The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Available Episodes

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Day 779 - Hamas needs a ceasefire, but doesn't want to disarm
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Hamas leaders meet in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence officers to discuss the ceasefire, Berman says that the terrorist group wants to limit the ability of Israel to strike, and wants to deepen their control over 40% of the Gaza Strip, making it more inevitable that Hamas will be seen as the rulers of Gaza. Berman discusses his second visit to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, focusing on the American tone of the center and the civil governance and nation-building efforts underway at the site. He notes that the CMCC won't be the body that will force Hamas to disarm, which will only happen through Israel's military pressure or diplomatic pressure from Turkey and Egypt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses several questions in an interview with Abu Ali Express, a popular local Telegram channel, says Berman, including ruling out a Palestinian state, while also discussing the possibility of Saudi normalization and continued talks with Turkey. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Top Hamas team said in Cairo to discuss escalation in Gaza, transition to 2nd stage of Trump plan Optimism abounds at Gaza coordination center, but violence puts truce at risk As US dives into remaking Gaza, shades of nation-building come into focus Netanyahu: ‘There will not be a Palestinian state,’ even at cost of ties with Saudis 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: Islamic Jihad militants search for the bodies of hostages north of Nuseirat, Gaza strip, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 778 - Movie maven Jordan Hoffman reviews 'Bad Shabbos'
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 -- the new-ish, Jewish, "Bad Shabbos," and the classic Mel Brooks's "History of the World, Part I." But first, we turn to the segment, "What's the Jangle," in which we discuss two tidbits of Jewish entertainment news. Hoffman gives a tiny peek at the upcoming super Jewy film starring Timothée Chalamet, "Marty Supreme," which he saw in previews this week. And then we hear Pope Leo's top four films of all time. (Spoiler: three of them are very Jewy.) And, which questionable film personality was quoted by the pope at a Vatican event? Next, we get to "The Main Screening," in which the duo first discusses "Bad Shabbos," which one half of the team absolutely loved and the other gave a pretty warm review. And then, we move to the classic, "History of the World, Part I," which Borschel-Dan buckled down and watched for the first time. 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 777 - Lazar Berman: Is Trump's 'pathway to a Palestinian state' code for nation-building?
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, the pair spoke with foremost urban warfare expert John Spencer and Borschel-Dan noted that a term -- “nation-building” -- was raised repeatedly. In this week's episode, we explore this concept, starting with defining the term. We hear about previous models of nation-building, starting from Japan and Germany, following their defeats in World War II. We learn how these attempts were successful -- and former enemies quickly turned into allies. We then turn to more recent history with the West's attempts to reshape Afghanistan and Iraq. What were the differences between the two wars and their aftermaths? And finally, Berman applies the lessons learned in these previous attempts at nation-building and conjectures how they could -- or could not -- be applied in Gaza. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Lazar Berman (courtesy) / A general view shows a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters, September 23, 2025, at the United Nations. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 776 -- Court butts heads with government on Oct. 7 probe, draft dodgers
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 Israel’s Supreme Court demanded the government justify its reasons for not establishing a state commission of inquiry into the events that led to the October 7 Hamas invasion and massacres in southern Israel, Horovitz discusses how the government’s current approach will not uncover what went wrong, creating a dangerous precedent for the country. The High Court also ordered the government to create effective enforcement measures against ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, and Horovitz discusses the ruling written by High Court justice Noam Sohlberg, who rebuked the Haredi community and its assertion that Torah study outweighs army service, citing the ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik. Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu’s Oct. 7 inquiry aims to safeguard his job, not Israel’s future High Court orders government to explain why it’s not launching Oct. 7 state inquiry High Court gives government 45 days to draw up sanctions for Haredi draft dodgers 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: Deputy President of the Supreme Court Noam Sohlberg arrives for a court hearing on the government’s draft of ultra-Orthodox Jews on October 29, 2025 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 775 - MBS meeting with Trump elevates Saudi Arabia's ally status
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. During the White House visit of Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, US President Donald Trump elevates the status of Saudi Arabia in the eyes of the US, says Magid, along with several defense guarantees and sales of weapons. Israel hoped those gestures would be conditioned upon the Saudis normalizing conditions with the Jewish state, but went along with the announcement, discusses Magid. The recent UN Security Council vote gives the Board of Peace the mandate to redevelop Gaza over the next two years, says Magid, as well as a vague pathway toward a Palestinian state after that period. A resolution to establish the International Stabilization Force and the agreement on the demilitarization of Gaza were included in the vote, although it will be a tougher sell to get countries to contribute armed forces, discusses Magid, who calls the vote an internationalization of the conflict and a victory for the Trump administration. Fadwa Barghouti, the wife of prominent Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti speaks with Magid for her first Israeli media interview, as part of her push for her husband's release. Barghouti tells Magid now could be the time for his release, as it could be an opportunity to work toward peace. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: MBS tells Trump he wants to join Abraham Accords, but path to Palestinian state crucial Trump says Saudis will get F-35s, bucking Israeli hope he’d condition sale on peace IDF opposes Saudi F-35 deal, warns Israel’s regional air superiority could be eroded UN Security Council endorses Trump broad Gaza peace plan, foreign stabilization force 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: President Donald Trump meets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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