The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Available Episodes

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Day 785 - Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Hamas iron grip restores order, but Gazans aim to throw off shackles
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This summer, Alkhatib flew over Gaza as part of the last days of the United Arab Emirates's aid drop missions. It was the first time since he had seen his former home since leaving the enclave in 2005 for what was meant to have been a high school year abroad. To begin the program, Alkhatib relates how he felt viewing the swaths of destruction two years of war had left in its wake. An outspoken anti-Hamas voice, Alkhatib promotes what he calls “radical pragmatism” through his work with the Atlantic Council and his speaking engagements around the world. No short on considered criticism for Israel's prosecution of the war sparked by Hamas's murderous onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, we learn of concrete steps that could be taken to drive out the terrorist organization. We hear how Hamas is re-rooting itself into all aspects of the Strip's governance. Now that the terror regime has been reestablished, so has law and order, says Alkhatib, leaving Gazans stuck in a "safe-ish," but abusive relationship. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stand amid the destruction left by Israeli strikes north of Gaza City, November 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 784 - Lazar Berman: As US and Saudi Arabia shore up ties, is Israel left out?
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Last week, US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in the White House, after which there were several announcements. Among them were a $1 trillion investment by the Saudis into the US economy, the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, advancements in critical minerals cooperation, and an AI Memorandum of Understanding. Of course, the one announcement that Israel has been waiting for — Saudi normalization — did not come. This week, we learn about the rise of the crown prince and how he's transformed his country. We talk about how the gains in Washington correspond with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and whether normalization with Israel is even still on the table. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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BONUS: The Reel Schmooze chews over the 1990 Thanksgiving classic ‘Avalon’
Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, the pair speaks about two films, a feminist independent Iranian documentary called "Cutting Through Rocks," which won an international documentary award at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and the 1990 Thanksgiving classic, "Avalon." But first, in the entertainment news section we call the "Jangle," Borschel-Dan tells Hoffman about the rise and fall of the Israeli rock opera, "Shaul," by Israeli musician Shlomo Artzi. We also hear a listener's feedback on a point of Jewish law raised in last week's discussion over "Bad Shabbos."Hear who gave both films a seal of approval and which was a split decision on this week's The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by the PodWaves and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 783 - US mulls Muslim Brotherhood sanctions, excludes allies Turkey, Qatar
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to examine Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon to see whether those branches should be designated as terror organizations, Magid discusses that other countries were not included, including Turkey and Qatar, which have close ties to the US. The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is wrapping up five months of operations in Gaza, saying that its model is being adopted by the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, while Magid notes that it appears the original UN-backed model is back in place in Gaza. The US is trying to get construction efforts underway in Gaza, on the Israeli side of the yellow ceasefire line, with efforts to first clear rubble from the Rafah area to build alternative safe communities. Magid discusses the pushback from Israel's government coalition, which is concerned with the issue of Hamas disarmament, while it's also unclear if Gazans would want to live under Israeli control. Magid also talks about the revelation that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee held a private meeting in July with Jonathan Pollard, the former US Navy analyst who served 30 years in a US prison for spying for Israel. Magid says there is widespread anger in the US administration regarding the meeting and the ongoing alignment of the US with Israel. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump launches process aimed at potentially sanctioning Muslim Brotherhood Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announces end of operations in Strip after 5 months Construction of first US-backed housing compound said to begin this week in Rafah Pollard: Anti-Israel elements in US administration leaked my Huckabee meeting to get him fired 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: Turkish charities, in partnership with Khan Yunis municipal bulldozers, remove the rubble from Palestinian homes and streets in the northern area of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on October 23, 2025 (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/FLASH90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 782 - NY Jews' mayoral fears realized at synagogue protest. What now?
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. New York correspondent Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Last Wednesday, roughly 200 rowdy protesters disrupted an Israel-immigration event outside the Park East Synagogue. Tress was there and paints a picture of the events and the evolving responses from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Days after US pro-Palestinian protesters shouted chants including “Globalize the Intifada” and “Death to the IDF” outside the Upper East Side synagogue, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, apologized to the congregation during Shabbat services. Is this allaying the community's fears? We then dive into the question several lawfare groups are now asking: Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues? This week, anti-Zionist activist groups in New York City backed a Muslim leader who led a walkout from a college interfaith event last week after decrying a fellow panelist as “Zionist.” We learn how the mass exodus was basically shrugged off by those in attendance -- but why it is important to illuminate this and other similar events. Jewish groups at the University of Pennsylvania have expressed concern after federal authorities pressed the university in recent days to provide personal information about Jewish staffers in an investigation meant to combat antisemitism on campus. Tress untangles this saga. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Anti-Zionist protesters chant ‘Death to the IDF’ at New York City synagogue ‘We need to make them scared’: NYC synagogue protest crosses new red lines NYPD chief apologizes for allowing ‘turmoil’ outside synagogue Can a US law protecting abortion clinics push back against protests at synagogues? Imam at NYC college interfaith event blames Jewish speaker for Gaza, leads walkout NYC anti-Zionist groups back walkout from interfaith campus event to protest Hillel leader Penn Jewish groups ‘concerned’ as feds seek info on Jews for antisemitism probe 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: The entrance to Park East Synagogue, with dueling protesters on each side, separated by police, in New York City, November 19, 2025. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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