Unholy: Two Jews on the News

• Jake Sullivan on Bibi and Trump, Saudi Normalization and the Biden Era

  Join 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 As Israel prepares for the festival of Shavuot, the country holds its breath for news on a hostage deal that could finally bring an end to the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, airstrikes continue, and Benjamin Netanyahu openly weighs the controversial possibility of a solo Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites—despite President Trump’s evident reluctance. To unpack the chaos and complexity of Trump’s Middle East strategy, Israel’s options on Iran, and intriguing new revelations about President Biden’s health, we’re joined by Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor under President Biden.Jake Sullivan is an American foreign policy expert who served as National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, becoming one of the youngest individuals ever to hold the position. Previously, he was a senior policy advisor during the Obama administration, playing a central role in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Currently, Sullivan is the Kissinger Professor of Statecraft and World Order at Harvard Kennedy School, where he continues to influence conversations on diplomacy, international security, and global strategy.

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• Shooting in DC, Israel's diplomatic tsunami, Gary Lineker's own goal, and Guest Jonah Platt

  Two shot dead in Washington DC, in an attack that shocked many but surprised few. Meanwhile, a string of Israel’s longtime allies denounce the country over the blockade of aid to Gaza, even threatening sanctions. Yonit and Jonathan discuss what’s next and what to make of the partial resumption of humanitarian aid. Plus, they’re joined by fellow Jewish podcaster Jonah Platt, taking the temperature at this moment of angst and revealing what it means to be a Jew in Hollywood in 2025—the challenges and the moments of light.Join 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 Jonah Platt is an American actor, singer, writer, and director known for his role as Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway. He’s appeared in TV shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and written for Family Guy. An advocate for Jewish identity and education, Platt hosts the podcast Being Jewish with Jonah Platt and actively participates in various Jewish organizations. He hails from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, being the son of producer Marc Platt and brother to actor Ben Platt.

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• 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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  54:51
• 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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