engineer's rape lawsuit against the ship captain who allegedly entered her room with a master access key was dismissed by a judge who said it should be treated as a workplace compensation claim. To add to the overall craziness, ICE arrested 49,000 people in July alone, with less than 4% having any prior violent conviction. And finally, Fauci's prosecution is apparently going nowhere, which is the best news of the day. Resources/Articles mentioned: MS Now: Canada's prime minister gives Trump a history lesson after U.S. renames Lake Ontario Axios: Exclusive: Meta disrupts Iran-linked AI operation targeting politicians, journalists MS Now: Navy sailor who jumped off USS Lincoln faces disciplinary charges NYT: ‘It's Bonkers': Jennifer Hegseth's Hands-On Role in Her Husband's Pentagon IB Times: Judge Dismisses Navy Engineer's Rape Lawsuit, Says Alleged Assault by Captain Was Work Injury MS Now: Retired Army general on fired general reportedly told to drop Kid Rock probe: ‘Very disturbing' WaPo: Before Hegseth fired him, top general was advised to drop Kid Rock probe Ap News: Exclusive: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are 'beyond critical' due to Iran war, officials say NYT: ICE Arrests Soar as People With No Criminal Record Are Increasingly Targeted WSJ: Republican Efforts to Prosecute Fauci for Contempt Are Hitting a Wall Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ever tried explaining a word that shows up 250+ times in the Bible... and still can't quite pin it down? That's exactly the puzzle Old Testament scholar Jenny Matheny sits down to unpack with Cyndi this episode. Using her own growing up context in Napa Valley and the French wine concept of terroir to help people explore the concept of the Hebrew term hesed. This word defies easy translations because it is so thick with meaning. Explore the book Hesed the Seed of the Biblical Story from @bakerpublishinggroup Here Read more about Dr. Jennifer M. Matheny HERE Listen to Dr. Megan Roberts talk about a trauma informed reading of Isaiah: Part 1 and Part 2 Listen to Dr. Ericka Dunbar talk about reading Ruth as Horror: Part 1 and Part 2 Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine. Join Cyndi Parker's Patreon Team!
Hey everyone, Quick update regarding Parallax Views. Due to recent widespread backend analytics and reporting issues on Podbean, we are hitting pause on our regular schedule to let things stabilize. In the meantime, we are dropping a special replay of a favorite episode for you to enjoy. Thank you so much for your patience, your understanding, and your continued support while we sort through the tech hiccups behind the scenes. New episodes will be back on track shortly! Recorded 3-18-26
In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we are joined by James Loeffler, the Felix Posen Professor of Modern Jewish History at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss his new book, An Exceptional Hatred: Antisemitism and the Fight Over Free Speech in Modern America.The book traces a century of struggle over antisemitism and free speech in the United States, from the violent anti-Jewish riots of the 1940s to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, and the ferocious campus debates over Israel-Palestine today. Loeffler argues that antisemitism has always been a uniquely contested category in American life – weaponised by both the right and the left, and often used to obscure rather than clarify the fight against hate.We explore the surprising rise of antisemitic attitudes in America after World War II and the Holocaust, the complex relationship between anti-communism and antisemitism in the 1950s, and the long history of Jews being viewed as "not quite white" – a racial ambiguity that has made them a persistent target of conspiracy theories.The conversation also examines the politicisation of antisemitism. Today, conservatives often use the accusation of antisemitism as a weapon against the left, while some on the left dismiss legitimate concerns about antisemitism as a smokescreen for defending Israel. Loeffler argues that this instrumentalisation of hatred does a disservice to the victims of real antisemitism and creates a toxic environment where genuine debate is impossible.Topics covered:The 2017 Charlottesville rally and its significanceThe history of antisemitic violence in post-WWII AmericaThe "Judeo-Bolshevik" conspiracy theoryJews, whiteness, and racial ambiguityThe politicisation of antisemitismFree speech, hate speech, and the campus debatesThe Israel-Palestine conflict and its impact on American JewsJames Loeffler's An Exceptional Hatred is available from all good bookshops. Please consider buying from an independent retailer or directly from the publisher.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Jason is joined by esteemed British historian and author, Simon Sebag Montefiore, to discuss his latest book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East. Jason and Sebag's discussion ranges over centuries of history and ping pongs back and forth on myriad topics. It tries to make the peripheral central by putting the non-Arab, non-Sunni groups at the centre of understanding the Modern Middle East. They unpack how the Middle East became the Disorderly region we know today and where to frame current conflicts historically to understand certain deeper dynamics, especially as pertains to minorities and their ambitions for statehood and peoplehood. They focus a lot on WWI and the dynamics that emerged from it and shaped the history of the Kurds, Armenians, Turks, and fleeing Ionian Greeks. These were the dynamics of population transfer and ethnonationalism that destroyed the old Middle East of the Millet System. They try to avoid the overdone Israel/Palestine dynamics which occasionally shed more heat than light. With this framing in place, they look at what tragedies took us to the current pointless and self-defeating Iran war, and where we might go from here. To get part 2 with bonus content, and hear it before anyone else, join our Mega Orderers Club at disordershow.com/club Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow Show Notes Links: To get Simon's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cauldron-Making-Modern-Middle-East/dp/1399634895/ For more Disorder about the history of the Middle East, try: What is Zionism and is it still relevant today? Israel's Independence Day with Phil Rosenberg https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ug89R0zHLumkldJX5Cmo2 And Sir Vincent Fean The Case for Palestinian Statehood: https://disorder.supportingcast.fm/listen/disorder/ep74-part2-the-case-for-palestinian-statehood And the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day: https://disorder.supportingcast.fm/listen/disorder/ep36-part-i-former-armenian-president-sarkissian-on-armenian-genocide-remembrance-day This episode is brought to you in partnership with the New Books Network, for more visit https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/up-partners/disorder
Yesterday, Ben Burgis went on English-language Israeli cable channel i24 to argue about the role of Israel/Palestine in the rise of the democratic socialist left in the United States. We'll play the whole segment and break it down!Read the Jacobin article mentioned in the episode ("The Problem With Israel Is So Much Bigger Than Netanyahu"):https://jacobin.com/2025/08/democrats-bernie-netanyahu-zionism-apartheidPre-order Ben (and Bhaskar Sunkara and Mike Beggs's) new book "The Blueprint: How Socialism Can Work in the Real World" from worker-owned bookshop Red Emmas:https://redemmas.org/titles/52310-the-blueprint-how-socialism-can-work-in-the-real-world/Follow Ben on Twitter @JacobinBen [NOTE: The previous account was hacked!]Follow GTAA on Twitter: @Gtaa_ShowBecome a GTAA Patron and receive numerous benefits ranging from occasional patron-exclusive content to access to the GTAA Discord to our undying love and gratitude for helping us keep this thing going:patreon.com/benburgisRead the weekly philosophy Substack:benburgis.substack.com
Stories from Israel-Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada, and elsewhereSubscribe to Foreign Exchanges today and get 40% off your first year! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe
ISRAEL - THE NEW WEDGE ISSUE OF U.S. POLITICSIn this week's Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to the journalist Jo-Ann Mort about Israel, Jews, and anti-Semitism in left-wing politics. Jo-Ann Mort,who is also former founder of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), discussed how the DSA has shifted dramatically from its original anti-communist, anti-totalitarian stance to a position that is increasingly critical of Israel and supportive of BDS movements. Jo-Ann and Nick discuss how Israel has become a wedge issue in American politics, with left-wing candidates opposing pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC, while also addressing concerns about rising anti-Semitism in the left-wing movement. Jo-Ann criticises performative activism around Israel, arguing that targeted sanctions and engagement with Palestinian leaders like Marwan Barghouthi would be more effective than symbolic gestures like BDS. She also discusses the upcoming Israeli elections and potential leadership changes that could impact the peace process, as well as concerns about anti-Semitism affecting Jewish communities in both America and Britain.Read all about it!Jo-Ann Mort is a journalist, poet, analyst, advisor-specialty Israel/Palestine and social Democracy, A PRECISE CHAOS, poetry 4thcoming from @ArrowsmithpressNick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us Fan MailA group discussion about Israel-Palestine, anyone can join!Join the discussion: HeadOn.AiWant more than just watching?Connect with Israelis, Palestinians, and global voices having real conversations every day - https://discord.com/invite/MSTfuhnj8SSocials: https://linktr.ee/adarwSupport the Show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sulhaPayPal: https://paypal.me/AdarW?locale.x=en_US
My guest on the show today is David Sugarman, writer, Arc magazine editor, podcast producer of this very show, and agonizing, ambivalent American Jew. It's in this last capacity that he's joining me today to discuss his essay in the new issue of The Point magazine titled “Goodbye West Orange: Two Paths for the American Jew.” I want to note, before I say anything more about the essay or our conversation about it, that over the course of the three-plus years that I've been doing this Substack and podcast, there are two issue constellations that I have been especially gun-shy about confronting. One is the various issues surrounding trans people and policies in America, and the other, of course, is Israel-Palestine. As to why I've been so gun-shy, it should almost go without saying. There is no winning when you wade into these topics. They seem to devour people's capacity to contain nuance or complexity. They also seem to just devour people. You think you're just dipping in a toe, and then suddenly you're neck deep. Then you are underwater, completely defined by the issue, captured by the emotions around it, forever stigmatized or lionized as a hero or villain of the debate, and I have not wanted that fate for myself. I thought and continue to think that it is honorable to abstain from public comment when no one is waiting around breathlessly to hear your opinion, when you don't know that much, and when you don't feel like you have anything particularly interesting or useful to say. So that is why I've stayed away. As to why I'm breaking with that policy, both with this episode with David and with my upcoming episode with sociologist Rogers Brubaker, whose new book, Gender Identity: The Career of a Category, is very much in the space of the trans issue, I'm not wholly sure. It may be that I have a touch of a bad conscience for opting out to this point, notwithstanding my protestations of honorability around abstention. Or maybe, and this isn't mutually exclusive, I've just started to glimpse a narrow opening, where I didn't before, for the having of complicated conversations about these immensely complicated topics. And maybe I have been waiting, without realizing I'm waiting, to run across texts that dignify my desire have a different kind of conversation, and then I found them. David's essay, "Goodbye West Orange: Two Paths for the American Jew," is about two Jews, Moshe and Tova. It's about them both as themselves in their human complexity and about them as avatars of rival sides of the increasingly stark divide in American Jewry between what we might call (and David and I get into our discomfort about just reducing it to this) the Zionists and the anti-Zionists. It's also about David's own lived experience, if you will, as a former member in good standing of both camps, and about his current disaffection with both. It's also about why language itself has become such a battlefield in this intra-American contest, and it's about what comes next for all of us. To give you a taste, here's David writing in the piece:Each side demanded, Moshe's and Tova's, that I disavow the other: the antisemitic left, the genocidal right; progressive secularism with all its dangerous bedfellows, Zionism in all forms. The logics were nearly identical: look at this community you belong to, this failed project you've supported; look at what it's doing in the world and at the rot at its core: What would you need to see to finally understand its immorality?Moshe and his community monopolized the pull of peoplehood, and of historical trauma, and of a rising sense of insecurity that has only deepened, as Jews have been murdered in D.C., in Manchester, in Melbourne. Moshe, I'd assume, has both an explanation and solution: antisemitism; Zionism.Tova, too: empire; revolution. Such an explanation frames Israel's collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza, or the state-sanctioned settler violence in the West Bank, or the war against Iran and Lebanon, as parts of a coherent colonial project that should be resisted by any means necessary—even the violent means deployed by Hezbollah and Hamas.…How can anti-authoritarians be so forgiving of some forms of authoritarianism? I wonder about this as I drive from Moshe's house to Tova's, a ground-level unit in a quiet complex surrounded by woods. It's a matter of language, I conclude—that our words can't really travel with us, even from one side of West Orange to another. To talk about Zionism or anti-Zionism with Moshe is entirely different from talking about Zionism or anti-Zionism with Tova, the words hollowed out by conflicting interpretations. Into that vacuum rush politicians, university professors, the media, the synagogue, the family, all working to impose their own definitions. When I say Zionist or anti-Zionist, I do so against the background of what those words have been made to mean, and by whom.Which is not to say that these coalitions don't hold real appeal. To live in a community like Moshe's, as I once did, is to know its deep cohesion and spiritual intensity. To have left it and joined a secular and progressive community like Tova's is to know its powerful sense of justice. And to have been a part of either is to know their shortcomings. The dogmatism and conformity, the us/them thinking. It is also to know the blind spots: sometimes there really are colonizers in the synagogues; sometimes it really is a Hamas supporter on the front lawn.So that's just a taste. It's a really good piece. You should read it maybe before listening to the rest of this podcast, or if not then after. Eminent Americans is produced in collaboration with David's employer, the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, and distributed through its publication, Arc, of which David is deputy editor. You can find all of Arc's podcasts and much more at arcmag.org. I hope you enjoy this conversation. I know I did. You can email me with thoughts, comments, hate, love at djopps@gmail.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit danieloppenheimer.substack.com/subscribe
After a few years of seeing Jewish plays “debating” Israel/Palestine, Jewish Currents editor-at-large Arielle Angel and theater critic Alisa Solomon explored the phenomenon through an exchange of letters, which were published this week. On this episode of On the Nose, they discuss the plays that fall into this category: most recently, the critically acclaimed Birthright by Jonathan Spector, but also including The Zionists by S. Asher Gelman, Giant by Mark Rosenblatt, The Ally by Itamar Moses, and Prayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon. They detail the compulsive repetition of these plays and they explore why Jewish hand-wringing is being consistently elevated during a moment of genocide, and why it appears so popular with critics and liberal audiences alike. Thanks to Jules Natt for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Media Mentioned and Further Reading“Birthright Stages a Tired Debate,” Arielle Angel and Alisa Solomon, Jewish CurrentsBirthright by Jonathan SpectorGiant by Mark RosenblattThe Zionists by S. Asher GelmanThe Ally by Itamar MosesPrayer for the French Republic by Joshua Harmon“Campus Politics Takes the Stage in The Ally,” On the Nose, Jewish Currents“Who Is Tom Stoppard's ‘Jewish Play' For?” On the Nose, Jewish Currents“Giant Gave the People What They Want,” Jessica Goldschmidt, Jewish Currents“‘Birthright' and ‘Giant' Tackle Jewish Identity,” Emily Nussbaum, The New Yorker“‘Birthright' Stages a Thrillingly Complex Conversation on Conversation Itself,” Helen Shaw, The New York Times“Taking the Long View, Brilliantly: Birthright and Camping,” Sarah Holdren, Vulture“Most US kids of intermarriage raised Jewish; parents want institutions to notice,” Ben Sales, The Times of Israel“Shari Redstone's Next Act: Mogul Named Chair of ‘We Will Dance Again' and ‘Bad Boy' Studio Sipur,” Alex Weprin, The Hollywood ReporterMiami New Drama's announcement of the Y6K Project“‘A Silent Moratorium,'” Lisa Tolin, Geraldine Baum, Malka Margolies, PEN America“Feeling excluded in the literary world, Jews are launching their own publishing houses,” Philissa Cramer, JTA“Birthright Israel and #MeToo,” Sarah M. Seltzer, Jewish Currents “Michael Steinhardt, a Leader in Jewish Philanthropy, Is Accused of a Pattern of Sexual Harassment,” Sharon Otterman and Hannah Dreyfus, The New York Times“Nadav Lapid Faces ‘No,'” On the Nose, Jewish Currents“Kaddish for an Unborn Avant-Garde” by Maia IppSarah Hurwitz on how phones are making it hard to speak to Jewish young people about Gaza“Van Jones and the moral vacancy of American commentary on Gaza,” Ziyad Motala, Al JazeeraTheater Workers for a Ceasefire Birthright BoycottTranscript forthcoming.
In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick, co-authors of the new book Israel's Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power. They discuss the priorities and mechanisms used by what the call the Israel Lobby and whether it always gets its way; how to talk about the Israel lobby without being a conspiracy theorist; and the possibilities for the Israel lobby's future. Eli Clifton is an investigative journalist who focuses on money in politics and US foreign policy. He is a cofounder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft where he serves as a senior adviser. His work has appeared in The Guardian, The Nation, The Intercept, The South China Morning Post, LobeLog, Salon, HuffPost, The Daily Beast, Slate, Gawker, Foreign Policy, and Responsible Statecraft. Ian S. Lustick is the Bess W. Heyman Chair, Emeritus, in the Political Science Department of the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the Carter administration as the State Department's expert on Israel-Palestine affairs and subsequently became a regular consultant with American administrations on US foreign policy and national security affairs. He is a founder and past President of the Association for Israel Studies and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also a Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributing opinion writer at the New York Times, an Editor-at-Large at Jewish Currents, and an MSNOW Political Commentator. His newest book (published 2025) is Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. He publishes regularly on https://peterbeinart.substack.com/. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.
This episode examines the weaponization of antisemitism accusations within Israel-Palestine discourse and its counterproductive impact on combating genuine antisemitism. The discussion centers on a groundbreaking report titled 'Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse,' which reveals how accusations of antisemitism have escalated particularly amid recent calls for ceasefire and human rights advocacy in Gaza. The conversation explores the complex political dynamics where legitimate criticism of Israeli policies becomes conflated with antisemitism, creating a chilling effect on free speech and academic discourse. This weaponization not only silences important human rights advocacy but paradoxically undermines authentic efforts to address antisemitism by diluting its meaning and creating confusion about what constitutes genuine anti-Jewish prejudice versus legitimate political criticism.The panel brings together three distinguished experts whose combined scholarship provides comprehensive insight into this contentious intersection of politics, religion, and human rights advocacy. They each contribute specialized knowledge that illuminates how the misapplication of antisemitism perpetuates Islamophobic stereotypes and infringes upon the free speech rights of Muslims and Arabs. This demonstrates how these cross-national dynamics create a destructive cycle where efforts to protect one marginalized community inadvertently harm another, while simultaneously weakening protections for both groups. The panelists' expertise reveals the urgent need for more nuanced approaches to political discourse about the War in Gaza that can distinguish between legitimate criticism of state policies and genuine prejudice. This might offer pathways toward more effective advocacy that will combat both antisemitism and Islamophobia without sacrificing either community's safety or rights.BiographyMitchell Plitnick is the president of ReThinking Foreign Policy, a nonprofit organization focused on U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa. He is co-author, with Professor Sahar Aziz, of the CSRR report “Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse” (2023). Previously, he served as Vice President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace and as Director of the U.S. Office of B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization.Jonathan Matz is a board member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), one of the largest Jewish-led organizations in the United States opposing Israeli occupation and advocating for Palestinian rights. He has been active in coalitions linking opposition to antisemitism and Islamophobia, and participated in the launch panel for the CSRR report “Presumptively Antisemitic” in December 2023.Recommended ReadingsPresumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine-Israel Discourse, Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights (2023)The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom, University of California Press (2022)Rethinking Foreign Policy: US Policy and the Palestine-Israel Conflict, ReThinking Foreign Policy (2023)Support the showSupport the Center for Security, Race and Rights by following us and making a donation:Donate: https://give.rutgersfoundation.org/csrr-support/20046.html Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbUfYcWGZapBNYvCObiCpp3qtxgH_jFy Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rucsrr Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/rutgerscsrr Follow us on Threads: https://threads.com/rutgerscsrr Follow us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/rucsrr Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/rucsrr
Progressive outsider candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly prevailed over establishment pick Haley Stevens to win the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open Senate seat, though AIPAC spent tens of millions of dollars to defeat him. The narrative that has emerged before and after the primary is one that stresses El-Sayed's weakness with Black and Jewish voters.As Jewish Currents senior reporter Alex Kane wrote earlier this month, Black and Jewish centrists are teaming up in key races to defeat progressive candidates, whom they portray as fixated on Palestine at the expense of their Black constituents. As Darius Jones—senior adviser to a Black centrist group called the National Black Empowerment Action Fund and longtime AIPAC operative—told Jewish Currents, “Focusing on a “foreign conflict” won't “lower health care or housing costs for a Black senior in Detroit, or ensure that a path to home ownership easier for a Black constituent in St Louis or Ferguson.” These Black politicos have endeavored to link moderate Democratic policies and Black interests; reflecting on El-Sayed's attacks on the Democratic establishment, for example, party strategist Jamal Simmons told The Hill that such “attacks on the Democratic establishment in places like Detroit are attacks on Black leaders.” Meanwhile, moderates and conservatives across the country appear intent on pushing the narrative that democratic socialism is the province of privileged white people, pointing to the demographics of the group's membership and the class backgrounds of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's staffers and advisers. To discuss the ways that the figure of the “Black voter” is being used in the fight over the direction of the Democratic Party, host Arielle Angel and Alex Kane welcome Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor—professor of African American studies at Princeton University, author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation, and a co-founder of the digital magazine Hammer & Hope—to On the Nose. They discuss the role of Israel/Palestine in Black politics, the fallacy that Black voters are more moderate on the issues, and what to do with DSA's demographic problem.Thanks to Jules Natt for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”Media Mentioned and Further Reading“The End of Black Politics,” Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, The New York Times“Donald Trump's Victory, the Elitism of Democrats, and the Need to Build a Hospitable Left,” Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and Daniel Denvir, Hammer & Hope“With Jewish Establishment's Help, a Black Political Group Battles the Left,” Alex Kane, Jewish Currents“An Anti-AIPAC Insurgent Tests Her Message in a Working-Class Stronghold,” Alex Kane, Jewish Currents“The Congressional Black Caucus's Silent Partnership With AIPAC,” Anthony Conwright, The Nation“Can Abdul El-Sayed unite Dems? He has work to do with Black, Jewish voters,” Simon D. Schuster, Bridge Michigan“Who Is Abdul El-Sayed? His Harsh Trump Takedown Is a Clue,” Daily Blast with Greg Sargent, The New Republic“El-Sayed faces ‘risky bet' with Michigan's Black voters,” Amie Parnes and Caroline Vakil, The Hill“NYC-DSA is 60% white, internal survey says,” Peter Sterne, City & State“How ‘Pro-Israel' Orthodoxy Keeps US Foreign Policymaking White,” Peter Beinart, Jewish Currents“Valerie Foushee ‘Will Not Accept' AIPAC Money in 2026 Election,” Chase Pelligrini de Paur, Indy“The Revolutionary Imperative,” Neil Smith, AntipodeSiena University poll of DSA favorability“Most Americans Say Policing Needs 'Major Changes,'” Steve Crabtree, Gallup“AOC and Mamdani wanted to defund the police. Their backtracking puts organizers at risk,” Derecka Purnell, The Guardian“Movement for Black Lives opposes George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” AP“Eliot Engel, Jamaal Bowman, and the CBC,” Alexander Sammon, The American ProspectCommunists in Harlem During the Depression by Marc NaisonThe New Jim Crow by Michelle AlexanderTranscript forthcoming.
In a world where facts are often distorted and misinformation reigns, it's refreshing to hear a clear and concise voice cutting through the noise. This episode of the Carl Jackson Show is a must-listen for anyone looking to separate fact from fiction and understand the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Join Carl Jackson as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with his guest, Shabas Kestenbaum, a knowledgeable and insightful individual who shares his expertise on the topic. In this episode, Carl and Shabas delve into the often-misrepresented narrative surrounding Israel and its relationship with the United States. They discuss the role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its influence on American politics, as well as the myths surrounding Israel's supposed "colonial" and "apartheid" policies. Shabas provides a wealth of information, citing historical facts and data to debunk common misconceptions and offer a more nuanced understanding of the situation. Throughout the conversation, Carl and Shabas tackle tough topics, including the Palestinian refugee crisis, the concept of a "two-state solution," and the role of radical Islam in the conflict. They also discuss the dangers of the "Red-Green alliance" and how it's being used to undermine Western civilization. With a healthy dose of skepticism and a commitment to fact-based discussion, this episode is a breath of fresh air in a world where emotions often trump reason. If you're looking for a clear and honest discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict, look no further. This episode of the Carl Jackson Show is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of this critical issue. Join the conversation and tune in to hear Carl and Shabas discuss the facts and myths surrounding Israel and its relationship with the United States. Follow Carl Jackson:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshowWebsite: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.comStore: https://CarlJacksonStore.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said no to Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza plan, and the refusal is flat rather than fudged. In the West Bank, extremist settlers have besieged two Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, apparently hoping to take their homes. The IDF went in but came away with mission very much unaccomplished. With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by Hadley Freeman, columnist for London's Sunday Times and author of the acclaimed memoir, House of Glass, for what is an Unholy first: two voices from the Jewish diaspora and no Israeli in the room. They talk through the week's news and reflect on what three years since October 7 has done to Jewish life outside Israel, why Israel-Palestine has become the litmus test of the American left and whether anybody speaks for the diaspora. Plus: a Chutzpah nominee that reached a Belfast stage via Sweden, and a Mensch that arrives from Australia by way of Yiddish. The Bashevis Singers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G531cgjplcM
In a world where facts are often distorted and misinformation reigns, it's refreshing to hear a clear and concise voice cutting through the noise. This episode of the Carl Jackson Show is a must-listen for anyone looking to separate fact from fiction and understand the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Join Carl Jackson as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with his guest, Shabas Kestenbaum, a knowledgeable and insightful individual who shares his expertise on the topic. In this episode, Carl and Shabas delve into the often-misrepresented narrative surrounding Israel and its relationship with the United States. They discuss the role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its influence on American politics, as well as the myths surrounding Israel's supposed "colonial" and "apartheid" policies. Shabas provides a wealth of information, citing historical facts and data to debunk common misconceptions and offer a more nuanced understanding of the situation. Throughout the conversation, Carl and Shabas tackle tough topics, including the Palestinian refugee crisis, the concept of a "two-state solution," and the role of radical Islam in the conflict. They also discuss the dangers of the "Red-Green alliance" and how it's being used to undermine Western civilization. With a healthy dose of skepticism and a commitment to fact-based discussion, this episode is a breath of fresh air in a world where emotions often trump reason. If you're looking for a clear and honest discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict, look no further. This episode of the Carl Jackson Show is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of this critical issue. Join the conversation and tune in to hear Carl and Shabas discuss the facts and myths surrounding Israel and its relationship with the United States. Follow Carl Jackson:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradioX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshowWebsite: http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.comStore: https://CarlJacksonStore.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cutting Through the Chaos with Wallace Garneau – Political conflict increasingly turns on contested definitions. This discussion examines antisemitism, Islamophobia, Palestine, Zionism, and the Israel-Hamas war through history and first principles, arguing that precise language is essential for honest debate, clear reasoning, mutual understanding, and meaningful political discourse in a divided world today...