Unholy: Two Jews on the News

• Trump‘s Middle East odyssey, a hostage returns, Gaza on the brink

  Donald Trump says the US is inches away from sealing a nuclear deal with Iran, an Israeli hostage walks free from captivity thanks to American diplomacy and the warning lights of Gaza are flashing red as talk of a humanitarian crisis gets ever louder. Meanwhile, as the US president's headline-grabbing tour of the Middle East continues to make waves through the region, we’ll unpack its significance with expert insight from Dr. Sanam Vakil of London's Chatham House. Plus - a mensch award 500 years in the making, all thanks to King Henry VIIIJoin our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreonSocial links, shop, YouTube channel and more: https://linktr.ee/unholypod Dr. Sanam Vakil is the director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House. Her expertise spans Iranian and Gulf politics, regional security dynamics, and US foreign policy, with a particular focus on the evolving strategic landscape of the Middle East and its global connectivity. Topics:• Trump’s Middle East Visit and Its Implications• Release of US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander• Israel’s Role in Resolving Hostage Situations• Gaza’s Deepening Humanitarian Crisis and international response

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• Escalation - with Amos Harel

  Unholy is going live in London! Join Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland for a special night of news and great guests: Yuval Noah Harari, Andy Nyman and Mira Awad—live on stage, June 8th 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to see the podcast come to life, now’s your chance. Reserve your seat now via the link—space is limited, and we’d love to see you there! https://bit.ly/UnholyLondonLive Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreonVisiting London or Tel Aviv? We’ve got special edition T-shirts in the Unholy Store! https://bit.ly/UnholyStoreSocial links and more: https://linktr.ee/unholypodA dramatic — some might say extreme — proposal to escalate the war in Gaza, fresh signs of daylight between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu and an increasingly direct confrontation with Yemen. This week, we turn to military analyst Amos Harel to make sense of what’s coming — and the competing forces driving events. Plus: a powerful new art exhibition, a spellbinding new play and an outrageous act of chutzpah. Amos Harel is a prominent Israeli journalist specializing in military and defense affairs. Since 2000, he has served as the military correspondent and defense analyst for Haaretz, one of Israel’s leading newspapers. Throughout his career, he has provided in-depth coverage of Israel’s security challenges, including conflicts and military operations. Harel co-authored two notable books with Avi Issacharoff: The Seventh War: How We Won and Why We Lost the War with the Palestinians (2004), analyzing the Second Intifada, and 34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon (2008), examining the 2006 Lebanon War.

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• 77 and counting - with Eyal Waldman (featuring Emily Damari)

  Unholy is going live in London! Join Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland for a special night of news and great guests: Yuval Noah Harari, Andy Nyman and Mira Awad—live on stage, June 8th 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to see the podcast come to life, now’s your chance. Reserve your seat now via the link—space is limited, and we’d love to see you there! https://bit.ly/UnholyLondonLive Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes, discounts on merch and more: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreonVisiting London or Tel Aviv? We’ve got special edition T-shirts in the Unholy Store! https://bit.ly/UnholyStore As literal winds of fire sweep across Israel, the country marks its 77th Independence Day. But even in a week that should have offered unity and reflection, the political winds howled as well: a public clash between the head of the Shin Bet and the prime minister came to a head, and internal divisions between left and right spilled over—alarmingly—into acts of violence, even amid the solemnity of Memorial Day.Looking for a note of hope as Israel enters its 78th year, we turned to Eyal Waldman—tech visionary, founder of the Mellanox company which sold to Nvidia for $6.9 billion, and, more recently, a father in mourning. His daughter, Danielle, was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7th. Eyal speaks candidly about grief, Israel’s fracturing political landscape, whether he sees a role for himself in public life—and about the perils and promise of artificial intelligence.And in a special moment: a cameo from the remarkable Emily Damari, who offers a few heartfelt words to our listeners - and a reminder of what binds us. 

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• Calm in the Storm - with Sam Harris

  Unholy is going live in London! Join Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland for a special night of news and great guests: Yuval Noah Harari, Andy Nyman and Mira Awad—live on stage, June 8th 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to see the podcast come to life, now’s your chance. Reserve your seat now via the link—space is limited, and we’d love to see you there! https://bit.ly/UnholyLondonLive Join our Patreon communityVisiting London or Tel Aviv? We’ve got special edition T-shirts in the Unholy Store!A solemn week for Israel, marked by mourning – and yet politics, as ever, presses on. At the centre: a widening rift between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. In our conversation this week, we widen the lens. Sam Harris – neuroscientist, bestselling author and host of the Making Sense podcast – joins us to talk religion, politics and the elusive art of clear thinking in a time of sound and fury. Plus: our Chutzpah of the Week award goes to those who seem to have forgotten the basic dignity owed to the sick, while our Mensch accolade is shared by two groups standing firm in defence of their values – even when it’s hardest.   Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, philosopher, and bestselling author known for his work on ethics, religion, and the human mind. He is the host of the popular podcast Making Sense, and the founder of the Waking Up app, which combines meditation practice with insights from science and philosophy.  

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• Six of the best

  Unholy is going live in London!Join Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland for a special night of news and surprises—live on stage, June 8th 2025. If you’ve ever wanted to see the podcast come to life, now’s your chance. Reserve your seat now via the link—space is limited, and we’d love to see you there! https://bit.ly/UnholyLondonLive Whether or not you found the Afikoman this year, consider this our Unholy offering for Pesach: a carefully curated collection of six standout moments from the past year’s conversations. A kind of audio Seder plate—without the Maror. Yonit and Jonathan revisit conversations with Rachel Maddow, Van Jones, Nas Daily, Aviva Seigel, Alex Edelman and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. From politics to identity, comedy to community, these voices offer the perspective needed for this moment of reflection and renewal. Rachel MaddowRachel Maddow is the host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, known for her in-depth political analysis. She is also the author of several books, including Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism.Van JonesVan Jones is a political commentator on CNN and served as a special advisor to President Barack Obama. He is also the co-founder of multiple non-profit organisations focused on criminal justice reform and environmental advocacy.Nas Daily (Nuseir Yassin)Nuseir Yassin, known as Nas Daily, is a content creator who rose to prominence through one-minute daily videos showcasing global stories. He is the founder of Nas Company, a platform for digital education and storytelling.Aviva SeigelViva Seigel is an Israeli who was abducted from her home on October 7th and was held in captivity by Hamas in Gaza for 51 days. Her husband, Keith, was abduted as well and was released after 484 days in Gaza. Alex EdelmanAlex Edelman is a stand-up comedian and writer known for his acclaimed solo show Just For Us, which tackles themes of Jewish identity and white nationalism. He has performed on international stages and written for television.Rabbi Angela BuchdahlRabbi Angela Buchdahl is the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City and the first Asian-American ordained as both rabbi and cantor. She is a leading voice in American Judaism and interfaith dialogue.

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