The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
During the fragile ceasefire with Iran, Fabian reports on the 40-day war in numbers, including 80 to 90 Iranian missile strikes during the first day, decreasing to a steady pace of 10 to 20 strikes a day on average for the rest of the war.
As the US continues to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Fabian discusses conflicting reports about the waterway, which appears to be largely closed to vessel traffic.
Dozens of rockets were launched by Hezbollah at northern Israel over the weekend, notes Fabian, as the IDF continues operating in southern Lebanon to prevent attacks.
The IDF also conducted several strikes at Hamas in Gaza over the weekend, says Fabian, but it's a far quieter front than Lebanon.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
The war in numbers: 650 Iranian missiles fired; 24 killed in Israel, West Bank; 10,800 Israeli strikes
US says Navy destroyers working to de-mine Strait of Hormuz
IDF and Hezbollah trade strikes, rockets as Israel and Lebanon gear up for direct talks
Several Gazans said killed in IDF strikes; soldier seriously hurt in operational accident
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: Released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)'s official website Sepah News on February 17, 2026, showing a rocket being fired from a boat during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepah News/AFP)
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Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with comic Shahar Cohen.
Comedian Shahar Cohen, raised in Jerusalem and living in Tel Aviv, spoofs Israeli life and society.
He dons wigs and plays a cast of mostly female characters who represent the range of Israeli society.
In a wide-ranging interview, Cohen discusses how each character represents part of him as well as what Israelis are feeling, particularly over the last two and a half years of war, first with Hamas, and now during the war with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Cohen thinks of himself as the comic who is expected to walk Israelis through war and trauma, offering a form of therapy. He talks about the need for escapism and relief following the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, when more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people taken hostage.
With an upcoming tour in the US, and one million views and counting on his most recent videos about his Nofar character as a soldier in the IDF Home Front Command, Cohen joked, "I actually manage the war 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: Comic Shahar Cohen from 'That Girl in the Alert Room,' March 2026 (Courtesy)
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
The fledgling ceasefire between the US and Israel on the one hand, and Iran on the other, is holding. Even before it went into effect, a pointed debate began over who won, and whether US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu achieved what they set out to accomplish 41 days ago.
John Spencer, chair of war studies at the Madison Policy Forum, says that it is way too early to determine the outcome of the war, as it is impossible to know what the outcome will be. Negotiations on a long-term settlement have not even begun yet.
Moreover, Spencer argues, wars should be judged based on the stated goals of the campaign. Both Trump and Netanyahu made clear on multiple occasions that, though they would love to see the regime in Tehran fall, regime change is not a goal of the campaign.
And, he says, there is no guarantee that the regime survives. It often takes time for the public to rise up and topple oppressive rulers.
Spencer also notes that Israel is clearly stronger than it was on October 6, 2023, and Iran and its axis are much weaker.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, which emerged as a central factor in the war, Spencer does not doubt that the US spent plenty of time and resources planning for the possibility that Iran would close the waterway. He recalls war-gaming such a scenario 15 years ago as a US officer, and stresses that there is a permanent task force in the Pentagon to think about keeping the Strait open.
There are plenty of possible reasons for the US to decide not to force Hormuz open at this point, including global markets, diplomatic openings, and the potential costs of an operation.
Spencer says that in his eyes, Iran's strategy failed, in that it validated all the fears about it in the region, and is likely to push Arab states further into the arms of the US and its regional alliance.
Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.
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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran. By Wednesday, he renewed his threat to use unprecedented force against Iran if it doesn’t comply with the terms of the ceasefire, ahead of scheduled peace talks between Washington and Tehran.
But just what the terms of the ceasefire are is in question as Israel continues its campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, while Iran and mediator Pakistan declare the US and Israel in breach.
Ahead of scheduled negotiations in Islamabad, Horovitz unravels some of the remaining knotty issues facing the three sides, even as each declares victory.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump threatens to renew war if Iran doesn’t comply with ‘real agreement’
US and Israel set out ambitious, vital war goals; as of the ceasefire, none have been achieved
Netanyahu left with vague promises, no clear victories after another war ends without a decisive win
Netanyahu: Iran’s enriched uranium will be removed, by agreement or in resumed fighting
Vance to lead US negotiators at first round of Islamabad talks with Iran on Saturday
IDF launches largest airstrikes yet on Hezbollah; Trump: Iran truce doesn’t cover Lebanon
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.
IMAGE: Government supporters gather to mark the 40th day since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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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.
We start the program with two "Jangles" -- Jewish angles -- on this week's entertainment news. In a follow-up to our previous program, we hear how the comic Modi dropped out of a Passover event after finding out that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was participating. A principled stance?
And then, Hoffman pays tribute to Tzruya ‘Suki’ Lahav, who played violin with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band half a century ago, and died last weekend.
However, in honor of the end of the Passover holiday, we turn our gaze to "The Ten Commandments," which this year turns 70.
The 1956 Cecil B. DeMille "sandal epic" sees Charlton Heston as Moses going head-to-head with Yul Brynner as Rameses. The supporting cast also glitters with Anne Baxter as Nefretiri, Edward G. Robinson as Dathan, Yvonne De Carlo as Sephora and Debra Paget as Lilia.
Although screened annually in the US, Hoffman hadn't watched it for several decades, and this is Borschel-Dan's first time. But it's a movie that, as Hoffman puts it, "people know even if they haven't seen it."
The duo goes into the weeds with the biblical and Jewish influences on the work, including a surprise member of the tribe for Hoffman. And, while dated in its treatment of women on screen, the film also offers an insightful feminist moment.
Stick around to see if "The Ten Commandments" got an "oy," "meh" or "not bad" in this week's The Reel Schmooze.
The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
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