Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Latest Episodes:

The Iran-War: An Autopsy - with Jonah Goldberg and John Podhoretz Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

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Many supporters of the Iran War, both in the U.S. and in Israel, consider it a failure. Dan doesn't necessarily share that observation, at least not until the fate of the U.S.- Iran deal is clear.

Jonah Goldberg and John Podhoretz, two thinkers that have been following every twist and turn of the Iran war and landed in that camp. So we wanted to conduct an autopsy of the Iran War, at least as where the war stands now.

Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of the Remnant podcast. He’s also a senior fellow at AEI and author of a number of books, including Suicide of the West. and John Podhoretz, editor-in-chief of Commentary Magazine, host of the Commentary podcast and author of Hell of a Ride.

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In this episode:

What were the expectations vs reality?
Israel and Iran's position today Vs on February 27th.
The war's impact on US foreign policy
what would have been a better strategy in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program?
Did Trump and Netanyahu miscalculate?
Where does the relationship between Netanyahu and Trump go from here?

This episode is sponsored by Israel on Campus Coalition. You can follow this link to support their work: http://israelcc.org/

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

As America cuts its losses, what are Israel’s options? - with Amit Segal Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Can Israel stop Iran if America decides to move on?

As Washington pursues negotiations with Tehran, many Israelis are wondering what their country can still do to shape the outcome. Dan Senor is joined by Ark Media contributor and Channel 12 senior political analyst Amit Segal to discuss the state of the U.S.-Iran talks, why Israel is showing restraint in Lebanon, and what leverage Jerusalem still has as Washington pursues negotiations with Tehran. They also examine the growing debate inside Israel over President Trump and J.D. Vance, and whether Netanyahu can navigate a moment when many Israelis feel the military achievements against Iran have yet to translate into a lasting strategic gain. ____

Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

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In this episode:

- Why the U.S.-Iran talks may be headed for failure

- Does Israel have any leverage left?

- Why Israel is showing restraint in Lebanon

- Why “no deal, no war” could still hurt Tehran

- Netanyahu, Trump, and the Vance problem

- Israel’s options if America steps back

- Could Trump shape Israel’s next election?

- Will Netanyahu really run for a seventh term?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Trump’s Iran Deal - with Walter Russell Mead Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

Did Israel and the U.S. win the battle but lose the war?

Israel and the United States achieved what many would consider a remarkable military success against Iran. But the agreement that followed has left many Israelis wondering whether battlefield gains translated into strategic victory. Dan Senor is joined by Wall Street Journal columnist and Hudson Institute senior fellow Walter Russell Mead to discuss the paradox at the heart of the new U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, what it reveals about President Trump's approach to power, and how leaders across the Middle East are recalculating their assumptions about America, Israel, and the future of the region. ____

Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

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In this episode:

03:42 - The paradox: military success vs. political disappointment

05:03 - Why so many Israelis think Israel lost

07:27 - What was President Trump actually betting on?

21:30 - Does the 60-day deal mean anything?

22:30 - Why sanctions rarely deliver regime change

27:24 - What this war reveals about the future of warfare

35:27 - How Riyadh, Ankara, and Beijing are reading the moment

45:33 - Israel's growing dependence on President Trump

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

The Iran Deal and Netanyahu’s Future - with Amit Segal Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

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What does the Iran deal mean for Israel, and for Netanyahu’s political future?

Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor and Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal to assess the newly announced U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and the political questions it has unleashed in Israel. As negotiations begin and the fighting pauses, they discuss whether the war should be seen as a success, a missed opportunity, or something whose consequences are still unfolding. They also discuss the growing tension between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the fight over Lebanon, and what all of it could mean for Israel's next election.

This episode was sponsored by Birthright: Invest in the Jewish future today at onetripchangeseverything.com.

In this episode:

04:03 - What worries Israel most about the new Iran deal?

06:18 - Trump’s unpredictability and the limits of certainty

13:15 - Is this a pause button or a rewind button for Iran?

18:42 - Does anyone expect a final agreement within 60 days?

20:57 - Why Lebanon has become the real battleground

23:09 - The growing tension between Trump and Netanyahu

28:54 - How the deal is reshaping Israeli politics

39:12 - How will history judge the war with Iran?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

The Sum-of-All-Fears Election - with Yossi Klein Halevi and Donniel Hartman Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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Why is Israel’s next election being driven more by fear than hope?

Dan is joined by For Heaven's Sake hosts Yossi Klein Halevi and Donniel Hartman to discuss the emotional forces shaping Israel's coming election. As Israelis prepare to vote, different communities are carrying different traumas, fears, and visions for the country's future, from tensions over Arab and Haredi political power to questions of national unity, leadership, and diminishing hope that life there can improve. They also consider whether Israelis can rediscover the unity of October 8th and what Israelis and diaspora Jews are each looking for in the country's next leader.

In this episode:

04:36 - Why this is a fear-based election, not a hope-based election

10:30 - The fear of Arab parties in a post-October 7 Israel

16:21 - Can Arab parties become part of Israel's political mainstream?

18:09 - The role and concern over Haredi voters reshaping politics

27:09 - Is the unity of an "October 8th Israel" still possible?

30:30 - The forces that threaten to shut down Israel’s economy

32:21 - Can Israel's political center hold?

37:39 - Why Gadi Eisenkot appeals across ideological lines

43:33 - Israelis and diaspora Jews each want something different from Israel’s leader

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

ISRAEL VOTES: Who Are You, Gadi Eisenkot? - with Nadav Eyal Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

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Can Gadi Eisenkot make the leap from one of Israel’s most trusted generals to its next prime minister?

Gadi Eisenkot’s popularity is seeing a meteoric rise. Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal to examine Eisenkot’s background, military record, decisions around October 7, and whether experience built on service and sacrifice can survive the rough-and-tumble of an election campaign. They also compare Eisenkot to previous generals who’ve tried this, and to his current viable political opponents.

In this episode:

03:54 – Is Gadi Eisenkot's rise in the polls real?

05:42 – The Appeal of Israel's "Quiet General"

14:33 – From Eilat to IDF Chief of Staff

16:51 – Eisenkot's military legacy and the "war between wars"

23:27 – How much responsibility does he bear for October 7?

27:00 – The personal tragedy that shaped his public image

30:45 – What the War Cabinet Revealed About Eisenkot

38:30 – Can Eisenkot Unite the Opposition?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Did the Iran War Succeed? - with Tamir Hayman and Mark Dubowitz Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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Did the Iran war solve the problem, postpone it or make it worse?

That fundamental debate has emerged over the outcome of the war with Iran. The campaigns degraded Iran's military infrastructure, but it also ended with a new, possibly more dangerous Supreme Leader in power, Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s nuclear capability largely intact.

Dan is joined by former Israeli Military Intelligence chief Tamir Hayman and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz to discuss whether the war was a strategic success, a missed opportunity, or an unfinished chapter in a conflict that is far from over.

Listen to Mark’s podcast, The Iran Breakdown with Mark Dubowitz.

In this episode:

04:51 - What is the most likely outcome of the U.S.-Iran negotiations?

08:00 - What were the tactical achievements of the US and Israeli attacks?

10:03 - Was the war strategically worth it?

19:42 - Can and will Trump still finish the job?

24:44 - Was the plan to have Kurds help topple the Iranian regime credible?

32:30 - Was Ahmadinejad a realistic replacement candidate?

35:42 - How formidable a foe is Mojtaba Khamenei?

41:48 - Is Iran more dangerous today than before the war?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

The Lebanon Trap - with Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

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Is President Trump saving Israel from a war it can’t win, or forcing it into a deal that leaves Hezbollah intact and Israeli soldiers and citizens vulnerable?

President Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon. Hezbollah agreed to stop firing rockets into Israel. Israel agreed to not strike Beirut. Yet the fighting in southern Lebanon continues, IDF soldiers are being killed and injured by Hezbollah rockets and drones, and the strategic problem remains unsolved.

Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal to discuss Trump’s explosive phone call and pressures on Netanyahu, the link between Lebanon and the Iran negotiations, and whether this moment represents an off-ramp from an unwinnable conflict or a pause that leaves Israel’s hands tied and facing the same dangerous dilemma in southern Lebanon.

In this episode:

04:48 - Trump's expletive-laced confrontation with Netanyahu over Lebanon

06:42 - What the new Lebanon "ceasefire" actually means

10:09 - Why Hezbollah's drone campaign is hurting Netanyahu politically

13:21 - Is the “Lebanon Trap” also possibly an off-ramp for Israel?

21:09 - What is really driving Netanyahu's decision-making?

23:30 - How Lebanon became part of the Iran negotiations

26:39 - Does Hezbollah's fate ultimately depend on Iran?

28:36 - Is Hezbollah weaker today, or stronger by adapting for the next war?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

ISRAEL VOTES: How Israel’s Elections Work - with Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

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In a few months elections will be held in Israel, the first since Oct. 7th, and arguably one of the most consequential in Israel’s history. But how do the elections actually work in Israel?

As part of our Israel Votes series, Dan is joined by Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal for a practical guide to the mechanics behind Israeli democracy: the Knesset, coalition-building, electoral thresholds, and the structural realities that will shape the next election long before a single vote is counted.

In this episode:

03:33 - Why Israel Chose a Parliamentary System

07:06 - The Knesset, the Government, and the Courts

12:36 - How Votes Become Knesset Seats

14:57 - How Israel Actually Chooses a Prime Minister

18:45 - Coalition Negotiations and the Fight Over Ministries

22:09 - What Caused Israel's Five-Election Deadlock?

24:54 - What Election Night Looks Like in Israel

27:45 - Does Israel End Election Night With a Governing Majority?

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Bonus Episode: Is Zionism for Everyone? – with Alana Newhouse May 31, 2026

Show notes

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Why has the world become so fixated on Zionism, and what does that obsession actually reveal about the West?

Alana Newhouse joins Dan Senor to unpack her widely debated essay Zionism for Everyone. They explore how rapid technological change and cultural disorientation are colliding with an ancient idea of peoplehood and why that tension is showing up in the global conversation about Israel.

Newhouse argues that the fixation on Zionism is not really about Israel at its core, but about something missing in modern societies: identity, purpose, and self-determination. She lays out a provocative framework for what makes societies resilient, why some nations are struggling, and whether the model behind Zionism can be applied far beyond Israel.

Read Alana’s essay in The Free Press, Zionism for Everyone here.

In this episode:

- The collision between rapid technological change and ancient identity debates

- Why Zionism has become a global fixation right now

- What “ethnos” really means and why it’s being misunderstood

- Zionism as a model: identity, vision, and hard work

- What went wrong in the West and the limits of globalization

- Is anti-Zionism driven by envy or a loss of self-determination?

- The four traits of resilient societies

- Can this model be applied beyond Israel, and by whom?

- The erosion of peoplehood in the modern West

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