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See all 7 member perks → https://israelguys.link/member-D9F Election season in Israel is right around the corner, and things are really heating up. New polls are indicating that things aren't looking good for Bibi, prompting conversation about a unique path forward for the Israeli leader. Also, a surprising new party is formed on Israel's right, throwing further complication into the election and Bibi's path to keeping power. Luke Hilton breaks it down for you here on today's video. Source Links: Netanyahu considers potential presidency after premiership https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-906630 Netanyahu admits difficulty recovering lost Likud seats https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-906752 Ofer Winter launches new right-wing party https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-906571 Kahana says Winter belongs Netanyahu's political bloc https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-906699 Elkin appointed Likud immigrant outreach campaign leader https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-906578 Walla poll shows shifting Israeli election landscape https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-906663 Netanyahu shares phone number with Israeli voters https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-906476 Netanyahu urges Ben-Gvir, Smotrich election alliance https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432339 Eisenkot rejects Palestinian state and E1 expansion https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/eisenkot-two-state-solution-delusional-after-oct-7 Ra'am chief criticized over Jewish state comments https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/raam-chief-under-fire-after-saying-accepting-jewish-state-a-political-necessity #IsraelWar #BibiNetanyahu #IsraelElections #PalestinianState #Settlers #Israelnews #Trump #Bibi #Netanyahu #Gaza
Nothing is helping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current coalition boost its standing in the polls, and it is clear that the premier is “panicking,” said Haaretz columnist Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin, speaking on the Haaretz Election Podcast. Scheindlin joins Haaretz correspondent Judy Maltz and host Allison Kaplan Sommer to discuss the entrance of a new right-wing party led by ex-general Ofer Winter into the race, joining the plethora of “pop-up” right-wing parties that are causing Netanyahu’s alarm at the possibility that one or more will fall under the electoral threshold, and the precious votes in his camp will be wasted. "Netanyahu is begging the right wing not to fragment the parties. He's warning the right wing: If you do the wrong thing, the entire world explodes," Scheindlin said, ahead of the September 8 deadline for merging with other parties and submitting final lists. On the podcast, Maltz shares what she’s found as she visits cities and towns around Israel taking the pulse of voters. Kiryat Shmona – Israel’s most targeted city, devastated by three years of war – is still grappling with the 2023 evacuation that is proving to be somewhat permanent, Maltz says. “People are pretty angry and often talk about themselves being abandoned, unseen and forgotten.” Still, like the Likud strongholds along the Gaza border that she has visited, Maltz found many clinging to party loyalties despite their disappointment with Netanyahu and his government. Some favor non-Netanyahu right-wingers, but others remain loyal to the prime minister despite the devastating events that happened on his watch. "Many of them subscribe to these conspiracy theories about the army in cahoots with Hamas together orchestrating October 7 to make Netanyahu look bad," Maltz explained. Read more: Ex-IDF General and Far-right Hardliner Ofer Winter Reveals New Party Ahead of Israel's Election Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin | Two Months Out, Netanyahu's Bloc Is Stuck in Polls. But All the Rest Is a Mystery By Smashing a Palestinian Monument, an Israeli Far-right Lawmaker Brought West Bank Reality to Light Reality Check: As the Election Nears, Haaretz Debunks Israeli Politicians' Biggest Lies 'Israel on Steroids': Arad Foreshadows What Another Netanyahu Victory Might Look Like 'People Here Like Ben-Gvir's Tough-guy Approach': Will This Netanyahu Stronghold Near Gaza Go Further Right?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How will current issues or past discrimination against Mizrahi Israelis influence this election? Dan and sociologist Mijal Bitton discuss the history, identity, and political narratives of Mizrahi Jews—whose families came to Israel from across the Middle East and North Africa—and how those narratives continue to shape Israeli politics. They unpack the factors of historical discrimination by an Ashkenazi elite, questions of economic opportunity, dignity and belonging of the Mizrahi community, and the Mizrahi devotion to maintaining the Jewish character of the state of Israel. —- Get your tickets to a live taping of Call me Back at the Streicker Center in NYC on October 22. —- Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back This episode is sponsored by The Shalom Hartman Institute. Register for The Road to the Israeli Elections webinar with the Shalom Hartman Institute's Tani Frank and Masua Sagiv. ___ In this episode: -Historical roots of the Mizrahi and Ashkenazi divide -Cultural and religious differences in their countries of origin -Do Mizrahis still resent how they were treated by Ashkenazis during immigration? -Israelis political realignment in 1977 and Mizrahi powerful support for Likud -The rise of Mizrahi political movements like Shas -How Mizrahi voters think about the “deep state” in Israel -Contemporary Mizrahi identity and integration into Israeli society and politics ___ More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What's Your Number? Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo
The glut of new small parties throwing their hats in the ring is increasing the chances that after the voters have their say, there will not be a decisive win either for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition nor the opposition parties determined to topple him. "All of these new little parties are headed by individuals who are placing their ego above the political outcome. They can't possibly join an existing party – they have to try to start their own," said Haaretz columnist Dahlia Scheindlin on the Haaretz Election Podcast. As a result, the voters may not end up determining who will be prime minister, and instead a “little gang” of “six, seven or eight male party leaders” will meet and decide the make-up of the coalition, Scheindlin said. Scheindlin joined fellow columnist Esther Solomon and host Allison Kaplan Sommer to discuss the results of the Likud primaries, opposition frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot’s declaration that there will be no Palestinian state on his watch, what appears to be a politicized decision by Israel’s internal security service not to officially protect Eisenkot, and how Netanyahu, stuck in the polls, appears to be dangerously “firing in all directions” in order to find a way to victory. "He has the capacity to aggravate, or provoke, or exploit any number of crises that are happening in this region,” Solomon said. Little, however, Scheindlin pointed out, appears to be moving the needle for the prime minister. He has shown that "you can attack Iran and attack Iran again. You can bomb Lebanon. You can kill Hassan Nasrallah, and nothing has changed the polls." Read more: The U.S. Peace Plan Is Grave for Gaza and Great for Netanyahu Netanyahu Rival Eisenkot Vows No Palestinian State: 'Not Now, Not in Next Government' Reality Check: As the Election Nears, Haaretz Debunks Israeli Politicians' Biggest Lies The Petty Politics Destroying Israel's Opposition Likud's Casualty List: The Netanyahu Loyalists Headed Home After a Brutal PrimarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Jerusalem Post's Hannah Brown and Noah Efron talk about (1) the criminal harassment of Abu Rida and the Hassan families in Qusra, (2) the surprising results of the Likud primaries and what they augur, and (3) Avi Nesher's profound and affecting new movie, "Our Loves," about October 7th, and the day that came before and the day that came after. For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: We've always suspected that "movie reviewer" is the best job ever. Hannah Brown, who reviewed for the New York Post and the Jerusalem Post, explains why we were right about that all along! Plus: Down in the dumps with Gershom Scholem, neanderthal hip-joints, sheltering on the spectrum and tomorrow's scholars, today! All that and the brilliant recording debut of Allison's girl, Naomi Sommer!!!!
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. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. After Israel struck a military base in Syria, where Turkey was apparently ready to deploy forces, Horovitz reviews the ensuing diplomatic ruckus between Israel, Turkey and Syria, with a US envoy castigating Israel but the White House silent. Following this week's meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump aide Jared Kushner regarding the Board of Peace plan for Gaza, Horovitz explains the shared goal but differing approaches of the US and Israel, and highlights the need to not only disarm Hamas but also drain its coffers. Horovitz examines the results of Monday's Likud primary and the options still available for Netanyahu to parachute a few of his own selected candidates to high slots on the party's final Knesset slate. He also updates us on the emergence of yet another small party, and a renewed alliance between three established ones. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: ‘Don’t’: Netanyahu says he warned Turkey before Israel struck Syrian base PM, Kushner clashed over continued Israeli strikes on Oct. 7 terrorists — officials Hamas must be drained of its money as well as its weapons Arab-majority Hadash, Ta’al and Balad parties agree on joint run after striking deal Hawkish ex-general Ofer Winter expected to launch new party next week, shaking up the right Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz appears on Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The battle over the Likud Party primaries this week was a clear example of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting his dominance over his political kingdom, Haaretz senior analyst Esther Solomon told the Haaretz Election Podcast. Netanyahu had unsuccessfully tried to cancel the always robust Likud primaries altogether – ultimately compromising by pushing through a measure where he chose the candidates for nine key spots on the top of the list. He included a spot for Oren Dobronsky, an Israeli high-tech entrepreneur and hummus chain owner in Silicon Valley who has not lived in Israel for years, has no political experience and made headlines recently for calling U.S. President Donald Trump a “morally corrupt piece of shit” in the recent past. The prime minister’s message was clear, Solomon said: "This is no longer about the Likud party. This is about me." Solomon joined Haaretz correspondent Judy Maltz and host Allison Kaplan Sommer to discuss the top stories from the last week week, which included controversy over efforts by expat Israelis to travel en masse to vote to replace the current government, and a proposal by opposition frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot to form a minority government even if he doesn’t have a decisive election victory. Also on the podcast, Maltz described her encounters as she travels across Israeli cities to take their pulse ahead of the election, including Kfar Chabad, where, she quipped “only the Messiah is more popular” than far-right extremist Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Arab city of Umm-al-Fahm, where she said it was “very sad” that many young well-educated Palestinian citizens of Israel said they were so alienated that they were not planning to vote. Read more: Netanyahu's New Election Ploy Smells of Desperation and Elon Musk In Monday's Likud Party Primary, Netanyahu Hopes to Get Rid of Lawmakers Whom He Had Nurtured in the Past Netanyahu Changes Likud Rules to Let Far-right Politician Run in Primary 'People Here Like Ben-Gvir's Tough-guy Approach': Will This Netanyahu Stronghold Near Gaza Go Further Right? 'We Need to Finish the Job': The Israeli Town Where Itamar Ben-Gvir Ranks Second Only to the MessiahSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Netanyahu's Likud party holds primary for Knesset election. Wall Street Journal reports on "Iran's secret plan to escalate the war." After talks with Hamas in Cairo, Jared Kushner meets Netanyahu in Israel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The latest KAN election poll ahead of the Knesset ballot in October shows that the Likud has weakened by a seat to 23, the same number as Yashar, headed by Gadi Eisenkot. Dudi Hasid, general manager of the Kantar company, and pollster for KAN, breaks down the numbers with KAN's David Ze'ev. (Photo: Gadi Eisenkot ponders in the Knesset plenum in 2022. Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)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. Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode. After three IDF soldiers were struck and severely wounded by a Hezbollah drone in Lebanon on Friday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the unusual move of announcing the incident in English during Shabbat, Schneider says, to ensure the US administration understood the seriousness of the ceasefire violation. Schneider looks ahead to Monday’s Likud feverishly contested primary, in which members of Netanyahu’s party will choose some, but not all, of Likud's Knesset slate. The latest Zman Yisrael poll showed Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party opening a four-seat lead over Likud ahead of the October 27 general election, but the anti-Netanyahu Zionist bloc still not quite able to muster a Knesset majority. Eisenkot, she notes, might nonetheless aim to form a minority government. Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Eisenkot opens up a lead on Netanyahu in new ToI poll, but both blocs shy of majority Eisenkot vows ‘no compromise’ on IDF draft law, including for Haredim, if elected PM MK Elazar Stern announces Yesh Atid exit ahead of likely run with Eisenkot Report: Barkat co-led Likud effort to oust and replace Netanyahu after Oct. 7 Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. Political correspondent Tal Schneider appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (Flash 90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Qatar says Iran-Oman talks on Strait of Hormuz in advanced stage. Likud members miffed over plan to save slots for 3 ministers on party roster for Knesset election. Israel's embassy in Austria asks public for help in locating missing Israeli mother and daughterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Voltamos!!!Bloco 1- Cisjordânia - terrorismo, porgroms e limpeza étnica- Gaza - Israel diz querer rever o acordo assinado há quase um ano.Bloco 2- Sionismo religioso, Likud, Democratas e Ra'am - as movimentações com a proximidade das eleições. - Suprema Corte veta repasse ilegal do governo pra colonos e ultraortodoxos.Bloco 3- Personagem da semana- Palavra da semana- Correio dos ouvintesPara quem puder colaborar com o desenvolvimento do nosso projeto para podermos continuar trazendo informação de qualidade, esse é o link para a nossa campanha de financiamento coletivo. No Brasil - apoia.se/doladoesquerdodomuroNo exterior - patreon.com/doladoesquerdodomuroNossa página: ladoesquerdo.comNós nas redes:bluesky - @doladoesquerdo.bsky.social e @joaokm.bsky.socialtwitter - @doladoesquerdo e @joaokminstagram - @doladoesquerdodomuroyoutube - youtube.com/@doladoesquerdodomuroTiktok - @esquerdomuroPlaylist do Spotify - Do Lado Esquerdo do Muro MusicalSite com tradução de letras de músicas - https://shirimemportugues.blogspot.com/Episódio #364 do podcast "Do Lado Esquerdo do Muro", com Marcos Gorinstein e João Miragaya.
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. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As US-led talks between Lebanon and Israel end early in Rome, Horovitz discusses the desire on both sides to negotiate a deal amidst heavy condemnation from the still deadly potent Hezbollah terror group, which retains considerable support among portions of the Lebanese population. Horovitz briefly weighs in on negotiations between Oman and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, noting the lack of US involvement in the talks, the apparently imminent deal essentially giving Iran control of the strait, and the ongoing failure to achieve any of the war's original goals, centrally as regards Iran's nuclear program. With headlines regarding several new political alliances, particularly among former Likud politicians, Horovitz reviews some of the personalities and possible alliances ahead of the October election. Horovitz also discusses aspects of his latest op-ed article, regarding the dismal state of education in Israel overall, and most especially in the ultra-Orthodox community, and the catastrophic consequences for Israel's future. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel-Lebanon talks kick off in Rome despite fierce Hezbollah opposition Iran, Oman said nearing deal that will restore US truce, give Tehran some control over Hormuz Ex-Likud ministers Erdan, Edelstein to launch new right-wing party on Thursday Poll shows Ra’am winning 2 more seats if Yesh Atid MK Segalovitz joins the party Rebel Likud MK Dan Illouz joins Yisrael Beytenu, touts its ‘national and liberal values’ Former Shas leader Yishai said to mull run with new Eisenkot-linked Haredi party Why these elections are the last chance to save Israel from its ‘spiral of collapse’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent of the Economist, as they discuss the muted reaction to the announcement made by Donald Trump of what he hoped would be hailed as a breakthrough in Gaza. It turns out that most people in the region are waiting to see if Washington's hopes turn into anything more concrete. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is setting about ensuring his political opponents are deemed too toxic to serve as partners in any coalition that would hope to replace him following the elections on October 27. Plus: a new wine from very old grapes and an Irish plane that may have trouble in stormy weather.
Two IDF reservists were killed and four more wounded in southern Lebanon after a booby-trapped house exploded during what the IDF called a ceasefire violation; former Likud MK Dan Ilouz is jumping to Yisrael Beiteinu ahead of the elections; and ex-Likud heavyweights Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein are launching a new right-wing party to challenge Netanyahu from outside his coalition. Plus! Political analyst Benyamin Moalem joins the show to break down today's political shake-up, and a Torah thought from Rabbi Yossi Madvig closes things out.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/israeldailynews
I spoke with Sharren Haskel in mid July, within days of her resignation from the Knesset. Immediately after the coalition government voted to recognize religious study as being a national foundational value, Haskel left the Knesset chamber and went straight to the cluster of reporters in the hallway. She would not stand by as the government made decisions that immediately imperiled the safety and security of Israel. For months, the IDF Chief of Staff has been warning the government that the army is about to collapse in on itself. Prime Minister Netanyahu pushed ahead, regardless, with his promise to the ultra-orthodox parties to enact a law giving them a lifetime exemption from IDF service. This policy is pushing Israelis - exhausted from three years of war - to the brink. Perhaps over. National unity and values are shaping up to be the key issue in this election to be held on October 27. There is no more fundamental value than security and defense. And equality. Sharren Haskel has long fought for these core principles and is now staking her political future on ensuring that this next election brings the change that more than 70% of Israelis want. A universal draft and an end to the absurd financial and other entitlements allocated to the haredim. We discuss this critical moment in the history of Israel and how she intends to bring much needed change Sharren is also one of the few women in the political scene. Israel used to be so much more progressive than so many countries. Or so it seemed. As haredi power becomes more entrenched and Likud is a hollowed-out husk of talent, we see a government dominated by older men. Older tired men. It is time for a new wave of talent and leadership.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivSharren Haskel is married and the mother of three young children.At 18, she served in the Israel Defense Force, as a combat soldier in the Border Guards during the Second Intifada. Following her military service, Deputy Minister Haskel pursued a career in veterinary medicine.Haskel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from The Open University in Israel, where she also was the Israeli national debating champion. She entered the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 2015.In November 2024, she was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. She resigned from her position in mid July, immediately following the Knesset vote recognizing religious study as a foundational value ofState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe
This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back. Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Amit Segal to answer listener questions about one of the biggest puzzles in Israeli politics: why the Likud is losing support even as the country shifts to the right. They also discuss who might be Prime Minister of a potential unity government. ___ Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going. For the full episode, subscribe here to - Inside Call me Back ____ You can access the full episode here, where Dan answers listener questions about: - Was Netanyahu's recent Washington visit a snub or a success? - Why do Mizrahi voters still back Likud candidates? - The Haredi draft exemption and the coalition dilemma - How could Israel's imperfect democratic system be improved? - Could a new center-right party realistically succeed? - What will ultimately decide Israel's election? More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to Ark News Daily Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What's Your Number? Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Ryan Lohr, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo
Ninety days before Israel votes, the campaign is revealing much about both the candidates and the country. The defense minister boasts about applying different detention rules to Jewish and Arab citizens — at a primary event, into a microphone. Two sets of pollsters are predicting completely opposite outcomes, and someone smashed Channel 12's doors and left death threats for the second time in a month. Yonit and Jonathan take stock at the three-month mark — what the divergent polling could be setting up, what three and a half years of judicial overhaul attempts actually achieved, why Bennett and Lapid might not survive to election day as a unit, and what the oddly quiet Netanyahu-Trump summit tells us about the Iran impasse. Plus: a Chutzpah award for a New York mayor with a peculiar blind spot, and a Mensch moment involving Israel's Chief Justice and an unexpected nod to Hollywood.
High Court mulls petitions against arrest of Haredi draft dodgers. Likud allows PM 8 reserved slots on election list. PM to meet Trump at the White House.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Netanyahu says Iran among issues on agenda for White House meeting with Trump. IDF seals homes of Palestinians involved in Friday's deadly confrontation near Nablus that left two Israelis, four Palestinians dead. Likud court blocks Netanyahu bid that would allow cancellation of primariesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A nuclear deal between Washington and Riyadh breaks overnight — and Israel learns the terms from the same press release as everyone else. This week, Yonit and Jonathan dig into what the US–Saudi agreement does and doesn't include, why the normalization clause that was supposed to be attached appeared to be missing - before it was hastily added by Donald Trump, after the event - and what a nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia might mean a generation from now. Iran tensions rise again over Natanz, and Israel's election pregame produces a poll number that should worry Benjamin Netanyahu more than it seems to. Plus: a Likud campaign ad triggers exactly the backlash its makers intended, while this week's Mensch award category hails both a Hungarian chess master and a legendary Israeli anchor. Visit our new website: www.unholy-podcast.com
Un ragazzo con la maglietta "Unità israeliana" corre incontro a Gadi Eisenkot a braccia aperte, e all'ultimo l'ex capo di stato maggiore lo scansa per abbracciare il deputato arabo Mansour Abbas. Lo spot elettorale generato con l'intelligenza artificiale lo ha diffuso lunedì sera Benjamin Netanyahu. In molti hanno riconosciuto in quel ragazzo Gal Eisenkot, figlio del rivale, ucciso a Gaza nel dicembre 2023 mentre serviva da riservista in un'unità commando. Ai suoi funerali c'era anche Netanyahu. Sullo schermo la scritta chiude il ragionamento: "Eisenkot non ha un governo senza Yair Golan e i partiti arabi". Dopo le reazioni il Likud ha ritirato la figura del giovane e l'ha rimpiazzata con una donna. Netanyahu ha parlato di un "tentativo scioccante di elementi estremisti di creare false teorie del complotto". Il caduto esce dall'inquadratura, il messaggio resta. Einav Zangauker, madre di Matan tenuto ostaggio per 738 giorni, ha scritto che vedendo Eisenkot correre a braccia aperte aveva immaginato Gal andargli incontro. Quell'abbraccio, ha aggiunto, avrebbe scaldato il cuore. Il giorno dopo il presidente Isaac Herzog si è rivolto al Paese alla vigilia di Tisha b'Av: «le elezioni non sono una guerra civile». Ha chiesto ai candidati di non trasformare gli avversari in nemici e ha ammonito sulla responsabilità di ciò che si diffonde in rete. Nomi non ne ha fatti. Intanto la stessa offensiva che ha ucciso Gal Eisenkot ha ucciso oltre 73.000 palestinesi, secondo il Ministero della Salute di Gaza. Per quell'offensiva la Corte penale internazionale ha emesso nel novembre 2024 un mandato d'arresto contro Netanyahu, con l'accusa di "fame come metodo di guerra" e di attacchi intenzionali contro i civili. Quei morti non hanno un volto da aggiungere o togliere da un video. Restano una cifra, mentre un caduto israeliano diventa materiale da campagna e poi, appena conviene, torna invisibile. ta. #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. Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Knesset voted early Friday morning to disband itself ahead of the October 27 election, heading into a recess after the coalition’s last-ditch blitz succeeded in passing a spate of controversial legislation into law. Addressing the plenum, Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, called the 25th Knesset the “most challenging” in Israeli history, encompassing Israel's longest war and widespread social upheaval. Schneider takes us back to the beginning of the Knesset session and explains which aspects of the judicial overhaul package have passed -- and what moves the Supreme Court has made to counter some of them. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Knesset officially disperses, after coalition completes its drastic legislative blitz Coalition passes media overhaul law, giving government greater regulatory control Coalition’s ‘legislative blitz’ is designed to shore-up, unshackle right-wing power Coalition passes law gutting attorney general’s powers, removing key check on government Iran said to tell Hezbollah, allies to prepare for wider conflict, which could rope in Israel Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US-Iran war is back on. The ceasefire has collapsed, the naval blockade is reimposed, and Israel is asking if a moment is coming when the missiles turn its way. With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by New Yorker writer Ruth Margalit to make sense of a dizzying week: a jaw-dropping report that the Mossad cultivated Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — yes, that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — as an asset in a failed plot to topple the Iranian regime, and an election campaign in which Gadi Eisenkot is opening up a real lead over Benjamin Netanyahu. Can Mr. Security survive a race where even Likud voters might be drifting away? Plus: a World Cup dilemma for Jewish football fans, a Chutzpah award for a literary institution that forgot its own motto, and a Mensch that takes us to a Jerusalem cafe that refuses to close on Shabbat. ⏱ CHAPTERS: [00:00] Intro [01:02] England out — a World Cup dilemma for Jewish fans [05:00] The US-Iran war is back on [08:44] Why Netanyahu wants the shadow of war [10:52] Congress votes on cutting aid to Israel [15:24] The Mossad's Ahmadinejad plot [21:30] Election set for October 27 — Eisenkot's rise [29:39] Mansour Abbas gambles on running alone [32:52] The Shin Bet investigates Channel 12 [40:16] Chutzpah & Mensch awards
With Israeli elections set for October 27, Iran is increasingly pairing its military actions with aggressive online campaigns designed to sow chaos and conflict – alongside ongoing efforts to recruit Israelis as spies, Haaretz cyber and disinformation correspondent Omer Benjakob warned on the Haaretz Election Podcast, in a roundtable with podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer and correspondent Linda Dayan. “We’ve let the digital arena fester,” Benjakob said, in a stinging critique of the way in which Israel’s vaunted security services have dropped the ball in online foreign influence that has now been “supercharged” by AI. One of the reasons the phenomenon has been difficult to combat is because “nine times out of 10, you can’t differentiate between a pro‑Iranian campaign and a pro‑Netanyahu campaign,” he added, noting that Israel’s prime minister and his far-right ruling coalition and the country’s enemies, he noted, have a stake in maximizing extremism and division in the months leading up to Election Day. In their review of the week’s political headlines, the Election Podcast panel also discussed U.S. Democratic presidential hopefuls Rahm Emanuel, who addressed Israelis in Tel Aviv last week, and Ro Khanna, who was detained by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the southern West Bank – and the rise of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot in the polls and the nature of the threat he poses to Netanyahu. Eisenkot appeals to voters who identify as right-wing and voted Likud in the past, but are seeking a “sane right” this time around, Dayan observed. “He offers a security‑heavy, ‘big Z’ Zionist party” that, unlike Likud, “isn’t embarrassing itself by unleashing very loud but not very content‑rich people onto the public.” Read more: Iran's Other Weapon: How Israel Woke Up Late to the Threat of Election Interference Gadi Eisenkot Is Quietly Gaining Ground Inside Likud Territory. Will It Be Enough to Defeat Netanyahu? Latest Poll Shows ex-IDF Chief Eisenkot's Party Maintaining Lead Over Netanyahu's Likud 'The IDF Is Lying': Rep. Ro Khanna Calls for Arrest of IDF Soldiers He Says Were Involved in His West Bank Detention Op-ed by Nadav Weiman: I Joined Rep. Ro Khanna on His West Bank Visit. Here's What I Saw Rahm Emanuel's Tough Love Wins Warm Welcome in Tel AvivSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Has Donald Trump just left the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with the biggest political headache of his life? We hear from Israel's governing Likud party.Also on the programme: The Russian caricaturist shot dead in Poland; the argument within the Church of England over reparations for historically profiting from slaver; and as the Williams sisters prepare to return to Wimbledon at a combined age of eighty-nine - the phenomenon of the never-ageing sports stars.(Picture: People walk past rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, southern Lebanon. Credit: REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra)
Yonit is joined by Yaakov Katz, author, columnist and former editor of the Jerusalem Post, and together they try to make sense of a week that had it all: a 17-hour mini-war with Iran, Trump growing visibly impatient -- and Netanyahu caught between his base and the White House. Israeli politics see the Israeli PM focusing on the rising political threat of Gadi Eisenkot, who for the first time has pulled ahead of Netanyahu in head-to-head polling for Prime minister -- and how the Likud is trying to turn his English skills into a liability. Then it's across the Atlantic — to an oyster farmer in Maine with a Nazi tattoo, a Michigan primary, and a New Jersey candidate with troubling ties, all pointing to a shift in American politics that Israelis aren't paying nearly enough attention to. Plus: our Chutzpah and Mensch awards — one goes to a Jewish politician building a very disturbing database, and the other heads to the World Cup.
On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst and pollster, to discuss the current state of Israeli politics, what the polls are saying (and not saying) about the upcoming election, the mixed fortunes so far of the Bennett-Lapid merger, the rising Gadi Eisenkot, the role the Arab-Israeli political parties could play in the election, why voters are still drawn to Netanyahu's Likud party, what the future holds for Bezalel Smotrich, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.
• It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.Is time finally running out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? The Knesset has voted to dissolve itself, the horrors of October 7th still haunt his coalition, and a newly united opposition is closing in. With right-wing Naftali Bennett and centre-left Yair Lapid joining forces and their Together party neck-and-neck with Netanyahu's Likud in the polls, is the great survivor of Israeli politics about to meet his Waterloo? The Economist's Israel correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins Rafael Behr to break it down. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercastWritten and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Is time finally running out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? The Knesset has voted to dissolve itself, the horrors of October 7th still haunt his coalition, and a newly united opposition is closing in. With right-wing Naftali Bennett and centre-left Yair Lapid joining forces and their Together party neck-and-neck with Netanyahu's Likud in the polls, is the great survivor of Israeli politics about to meet his Waterloo? The Economist's Israel correspondent Anshel Pfeffer joins Rafael Behr to break it down. • Back us on Patreon – www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The PMO have informed the Haredi parties that the IDF draft bill will be returned to the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as the Likud continue efforts to pass a bill that would exempt Haredi yeshiva students from military service. Despite the move, Rabbi Dov Lando, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian community, instructed the Degel HaTorah faction to support the Knesset dissolution bill this Wednesday. Some Likud Knesset members are opposed to the proposed draft bill and say they will vote against. One of them is deputy foreign minister Knesset member Sharren Heskel, who spoke with KAN's Mark Weiss. (Photo:Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cpt Maoz Recanati, who fell in Lebanon, is buried. Noam Bettan finishes 2nd in Eurovision. Likud seeks Haredi exemption law.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 The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. On Sunday, former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced a joint run for this year's Israeli elections. Immediately, polling showed that the combined electoral slate, dubbed “Together,” would win a total of 26 seats if elections were held Monday, placing them ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud as the Knesset’s largest party, according to Channel 12. Later in the week, Opposition Leader Lapid told Bennett that he was willing to take third place, rather than second, on their joint electoral slate if it would help secure a broader merger with Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot. On this week's episode, in the spirit of the newly completed NFL draft, we play fantasy football and weigh the merits of the current parties and politicians vyying for the Knesset in this year's election. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur 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 Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Haviv Rettig Gur (courtesy) / Green Bay Packers quarterback Taylor Elgersma (19) throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, August 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)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 The Times of Israel's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. On Sunday, former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announced a joint run for this year's Israeli elections. Immediately, polling showed that the combined electoral slate, dubbed “Together,” would win a total of 26 seats if elections were held Monday, placing them ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud as the Knesset’s largest party, according to Channel 12. Later in the week, Opposition Leader Lapid told Bennett that he was willing to take third place, rather than second, on their joint electoral slate if it would help secure a broader merger with Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot. On this week's episode, in the spirit of the newly completed NFL draft, we play fantasy football and weigh the merits of the current parties and politicians vyying for the Knesset in this year's election. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur 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 Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Haviv Rettig Gur (courtesy) / Green Bay Packers quarterback Taylor Elgersma (19) throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, August 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)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. Political correspondents Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmal join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Sokol reports on the Sunday announcement of a joint campaign and list for former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid ahead of the 2026 elections, under Bennett's stewardship. Karmel and Sokol discuss that Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot is not part of the campaign and list, given his own entry into the 2026 race, that his decisions will test the fortunes of the Bennett-Lapid bloc. Members of the Likud party and government coalition reacted to the announcement, reports Sokol, and he and Karmel discuss the possible Likud B breakaway party that would offer an alternative right-wing option. Karmel and Sokol also discuss that the government coalition is dismissive of the Bennett-Lapid merger, reviewing the comments and memes immediately circulated about the two politicians and their announcement. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Launching joint slate, Bennett and Lapid promise ‘the era of division is over’ Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid announce united run under Bennett in 2026 elections Bennett-Lapid reunion jolts electoral race, but path to unseating Netanyahu elusive as ever Eisenkot welcomes Bennett-Lapid union but says: To win, we need to bring in more votes Backing public transit on Shabbat, Bennett steers campaign into jammed center lane Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Political correspondents Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol joins host Jessica Steinberg on today's Daily Briefing (ToI)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
#351 - Na semana em que o país completa 78 anos, acompanhamos a destruição das instituições do estado. Cessar-fogo no Irã e Líbano. Até quando?Link para o outro podcast que o Marcos tá de host também. O Ponto é…. - 2a temporada. Antissemitismo.Bloco 1- Trump proíbe ataques israelenses e cessar-fogo com o Hezbollah é decretado.- Irã não aparece para negociar e Trump estende o cessar-fogo. Até quando?- Limpeza étnica e terrorismo judaico conitnuam na Cisjordânia.Bloco 2- Semana cheia no Supremo: nomeação de juízes, nomeação de oficiais e Comissão de Inquérito sobre o 07.10.- Ministro Miki Zohar do Likud é investigado por corrupção.- Chefe do Shabak impede avanço de denúncia contra deputada Tal Gottlieb do Likud.- Soldados presos por desrespeitarem lei religiosa.Bloco 3- Personagem da semana- Palavra da semana- Correio dos ouvintesPara quem puder colaborar com o desenvolvimento do nosso projeto para podermos continuar trazendo informação de qualidade, esse é o link para a nossa campanha de financiamento coletivo. No Brasil - apoia.se/doladoesquerdodomuroNo exterior - patreon.com/doladoesquerdodomuroNossa página: ladoesquerdo.comNós nas redes:bluesky - @doladoesquerdo.bsky.social e @joaokm.bsky.socialtwitter - @doladoesquerdo e @joaokminstagram - @doladoesquerdodomuroyoutube - youtube.com/@doladoesquerdodomuroTiktok - @esquerdomuroPlaylist do Spotify - Do Lado Esquerdo do Muro MusicalSite com tradução de letras de músicas - https://shirimemportugues.blogspot.com/Episódio #351 do podcast "Do Lado Esquerdo do Muro", com Marcos Gorinstein e João Miragaya.
Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's longest serving prime minister. He was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, the year after the State of Israel was founded. One of three brothers, Netanyahu spent much of his early years in the United States pursuing his education. But following his older brother's death, Netanyahu found himself drawn into a career in the public eye. Using his military experience to advise on security matters, in 1984 Netanyahu became Israel's Ambassador to the UN and established himself as a champion of Israel on the international stage. He returned to Israel and entered the world of politics; in 1993, he became the leader of the Likud party, and was elected prime minister in 1996, a position he has held for much of the following decades. Mark Coles profiles the longest-serving Israeli prime minister.
Benjamin Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, the year after the State of Israel was founded. One of three brothers, Netanyahu spent much of his early years in the United States pursuing his education. But following his older brother's death, Netanyahu found himself drawn into a career in the public eye. Using his military experience to advise on security matters, in 1984 Netanyahu became Israel's Ambassador to the UN and established himself as a champion of Israel on the international stage. But soon, his attention was drawn closer to home. He returned to Israel and entered the world of politics; in 1993, he became the leader of the Likud party, and was elected prime minister in 1996, a position he's held for much of the following decades. During his time in power Netanyahu has tried to portray himself as Israel's protector. However, in recent years, allegations of corruption and lapses in national security have damaged his reputation and polarised Israelis' views about him. His handling of the conflict in Gaza following Hamas' October 7th attacks has drawn criticism at home and abroad. Now, Netanyahu has joined forces with the US president Donald Trump to conduct what they termed as ‘major combat operations' against Iran. But will this war restore Netanyahu's reputation as ‘Mr Security', or draw Israel into another intractable conflict?Mark Coles profiles the longest-serving Israeli prime minister. Production details: Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Nick Holland and Mhairi MacKenzie Production Coordinator: Sabine Schereck Sound: Morgan Roberts Editor: Justine Lang
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is getting high marks from the Israeli public regarding his performance leading the country in its war against Iran – but for now, these sentiments are not giving his coalition a significant boost in political polling, according to Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast. Scheindlin, a Haaretz columnist and political analyst, noted the war’s “overwhelming support” among Israeli Jews – reaching over 92 percent. Despite the “near consensus” supporting the war and high personal approval of Netanyahu as a war leader, she points out, “poll ratings for the Likud and for the coalition government have been flat and stuck at 40 percent, and Netanyahu does not have a majority,” which does not bode well for the election scheduled for October. While support for the war cuts across partisan lines in Israel, despite attitudes towards Netanyahu, Scheindlin says that surveys in the United States paint a different picture. "If you look at the results of the question: ‘Do you approve or disapprove of Trump's handling of Iran?’ Scheindlin said, “it basically mirrors his approval ratings in general.” She added that poll numbers point to the fact that the talk of a split among Trump’s base – especially “America First” Republicans – may be overly “hyped.” Instead, she observed that U.S. opinion surveys reflected “overwhelming support from Republican voters… close to 80 percent." Read more: Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin: Why Israelis Aren't Giving Netanyahu an Iran Bump in the Polls Most Israelis Back Iran War but Support Low Among Arab Citizens, Poll Shows Just One in Four Americans Supports U.S. Strikes on Iran, Poll Finds Analysis by Joshua Leifer: The post-October 7 Wars in Iran and Lebanon Are Turning Into Netanyahu's Vietnam Netanyahu's Likud Party Makes No Gains Amid Iran War, Poll Finds A Billion Shekels a Day: The Number That May Decide When Israel's War With Iran EndsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (3/16/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble"); Rumble("play", {"video":"v750yxu","div":"rumble_v750yxu"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): (7) The Last American Vagabond on X: "Yeah, that was called DOGE, and it turned out to be one huge bait & switch (as many of us warned at the time) to hide a massive AI data grab & the building out of a new surveillance grid. But sure, let's Trust-The-Plan™ guys, I am sure he's not lying THIS time. #TwoPartyIllusion" / X Exposing the Iran War Hype: Lessons from a One-Sided Debate with Naomi Wolf New Tab (21) More Perfect Union on X: "The estimated cost of the war against Iran has already surpassed $21,000,000,000." / X Shocker for Donald Trump as U.S. Treasury budget deficit off to one of worst starts in history. What Americans need to know - The Economic Times WSJ: Trump administration to announce coalition to escort ships through Strait of Hormuz | The Times of Israel Trump draws backlash for comment on Iran war: ‘Maybe we shouldn't even be there' | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian (21) Yousef Munayyer on X: "Imagine having the world's largest navy, by far, starting a war of choice that hurts the globe and could have been easily avoided, then asking your much smaller allies, who you have habitually insulted, to bail your ass out. Genius." / X (21) The Last American Vagabond on X: "Exactly what TLAV has been reporting the entire time, since, you know, we have eyes. All while the entirety of western MSM/MAM are reporting Hormuz is "CLOSED". Ask why that is. I will go more into it in the next couple hours in #TheDailyWrapUp. https://t.co/OOfBTyM4o7 https://t.co/MEQak5XNFS" / X HORMUZ STRAIT Ship Traffic Live Map U.S. allows Iranian oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz, says Bessent New Tab Behind the Curtain: Trump's escalation trap (21) The Last American Vagabond on X: "This what you get when you surround yourself with profiteering, incompetent, yes-men while listening to cartoons like Laura loomer." / X (21) The Last American Vagabond on X: "Now Trump says what Trump recently denied. How ridiculous all this is. American servicemen are dying to fight Israel's war, again, while Israel commits a multi-nation genocide with US government support. Anyone defending this is not fighting for American interests. #IsraelFirst" / X (19) Rapid Response 47 on X: ".@SecRubio: "The president made the very wise decision—we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we https://t.co/Jp5rqpRH4T" / X Rubio walks back comments about Iran war after Trump contradicts him - YouTube (21) The Last American Vagabond on X: "If accurate, that's a "preemptive" attack, as they call it. Why is this Important? Because that would require Congressional approval, whereas a response to a genuinely "imminent" attack would be allowed the War Powers Act. Saying "we attacked first" makes this unequivocal." / X (21) The Kremlin on X: "REPORTER: Any evidence Iran was about to attack the United States ? WHITE HOUSE: The president had a feeling. REPORTER: The president launched a war on a feeling ? WHITE HOUSE: That is what Jared Kushner told the president and it was final. https://t.co/3lhb16Gu4E" / X (21)
From The Words of Extraordinary Women to Barbie Day and the racy origins of Barbie, today’s Monday with Mitzi! episode is sure to amuse. Links The Odds: Daylight Saving Time | CNN Circadian rhythm – Wikipedia Meet Lilli, the High-end German Call Girl Who Became Barbie Julia Child – Wikipedia Rich Dad vs Poor Dad The Hidden Game That Decides Your Life || PROF JIANG XUEQIN || #profjiangstyle – YouTube Stanford marshmallow experiment – Wikipedia Headlines Wall Street braced for huge sell-off as oil hits highest level in four years and gas prices hit $8-a-gallon | Daily Mail Online You’ll Choke When You Hear How Many Full-Time Jobs a $136 Million Data Center Will Actually Create On This Day On This Day – What Happened on March 9 Today in History: March 9, ‘Operation Meetinghouse' firebombing devastates Tokyo | AP News What Happened on March 9 – On This Day What Happened on March 9 | HISTORY March 9 – Wikipedia Holidays Amerigo Vespucci Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com Barbie Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com False Teeth Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com Fill Our Staplers Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com Get Over It Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com National Workplace Napping Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com Panic Day | Holiday | Checkiday.com Historical Events 1961 — Ivan Ivanovich, a human dummy, travels into space 1959 — The Barbie doll goes on sale: Patterned after the Lilli ‘call girl’ doll,[1][2] the American toy company Mattel claims that more than one billion Barbie dolls have been sold so far, with about 3 dolls being sold every second. 1931 — The electron microscope is invented: German physicist Ernst Ruska is credited with the invention of the microscope. His first instrument allowed a resolution of 50 nanometers (billionths of a meter). 1891 — Kaʻiulani appointed the heir apparent to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. 1842 — Giuseppe Verdi’s third opera, Nabucco, receives its première performance in Milan; its success establishes Verdi as one of Italy’s foremost opera composers. 1776 — Scottish philosopher Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, ushering in the classical period of political economy. Births 1964 — Juliette Binoche, French actress, dancer 1943 — Bobby Fischer, American chess player 1934 — Yuri Gagarin, Russian pilot, astronaut 1890 — Vyacheslav Molotov, Soviet politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs fr the Soviet Union 1568 — Aloysius Gonzaga, Italian saint, namesake of Gonzaga University (died 1591) 1451 — Amerigo Vespucci, Italian cartographer and explorer, namesake of the Americas (died 1512) Deaths 1997 — Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., American rapper 1996 — George Burns, American actor 1994 — Charles Bukowski, American poet 1992 — Menachem Begin, Israeli politician, 6th Prime Minister of Israel, Nobel Prize laureate, founder of Israel’s ruling Likud party, who famously boasted of being “the father of terrorism in all the world.”[3] Footnotes Checkiday. “Barbie Day.” Checkiday.com, Checkiday, 11 Feb. 2017, www.checkiday.com/b7bd0e4f06056fc555595937c097c229/barbie-day. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026. ︎ Nessy, Messy. “Meet Lilli, the High-End German Call Girl Who Became America's Iconic Barbie Doll.” Messy Nessy Chic, 29 Jan. 2016, www.messynessychic.com/2016/01/29/meet-lilli-the-high-end-german-call-girl-who-became-americas-iconic-barbie-doll/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026. ︎ Bollyn, Christopher. ““Frighten the West”: The Israeli Roots of Terrorism.” Christopher Bollyn, Christopher Bollyn, 22 Nov. 2015, www.bollyn.com/frighten-the-west-the-israeli-roots-of-terrorism-2/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026. THE FATHER OF TERRORISM – Menachem Begin, the terrorist founder of Israel’s ruling Likud party, bragged about being “the father of terrorism in all the world.” The Likud party is now headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. “How does it feel, in the light of all that's going on, to be the father of terrorism in the Middle East?” “In the Middle East?” he [Begin] bellowed, in his thick, cartoon accent. “In all the world!” Russell Warren Howe interview with Menachem Begin, January 1974 ︎
A great colloquy tonight, March 5, 2026, with caller Ed in Utah. Ed argues the case that we patriots ought to dump Trump. Kelso argues the case he’s been making for ten years on The Trump Phenomenon, that Donald Trump is the best thing that has ever appeared in any of our lives as Americans. Ed’s case is that Trump is a Zionist tool, serving the interests of Netanyahu’s Likud crazies in Israel. Kelso’s case is that since he came down the Trump Tower escalator in 2015, Trump has been always serving our interests as American patriots, among whom I would count him as the greatest in our history. Ed’s particular “flash point” in this instance is Trump’s decision to take down the truly lunatic and despotic regime of mullahs running Iran. Ed argues that the mullahs are no mortal threat to America. Kelso argues that these suicide-vest “Death to America” lunatics have indeed become a mortal threat to you and I and America, Egypt and Turkey, both more Muslim than Iran, and both right next to Israel have proved to be no threat to America or Israel. What makes a mullah-run Iranian police state a threat to both America and Israel? The answer is the mullahs” suicide-bomber fanaticism in building nuclear weapons mounted on hypersonic intercontinental missiles. Obviously such a weapon would obliterate Israel. But Donald Trump has correctly concluded that such a weapon has the power to end America. China, India, Russia, and Pakistan all have the ability to commit mutually assured destruction against the America. What has held them back from doing that? The fact that they are NOT suicide-bombers. The mullahs are. They are crazy enough to fire one EMP nuke high over the United States, knowing that such a single EMP would instantly disable most electronic devices everywhere in America. Would the mullahs then try to further take down and end American civilization? Probably not. Would the Chinese Communist Party seize that opportunity to finish off an America where all electronics are fried? I think they would. Donald Trump, I contend, is not STARTING the war with the mullahs….he’s ENDING is. With a decisive victory. A victory that will enable the Iranian people to “take back their country”. And will thereby greatly help American patriots to continue our fight, led solely by Donald Trump, to “take back America”.
On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sharren Haskel joins us to discuss the rapidly evolving regional dynamics, the impact of October 7th, and the broader implications for Western democracies facing the challenges posed by radical ideologies and political inaction. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go. Sharren Haskel on the Rising Extremism and Western Political Paralysis Deputy Minister Haskel’s personal story and her reflections on recent attacks in places like Australia, the UK, and across Europe, reveal a growing concern about the unchecked rise of extremism and anti-Semitism in historically tolerant Western societies. Drawing on her years in Australia and the tragedy at Bondi Beach, Haskel expressed her deep shock and frustration over the persistent inaction by local governments in the face of escalating hate crimes against Jewish communities. According to Haskel, the roots of this problem go far beyond foreign policy. She attributes much of the inaction to internal politics and the pursuit of re-election, wherein politicians seek to appease immigrant communities that often arrive with deeply ingrained cultural prejudices, including anti-Semitism, from the Middle East. She criticized governments in Australia, Canada, and the UK for failing to enforce clear boundaries against hate speech and violent incitement. Instead, she argued, there has been a pattern of rhetorical condemnation without concrete protective measures, resulting in what she described as an environment where radicalization can flourish unchecked and Jewish communities are left vulnerable. The October 7th Attack and Israel's Existential Resolve The conversation turned to the profound impact of October 7th, 2025, an event described as the largest and most brutal attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Haskel recounted the collective mourning and soul-searching that swept Israel, as well as a wave of determination to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. For Haskel and many Israelis, the attack was not only an unspeakable tragedy but also a moment of disappointment in their generation’s promise to uphold the creed of “never again.” Yet, from the aftermath of horror emerged a powerful sense of resolve. Lochhead remarked that Israel appeared stronger after the attack, not weaker. Haskel recounted how, rather than fleeing, tens of thousands of Israelis and Jews from around the world returned to the country to support its defense. She described this as a pivotal moment, a ‘make it or break it’ scenario in which Israel had to repel attacks from multiple fronts—Hamas, Hezbollah, and hostile forces backed by Iran from Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The attacks were not only aimed at Jews but also targeted Christians, Muslims, and citizens from various nations, further underscoring the broader threat posed by radical groups. Iran's Uprising and the Global Stakes for Freedom As the Iranian regime confronted an unprecedented uprising (sparked by years of repression, economic hardship, and the regime's violent response), international attention intensified. Haskel spoke of thousands of Iranians killed or missing, the regime shutting down the internet, and the desperate situation faced by protesters, many of whom were being shot or abducted in broad daylight. Despite threats from Tehran aimed at both Israel and the United States, the Israeli government has maintained a cautious but attentive stance, recognizing both the risks and opportunities presented by the unrest. For Haskel, the Iranian regime stands as the foremost threat to global freedom, having long exported terror and repression while suppressing its own people. She called for solidarity among all who value democracy, emphasizing that the fall of the regime would be a victory for human rights, women’s rights, and the pursuit of liberty everywhere. Despite the cautious approach taken by Israel and its allies, she noted that the most vital pressure must come from within Iran, recalling the historic example of the Shah, who fled under international but primarily popular pressure. The world now stands on the verge of profound change, as old certainties crumble and new alliances and realities emerge. Haskel's message for Iran's protesters was clear: though international support matters, lasting liberation rests on the courage and resilience of the Iranian people themselves. The lesson for the broader international community is that the defense of freedom requires vigilance, unity, and unflinching resolve, both against external enemies and the creeping dangers within democratic societies. As the fate of the Iranian uprising, and indeed the region, hangs in the balance, the stakes extend far beyond the Middle East. The choices made by leaders and citizens alike will shape the future not only of a region in turmoil but of the democratic world as a whole. To hear more from Sharren Haskel and the current state of affairs in the world, download and listen to this episode. Bio Sharren Haskel is an Israeli politician serving as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2024. She has been a member of the Knesset since 2015, initially with Likud, later joining New Hope and National Unity. A combat veteran of the IDF’s Border Police during the Second Intifada, she previously worked as a veterinary nurse in Australia. Haskel holds a degree in political science and international relations. Known for her liberal-conservative stance, she champions free markets, civil liberties, and environmental causes. She is a prominent advocate for Israel's international relations and UNRWA reform. Links Connect with Sharren Haskel X (formerly Twitter) We hope you enjoyed this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and subscribe on Apple Podcast / Spotify!
On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Barak Herscowitz, an Israeli political commentator and former aide to Naftali Bennett. They discuss the reasons why Barak left the Likud party, his experience working with Bennett in the prime minister's office, the chances of Bennett defeating Netanyahu in this year's Israeli election, the anti-Israel bias that led him to quit working at TikTok, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.
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. Political correspondent Ariela Karmel and diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As the Prime Minister's Office announces Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump on December 29 in the US, Freiberg notes that the two leaders will discuss the next phases of the Gaza peace plan. She says the emerging security arrangements between Israel and Syria are also on the table and discusses media reports that Netanyahu was meant to sign a security agreement with Syria in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Karmel and Freiberg review different aspects of the 40-signature debate earlier this week in the Knesset, in which Netanyahu publicly supported the current Haredi draft bill for the first time. The prime minister also defended Israel's international standing, pointing to the recent visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his regular phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Karmel discusses a special Knesset panel formed to advance Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s controversial media bill and bypass the Knesset Economics Committee run by Likud MK David Bitan, given the lack of consensus in Karhi's own Likud party over the bill meant to overhaul Israel's broadcast media. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump to host Netanyahu on December 29 for talks on advancing Gaza plan Netanyahu denies report he refused to ink deal with Syria on sidelines of UN in September Netanyahu backs ‘historic’ Haredi draft bill in fiery Knesset debate on wartime conduct Panel chair assails press as special Knesset committee takes up media oversight bill 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: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 40 signatures debate in the Knesset on December 8, 2025. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Support the Foundation of Jewish Camp: www.jewishcamp.org/callmebackSubscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=insideGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/giftsSubscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter ‘It's Noon in Israel':arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn(00:00) Introduction(02:25) First reactions to Netanyahu's plea(07:00) Examining the precedents in Israeli presidential pardons(11:23) What does Netanyahu hope to achieve?(16:59) The case for pardoning Netanyahu(19:26) The cases against Netanyahu, and why the trial is taking so long(26:35) Does this all boil down to hatred of Netanyahu?(31:30) Is the widespread hatred of Netanyahu justified?(40:33) Unpacking the political landscape(45:59) Herzog's options and his legacyToday's episode: On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu submitted a formal request to President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in Netanyahu's years-long corruption trial. The documents included an 111-page letter written by Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad, in which he argued that a pardon would allow the Prime Minister to focus squarely on advancing Israel's interest and would help heal divisions within Israeli society. Notably, Netanyahu's letter does not include an apology or admission of guilt. President Herzog issued an official response, stating, “After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request.” To unpack the details and implications of Netanyahu's request for a pardon, Dan was joined by Ark Media contributors Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer
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. Legal and settlements correspondent Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Justice Minister Yariv Levin of the ruling Likud party will head a ministerial panel to determine the mandate of the government’s commission of inquiry into failures surrounding the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023. Since the murders and atrocities, the government has resisted establishing an investigative body to thoroughly examine how such a disastrous military calamity could befall the country. We discuss first why the change of heart and ask whether the commission will be independent. Security forces and Civil Administration personnel on Monday conducted an evacuation and demolition operation against an illegal settlement outpost in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, in an apparent response to accusations from a local council head that there was “anarchy” in the area. Sharon delves into several reasons why this evacuation is significant, especially under the current coalition. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Levin to lead Ben Gvir, Smotrich and others in delineating government’s Oct. 7 probe Will government’s plan to set up its own Oct. 7 probe prompt top court to intervene? Several officers wounded in clash with settlers at demolition of illegal outpost Jewish extremists burn Palestinian homes and cars in West Bank; IDF searching for perps 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: A candle bearing the portrait of 24-year-old Yulia Chaban, who was killed on the beach in Zikim during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks, is left inside a bomb shelter on the beach in the southern Israeli Kibbutz of Zikim, the closest Israeli beach to the Gaza Strip, on October 16, 2025. (Maya Levin / AFP)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. Political correspondent Sam Sokol and tech editor Sharon Wrobel join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again declined to form a state commission of inquiry into the events that led up to October 7 in a Knesset debate, Sokol discusses that members of the prime minister's own Likud party have argued in favor of the commission process. A death penalty policy against terrorist acts passed its first reading in the plenum after many delays. Sokol notes that the bill is unlikely to pass the High Court test, as it applies to those who kill Israelis, but not to Jewish terrorists. Remilk, non-cow-based milk, is about to reach the Israeli market and Wrobel describes the makeup of the milk and its development process. As the Israeli tech community in New York City anticipates the arrival of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Wrobel discusses expectations for whether the pro-Palestinian mayor will be hostile to Israeli businesses and freeze them out of government contracts. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu bucks calls for state inquiry into Oct. 7, claims public won’t trust it Knesset advances bill mandating death penalty for terrorists who killed Israelis Lab-made milk set to start pouring into Israeli dairy aisles, cafes Mamdani win rattles Israeli business community in New York City 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: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a 40 signatures debate in the Knesset on November 10, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ralph welcomes Professor Roddey Reid to break down his book “Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying: A Handbook for the Trump Era and Beyond.” Then, we are joined by the original Nader's Raider, Professor Robert Fellmeth, who enlightens us on how online anonymity and Artificial Intelligence are harming children.Roddey Reid is Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Diego where he taught classes on modern cultures and societies in the US, France, and Japan. Since 2008 he has researched and published on trauma, daily life, and political intimidation in the US and Europe. He is a member of Indivisible.org San Francisco, and he hosts the blog UnSafe Thoughts on the fluidity of politics in dangerous times. He is also the author of Confronting Political Intimidation and Public Bullying: A Handbook for the Trump Era and Beyond.I think we still have trouble acknowledging what's actually happening. Particularly our established institutions that are supposed to protect us and safeguard us—many of their leaders are struggling with the sheer verbal and physical violence that's been unfurling in front of our very eyes. Many people are exhausted by it all. And it's transformed our daily life to the point that I think one of the goals is (quite clearly) to disenfranchise people such that they don't want to go out and participate in civic life.Roddey ReidWhat's broken down is…a collective response, organized group response. Now, in the absence of that, this is where No King's Day and other activities come to the fore. They're trying to restore collective action. They're trying to restore the public realm as a place for politics, dignity, safety, and shared purpose. And that's been lost. And so this is where the activists and civically engaged citizens and residents come in. They're having to supplement or even replace what these institutions traditionally have been understood to do. It's exhilarating, but it's also a sad moment.Roddey ReidRobert Fellmeth worked as a Nader's Raider from 1968 to 1973 in the early days of the consumer movement. He went on to become the Price Professor of Public Interest Law at the University of San Diego (where he taught for 47 years until his retirement early this year) and he founded their Children's Advocacy Institute in 1983. Since then, the Institute has sponsored 100 statutes and 35 appellate cases involving child rights, and today it has offices in Sacramento and DC. He is also the co-author of the leading law textbook Child Rights and Remedies.I think an easy remedy—it doesn't solve the problem totally—but simply require the AI to identify itself when it's being used. I mean, to me, that's something that should always be the case. You have a right to know. Again, free speech extends not only to the speaker, but also to the audience. The audience has a right to look at the information, to look at the speech, and to judge something about it, to be able to evaluate it. That's part of free speech.Robert FellmethNews 10/17/25* In Gaza, the Trump administration claims to have brokered a ceasefire. However, this peace – predicated on an exchange of prisoners – is extremely fragile. On Tuesday, Palestinians attempting to return to their homes were fired upon by Israeli soldiers. Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed those shot were “terrorists” whose attempts to “approach and cross [the Yellow Line] were thwarted.” Al Jazeera quotes Lorenzo Kamel, a professor of international history at Italy's University of Turin, who calls the ceasefire a “facade” and that the “structural violence will remain there precisely as it was – and perhaps even worse.” We can only hope that peace prevails and the Palestinians in Gaza are able to return to their land. Whatever is left of it.* Despite this ceasefire, Trump was denied in his bid for a Nobel Peace Prize. The prize instead went to right-wing Venezuelan dissident María Corina Machado. Democracy Now! reports Machado ran against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2023, but was “barred from running after the government accused her of corruption and cited her support for U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.” If elected Machado has promised to privatize Venezuela's state oil industry and move Venezuela's Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and in 2020, her party, Vente Venezuela, “signed a pact formalizing strategic ties with Israel's Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” Machado has also showered praise on right-wing Latin American leaders like Javier Milei of Argentina and following her victory, praised Trump's “decisive support,” even telling Fox News that Trump “deserves” the prize for his anti-Maduro campaign, per the Nation.* Machado's prize comes within the context of Trump's escalating attacks on Venezuela. In addition to a fifth deadly strike on a Venezuelan boat, which killed six, the New York Times reports Trump has ordered his envoy to the country Richard Grenell to cease all diplomatic outreach to Venezuela, including talks with President Maduro. According to this report, “Trump has grown frustrated with…Maduro's failure to accede to American demands to give up power voluntarily and the continued insistence by Venezuelan officials that they have no part in drug trafficking.” Grenell had been trying to strike a deal with the Bolivarian Republic to “avoid a larger conflict and give American companies access to Venezuelan oil,” but these efforts were obviously undercut by the attacks on the boats – which Democrats contend are illegal under U.S. and international law – as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling Maduro a “fugitive from American justice,” and placing a $50 million bounty on his head. With this situation escalating rapidly, many now fear direct U.S. military deployment into Venezuela.* Meanwhile, Trump has already deployed National Guard troops to terrorize immigrants in Chicago. The Chicago Sun-Times reports Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope and a Chicago native, met with Chicago union leaders in Rome last week and urged them to take action to protect immigrants in the city. Defending poor immigrants is rapidly becoming a top priority for the Catholic Church. Pope Leo has urged American bishops to “speak with one voice” on the issue and this story related that “El Paso bishop Mark Seitz brought Leo letters from desperate immigrant families.” Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, also at the meeting with Leo and the union leaders, said that the Pope “wants us to make sure, as bishops, that we speak out on behalf of the undocumented or anybody who's vulnerable to preserve their dignity…We all have to remember that we all share a common dignity as human beings.”* David Ellison, the newly-minted CEO of Paramount, is ploughing ahead with a planned expansion of his media empire. His next target: Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ellison already pitched a deal to WB CEO David Zaslav, but the $20 per share offer was rejected. However, Ellison is likely to offer a new deal “possibly…backed by his father Larry Ellison or a third party like Apollo [Global Management].” There is also talk that he could go directly to the WBD shareholders if the corporate leadership proves unresponsive. If Ellison is intent on this acquisition, he will need to move fast. Zaslav is planning to split the company into a “studios and HBO business,” and a Discovery business, which would include CNN. Ellison is clearly interested in acquiring CNN to help shape newsroom perspectives, as his recent appointment of Bari Weiss as “editor-in-chief” of CBS News demonstrates, so this split would make an acquisition far less of an attractive prospect. We will be watching this space.* In another Ellison-related media story, Newsweek reports Barron Trump, President Trump's 19-year-old son, is being eyed for a board seat at the newly reorganized Tik-Tok. According to this story, “Trump's former social media manager Jack Advent proposed the role at the social media giant, as it comes into U.S. ownership, arguing that the younger Trump's appointment could broaden TikTok's appeal among young users.” Barron is currently enrolled in New York University's Stern School of Business and serves as an “ambassador” for World Liberty Financial, the “Trump family's crypto venture.” TikTok U.S., formerly owned and operated by the Chinese company ByteDance, is being taken over by a “consortium of American investors [including Larry Ellison's] Oracle and investment firm Silver Lake Partners,” among others.* As the government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration is taking the opportunity to further gut the federal government, seeming to specifically target the offices protecting the most vulnerable. According to NPR, “all staff in the [Department of Education] Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), with the exception of a handful of top officials and support staff, were cut,” in a reduction-in-force or RIF order issued Friday. One employee is quoted saying “This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.” Per this report, OSERS is “responsible for roughly $15 billion in special education funding and for making sure states provide special education services to the nation's 7.5 million children with disabilities.” Just why exactly the administration is seeking to undercut federal support for disabled children is unclear. Over at the Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS sent out an RIF to “approximately 1,760 employees last Friday — instead of the intended 982,” as a “result of data discrepancies and processing errors,” NOTUS reports. The agency admitted the error in a court filing in response to a suit brought by the employees' unions. Even still, the cuts are staggering and include 596 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 125 at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to name just a few. This report notes that other agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security all sent out inaccurately high RIFs as well.* The Lever reports Boeing, the troubled airline manufacturer, is fighting a new Federal Aviation Administration rule demanding additional inspections for older 737 series planes after regulators discovered cracks in their fuselages. The rule “would revise the inspection standards…through a regulatory action called an ‘airworthiness directive.'...akin to a product recall if inspectors find a defective piece of equipment on the plane…in [this case] cracks along the body of the plane's main cabin.” The lobbying group Airlines for America is seeking to weaken the rule by arguing that the maintenance checks would be too “costly” for the airline industry, who would ultimately have to bear the financial brunt of these inspections. Boeing is fighting them too because such a rule would make airlines less likely to buy Boeing's decaying airplanes. As this report notes, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy – who oversees the FAA – “previously worked as an airline lobbyist…[and] Airlines for America recently selected the former Republican Governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu to be their chief executive officer.”* In more consumer-related news, Consumer Reports has been conducting a series of studies on lead levels in various consumer products. Most recently, a survey of protein powders and shakes found “troubling levels of toxic heavy metals,” in many of the most popular brands. They write, “For more than two-thirds of the products we analyzed, a single serving contained more lead than CR's food safety experts say is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times.” Some of these products have massively increased in heavy metal content just over the last several years. CR reports “Naked Nutrition's Vegan Mass Gainer powder, the product with the highest lead levels, had nearly twice as much lead per serving as the worst product we analyzed in 2010.” The experts quoted in this piece advise against daily use of these products, instead limiting them to just once per week.* Finally, in a new piece in Rolling Stone, David Sirota and Jared Jacang Maher lay out how conservatives are waging new legal campaigns to strip away the last remaining fig leaves of campaign finance regulation – and what states are doing to fight back. One angle of attack is a lawsuit targeting the restrictions on coordination between parties and individual campaigns, with House Republicans arguing that, “because parties pool money from many contributors, that ‘significantly dilutes the potential for any particular donor to exercise a corrupting influence over any particular candidate' who ultimately benefits from their cash.” Another angle is a lawsuit brought by P.G. Sittenfeld, the former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati – who has already been pardoned by Trump for accepting bribes – but is seeking to establish that “pay-to-play culture is now so pervasive that it should no longer be considered prosecutable.” However, the authors do throw out one ray of hope from an unlikely source: Montana. The authors write, “Thirteen years after the Supreme Court gutted the state's century-old anti-corruption law, Montana luminaries of both parties are now spearheading a ballot initiative circumventing Citizens United jurisprudence and instead focusing on changing state incorporation laws that the high court rarely meddles with.The measure's proponents note that Citizens United is predicated on state laws giving corporations the same powers as actual human beings, including the power to spend on politics. But they point out that in past eras, state laws granted corporations more limited powers — and states never relinquished their authority to redefine what corporations can and cannot do. The Montana initiative proposes to simply use that authority to change the law — in this case, to no longer grant corporations the power to spend on elections.” Who knows if this initiative will move forward in Montana, but it does provide states a blueprint for combatting the pernicious influence of Citizens United. States should and must act on it.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
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